Scene Magazine - Winter 2016

PREVIEW:

BUKU FEST 2016 IN THEATERS:

RIDE ALONG 2 BEFORE THE SCENE WITH

ROBERT MUNIC

INOVOJET FLIES

KATHLEEN

ROBERTSON At First Sight

PLUS: New Year’s Resolutions with Toney Freeman

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VOL. 7, ISSUE 1 • Winter 2016

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Micah Haley CREATIVE DIRECTOR Erin Theriot ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR Kelli Binnings STAFF WRITER Carlos Meredith GRAPHIC ART DIRECTOR Burton Chatelain, Jr. SALES

Nicole Cronley, M. Tess Toboggan

EDITOR’S LETTER

T

hen new year is here.

And with it comes new opportunities.

The number one question I’ve been asked by those connected to the film industry in Louisiana is: “Will the new governor be friendly to the film industry?”

My opinion is... yes! While both gubernatorial candidates gave statements in support of the film industry prior to the governor’s election last fall, then-Representative John Bel Edwards gave a longer, more enthusiastic letter of support than his opponent. Now that Edwards is the new Governor of Louisiana, he is in a position to lead the way on film.

But now that Edwards is in office, what indicates he might be friendly to the film industry in Louisiana?

The most important signal is his relationship with Jay Dardenne, who has been a longstanding and

8 | WINTER 2016

prominent supporter of film. After suspending his own campaign for governor, Dardenne - a Republican - chose to cross the aisle and support the Democrat Edwards. That was no small thing. After Edwards won the top spot, he announced that Dardenne would serve as his Commissioner of Administration.

Having such a prominent supporter of the film industry in such close proximity to the new Governor is surely a positive thing.

The second signal is more obvious. Edwards chose to have his inaugural ball at Celtic Studios, a Baton Rouge film studio. Who would have predicted that during the last legislative session?

MICAH HALEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

editor@sceneent.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Randee St. Nicholas, Bruno Calvo, Alan Markfield, Kelli Binnings, Alx Bear, Russ Harrington, Ben Fink, Brandon T. Willis, Sean Richardson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AJ Buckley, Toney Freeman, Jacob Peterman, Susan Ross, Elizabeth Glauser, Arthur Vandelay, Lauren Kornick, Meghan McGee, Elizabeth Glauser 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.

CONTENTS

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

ON THE COVER

ON THE SCENE

H&M OPENS IN NEW ORLEANS

Kathleen Robertson

WWW.SCENELOUISIANA.COM

BROKEN LIZARD LIVE AT THE CIVIC THEATRE

photo by Brian Lowe

BEFORE THE SCENE WITH

NBA ALL-STARS IN NOLA LSU BASEBALL

ABOVE THE LINE

30

Kathleen Robertson

BEFORE THE SCENE

A Conversation with Robert Munic

BLAKE

SCENE IN GEORGIA

18

SCENE IN TEXAS

20

Ride Along 2

MUSIC/SOUND SPEED Preview: Buku 2016

TECH SCENE New Year’s Resolutions

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Saint

56

TODAY’S SCENE 22 New Orleans Comic Con

THE UNSCENE 60

Follow @SceneEnt on Twitter for breaking news and more from Scene Magazine. @sceneent

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010 CH 2

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Specia

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HEALTH SCENE 52 jobSCENE

MAR

DEC

THE FASHION ISSUE

NEW YEAR, NEW LOOKS

Classy Chic

Casts

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LIVELY

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COMING SOON 14

Everybody Wants Some

MICHAEL RAPAPORT

PREVIEWS:

ER

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by AJ Buckley

ROBERT MUNIC

Robert Munic is a veteran filmmaker from Chicago, Illinois. He is the writer of the feature film Fighting, which stars Channing Tatum, and the executive producer of the A&E series The Cleaner, the Fox Television series Gang Related, and the co-executive producer of TNT’s Murder in the First. He is now serving as the co-executive producer of Fox’s smash hit series Empire, where he works alongside creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong.

What made you become a filmmaker?

I don’t think I was good at anything else. I grew up in Chicago. First generation American on my dad’s side. My mind was always wandering.

At a young age, I just gravitated towards movies. I remember seeing Bugsy Malone which was just an incredible film by Alan Parker. It was all these kids my age doing all this amazing stuff. I remember being in the theater thinking, “I want to be there. I want to do that.” So I decided early on when I was like fourteen that I wanted to be an actor.

I started doing every kind of local film that came through Chicago.

I was an extra on everything. I was that extra who was getting fired from sets for bumping into the lead actors and improvising dialogue. It led to one of the greatest moments I’ve ever had. When I was sixteen, they were shooting this Michael J. Fox movie called Light of Day and there was this massive blizzard that night. They had to get this shot off because they were filming a Fabulous Thunderbirds concert in the movie. There were about 800 extras waiting in the theater and about 250 extras in the lobby doing this scene. It was just a walk-and-talk with Michael J. Fox and Michael McKean. There’s maybe two lines of dialogue. As they’re choreographing the camera moves, they call action and I literally bump right into Michael J. Fox and go, “Hey man, watch where you’re going!” And I keep walking. The director says, “Cut. What was that?” Everyone stares at me and the AD goes, “What are you doing?” And I’m like, “Well, it’s a crowded area and I’m trying to get across the lobby. I just thought it’s natural that I would bump into him and be like, ‘Hey watch where you’re going!’

He goes, ‘You’re an extra. You have no lines.’ I go, ‘Oh okay I’m sorry.’

So they reset. It’s snowing like a foot a minute. It’s a disaster.

The next take, I bump into him again and go, ‘Excuse me, I didn’t see where you were going.” So now, I’m giving myself more dialogue. The director’s like, ‘Cut! What is this kid doing, is he out of his mind!’ Michael J. Fox is laughing but he’s kind of pissed.

Then, they’re like, ‘We’re firing you.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s terrible.’

As they’re escorting me out by both arms, Michael J. Fox walks out of the bathroom and some extra goes, ‘Mike that was a pretty quick piss.

Must not have had a very big tunnel to travel through.’ This is in front of like 250 people! And I turn to the guy and go, ‘Who the f*** are you to talk to Michael J. Fox like that?!’ And so Michael J. Foxx is like, ‘Get that ass out of here.’ And the ADs are like, ‘We’re already on it.’ Fox’s like, ‘Not this guy, I like this guy. Get that other guy out of here!” Then, Michael J. Fox goes to the ADs and says, “‘This kid is my stand in the rest of the night.” It was the greatest thing. At that moment I was hooked. I was like, “I can do this.”

12 | WINTER 2016

What was your biggest fear?

In all honesty, I think the fear gene was surgically removed. First off, my resume was completely made up. All the extra work that I had done...I actually said that I had speaking roles in those movies. So what happened is I met my first agent at an Adult Book store at four in the morning. As I’m pulling away the dude runs up to my car and he’s like banging on the windows and he goes, ‘I found a card.’ And sure enough he owned a legitimate agency. I came in Monday and had my first audition Wednesday. It was for a Levi’s spec commercial working with this new director. They said, “Do you want to work with this guy? He’s just starting out. His name is David Fincher.”

What was your lowest point?

I just completed my first film and it had played and won all these festivals around the country. Won all these awards. It had done well in the festival circuit. It was playing at a theatrical run in Chicago and my son’s mother, my ex, was pregnant at the time. I was going to Chicago to do my second film that I had financing lined up in Chicago. So I moved back to Chicago and we’re prepping this film.

And while we’re waiting for the money to come through, I still had to work. I was a muffin delivery guy. Here I am, driving past this theatre with my movie on the marquee at four in the morning, driving around in a van in 20 below weather, delivering muffins to all these places in the city of Chicago. I was so crushed that I pretended that I didn’t speak any English because I didn’t want to associate what I was doing at the time with what I had done. My family called me Roberto anyway, so I went around as Roberto the muffin guy.

What kept you from walking away?

I couldn’t accept failure. I couldn’t accept not succeeding at something I said I was going to do. I said I was going to going to L.A and be an actor. Within twelve months of being here I had been in everything from 21 Jump Street to you name it. I had done twenty plus national commercials. I had done three pilots. I had worked with Richard Donner. And I could not accept failure. I couldn’t accept at twenty four or five years old, saying, “I’m done.” I couldn’t live with saying, “Yeah, I lived in L.A. and did a bunch of cool stuff and now I’m back here.” I had only been out there for five years and it felt incomplete. It was incomplete. So I just kept driving.

Who’s been your closest ally?

My closest ally is my wife. She’s great. I‘ve surrounded myself in this business with good people. I’ve had the same attorney for over a decade. My manager has been with me for a decade. My agents are amazing. They are former agents at WME who branched out to do their own thing. I followed them over there and they’re my allies. Just in terms of this business, the creative team I have around me are my biggest allies. The team that’s taken me years to put together, to find the

right components: they’re my biggest allies. You’ve got to find those people who have your best interests. Who share your vision. Look, I’m a wildcard. If there’s something I want to go after, I never accept no as the reason for something I can’t have. And even this year, I sent an email out the team saying, “Thanks for taking a trip down the River of Munic Crazy with me.” Because it gets a little crazy.

And I could definitely be Kurtz on that excursion down the river, but I just need people who will roll with me. Those are the allies I have. And my wife has been in this business for twenty-five years as well. She’s an actress who’s been working for years. That’s important too. We have a shared reality of this business. When she has to go out of town for work or I have to go to Chicago for two months on Empire or whatever it may be. We get it. We understand that drill.

What were the words that kept you going?

When I was in high school, I had a teacher who I was admittedly a complete dick to. When my movie was playing in Chicago, there was a blizzard. I got off the train and I was walking back to my apartment. And this teacher was walking down my street. I said, “Oh, hey.” And I hadn’t seen this guy in like seven years. He said, “I’m good. I see you have a movie playing here in Chicago. The reviews were pretty bad.” I said, “Some were.” He says, “Truth hurts, right?” And he walked away! And I was like, really dude?

Really? But now looking back on it twenty years later, I’m like, “I’m glad he said that to me.” It fueled a fire in me, that there are going to be people out there who relish in your failure and you can’t let them control you. And hopefully, there’s people out there that you surround yourself with that only want to embrace your success and there are no ulterior motives. When he said that to me, I was like, “Oh, man. Game on. Roberto the muffin man is dead.”

How do you think you have changed?

You have to envision what it is you want. You have to know very clearly and then go after it and make it happen. And you can do that. You don’t have to compromise who you are in the process.

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 is now available on video-on-demand.

After appearing in Steven Bochco’s Murder in the First, he can now be seen in the Netflix series Narcos. Find out more on Twitter @ AJohnBuckley and at www.ajbuckley.net.

ROBERT MUNIC

What words do you have for others?

See what it is you want to do. Go after it and make it happen.

This is a collaborative business. And you have to be willing to know your place in the collaborative process. Be a contributor.

And if you feel good about what you did at the end of the day, you’re doing it right. And if you feel a little dirty at the end of the day because of what you did or what you said, chances are you’re not doing it right. Don’t compromise who you are.

BEFORE THE SCENE

I would say my biggest change is my level of acceptance. I’ve adopted this way of thinking over the last several years which is: never enter a situation thinking it’s me or them. It has to be the collective us. It has to be completely inclusive from all sides of the project. I’m at a point where I really want to work with people that I would want at my dinner table, so to speak. I want to be around like minded people. I want to be around passionate people and funny people and engaging people. Talented people who want to do the same kind of stuff I’m doing right now. Because otherwise, it’s not worth getting out of bed in the morning to perform this sisyphean task of making television or making a movie when there’s people with counter intentions to what you’re trying to do. If it’s not an ‘us’ I don’t even want to mess with it anymore. If I sense that out of the gate early that that’s going to be a part of it, then I’d rather just not be a part of it and forego an opportunity that’s there. That’s been the biggest change.

sceneent.com | 13

COMING SOON

Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant

by Meghan McGee

THE REVENANT - JAN. 8

Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Hugh Glass, a frontiersman who is on the fur expedition of the 1820s. After being attacked and almost killed by his companions, he starts a quest for revenge. Through the power of the human spirit, he continues to survive in the wilderness. Tom Hardy also stars. 156 min. Rated R.

THE FOREST - JAN. 8

Natalie Dormer stars in Jason Zada’s newest horror flick. It follows Sara, who travels to a forest to search for her twin sister in Japan. She becomes surrounded by eerie paranormal forces once she enters the forest. Rated PG-13.

A PERFECT DAY - JAN. 15

Benicio Del Toro and Tim Robbins are part of a group of workers offering aid to help a crisis in a place that is being destroyed by war.

106 min. Rated R.

13 HOURS - JAN. 15

Michael Bay brings the attack of the U. S. compound in Libya to life in the film world. Starring John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber and Toby Stephens as part of the six men on the security team, the film follows the men who were involved in the attack of an American Ambassador and how they deal with the struggles ahead. Max Martini and David Giuntoli also star. Rated R.

14 | WINTER 2016

photo by Kimberly French

400 DAYS - JAN. 15

Following four astronauts into deep space travel, 400 Days focuses on how the astronauts deal with the fact that they are completely isolated from all other communication beside themselves. When the astronauts have to abandon ship, they start to realize that maybe their mission was not a simulation to begin with. Brandon Routh, Dane Cook and Caity Lotz star. 91 min. Rating TBD.

THE 5TH WAVE - JAN. 22

Chloe Grace Moretz stars as Cassie Sullivan, a girl on the run from the world. She becomes her brother’s keeper when a string of deadly alien attacks start to occur on Earth, leaving most of the population destroyed. Maika Monore, Live Schreiber and Nick Robinson also star. 112 min. Rated PG-13.

THE BOY - JAN. 22

The newest horror flick centers around a doll who really does come alive at night. When a nanny realizes her family’s child is a life-sized doll and strange occurrences lead her to question things, she starts to wonder if the boy is alive or not. Lauren Cohan and Rupert Evans star. Rated PG-13.

DIRTY GRANDPA - JAN. 22

Director Dan Mazer brings Robert De Niro and Zac Efron on the big screen together in a new comedy. Zac Efron plays Jason, a husbandto-be who on the way to his wedding, has to drive his grandpa, a retired army man with a perverted mind, to Florida for spring break.

Zoey Deutch and Julianne Hough also star. 102 min. Rated R.

MORE COMING SOON

COMING SOON

Ben Stiller in Zoolander 2

photo by Wilson Webb

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC - JAN. 23

Kathryn Hahn and Viggo Mortensen star in a drama set in the Pacific Northwest about a father who is forced to reevaluate his life as a parent after raising six children. 118 min. Rated R.

THE FINEST HOURS - JAN. 29

Chris Pine and Eric Bana star as members of the Coast Guard who are involved in a rescue mission off the coast of Cape Cod. A blizzard in 1952 destroyed a pair of oil tankers who they try to save. Ben Foster also stars. Rated PG-13.

KUNG FU PANDA 3 - JAN. 29

The third installment of the legendary panda Po must face a supernatural villain who wants to defeat all of the kung fu masters.

Po must train his clumsy friends to help him defeat the villain. Jack Black stars. Rated PG.

THE CHOICE - FEB. 5

Nicholas Sparks introduces his latest dramatic romance about neighbors who meet in a small town. Their relationship starts to unfold in a number of events that define their lives. Benjamin Walker and Teresa Palmer star. Rated PG-13.

HAIL, CAESAR! - FEB. 5

From the Coen brothers comes a comedy full of a star-studded cast of studio stars that need to be told how to behave and stay out of the way of controversy. Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Tilda Swinton, and George Clooney star. Rated PG-13.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES FEB. 5

Lily James and Lena Headey star in the new addition of Jane Austen’s universe full of social classes and love – just add zombies. Jack Huston also stars. Rated PG-13.

16 | WINTER 2016

Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool

photo by Joseph Lederer

DEADPOOL - FEB. 12

From the Marvel Comics creators comes a new type of superhero.

Deadpool, directed by Tim Miller, follows Wade Wilson, played by Ryan Reynolds, who was a former Special Forces operative who underwent an experiment that left him with fast healing powers.

He becomes his alter ego, Deadpool. Along with a dark, dry wit, Deadpool searches for the man who ruined his life. Morena Baccarin and Gina Carano also star. Rating and runtime TBD.

HOW TO BE SINGLE - FEB. 12

In the latest romantic comedy set in New York City, Dakota Johnson, Alison Brie, Leslie Mann and Rebel Wilson star as single girls searching for love. What they don’t realize is that in 2016, love is a little different. Anders Holm also stars. Rated R.

ZOOLANDER 2 - FEB. 12

Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) remerges in the spotlight of the fashion world with Hansel (Owen Wilson), when a modeling agency tries to shove them back out of the spotlight. Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig and Penelope Cruz also star. 100 min. Rating TBD.

EDDIE THE EAGLE - FEB. 26

This biography follows the story of Great Britain’s first ski jumper into the Olympics, even though he is the worst competitor and a fan favorite. Taron Egerton, Christopher Walken and Hugh Jackman star. Rating and runtime TBD.

GODS OF EGYPT - FEB. 26

The god of darkness has taken over Egypt and chaos quickly ensues.

The film follows a young man whose woman was taken by the darkness and he attempts to rebel and destroy the god. Gerard Butler and Rufus Sewell star. Rated PG-13.

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SCENE in

GEORGIA

by Meghan McGee

RIDE ALONG 2

T

he brother-in-laws are back. And this time, they’re heading to Miami.

Ride Along 2 is one of the many black blockbuster films coming out in the New Year, including Mike Tyson’s movie IP Man 3 and 50 Shades of Black starring Marlon Wayans.

Ride Along 2 is a comedy with even more action than the first installment. Ben and James have to take down a drug dealer in Miami, played by Benjamin Bratt, so the flow of illegal product in Atlanta comes to a halt for good.

An action-packed brother-in-law sequel starring funnyman Kevin Hart and rapper actor Ice Cube as the perfect duo, Ride Along 2 follows Ben and James to Miami, where they try to take down a drug dealer who is the major supply for drugs in Atlanta. With Ice Cube already making a way in movies and Kevin Hart starting to become a household name in comedy and in film, Ride Along 2 is sure to not

18 | WINTER 2016

disappoint fans of the action/comedy genre.

Training day is over for Ben. With Ben (Kevin Hart) still trying to prove himself to be the ultimate husband and in-law, James (Ice Cube) lets him ride along with him to Miami for the ultimate test. To bring down a big time Miami drug dealer. But not without some help from their friends.

With Ben and James on a mission, they put together a team to help them in Miami because they can’t do it alone. Trying to get the job done, Ben and James end up trespassing on private property a lot more than they should, which could blow them and their team’s cover. They also cause a shootout at a local Miami nightclub, which doesn’t help them to blend in at all.

Ben tries to blend in with the detectives but all he does is stand out (fashion choices included).

Even though Ben (Kevin Hart) provides immense comic relief in an action-packed movie, there are

some sweet parts when dealing with your new family members, especially brothers. Now that Ben is married to James’ sister, he has to take care of Ben when he’s in harms way, even though he may not like it. Ben does get in the way of the mission sometimes, but thankfully, their plan always works out in the end. Bulletproof vests are necessary.

Along with Olivia Munn, Ken Jeong, Glen Powell and Nadine Velazquez, Ice Cube and Kevin Hart deliver another comedy about acceptance, family ties, brotherly love and how to get the job done all in between the chaos. Tim Story returns as director of Ride Along 2 after the first movie was a major hit. Story also directed other action hits like the first Fantastic Four and its sequel. With the first installment making almost triple its budget, Ride Along 2 will surely win in the box office for 2016.

Filming on Ride Along 2 was primarily in Atlanta, Georgia. Become a part of the operations when Ride Along 2 hits theaters January 15.

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SCENE in

TEXAS

by Elizabeth Glauser

EVERYBODY WANTS SOME

I

n 1993, the world was introduced to Matthew McConaughey and his infamous Texas twang when he uttered those three little words, “Alright, alright, alright.” His debut came in Richard Linklater’s cult-classic Dazed and Confused. The filmmaker returns to those nostalgic days of yesteryear with the latest in his unofficial collection of coming of age tales, Everybody Wants Some.

In the two decades since the release of Dazed, Linklater has helmed films like School of Rock, Before Sunrise, Before Midnight and most recently the Academy Award winning drama Boyhood. The 2014 drama followed the life of a young boy for twelve years, with the actors aging in real time with their characters.

The groundbreaking film was set and filmed in 20 | WINTER 2016

Linklater’s native Texas and followed its main character from childhood through adolescence.

Like Boyhood, Dazed and Confused also explored the trials of growing up but in a much shorter time frame. The film followed a variety of teens over a single day as they embarked on their first day of summer in the 1970s. Every type of teen is represented from the socially inept freshman to the high school quarterback. Everybody Wants Some where its two pseudo-predecessors left off, with the characters navigating the new found freedom that comes with starting college and leaving home for the first time.

This new set of characters are members of their collegiate baseball team, trying to succeed with little supervision and the

guidance of their more seasoned teammates.

All three of these tales filmed in Linklater’s home state of Texas, in and around the Austin area. The director is said to have drawn much of these stories from his own experiences growing up in the Lone Star State.

The recently released trailer introduces a cast that includes many unknowns as well as some more familiar faces. The film stares relative newcomer Blake Jenner, whose fans may recognize as winner of The Glee Project and eventual cast member of the musical show.

Also featured is Teen Wolf star Tyler Hoechlin and Glen Powell fresh off his debut season in Scream Queens playing Chad Radwell.

Everybody Wants Some comes to theaters on April 15, but the trailer is available now online.

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TODAY’S SCENE

COMIC CON RETURNS TO NEW ORLEANS

by Ben Adams

W

izard World’s Comic Con returns to New Orleans from January 8-10. It is the first event on Wizard World’s busy calendar in 2016.

The con has grown each year in New Orleans, and this year promises to be one of the biggest. The big names scheduled to attend include an array of Marvel superstars. That list includes Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Hayley Atwell, NOLA-native Anthony Mackie, Frank Grillo and the directing duo Anthony and Joe Russo.

Joining the Avengers are Doctor Who alums Matt Smith, Karen Gillan (right) and Jenna Coleman. There will also be a slew of stars from the Georgia-shot series The Walking Dead, including Norman Reedus, Jon Bernthal, Chandler Riggs, Steven Yeun, Emily Kinney and Scott Wilson.

Other high profile guests include Ben McKenzie, William Shatner, Jason Isaacs, WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, Edward James Olmos, Barry Bostwick and Chris 51.

For the full lineup, schedule and tickets, visit New Orleans Comic Con’s official website at www.wizardworld.com.

Karen Gillan in Doctor Who

Emily Kinney in The Walking Dead

22 | WINTER 2016

TODAY’S SCENE

Norman Reedus in The Walking Dead sceneent.com | 23

TODAY’S SCENE

NEW ORLEANS COMIC CON

Chris Evans as Captain America

Hayley Atwell in Captain America

24 | WINTER 2016

TODAY’S SCENE

NEW ORLEANS COMIC CON

I

n addition to big stars, Comic Con is still true to its roots, featuring comic artists and writers.

This year, Artist Alley will feature Peter Kuper (Spy vs. Spy, World War 3), Gene Ha (Justice League, Batman), Christos Gage (Daredevil, Buffy), Billy Martin (TMNT and the lead guitarist of Good Charlotte), Rafa Sandoval (Action Comics, Catwoman), Tom Cook (He-Man, Superfriends), Sara Richard (My Little Pony, Jem and the Holograms), Rob Guillory (Chew), Phil Ortiz (The Simpsons, Muppet Babies), Danny Fingeroth (Spider-Man, Iron Man) and many others.

Wizard World’s New Orleans Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, cosplay, comics, television, sci-fi, toys, video gaming, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. Find out more on the official website at www.wizardworld.com.

Jeremy Renner

Matt Smith

26 | WINTER 2016

TODAY’S SCENE

Anthony Mackie

Steven Yeun

Frank Grillo

TODAY’S SCENE

NEW ORLEANS COMIC CON

Jon Bernthal

sceneent.com | 28

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ABOVE THE LINE

KATHLEEN

ROBERTSON

by Micah Haley

K

athleen Robertson currently stars opposite Taye Diggs on the TNT drama Murder in the First. It’s the latest from Steven Bochco, the legendary writer who changed television with NYPD Blue.

She’s a veteran actor who’s honed her craft for some twenty-five years on shows like Beverly Hills 90210 and the excellent but shortlived Starz drama Boss. There, she portrayed Kitty O’Neill, the personal assistant to Kelsey Grammer’s Tom Kane, an entrenched mayor struggling to hold on to power as Lewy body dementia takes hold of him. Grammer won a Golden Globe for the role.

Robertson has also appeared on the big screen opposite Mark Ruffalo in XX/XY and opposite Adrien Brody and Ben Affleck in Hollywoodland, the period drama that told the story of Hollywood fixer Eddie Mannix and George 30 | WINTER 2016

Reeve, the first actor to portray Superman.

On Murder in the First, she portrays Hildy Mulligan, a detective and single mother in San Francisco. The show follows a single murder case across an entire season. Joining Diggs each season is a largely new cast of top tier talent. The first season featured Tom Felton, Steven Weber and Richard Schiff.

The second season starred AJ Buckley, Ian Anthony Dale and Emmanuelle Chriqui.

As Hildy, Robertson is compelling, balancing motherhood with the demanding life of a homicide detective. It’s a balancing act that in some ways mirrors her own life, as she manages to be a mother while leading a television series and nurturing a bustling career as a writer.

We spoke over the phone as Kathleen took a break from a writing assignment.

photo by Collin Stark

sceneent.com | 31

ABOVE THE LINE MH: You’re currently starring on TNT’s Murder in the First, which also featured AJ Buckley, who’s a partner in Scene.

KR: Yeah! I love AJ. He’s great. He plays my brother on Murder in the First so we’re very tight. He’s a great guy.

MH: Let’s talk about the show. I think it’s awesome. The quality of television in general right now is incredible and Murder in the First is up there with the best. Last year, there were 409 seasons of television produced. I’m curious what attracted you to this show in particular.

KR: I had been on a show prior to Murder in the First called Boss.

A really good show on Starz. Gus Van Sant created it with Kelsey Grammer. Creatively, it was a really amazing experience for me. I was coming off of that show, which had just gotten cancelled and I was in that head space of “Ugh, I’m never gonna find anything as good as this.”

And, “What’s the next job gonna be?” I was feeling very disillusioned.

What am I gonna do after this? What’s going to be equal to this?

I started reading a ton of pilot scripts and read this. I knew that this was Steven Bochco’s new show. I thought, “Oh, this is actually really good.” I loved that the role was very much a two hander between Tate’s character and my character. I loved that it was such a different role than Kitty O’Neal in Boss. It was the polar opposite of that character. As an actor, you’re always looking to do something different and do something you haven’t done before. It just felt really different for me. And I’d never played a cop before. I’d always wanted to. My brother-in-law is a cop and I knew one of these days I wanted to tackle that challenge. It just seemed like the natural, next job. Luckily, it all worked out that way.

MH: Boss was such a great show. Kelsey Grammer was amazing and it was so dark. I feel like not that many people were exposed to it until it was on Netflix. It’s this great show but it was on Starz, which wasn’t doing a lot of scripted content at that time. What was your decision to give Starz a chance? Or was the quality of the material on the page just that good?

KR: Yeah, for me it was. Also, I’m a huge fan of Gus Van Sant. When I heard he was going to be doing a television series, I thought, “Anything that he does is gonna be interesting.” I’ve seen everything he’s done.

And the script just really stood out. Very well written. Farhad Safinia, the guy who created the show, is really smart. I met with Gus and him. In just fifteen minutes of talking to Farhad, I felt like, “Oh this guy knows exactly what the show is and has a strong idea of how he sees this unfolding.” It was a shame that we didn’t get to do it longer. I think we all felt after Kelsey won the Golden Globe for the role - and the show was nominated for its first season for a Golden Globe - we thought, “We’re set. We’re gonna be doing this for the next five or six years.” It was just on the wrong network, I think Chris Albrecht at Starz had said since then that it was the hardest show for him to cancel. And I think the timing was so weird. It was right before everything clicked in with ratings becoming not as much of a sole indicator. Now, you see the shows on cable and the ratings are not great but they stick with them and they keep them on because of DVR. Even our show, Murder in the First, they don’t even really look at how many people watch it the night of the premiere. They look at how many people have watched it over 32 | WINTER 2016

the course of seven days and thirty days. These shows really build their audience through alternate platforms, watching it on Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV. I think the cable business model has changed drastically in just the last few years. Now, Boss probably wouldn’t have been cancelled.

They would have been like, “Let’s give it time to see what happens.”

MH: Television is such an interesting landscape. I think you’re right. Boss was on during that shift where all of these cablers were thinking, “Wait, this isn’t just about the ratings.

It’s about choosing shows that are going to be great and have longevity, and also be portfolio pieces. Cable has not unbundled yet, but it will eventually, and it’s about preparing yourself for a global market. Who’s going to have the opportunity to discover this show when, for instance, Starz or TNT has their own Netflix-style service that’s allowing the show to be viewed on demand in 200 countries worldwide?

KR: Right, exactly.

MH: Murder in the First feels like a lateral move from Boss.

It’s really a great show. It takes these elements of the police procedural genre that we’re very familiar with — thanks in large part to Steven Bochco, who created NYPD Blue, Murder One and Hill Street Blues — and it really does create something new. The season-long arc that focuses on one central crime is great. I love it. It’s perfect for binge watching. When I say that, I think what I mean is, “It’s great for character development.”

You really have an opportunity to get to know these people, whereas that’s not the case with other cop dramas.

KR: That was obviously a huge part of the appeal for me, knowing it was going to be serialized and not going to be, “Oh, every week we have to solve a crime, a new dead body dropping down on the floor at the end of the teaser. For actors, that’s difficult to do. Difficult in that it’s not very rewarding or challenging. This definitely gives us a chance to work. Yes, there are procedural components to the show but we also have our personal story lines. That’s where the fun is for actors.

MH: What informed the character of Hildy? Is she based on someone you actually met? Or were you just robbing your brother-in-law’s story chest?

KR: Definitely robbing my brother-in-law! I did a lot of research.

I love doing research. It’s the most fun part of the job for me. Before we started, I did a lot of hanging out. We went to San Fran and I found this one girl in particular who was really helpful. She was around my age. The way she was dressed, her attitude… everything was really helpful. Sometimes when you do jobs, they’ll partner you up with people for research and the people are like male and thirty years older than you, and it’s like, “Yeah. Not really that helpful.”

So, I was able to find this girl who was blonde and tattooed and a single mom and I thought, ”Oh yeah that’s the character.” I was able to pick her brain and it was really helpful. It’s always helpful in the beginning when you’re given this task that’s like, “You’re job is to accurately portray this person.” It’s a woman who is a homicide detective, she’s living in San Fran and she’s a single mom. She’s seeing the absolute worst

ABOVE THE LINE

photo by Brian Lowe

sceneent.com | 33

ABOVE THE LINE of the worst on a day in, day out basis. She’s having to go into these environments that are incredibly dangerous and high stakes. The worst environments ever. She needs to be believably badass. People are going to take her seriously. Men are not going to see her and be like, “Really?!”

To be able to have somebody concrete that isn’t an actor playing the part was incredible. This girl actually does this. She gets woken up in the middle of the night by a phone call from her boss saying there’s a body. Here’s the location. You need to go there. Knowing this person actually does the job is helpful for me. I can think, “Oh, okay, that makes me feel less like a fraud going into it.” When there’s a world you don’t know a lot about, when there’s a world that’s foreign to you like politics or law enforcement, it’s daunting at the beginning. You feel like, “I’m just an actor having to pretend that I’m doing this for a living.”

Anything you can do in that beginning phase to make yourself feel rooted in it. Feel like you’ve smelled it and touched it and tasted it in a real way. It all helps. The ride alongs help, the hanging out with the people who really do the job...it just helps on a lot of levels.

MH: There’s definitely something to be said for immersing yourself in a learning experience. Immersion is so important.

Steven Bochco is obviously a genius. NYPD Blue is this great show. What did you feel like Bochco and Lodal’s conception of your character was prior to you showing up? And what do you feel like changed throughout the course of perhaps the first season? As writers, they are working in a vacuum, and then they get this terrific performer in you. You are bringing something new to the table that may not have been there initially. From the actor’s perspective, what did you feel like was evolving?

KR: Interesting. There was one thing I was quite vocal about. I wanted to make sure was in there, and I think it did definitely became a part of her. It continues to be a part of her. I was afraid of the cliché badass female that is essentially a dude but she happens to be a girl. It’s always a pet peeve for me. I’m a writer as well, and when I write, I’m aware of clichés. With Hildy, I’m happy that they allow me to show her vulnerability. I’m happy that they’re showing her human side, as opposed to just being this kind of badass cop that’s always tough. A man essentially but in a woman’s body.

MH: You do a lot with Taye Diggs on the show. Two questions.

First, what do you feel like you’ve learned from him? And second: how often do you ask him to just sing for you on set?

KR: I don’t know a lot. It will be brand new. A ton of new people. The sad thing about our show is that every year, there’s a new cast essentially.

They keep Taye and I and there’s a few other core actors that they keep, but the concept of the show is that every year, it’s a brand new storyline.

There’s brand new murders that we’ll be following. A lot of actors in season one and season two, I miss. I don’t want them to be gone, because you build relationships with people. And they sadly they can’t come back because that’s not the concept of the show. I’m sure we’ll have some new people this year. I have no idea yet who, but yeah, I’m being told it’s gonna be super amazing, and super edgy and dark. It should be fun.

MH: Can’t wait. Let’s talk about Hollywoodland, a film you were that was set in the Golden Age of Hollywood. So good.

Before that film, were you familiar with Eddie Mannix? Were you familiar with the power he wielded in old Hollywood?

KR: It’s funny you mention that. One of the things I’ve been working on as a writer relates to it. I optioned the book Hollywood Babylon and I wrote a pilot script based on that. John Wells is attached to produce it and direct. I am very familiar with that time period and that world. It’s definitely an area that I’m super interested in and I’ve always been fascinated with it. So, yeah, I loved that movie as well and Allen Coulter, who directed it. He’s really fantastic and talented and it was great working with him. It was really a fun experience.

MH: People talk about L.A. like it’s this young city and it doesn’t have the history that New York or New Orleans has, both of which are very old cities. But the history of the last century in L.A. is so interesting and the role that the entertainment industry has played in that is just incredible. Can you talk about Hollywood Babylon?

KR: I have a bunch of stuff going on with my writing. I can talk about some of it. I have a show that I sold to Lionsgate that Christina Applegate is attached to star in that’s called Your Time Is Up. I also sold a show to E! They’re doing scripted now and I sold a show to them called Shooting Stars. It’s based on a book of the same name. And I’m writing a feature right now for Jason Reitman to direct and I just got another great feature job the other day, which I probably shouldn’t talk about yet. It’s also based on a book. So, yeah, my writing stuff is becoming very busy. I have a lot of stuff going on there, which is awesome. I’m super excited about it.

KR: Ha! I don’t have to ask him to sing on set, he just does it. He’s great.

We’re actually a very funny pair. I think that they casted us very wisely.

It’s always that thing when you cast people: you don’t really know if they are going to have chemistry and you don’t really know if it’s gonna work.

We never even met before we were cast. We’re very different. We work differently and we are different as people. He loves to talk and we talk a lot on set. I know a lot about him and he knows a lot about me. We just have almost like therapy relationships. But we’re always sort of getting deep.

What does that mean? What do you mean by that? Tell me about that. So, it’s good. We spend a hell of a lot of time together, so thankfully we get a kick out of each other. We laugh a lot and we talk a lot. So yeah, he’s great.

MH: How long have you been writing professionally for?

MH: I love how you describe it as a therapy relationship. That is so funny. So, where is the show going? Can you give me any teasers for the next season?

MH: Have you written anything for yourself to star in? Or do you see writing and acting as separate but co-extensive career paths?

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KR: Well, I just became a member of the Writer’s Guild last year, so it’s pretty new. I’ve been writing my whole life. I’ve always been a writer. I have a ton of stuff, drawers filled with stuff that I’ve written, but I only really started actually letting other people read my material and professionally doing it in the last couple of years. It’s great. It was a natural progression for me. I’ve always written, I’ve always read books, adapting stuff and working on stuff alongside my acting career. I finally got to the point where I was like, “Okay, I think I’m ready to let people start reading this stuff.” So, that was the start of it.

ABOVE THE LINE

photo by Collin Stark

KR: I sort of like to keep it separate. They’re similar but they’re very different. I just find it easier to keep them separate. People are always like, “Do you want to write on Murder in the First?” And I’m like, ”No, I don’t, actually.” I wanna keep it really separate. I wanna keep my acting as my acting and that’s its own thing and my writing as it’s own separate thing. It’s easier for me to keep them separate.

I’m sure there will be crossover one day. It’s weird, yeah. I don’t know why I haven’t. Some actors, like Lena Dunham or Tina Fey, set out to write a show for themselves. But I haven’t really done that yet. Maybe one of these days it will happen but for right now, I’m happy to be writing amazing stuff for other actors.

MH: I think it’s smart to keep it separate, it seems like they’re would be a lot of mixed interests that would damage people’s perspective of the writing.

KR: Yeah. Again, it’s all quite new for me and it’s only been a few years now, so I’m just looking forward to the next couple years. To see where it all takes me. It’s really exciting. I’m very aware of how long it takes.

It’s the same with acting. When you hear about somebody pursuing acting for only a year, and they all of the sudden get some incredible movie or a series, as an actor that’s been doing it forever, you’re like, “Oh God, really?” So I’m aware on the writing front that I’ve been very fortunate to have the success that I’ve had so far. I’m very aware of how it seems quite fast, but I have been in the business for a million years so I have read a thousand scripts and I’ve been in so many different things, so it’s not like I’m brand new. I think that’s been part of what’s helped

me know kind of how to write stuff that seems to resonate with people.

MH: It’s like the Malcolm Gladwell 10,000 hours thing. It’s hard to read 10,000 hours of scripts and not pick it up eventually.

KR: Totally. It feels very natural to me.

MH: That’s incredibly exciting.

KR: It’s super cool so now I just have to figure out how to, everyone’s always like how do you juggle it all? How do you have time to write and star in a show and do all this stuff? I think the answer is I’m very diligent with my time and I’m very structured about it. And I don’t take on everything. It’s tempting when people are coming to you with things like, “What do you think about this book?” or, “What about this?” But I have to just stick to the five things right now that are my focus. That’s it. I can’t focus on anything else. I can only do so much.

MH: You’ve had a considerable amount of longevity in the industry and you’ve worked throughout. You’ve stayed busy and that burns a lot of people out. What are the boundaries that you set up to protect yourself from that?

KR: I have definitely made adjustments. The days of me going off to do a little independent movie in Bulgaria are over. I don’t have any interest in that anymore. Murder in the First shoots in L.A. which is huge for me. It’s a big deal to be able to stay home. sceneent.com | 35

ABOVE THE LINE

My son is in first grade and to be able to take him to school and be home at night with him. That’s really a huge priority for me.

I have to be really picky, especially with these two careers, writing and acting. They are both so time consuming and there’s so much focus that’s demanded by them. I just don’t do anything anymore just for the sake of doing it. There would be times where I used to be like, “Oh yeah, that’d be fun. I’d love to go off and do something in New Mexico.” But now it has to fit on a lot of different levels. It can’t just be like, “That would be fun to do.” Does it fit into my lifestyle?

Does it allow me to continue writing? That’s a huge priority for me.

MH: Yeah, after a while, location vacations get a little stale! New Orleans isn’t bad, though. We try to keep it fun. Have you shot anything down here yet?

KR: No, but I would love to. I can’t believe I’ve never been there. I have a friend of mine, he’s so obsessed with New Orleans. You know Tom Lennon?

MH: He’s great. He directed Hell Baby here a few years ago.

KR: Tom Lennon and his wife, Jenny Lennon are always talking about New Orleans. It’s their absolute favorite place on the planet. They would move there in a heartbeat. They love it more than anything.

MH: It’s been funny over the last five or six years working for Scene to see the familiar faces like the Tom Lennon return.

Everybody that comes back. I’ve seen executives and creatives alike try to steer projects here because it’s just a fun city. It’s an old European city that is somehow in the American mainland.

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KR: It’s huge. People adore it.

MH: You’ve got a lot going on. Anything else you haven’t mentioned?

KR: That’s pretty much my slate. I’m writing this feature right now and I’m working on a bunch of writing stuff. Then, I start back shooting in March. Between now and March, I’m at my laptop clacking away in my sweatpants, right where I wanna be.

MH: That’s awesome. I love it. Can I ask you how motherhood is going?

KR: Great! Awesome. It’s the best. Every year is better than the last. You’re like, “This is my favorite year,” and then it’s like, “Oh, this is my favorite age!”

It’s wonderful.

MH: That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you. And I can’t wait till Murder in the First comes back!

KR: Thank you. I’m bugging them trying to make sure they get AJ back on the show this year because it’s so good. I want him back. So hopefully it will happen.

MH: Thanks, Kathleen. It’s been fun.

Season 3 of Murder in the First is set to premiere in 2016. Kathleen Robertson is a supporter of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. You can find out more about the great work they do at stjude.org.

MUSIC |

BUKU FEST 2016

Pretty Lights 38 | WINTER 2016

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What So Not

Tchami sceneent.com | 39

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BUKU FEST 2016

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BUKU FEST 2016

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Richmond Inn & Suites

Providing Southern Hospitality & Superior Customer Care

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225-924-6500 bestwestern.com/ plusrichmondinnandsuites

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SISTERS STARRING TINA FEY AND AMY POEHLER

by Nicole Koster

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aturday Night Live besties Amy Poehler and Tina Fey star in the new Universal Pictures comedy Sisters. Following two sisters, Kate (Fey) and Maura (Poehler) Ellis, who return home to visit their parents only to find out they sold their family home and moved to a condo without telling them, leaving them to clean out their childhood rooms. Fey and Poehler shine on the big screen this holiday season in a heartwarming comedy about sisterhood.

Fey is the sexed up Kate, a hair dresser who works out of her rentcontrolled apartment and has a teenage daughter who is fed up with her juvenile ways. Poehler plays the kind Maura, a caring and compassionate nurse who is recently divorced and the anchor of the entire family. It is clear why Fey and Poehler work well together. The characters are basically amped up versions of their already wacky and bold personalities.

Their shared bedroom is a mountain of dust, old photos, trophies and 80s memorabilia: a Xanadu poster, boom boxes, pastel colored bed spreads and tons of old eighties clothing strewn across the place. The room clean-up turns into a nostalgic look back into high school. Kate convinces Maura to throw a big party for old times’ sake. The sisters reversing roles for the party and Kate becomes “party mom” so Maura can “let her freak flag fly.”

Their funny antics, shown like a classic eighties movie montage, include taking a bubble bath together while sipping champagne out of tea cups while reading their old diaries to each other and going to Big Lots buying out the store of chips, Hawaiian Punch, towels, red cups, Christmas lights for party supplies. The party gives us a dance scene to Snow’s “Informer” and villain Brinda (Maya Rudolph) creates for some blue party guests as she dumps blue 44 | WINTER 2016

paint into the pool pump because Kate kicked her out of the party.

Directed by Jason Moore and written by Paula Pell, this film wins in its subtleties. Pell’s writing of bold one liners help establish the characters’ presence in a scene. Scene stealers like Saturday Night Live friends Rachel Dratch, Bobby Moynihan and Kate McKinnon are party guests and old high school classmates. Dratch’s character Kelly is spin off of an SNL skit “Debbie downer” and Moynihan plays the guy that thinks he is the funniest guy in the room, but is actually not at all, yet for that one reason he is ridiculously funny. Once he sniffs some cocaine accidently thinking it is stevia, he adds to the dog pile of “Ellis Island” madness. John Cena gives a humorous and stoic performance as the beefcake, tattooed drug dealer that Maura calls for weed. What he arrives with, however, is the whole kit and caboodle of drugs; literally, he has everything from weed to PCP to Advil to Flintstone’s gummies. Pazuzu (Cena) forces the sisters to buy a cocaine concoction along with the weed, which Moynihan gets into. But the show stopper was Greta Lee as the Korean manicurist HaeWon. Maura invites her to the party, thus creating the foam party scene when the she and her friends overload the washing machine with soap and then let it through the doggie door so it can flow through the party.

The party is a wild roller coaster ride of laughs, shockers, twists and turns.

Every party guest feeds into the circus atmosphere, causing chaos typical of a huge high school house party, yet, for adults in their mid-forties looking for a night of carefree fun. What happens after the party is what really brings everything full circle. This film is a knee slapper and a tear jerker, containing surprisingly more substance than one may expect. The character development shows just how much Fey and Poehler really are sisters at heart.

BIC MEDIA’S NEW PROJECTS FOCUS ON STORIES OF REDEMPTION STORY AND PHOTOS BY BIC MEDIA SOLUTIONS

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IC Media Solutions’ next book, Rock Bottom & Back, will chronicle the experiences of 12 men and women who overcame From left, BIC Alliance’s Earl Heard seemingly insurmountand GreenLit Entertainment’s Heather Evans and Lauren Michele view Rock Bottom & Back. Rock Bottom & Back is able adversities to bebeing shopped to TV networks as a pilot come successful in their for a potential series. business and personal lives. Rock Bottom & Back will feature individuals such as Gabriel Alvarado, a CITGO fire chief who was burned in a refinery fire in 2009 and now speaks to workers about safety issues; Troy Duhon, a successful car dealership owner and philanthropist who endured severe damage to his Louisiana business in Hurricane Katrina and now shares the word of God through God’s Not Dead and God’s Not Dead 2; Jerry Strickland, founder and former CEO of AltairStrickland and author of the inspirational book Turnarounds, and his son, Whitney Strickland.

Jerry Strickland, left, founder and former CEO of AltairStrickland, sits with his son, Whitney Strickland, during a filming segment for Rock Bottom & Back.

Rock Bottom & Back will also be adapted into a 30-minute film segment that will be shopped to TV networks as a pilot for a potential series. The initial segment will feature two or three of the individuals who appear in the book.

BIC Media has retained Susan Mustafa, who co-wrote the New York Times-bestselling true crime thriller The Most Dangerous Animal of All with Gary L. Stewart, to write Rock Bottom & Back. BIC Media is also partnering with Mascot Books on Rock Bottom & Back.

To nominate an individual to be featured in Rock Bottom & Back or for more information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Earl Heard at earlheard@bicalliance.com or Rose Gladner at rose@ bicalliance.com, or call 800-460-4242.

ISSUE FIVE 2015

LOUISIANA FILM & VIDEO MAGAZINE 79

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BEST WESTERN PLUS RICHMOND INN & SUITES SERVES FILM & TELEVISION PROJECTS IN B.R.

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ometimes when we are searching for a movie to watch, we find ourselves reaching for our standby: a film that we have seen several times in the past. One that gives us exactly what we’re looking for, whether that be romance, action, comic relief or drama. That same type of familiarity and comfort is what filmmakers and production crews have found at The Best Western Plus Richmond Inn & Suites. The unique hotel, which has become a mainstay in the Baton Rouge area when it comes to providing lodging for the television and film industry, has added four new productions to their housing roster in 2015, bringing the number of productions housed since 2006 to an impressive twenty-six. Two of the more recent projects called the Richmond Inn & Suites home for almost nine months, from February to October 2015. So, why do the productions continue to choose them? The answer, says general manager Jennifer Holmes, comes down to the style and size of each room and suite, the apartment style layout of the property, and all of the additional amenity offerings. “We’re excited to see many guests each year that have been with us on past productions,” she says. “They always say that they are so happy to be back and that they lobbied for the crew to stay with us due to their past experiences.”

Many crewmembers love the additional living space offered by the Best Western PLUS Richmond Inn & Suites. Depending on the type of suite that is booked, guests can get as much as 740 sq. ft. of living space consisting of a large bedroom, a full living room separated from the bedroom by French doors, and a full size and fully functional kitchen stocked with all of the dinnerware and cookware needed for an extended stay. The property is spread out between six buildings over five acres and has much more of an apartment-style feel than a typical hotel. “This offers much more privacy and convenience for many of our production guests,” says Holmes.

The hotel listens to all feedback given by guests and always strives to provide them with everything that they request. One new addition is the upgraded premium cable and music package with over 100 HD channels, including HBO, Starz and the SEC Network. Within the last year, they have also added a vehicle wash station for guests to wash their car or motorcycle, as well as two electric car charging stations. Besides these added amenities, the hotel continues to include a complimentary Southern Style hot buffet breakfast daily, nightly hors d’oeuvres in the lobby bar and lounge, high speed wireless internet in all guest rooms and public areas, and use of the twenty-four hour fitness center and business center, outdoor pool and hot tub, and SportCourt with complimentary basketball, volleyball and tennis rental equipment.

“We want every guest to feel like our hotel is their home away from home, especially those that live with us for an extended period of time,” says Holmes, “We try to put ourselves in their shoes and think of all of the things that would be important to us.” Keeping this in mind, the hotel understands how important it is to have furry family members close and is a pet friendly property. Treated as special guests themselves, the hotel staff keeps pets comfort in mind, as well, offering a complimentary toy at check in, and carrying pet friendly toys and treats in the Hotel Market. They also have designated dog walking areas and offer the use of special pet blankets for pets to snuggle into each evening. Other optional amenities include the lobby bar, laundry facilities in all guest room buildings, BBQ pit rentals and snacks and forgotten amenities available for purchase in the Hotel Market.

The greatest perk of all is that the hotel offers all of these advantages at a great price. “We understand that productions are working within

46 | WINTER 2016

the constraints of their budgets,” says Holmes, “and while our pricing is based primarily upon the size of a production and estimated length of stay. We are also always willing to work with smaller or independent productions in order to give them a great deal, as well. Louisiana is a wonderful place to live and work, and production crews have much more to worry about besides their lodging. We want to provide them with great hospitality and the most comfortable place to stay, at a price that their company can afford. We want them to have a great stay while they are here and enjoy our wonderful food and culture, and remember us when they come back.” It seems that many already have.

If you would like to have a property tour or receive more information, please contact Wilks Holmes, director of sales, at wilks.holmes@smchotels. com or Jennifer Holmes, general manager, at jennifer.holmes@smchotels. com. You can also visit the hotel website at www.bwrichmondbatonrouge. com or follow updates at www.facebook.com/richmondinnandsuites.

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SCENE |

The cockpit of Inovojet in action Inside the cabin of Inovojet

FLY WITH DR. PAV GROVER IN

INOVOJET

by Elizabeth Glauser

T

he opening scenes of Lost featured frantic survivors surrounded by airplane wreckage on a deserted island. As they faced the dangerous mysteries of the island, flashbacks revealed scenes from the plane crash that landed them in their predicament. The show went on for six seasons with critical acclaim, an avid fan base and a number of awards. And the plane that started it all ended up housed in a studio outside of New Orleans in the hands of Dr. Pavan Grover, a minimally invasive spine surgeon having an additional passion for films.

Grover’s love of films has always been present, from the time he was a child shooting home videos for his family. Even through medical school and residency, his creativity never disappeared.

“Even when I was a resident doing twenty four hour shifts, I was producing a TV show for the South Asian community on my offtime as a way to counter the stress of grueling medical training.”

As a minimally invasive spine surgeon specializing in pain disorders, his medical innovations and breakthroughs garnered a lot of international media coverage, including appearances on national broadcast networks and Larry King Live.

This led to him working as a medical correspondent for various networks. Ironically, his passion for medicine opened the door for his passion for creativity. “In the end I was writing medical segments, producing them, editing them and getting intense on-camera training. I got the basics in doing that and then I started writing, which led to the first screenplay,” says Grover.

“I had no way of getting that produced because I had no contacts in the film industry and absolutely zero chance of breaking into that field,” says Grover. “So I wrote a screenplay featuring a lead character

48 | WINTER 2016

with Dennis Hopper in mind. Once I finished the screenplay; I knew a casting director who got the script to Hopper. He loved the script. We brought in some producers and we made this film.

I learned all the production aspects of film just like I was doing on television before. I saw the film from writing it, acting in it, producing it and editing it. So that was a tremendous learning experience.”

The film was eventually picked up for distribution by MGM and Twentieth Century Fox and went on to experience international success, being translated into over twenty languages. The whirlwind experience inspired Grover to write many more screenplays, including the eventual story that landed Grover the infamous 767 airplane from Lost.

The project, titled 97 Minutes, was set to film with actors attached and the plane parts purchased for filming.

Unfortunately, there was an unforeseen delay in production and they decided to focus on creating a state of the art plane set.

The plane now calls Harahan, Louisiana home at Inovo Studio, a large 767 plane set that is now the only place in the region with the necessary capabilities to film in-flight scenes. Grover’s father, Chaman Grover, is an engineer and has been very helpful in creating an adaptable, state-of-the-art plane capable of creating effects scenes for any scenario. This versatility has brought productions like the Nicholas Cage actioner Left Behind, the hit summer TV series Zoo, and upcoming big budget film Deepwater Horizon starring Mark Wahlberg.

“It was transported to Baton Rouge for the Left Behind series which was shot mostly on our plane,” says Grover. “I think what was unique is the turbulence that you see in that movie is something that’s innovative.” The structure of the plane allows for the re-

SCENE |

Dr. Pav Grover

creation of turbulence, shaking the plane itself rather than relying on tricky camera work or a series of deceptive effects. The plane is able to tilt 25 degrees in four directions to display the most realistic depiction of turbulence that has ever been seen in films.

“With each project, we’ve learned more and we’ve been able to go back and make the set even more special and innovative, like we did with Zoo. Not only did they do the airplane scenes but they have one scene where the plane turns and people hit the ceilings so they constructed the whole stunt apparatus,” said Grover. With Zoo, not only were the people at Inovojet able to create and alter the plane set to their needs, but they were able to utilize the massive production space in other ways. “While they were prepping the airplane they built a mini-hospital for other scenes.

They were actually able to shoot one thing while they were prepping the other. And they were able to use the fact that we actually had offices, we had make up rooms, areas for the actors and some other benefits.”

With the production experience under his belt, experience as an executive producer on the Stephen Sommers directed film Odd Thomas, based on the New York Times bestseller novels by Dean Kootz and an innovative plane set now better equipped than ever, Grover’s passion project 97 Minutes can be realized. The script is currently in development to become a television series. And with that series, Grover has a plan to combine his medical expertise to create a better viewing experience for audiences.

With all the intensity of his passion for medicine and creativity and the tremendous experience he’s logged at both ignited the spark of an idea that he believes will revolutionize the entertainment business.

“I’m bringing medicine into the analysis by making sure a project generates the physiological responses intended in a film. And that’s 50 | WINTER 2016

The cockpit of Inovojet in action

going to revolutionize things,” says Grover. “Right now the process is that you get a test screen and people give opinions. With this new innovation, we’re talking about a real analysis of almost each minute of the project. Then you can come back and say well you lost the audience at this phase and then you can keep reworking it until you’re able to generate responses. It’s not subjective, it’s totally objective. We’re going to bring it into this TV series – it’s going to launch this process.”

97 Minutes is currently in development, with script adjustments being made to extend it into a television series. With that, more innovations and advancements will surely be made to the Inovojet plane as well as the introduction of Grover’s new test screening technology. For more information on Dr. Grover, Inovo Studios and the Inovojet, visit www.inovojet.net.

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NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

WITH BODYBUILDER TONEY FREEMAN

by Arthur Vandelay

call. So I slowly started to really study and dedicate myself and take my bodybuilding seriously. I took the whole year to train for one show. It made all the difference in the world. I actually won my weight class and this qualified me to compete at the highest amateur level.

The New Year has just begun. Some people have already made their resolutions. And some people are already struggling. What’s some advice on how to stick with their plan?

First of all, let me wish everyone a happy New Year. No matter how well thought out, organized or strategic, without execution a plan is only as good as the paper it’s written on. It’s ok to dream, but try to keep the fantasy to a minimum. Be realistic with yourself. You know your strengths and weaknesses. Always start with your strengths and prioritize the things you struggle with. Structure your approach with several mini goals to reach your main goal.

What are some good New Year’s resolutions that anyone can keep?

Drink more water. Start with 0.5-1.0 oz. per pound of body weight per day and drink in between meals. Starting your day off with 8-20 oz. of filtered water is a good way to jump-start the rehydration process. Adding a pinch of pink Himalayan sea salt will provide much needed electrolytes and trace minerals. This should also help clear your stomach and digestive track.

Exercise more. Start slow. Just get moving. Most people miscalculate their body’s ability to perform and recover. When you starting a new program your ability to adapt to that stress is just as important as the plan itself. In other words, your nutrition and your ability to recover need to match your work out plan. Get outside and do some walking 20-60 minutes, 4-5x per week and

52 | WINTER 2016

build from there. Preferably find more that one course to walk with different elevations.

This will make it more interesting as well as allow you to slowly adapt over time. It also prevents over doing it. This is one of the main reasons why people never stick to the resolutions. Remember every journey starts with just one step.

I can recall during my early years of bodybuilding in January 1991, the previous year I did my first national amateur contest.

I was used to winning or at least top three in every show, even though competing was merely a hobby. This was the first time I experienced real competition. These guys were really serious, very dedicated and frankly more advanced than I was. This was my wakeup

For the person who is looking to make a big change in their health, what would you recommend for a resolution?

For anyone trying to make a big change in his or her health I suggest starting with a gut check. How is your gut health? Do you take a probiotic? Do you take digestive enzymes? These two supplements along with fiber intake will give you the proper balance of good and bad bacteria along with all the necessary enzymes to break down and assimilate the foods your eating.

After you get your digestive track working optimally the next steps would be to make sure your nutrition is on point and a good exercise program that is geared towards your goals but based on your current physical condition. Start slow and work your way up.

What are the biggest obstacles that people encounter?

Not enough patience and misinformation.

Change takes time and it won’t happen over night.

There are so many variables to be considered.

A well thought out approach with proper execution will maximize benefits. Most people fail before they really get started by over reaching.

Training too hard without adequate nutrition.

Training beyond your bodies’ recovery ability.

A few short weeks of these mistakes tend

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to cause most people to become discouraged and quit before they really even get going.

What diets would you recommend that aren’t fad diets? What are some resources you recommend?

In my opinion all diets are fad diets. Good nutrition is a lifestyle. Learning to eat according to your genetics, physical output and your goals are the key elements to enjoying the body you always wanted. Taking control of what you put in your mouth is the difference between living happy, healthy and fit and suffering in pain misery and disease. Food is medicine. The low carbhigh fat diet is a good diet to follow for most healthy adults. The ketogenic diet (which is a little more extreme) with even less carbs, this approach works well for people who are over weight, struggle with diabetes or who are trying to achieve lower body fat. Once you have achieved your goal and/or optimal health, then a more balanced approach is recommended. For performance, I recommend a more anabolic diet with higher protein, strategically placed carbohydrates and fats. Timing meals around exercise will enhance the effects of this approach.

What are some BAD New Year’s resolutions regarding health?

Trying to lose weight is not a good New Year’s resolution. Most people have no clue as to how they have gained weight. When it comes to reversing the process, they don’t know where to start. Most try the latest fad diet, exercise program or supplement.

The real problem starts in your gut. Over the years I have learned that before you try to make a change in your health and fitness you must first assess where you are. I call that a gut check. Check your attitude. That’s the most important ingredient to success.

The next step is your actual condition of your digestive track. Is it functioning

properly? Processing food, strong immune system and visually this is the center of your universe. It all starts in the gut. No matter how good the plan is or how much dedication or commitment you have if your digestive system is not functioning properly then there will always be a limit to what you can accomplish. Healing your body is a process that requires time and consistency. It takes years sometimes decades for it to be thrown out of whack so don’t expect to be cured or healed over night. Quick weight loss tricks are usually followed by gaining it all back and then some.

What are some good health apps that can help people reach their goals?

Water Your Life is a great app to track your water intake and help you reach your daily goals by reminding you to drink.

If you have an Android, then S Health is a good one. This app has many features to keep track of many activities like walking, running and biking. It will allow you to see how fast and how far you have gone. The app will even reward you with a trophy when you reach or exceed your goal. In addition to keeping track of how many steps you have taken throughout the day you can also track your caffeine and food intake, heart rate, and much more. Find an app that is easy and fun to use. They can be a helpful tool to keep you accountable and on track.

For more health and fitness tips, read Health Scene online at health.sceneent.com and visit Toney at ketogevity.pruvitnow.com and on Facebook at X-Man Toney Freeman. You can also find his free webinar soon at totalfitnessexperience.com.

FITNESS MYTHS: Busted “Eating fat will make you fat.”

The food pyramid says we need five to more servings of carbohydrates per day. This was written over fifty years ago. Since the sixty’s the obesity has reached epidemic proportions. People these days are much more sedentary and most kids don’t play outside anymore. In my opinion five servings of carbs is way to much for people who don’t have an adequate metabolic rate or sufficient activity level. When you eat carbs or sugary foods they cause your body to produce insulin.

Insulin is needed to transfer the energy from our food to our cells. If the need for energy is there then the energy is released and is used for fuel. If they’re an excess of energy your body stores it in the fat cell. The amount of carbohydrates, proteins and fats we take in should be adjusted according to our nutritional need and energy output. Most Americans could get by on 50-100 grams of carbs per day as long as there are substituting carbohydrates with good fats. For example grass-fed butter, avocado, wild caught salmon, grass fed beef, hemp oil, and coconut oil are all great choices. These healthy fats provide 9 calories per gram compared to the 4 found in carbohydrates.

Following a high dietary fat and low carbohydrate diet will lead to a much leaner body. Eating the typical diet of processed food and man made fats lead to obesity and an unhealthy body.

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.

54 | WINTER 2016

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X-Men: Gambit

Feature – Fox/Marvel Starring Channing Tatum, Lea Seydoux Director: TDA (Rupert Wyatt has left the project) Resumes: nolafilmresume@gmail.com LP: Bill Bannerman – PM: Haley Sweet Status: March 2016 Location: New Orleans

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Jack Reacher: Never Go Back Richmond Inn & Suites

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58 | WINTER 2016

Young Americans

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THE UNSCENE SERIES IMPACT A number of television shows will be returning to shoot their second season in Louisiana. And that’s not surprising when considering exactly how much television is being produced right now. In 2015, 409 seasons of television were produced.

That’s thousands of episodes. And much of it was great, including the first seasons of Scream Queens, Scream and NCIS: New Orleans, all of which were shot right around the corner.

The second Golden Age of television is upon us. The quality and quantity being produced is unparalleled.

Journalists have started doing Top 20 and Top 30 lists because Top 10 lists just aren’t fair enough anymore.

While everyone is watching more television, thanks to timeshifting services and on-demand video outlets like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime, there’s a problem that might be around the corner. With all of last year’s television (and everything aired for the last fifty years) on demand, old shows are effectively competing with new shows. Every new cop drama isn’t just competing with shows still on the air. It’s competing with five seasons of The Wire and twenty seasons of Law & Order!

While there may be a television bubble right now, there’s another possibility. That we’re prepared for a massive global expansion.

And as Netflix and others make their way around the world, hundreds of millions of people will discover shows being shot here.

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