STATUS Magazine November 2016 feat. Shameik Moore

is kickin’ it old school n ov e m b e r 2 0 1 6

4 MASTHEAD 5 CONTRIBUTORS 6 STATUS MESSAGE

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STATUSPHERE 9 THREADS 12 SETTING 13 BRICK & MORTAR 14 SCREEN 15 BEATS 16 TECH PACK

FEATURES MAESTRO

48 GIRLHOOD

Leaving another mark on the timeline of her music career, Aly Cabral turns to her solo synthpop act Teenage Granny to explore other forms of art.

By Bea del Rio

50 BURNING

BEAUTY 18 FACE

PAINT: MATERIAL GIRL

Express yourself with a blush of pink.

19 19

VANITIES: COMO LA FLOR

By Gabrielle Abrahan

52 LIVE

BEAUTY BITE: BROWHAUS

By Denise Mallabo

STREET STYLE

54 THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL

GO SEE

Toughening it up in the A self-professed feelings correspondent, lo-fi act Lisa Prank broadcasts sugary hooks dipped in bubblegum angst that’s reminiscent of pop punk’s past.

VISION BOARD

22 BACK

50

& FORTH

Throwing it back to the heyday of R&B, be one in a million in vintage yet edgy streetwear staples.

By Pola Beronilla

By Regine David

32 FLUID

MOTION

Join team cozy and go against the flow with soft hues and relaxed silhouettes. Life in pastel, it’s fantastic.

By Miguel Alomajan

SHOPPING GUIDE

39 SWAG:

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Time after time, these vintage staples never go out of style.

40 DAZED

AND CONFUSED

‘70s Guys

41 COSMIC

BLUES

‘70s Girls

42 UNDER 44

PRESSURE

COLORS

‘80s Girls

GIN AND JUICE

‘90s Guys

45 TEEN

SPIRIT

‘90s Girls

46 DIRTY

POP

‘00s Guys

47 HOLLABACK ‘00s Girls

MASTERMIND

56

GOOD KID, MAD CITY

All jokes aside, MADtv’s Carlie Craig might be born to be laughed at, but the comedian is out to break the tired trope that women aren’t funny.

By Pola Beronilla

58 REALITY

BYTES

Pouring their sappy art into your childhood’s console, 8-bitfiction will never quit playing games with your heart no matter how hard you hit pause.

By Pola Beronilla

‘80s Guys

43 TRUE

AND LOUDER

Courtesy of his sheer desire to perform more often than usual, Nick Valensi leads his West Coast project CRX, and they’re geared to rock the world.

You’ll be dreaming of this tonight.

FASHION 20

UP

Blazing with a mash of timeless beats from different decades, Savoy Motel leaves no vacancy for hackneyed habits, creating a contemporary groove.

GIRL

60 THE

PAST TRACK

Walking the streets as a lady of the night in HBO’s The Deuce, Sepideh Moafi paves her own path, no matter what stage she chooses to stand on.

By Janroe Cabiles

62 TOP

OF THE CLASS

Taking a step both backward and forward, BritishEgyptian actor Fady Elsayed works hard to be a class act in the latest Doctor Who spinoff series.

By Janroe Cabiles

is kickin’ it old school nov em b er 2 0 1 6

HEAVY HITTER

64

84

FUNKY FRESH

Straight outta the success of Rick Famuyiwa’s sleeper hit Dope, the debut of Shameik Moore opened doors towards a bright future. Now playing the street-smart, aspiring DJ Shaolin Fantastic in the Baz Luhrmann-directed Netflix series The Get Down, the young actor is bound to do great things.

MORE

VIDEO ON DEMAND

Ace Norton grew up wanting to be a lot of things: a soccer player, a surfer, and a skater. However, all were brought to a halt when a broken tailbone reeled him into video production.

Armed with pipeline dreams and tenacious visions, the filmmaker takes us into the gritty side of the universe.

93 DIRECTORY STATUS INVADES 94 PASTIME PARADISE

Keeping it cool through grain and light flares, aspiring art director and one-half of Creative Bums Issa Amores muses over nostalgic sensibilities with her signature glare.

By Denise Mallabo

78

58

By Janroe Cabiles

By Denise Mallabo

72

SENTIMENTAL SATURATION

Making headlines at a tender age for her official assessment as a gifted child, Shaira Luna was en route to becoming a doctor. Taking the road less traveled instead, the Manila-based photographer took a detour and changed the course of her history through the rose-colored frames of her vision.

CLASS ACT

Found at the heart and mind of Central City, The Flash’s Danielle Panabaker stays classy no matter what universe she lands on. All dolled up with a beautiful mind and an even more beautiful spirit, the timeless actress is a superhero in her own right– certainly far from a damsel in distress.

94

By Pola Beronilla

ABOUT THE COVER Shot in the busy streets of Brooklyn by veteran lensman JC Cerilla, Shameik Moore gets down to business with a ‘70s-inspired swag. This new kid in town is bound to be a classic act.

statusmagonline.com

BLOGSPHERE

the pulse of hip at your fingertips

GO SEE

we’re all models off duty. smize!

FEATURES

there’s more to what’s in print

PHOTO DIARY confessional for lensmen

DIGITAL MAGAZINE DOWNLOADS STATUS in pixels, not paper

free mixtapes and wallpapers

is kickin’ it old school November 2016 editor-in-chief

Rosario Herrera @RosarioHerrera

managing editor

Denise Mallabo @denisemallabo

art director

Nyael David @nyaels

features editor

Pola Beronilla @HaveYouMetPola

fashion editor

Jill de Leon @orangetoenails

editorial assistant

Janroe Cabiles @janroetheboat

graphic designer

Nadine Layon @nadinelayon

contributing writers

contributing artists

interns

Ida Aldana, Isa Almazan, Honey Bautista, Bea del Rio Shawn Adeli, Miguel Alomajan, April Arabella, Theo Banzon, Kevin Brent, Amanda de Cadenet, Sarah Cass, JC Cerilla, Regine David, David Gardner, Katrina Guevara, Raymond Isais, Cherry Le, Elie Maalouf, Christine Dorothy Mamalio, Ryan Orange, Matt Panes, Lei Ponce, Irvin Rivera, Jen Rosenstein, Daniel Santillan, Marni Seabright, Joseph Sinclair, Semi Song, JP Talapian, Florian Trinidad, Nicole Walmsley, Darian Zahedi Gabrielle Abrahan, Chino Aricaya, Sue Leong, Charmaine Resari, Andrea Valenzuela

What’s your STATUS? tell us. editorial editorial@statusmagonline.com advertising advertise@statusmagonline.com marketing marketing@statusmagonline.com general inquiries info@statusmagonline.com follow us facebook.com/statusmagazine twitter.com/statusmagazine instagram: statusmagazine STATUS is published by STATUS Media Group.

Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

C O N T R I B U TO RS

FLORIAN TRINIDAD A savant of sorts, Florian transcends her style from retro aesthetic to modern streetwear and then back. The Manilabased stylist and Fashion Design and Marketing graduate from SoFa has a background in marketing, sales, and styling. With experience in styling for a variety of local fashion brands as well as music videos, films, and concerts, she’s a stickler for the hustle.

JC CERILLA JC is coolchalant in the form of a person. And unlike Gretchen Wieners, he really makes it happen. Having a penchant for all things cool and effortless, everything started with film photography for the College of St. Benilde graduate. To him, it’s all about finding the beauty in all things, naturally. Now a New York-based photographer, the homegrown artist still remembers to look back and focus on his own process despite the fast-paced industry.

THEO BANZON This Fashion Director and stylist based in New York City looks at vintage clothes as the epitome of fashion history, which he uses in most of his work.

As an “LA boy at heart,” his style is an ode to his childhood in the City of Angels before anything else because unlike most, he’s one to sit out trends.

IRVIN RIVERA Story is king and Irvin Rivera is the writer that plays out each character’s destiny. Using portraits and fashion photography to narrate these adventures, this storyteller sure knows how to play the camera as a pen. His works are mostly from his dreams and collaborations with fellow sandmen in the industry including Italian Vogue, W, and The British Journal of Photography.

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STATU S MESSAG E

IS KICKIN’ IT OLD SCHOOL W

ith the flood of notifications we get from all our gadgets, the speed of life is moving faster than ever. How did we get addicted to this hyper speed we call life? Are we too plugged in? I have to admit, I am. I revel at the slower pace of the past, before cellphones and social media. Perhaps, that’s why nostalgia is a big part of today’s fashion, music, and television. In our Throwback Issue, we feature actors, artists, and visionaries who wouldn’t mind pressing rewind.

Actor, dancer, and rapper Shameik Moore is on a major hot streak. He first broke out in his role as Malcom in the movie Dope, and now, he’s starring in Netflix’s newest original series The Get Down, which is set in the Bronx during the ‘70s. Transitioning from the ‘90s flat top to the ‘70s afro, Shameik tells us what’s it like working with acclaimed director Baz Luhrmann, how he prepared for his role as Shaolin Fantastic, and how he stays grounded with his newfound fame.

When we ask director Ace Norton about the first film he ever watched, he thinks back to the movie Poltergeist and how it scared the shit out of him. Though the movie didn’t necessarily inspire him to start a career in filmmaking, but it was a skateboarding accident that allowed him to experiment with his dad’s 8mm camera. Fast forward to present day, Ace has racked up an all-star list of clients he has created and collaborated with. When we asked what kind of videos he wants to make one day, he recalls his childhood influences like Michel Gondry and Spike Jonze remixed with Godzilla and Pee Wee Herman.

Actress Danielle Panabaker has played a variety of characters, but it’s her role as Caitlin Snow in The Flash that’s getting her in the spotlight today. Starring in a TV show about a comic book superhero that has super speed is a great metaphor of today and yesteryear as well as for our daily lives as the comic book story of good versus evil is a great throwback to simpler times. In her interview, she talks about her character’s love life, what kind of roles she likes to play, and her thoughts on a possible sequel to Sky High.

Looking at her Instagram feed, you would think photographer Shaira Luna lived in a different era. Her photographs capture moments of purity and quiet with a multitude of vintage scenes. It’s these nostalgic moments in her photographs that make her come alive. Shaira opens up to us about her process for taking a shot, what she’s learned over the years behind the lens, and why she’d rather not have a muse.

If pop culture is a reflection of the times, it looks like we all wish for a time when existing was less complicated. Though it seems as if life was sweeter before tweets, hashtags, and like buttons, we can still relish our moments of today.

Editor-in-chief

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FASHION

BEAUT Y

CELEBRIT Y

www.starstyle.ph

facebook.com/starstyleph

@starstyleph

@starstyleph

THREADS / setting / BRICK AND MORTAR / BEATS / SCREEN / Tech pack november 2016

white noise H

ead on straight to the WRKDEPT and choose from a variety of pieces that are all about functionality. Playing around with classics that are equally modern and elegant, their slit skirts, fringe sleeves, and tie belts pack the right amount of quirk. In this all-white minimalist collection, the focus is on each strand and stitching, with no single detail of work undone. wrkdept.com

shadow play I

f you’re aching to add a little mystery to your wardrobe, here’s one DARK CIRCLE you wouldn’t want to conceal. Donning solid and dark colors with occasional pops of neon here and there, laidback streetwear is their common language. From hoodies and sweaters to oversized shirts, with political phrases for inscriptions, it mirrors the culture of hip-hop that has gone on to reflect even people’s closets. darkcircleclothing.com

frozen goods W

hile we slowly layer up for the -ber months, PALACE welcomes Winter 2016 with doors wide open.

With a throwback collection that ignites the fire in all ‘90s kids, it feels like Christmas came early this year. Old school pieces revamped for contemporary consumption, the brand’s knitted sweats, winter warmers, and polar fleece jackets are like sips of hot chocolate on a cold snowy morning. palaceskateboards.com

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THREADS

BRANDS TO KNOW

snooze cues W

hen you snooze, you lose; except when it comes to NUFFERTON. Specializing in all things loungewear, your Guilty Pleasures come to life in the form of striped pajamas, coveralls, and plain co-ords for the cozy collection of your dreams. Snuggle up and settle down, the night shift is here. nufferton.com

analog mechanics A

major steel T

here’s no holding back for South Korean brand IISE as they continue to produce staples that juxtapose modern and traditional designs and fabrics. Unveiling its biggest collection yet to the fashion field, 003 delivers standout pieces like the black “Pervert” T-shirt, dark forest green pants, navy bomber, and royal navy jacket. ii-se.co

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Words by Gabrielle Abrahan, Chino Aricaya, and Charmaine Resari

nchored in the future of fashion, C2H4 has sailed back in time this fall through the lenses of Uzi, evoking a pitch-perfect ‘90s-inspired collection. Staying true to their intricate ideologies, the brand meshes their minimalist aesthetic to Uzi’s friskiness, featuring baseball caps, button-downs, hoodies, and T-shirts that bridge the decade’s street culture with the current. c2h4losangeles.com

THREADS

right clique B

race yourselves for another act of harmless MISCHIEF as their new collection continues to rock the ‘90s vibe. From fusing plaid shirts with track pants to mixing graphic tees, cropped tops, and turtle necks with oversized hoodies, the Korean label pulls off the analog culture in the coolest way possible. mischief.co.kr

guilty pleasures H

ailing from the west of Sweden, the main players of Europe’s skateboarding scene SWEET SKTBS lures us in to take a bite of the Nordic underground culture. Offering a bounty of essentials like caps, shirts, jackets, pants, and skateboard decks that satisfy all your streetwear cravings, you’re bound to give in, let go of any inhibition, and indulge in all of your heart’s desires. sweetsktbs.com

gray matter B

efore the bed weather puts you into hibernation mode, DRIFTER releases their must-haves sure to keep you cozy amidst this season’s below-zero tendencies.

With double-breasted overcoats, embroidered sweatshirts, and welted trousers dashed in camou as well as a muted spectrum of white, black, and gray, get ready to blend in, stand out, and conquer the holiday rush. drifter.com

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SETTING

PLACES TO GO

SUITE

BISMA EIGHT, UBUD A

rmed with a sensibility to culture, food, drink, and the authenticity of Ubud, BISMA EIGHT opens its concrete doors to its modern homage to Bali’s heritage. Staying true to its modern topical aesthetic, it is structured by concrete, steel, and glass while having artisanal touches in teak wood furniture, woven rugs, sungkai wooden panels, and a Japanese-inspired soaking tub made from cedar wood in their naturally lit rooms, a choice between the Forest, Canopy, and Garden suite.

While it keeps up with its high-end amenities available, it also promotes a healthy, natureridden lifestyle, from a rooftop infinity pool overlooking Batukaru to its organic farm The Gardens, putting fresh produce straight to your table in their Copper Kitchen & Bar. Jalan Bisma, No. 68, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia bisma-eight.com

GRUB

NORI, PASIG CITY H

idden amidst the many signs and dines of Kapitolyo lies the unassuming NORI on 1st Street, maintaining its unprecedented demeanor of simplicity. With crisp and nononsense decors of newspaper-laden surfaces and comic strip lamps, as well as a mural by Kookoo Ramos, the small eatery lets its food speak for itself. Turning down the idea of being identified as fusion, food consultant and chef Justin David proves that ingenuity is key, sticking to an innovative way of morphing what’s available and what’s familiar into a new classic. Constantly engineering new flavors, they boast of their wide selection of appetizers, yakitori, savory rice bowls, and famous sushi burritos.

PLATE

CROSSING BORDERS Introducing new flavors from old-time towns, NORI perpetually soaks our sense of taste with their own take on classic cuisines.

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SALMON TERIYAKI DON BURI Seared salmon drizzled with sauce and mayo, served with rice

SEXY SALMON SUSHI BURRITO Fresh salmon, lettuce, mango slices, and rice, wrapped in nori

AUSTRALIAN WAGYU BEEF DON BURI Australian wagyu beef served with rice, sprinkled with sesame seeds

MACHO TUNA SUSHI BURRITO Fresh tuna, lettuce, carrots, and rice, wrapped in nori

Words by Janroe Cabiles, GRUB photos by Nadine Layon

1st St., Kapitolyo, Pasig City facebook.com/norikapitolyo

BRICK AND MORTAR

STORES TO SHOP

INVINCIBLE SOUTH, KAOHSIUNG

19 Deshun Street, Xinxing District, Kaohsiung City invincible.com.tw Dime to Drop: TWD 586.82-TWD 69,015.76 (PHP 900-PHP 45,000) Don’t leave the store without: items from their latest Carhartt WIP collection

I

t’s very easy to get lost in streetwear’s vast ocean of aesthetic, but don’t abandon ship just yet, because INVINCIBLE just expanded its retail empire with a fourth store in Kaohsiung City. With the latest addition to its already established stores Invincible East, Invincible West, and Invincible Central, Invincible South promises to set sail and represent the brand’s mission: to dominate the Taiwan retail scene–one cardinal point at a time.

Surrounded by high ceilings, illuminated by natural light and white walls, and accentuated with wooden floors, the minimalist space calms the mind and sets the focus straight to the treasures the store has to offer.

Shirts, caps, shoes, bags, and limitededition merchandise from familiar brands like NEIGHBORHOOD, Visvim, Jason Markk, Champion, and Puma, to name a few, are sure to anchor wandering fashion enthusiasts and steer one’s streetwear adventure to the right direction.

HOUSE OF LIZA

Words by Chino Aricaya

A

s something old represents continuity and something new offers optimism for the future, HOUSE OF LIZA offers both.

With a wide selection of one-of-a-kind pieces handpicked from different decades–from Christian Dior and John Galliano to Jean Paul Gaultier and Issey Miyake, the online store serves as a time capsule of fashion history. This is the blast from the past you wouldn’t want to miss.

houseofliza.co.uk STATUSMAGONLINE.COM - 13

SCREEN

SCENES TO SEE

REMOTE CONTROL TICKET

THE CROWN (NETFLIX) Starring Claire Foy, this AmericanBritish biographical drama series seeks to uncover the private life of Queen Elizabeth II across different decades, recounting chapters of her reign: from her initial struggle as a newlywed in 1947, to her daunting efforts to save a then-declining empire, and up to the present as the face of a new era as the world’s most famous monarchy.

GILMORE GIRLS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE (NETFLIX) Our favorite mother-daughter duo is back. For its 16th anniversary, Netflix celebrates the iconic dramedy with a follow-up miniseries reboot, featuring a year in the characters’ lives at Stars Hollow.

Follow the continuing journey of Lorelei and Rory Gilmore as they cope with changes and the growing complications of life and family.

LOVING Acclaimed writer and director Jeff Nichols brings us the true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple living in Virginia who fought to overturn their hometown’s miscegenation laws and legalize interracial marriage.

DOCTOR STRANGE The Marvel Cinematic Universe brings the journey of neurosurgeon Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), whose search for healing after an accident led to becoming the powerful and enigmatic Doctor Strange.

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM J.K. Rowling makes her screenwriting debut in this spinoff based from her book, which documents the misadventures of writer Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) in New York, set in the year 1926.

NOCTURNAL ANIMALS Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal star in this dark thriller by fashion designerturned-director Tom Ford about a gallery owner haunted by the manuscript she receives from her ex-husband: a vengeful, violent tale dedicated to her.

MOANA Disney introduces yet another princess in the form of Moana, an eager navigator from a mystic island in Polynesia who sets out across the South Pacific to search for a mysterious island, with the help of legendary demigod, Maui.

ELLE Isabelle Huppert plays the role of a businesswoman who was attached and assaulted in her home one day and applies the same ruthlessness she displays in every aspect of her life to tracking down her assailant for revenge.

PLAYBACK

BADLANDS (1973) Incredible cinematography and soundtrack.

Such a compelling story, both innocent and sinister.

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ROMEO + JULIET (1996) The first movie I ever made out with a boy while watching.

It still tugs at my heartstrings.

THE GREAT BEAUTY (2013) This film is masterful. Sad and funny and surreal and beautifully shot.

WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER (2001) One of my favorite silly comedies with an all-star ensemble cast.

I still laugh out loud at it, even though I’ve probably seen it 60 times.

Words by Bea del Rio

MYLA DALBESIO (Artist) myladalbesio.com

THE HOLY MOUNTAIN (1973) Certainly not one I could watch that often, but this influenced my work in innumerable ways and still blows my mind with its scope and vision.

BEATS PLAYLIST IDK if these are really a feminist anthems, however, I can relate to them on extreme levels and just fucking love them.

THE REGRETTES Lydia Night (Vocals/Guitar) theregrettes.com

“Sorry” Beyoncé

“Rap For Rejection” Kate Nash

“Hey Girl” Tacocat

“Shut Up Kiss Me” Angel Olsen

These songs are pure genius–prime examples of simplicity and ferocity at its finest. Hail Rock & Roll! Nuff’ said.

PUBLIC ACCESS T.V. Xan Aird (Lead Guitar/Vocals) patvmusic.com

“It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Want To Rock ‘n’ Roll)” AC/DC

“Carol” Chuck Berry

“T.V. Eye” The Stooges

“Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World” The Ramones

Words by Sue Leong Lydia Night photo by Jen Rosenstein, Xan Aird photo by April Arabella

I decided to focus on recent pop punk anthems! ‘Cause these songs make me feel so many feelings.

LISA PRANK lisaprank.bandcamp. com

“Run” Benny the Jet Rodriguez

“Molasses” Aye Nako

“Hoarder House” Dogbreth

“Falling in Love Again” Joyce Manor

MUSIC TO HEAR

RELEASES

There’s surely nothing terrible with AMERICAN WRESTLER’s sophomore album as the band blesses the public with a fresh lo-fi collection of timeless, hazy pop songs in Goodbye Terrible Youth. Featuring nine new tracks, replaying the whole record is a difficult thing to “Give Up.”

After a five-year break, French electronic duo JUSTICE is back in the spotlight with Woman. For this album, everything in life becomes “Safe and Sound” upon hearing their musical shift as they build a bridge between their usual gritty electro and a tamer discoinfluenced sound.

MUSIC NEWS

Netherland’s Rotterdam will become the most lit city for second time around as MTV Europe Music Awards chooses Ahoy Rotterdam as their headquarters again.

Catch all the latest music triumphs and other shenanigans this November 6.

Raise your inner party animals to exciting levels with Le Guess Who? 2016.

Head down to Utrecht, Netherlands on November 10-13 to experience one-ofa-kind acts from all over the globe, including the likes of Wilco, Savages, and SUUNS.

Trance music legend Armin van Buuren will once again prove why he’s one of the best EDM superstars of all time as his Armin Only Embrace World Tour takes the center stage at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on November 25.

Austin Feinstein first fronted headlines after lending a hand to Tyler the Creator and Frank Ocean, and now, the LA-based musician is set to make another splash as his band SLOW HOLLOWS drops Romantic. Their gently jazz jam “Softer” serves as the album’s introduction.

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tech pack

GADGETS TO BUY

DOUBLE VISION

DOWNLOADS

It’s way more than meets the eye.

OOMBRELLA • Outfitted with hyper-local weather data recognition that alerts when it’s about to rain or if left within 30-50 meters • Made UV resistant and windproof courtesy of its Kevlar-made ribs • Built with screw threads wherein cameras or GoPros can be attached SRP: PHP 4,231.40

WALLI WEARABLES SMART WALLET • Boasts of SecurePocket technology that monitors the cardslot most used and 90dB audible buzzer • Equipped with a notification system that sends alerts in case you leave it behind within 10-100 feet • Has a six month battery life

CRYING JORDAN MEME GENERATOR

By David Okun Snap a new pic or grab one from your camera roll and turn them into the G.O.A.T. meme of 2016 in an instant with this app.

SRP: PHP 5,594.84

COSMOS CLOCK SPEAKER

SRP: PHP 6,112.02

ZUNGLE PANTHER AUDIO SHADES

KUBIC

By Appsolute Games LLC Taking its cues from the Rubik’s Cube, Kubic is harder than you think. Things gets trickier as you try to conquer 60 levels of the game.

• Doubles as bone conduction headphones that transmit sound waves to the skull • Has a hidden USB port, jog dial button, built-in microphone for calls, and Bluetooth connectivity • Weighs at 45g and comes in five different colors: black, white, gray, neon green, and neon pink SRP: PHP 5,124.69

MIN7 SPEAKER • Features two 4-inch paper cone woofers, 1-inch silk dome tweeters, and a 5.25-inch subwoofer on the bottom • Equipped with two amplifier chips that power a 150watt system • Designed with handmade recycled hardwood SRP: PHP 37,612.40

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CHAATZ

By Chaatz Limited Bid goodbye to minimalistic texting screens and say hello to Chaatz, a messaging app that makes talking to your friends a lot more fun.

Words by Honey Bautista and Pola Beronilla

• Features LED strip that distributes lights to “large stars,” representing the minute and hour • Includes a full map of the Northern Hemisphere Constellation • Provides Bluetooth connectivity to play music

FASHION

BEAUT Y

CELEBRIT Y

www.starstyle.ph

facebook.com/starstyleph

@starstyleph

@starstyleph

F A CE PA I N T YVES SAINT LAURENT “Dessin Du Regard” Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Black P1,550.98 BOBBI BROWN “Cool Dusk” Eye Palette P2,584.96

MAC Liptensity Lipstick in Ambrosial P1,085.69

MOROCCANOIL Dry Texture Spray P1,447.58

MATERIAL GIRL

CHANEL Le Teint Ultra Tenue Ultrawear Flawless Foundation in Beige P3,101.96

Fuschia fits retro like a prayer.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua XL Eye Pencil in Matte White P1,011.87

SIGMA BEAUTY B12 Bent Liner Brush P723.79

GIORGIO ARMANI “High Precision” Retouch Concealer P2,067.97 ESTÉE LAUDER “Lucidity” Translucent Pressed Powder P1,757.78

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DIOR “Diorblush” Light & Contour Sculpting Stick Duo P2,274.77

TARTE Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Twerk P1,125.50

Runway photo from Topshop Unique Fall/Winter 2016

NARS “Audacious” Brow Defining Cream in Tanami P1,189.08

VAN I T I ES BRIGHT BLUSHES

Bask in the ambience of Paris’ joie de vivre with LANCÔME × SONIA RYKIEL “BLUSH SUBTIL” CUSHION BLUSH IN SPLASH CORAIL, which delivers a healthy and subtle dewy glow.

COMO LA FLOR Your heart’s gonna go bidi bidi bom bom with the limitededition MAC × SELENA FALL 2016 COLLECTION. The 12-piece collection features lipsticks, an eyeshadow palette, and a bronze-blush compact among others, inspired by the late singer Selena Quintanilla’s style staples. Each named after her classic hits, take a bit of her legacy with you while channelling your inner ‘80s muse.

Stand out in bold bubblegum pink with TOO FACED LONG-LASTING LOVE FLUSH IN JUSTIFY MY LOVE, a finelymilled pressed powder that can last up to 16 hours.

EXPERT ADVICE Inspired by clusters of a flower’s coral buds, DOLCE & GABANNA BEAUTY “BLUSH OF ROSE” CREAMY FACE COLOR IN ROSE AURORA is a bright orange hue that you can build from subtle to bold.

Apply powder blush with a tapered brush and cream blush with a sponge for optimal results.

BEAUTY BITE

BROWHAUS

A

Words by Honey Bautista

cult favourite among beauty girls who’s in it for arches and lashes on fleek, BROWHAUS is spicing things up with their newest branch in Rockwell called “Brow Wow West.”

Get transported into the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the wild West and take in the lodge-style interiors in hues of brown, green, and white decorated with interesting pieces like plush recliner chairs and steel cases lined with vintage cameras that add to the rustic feel of the space.

P1 Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City facebook.com/browhausmanila

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GO S E E

Revisit your vintage pieces and throw it back with these modern classic looks.

Photos courtesy of lookbook.nu

@radziok

@lefrenchboy

@vitachen77

@eunbi.eb

@trixandthecity

Blogger ISABELLE HARDY warms up the cool band shirt staple with auburn culottes. @izziehardy

@eneanastri

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@confassion

@giancarlolaguerta

@thaonhile

Stylist JORGE BARCELÓ adds a hot statement to his blue ensemble with this bright red bag from Parfois. @jorgebarcelo

@robbiecook93

@healthfag

@valeriasytmik

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Photographed by Regine David Styled by Florian Trinidad

jacket by Yves Camingue pants by adidas socks by Champion accessories by Forever 21

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jacket and pants by Nicole Pineda top by MillennX briefs by Calvin Klein eyewear by Daiso

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jacket by Topshop earrings by Forever 21

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top by Mariton Villanueva eyewear by Daiso accessories by Forever 21

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bandana by SM top by Topshop jacket by Pacific Trail pants by Merona accessories by Forever 21

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top by Fila pants by Neal Corpus socks by Champion shoes by adidas

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top by MillennX jacket by Topshop accessories by Forever 21

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jacket by Jeremiah Oribe top by Forever 21 pants by NBA Store shoes by adidas eyewear by Iconic accessories by Forever 21

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hat by Champion top by Forever 21 briefs by Calvin Klein

Hair and Makeup Lei Ponce of Make Up For Ever Model Alexa Aguirre

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Photographed and styled by MIguel Alomajan

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top by H&M pants by Zara shoes by Nike

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sweater by H&M top, Stylist’s own pants by Zara

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jacket and top

by Cee Market

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pullover by Giordano

Hair and Makeup Christine Dorothy Mamalio Model Elys Lim

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SWAG NOV EMBER

20 1 6

BACK TO THE FUTURE These vintage staples will never go out of style.

Product photography by Daniel Santillan

1970S

DAZED AND CONFUSED Granddaddy af.

jacket by 21 Men cardigan by Mango Man button-down by Topman pants by Topman shoes by Dr. Martens

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[P1,535] [P1,275] [P1,995] [P2,795] [P8,990]

COSMIC BLUES Hippies don’t lie.

turtleneck by Forever 21 [P655] vest by ALDO [P3,295] dress by Forever 21 [P1,175] earrings by Mango Touch [P795] bag by Call It Spring [P1,455] eyewear by Mango Touch [P995] shoes by Mango [P2,995] STATUSMAGONLINE.COM - 41

1980S

UNDER PRESSURE Catch the new wave.

T-shirt by Sfera Men [P699] jacket by 21 Men [P1,425] pants by H&M [P1,175] sandals by ALDO [P3,495] eyewear by ALDO [P755]

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TRUE COLORS Girls just wanna have fun.

top by Warehouse [P3,145] jacket by Forever 21 [P1,785] skirt by Warehouse [P2,695] eyewear by Mango Touch [P995] bag by ALDO [P2,695] necklace by Mango Touch [P1,295] shoes by ALDO [P4,995] STATUSMAGONLINE.COM - 43

1990S

GIN AND JUICE Money on your mind.

shirt by Topman [P995] jacket by adidas [P2,795] pants by Mango Man [P1,995] shoes by Call It Spring [P2,995]

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TEEN SPIRIT Time to hold a grunge.

top by Sfera [P1,499] dress by Mango [P2,795] jeans by Sfera [P2,799] chokers by Call It Spring [P455 each] eyewear by Mango Touch [P995] bag by Forever 21 [P1,700] pin set and patches by Polly Patch [P250 each] STATUSMAGONLINE.COM - 45

2000S

DIRTY POP

It’s just about respect.

button-down by Topman [P2,795] jacket by Cee Market [P799] pants by 21 Men [P1,275] beanie by H&M [P550] shoes by Dr. Martens [P8,990]

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HOLLABACK GIRL Ready to lead the pack.

jacket by Cee Market [P1,299] top by Miss Selfridge [P1,995] pants by Topshop [P1,995] eyewear by Mango Touch [P995] hat by Topshop [P795] bag by Mango [P795] shoes by Dr. Martens [P7,490] STATUSMAGONLINE.COM - 47

M A E S T R O Reinventing her sound as a solo artist, Aly Cabral spoils us with all the delicious beats we need while knitting tunes as effortlessly brilliant as she is. No question about it—we have ourselves a new favorite.

By Bea del Rio Photographed by JP Talapian Styled by Matt Panes Makeup Raymond Isais Shot on location at Gold Digger Records

T

here’s something about Aly. It must be the doe eyes, the micro-bangs, and the chic blazer with the DMs. But there’s something else completely unseen yet loudly visible—a paradox as fitting as her moniker. She’s a living, walking editorial portrait even before the makeup and the styling, a realized killer indie coming-of-age film with an equally killer score, and the poster child of this generation’s cool girls club, plus a whole dash of sensibility, minus any trace of pretentiousness.

The frontwoman of indie folk group Ourselves the Elves, as well as guitarist of indie pop outfit The Buildings and riot grrrl band Girls in Dirty Shirts, Aly Cabral, who has been writing songs since she was 13, has always been musically inclined. While most of us trace our adolescent phases through cringe-worthy hair styles and wardrobes, Aly does so through her (far from cringe-worthy) music. This time, the doe-eyed musician leaves yet another mark on the timeline of her life and music career by deciding to pursue a solo pop synth act, going by the name Teenage Granny. “I consider all these bands facets of

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who I am, of my personality,” she confides. “I feel like [Teenage Granny] was something that I eventually had to do because it’s like another form of me right now.”

Truth be told, it wasn’t the first time I met her, but our interview post-shoot shed a new light on an old acquaintance. She shares she actually got the alias because her friends tease her for being a teen whose hobbies include knitting and embroidery. In a way, she tells us knitting is comparable to making music–yes, she even makes knitting sound cool–considering both as a therapeutic art outlet. Just like how her hobby comes almost as naturally as breathing, the creative process for making songs as Teenage Granny is more fluid and less rigid. “That’s a big reason why I wanted to do a solo project.

I wanted to have an avenue to express whatever I want, without any filters. If I would describe Teenage Granny’s music, it’s music that I puke.”

And oh, what wonderful things she puke. Check out Teenage Grannycore, her 2015 debut EP produced

by Eyedress, which, though contains only two tracks, packs a punch with its wistful beats and complementary lo-fi quality. Combined with her distinct nasal voice, the final product is an eerie yet playful record that’s sure to put anyone on a different kind of high.

MAESTRO

Although she jokingly refers to her music as an unflattering physical discharge (or puke, in case you didn’t get that), she takes this project seriously and reveals her dream of becoming a sound artist. Her immediate plans include shifting into a more techno sound as well as collaborating with artists who play indigenous instruments. “[Teenage Granny] was brought by my desire to experiment with genres that I’m not really accustomed to. I wanted to get out of my box,” she shares. “I also decided to incorporate knitting and embroidery into it, so actually, if you ask me what Teenage Granny is, I’d say it’s an art project. It’s my avenue to explore and experiment other forms of music and other forms of art, other things that I haven’t really touched before.”

Taking on an experimental project and pursuing it solo takes a certain amount of courage, but by making it all about the music, Aly takes all of the unnecessary pressure off. “Whatever people perceive, I don’t really care. I don’t really project any image of anything on purpose.”

And while she admits that the hardest thing about going solo is the lack of validation from colleagues as to the quality of her output, she insists that it’s also the core essence of it. “There’s that doubt, but I just put it at the back of my head. Since Teenage Granny is an experimental project, I shouldn’t give a fuck about what anybody thinks or says. I just do what I do.”

soundcloud.com/teenagegranny @_teenagegranny

“There’s that doubt, but I just put it at the back of my head. Since Teenage Granny is an experimental project, I shouldn’t give a fuck about what anybody thinks or says. I just do what I do.”

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Straightforward, sharp, and unapologetic, Nashville underground quartet SAVOY MOTEL creates music that mixes timeless beats from different decades. Blazing with a mash of funk, rock, glitter, and a lot of boogie oogie, these fire starters wait for no one.

By Gabrielle Abrahan Interview by Pola Beronilla Photographed by Semi Song

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T

he Parthenon might be a temple dedicated to Athena, goddess of wisdom and the arts, but in Nashville, it’s where Savoy Motel’s Jeffrey Novak spends his time to do the solemn prayer to the music gods that is writing songs. With Jeffrey Evans, Television, John Cale, and Led Zeppelin as their major influences, they’re often dubbed as the band set to bring back the ‘70s, and although it has never bothered them, it doesn’t please them when that becomes their identifier either. Collecting different 20thcentury genres to create a hypnotic, glamorous groove, Savoy Motel leaves no vacancy for hackneyed habits. Along with Jessica McFarland, Mimi Galbierz, and Dillon Watson, the underground quartet is determined to pave a path of their own.

MAESTRO

“We don’t live in the past; we live in the now.”

Your music comes across as a genre-mashing retro party-rock band. What led you towards this seemingly ‘70s-inspired sound?

J: We never discussed that as a goal of the band. I think our sound is more timeless than “‘70s-inspired.” You’re just as likely to hear us listening to ‘40s music like The Andrew Sisters, ‘50s rock & roll like Little Richard, or post-bop Jazz from the ‘60s. We’re just music heads trying to create something classic.

According to Jeffrey, when their fashion and style are given focus, it writes off their music, branding them as the champions destined to revive a decade whereas it should’ve been more about the music. “It’s all really silly to us and seems so unimportant compared to the music, which we think speaks for itself and can be interpreted individually by each listener,” he shares. So far, the band has released three singles and currently has three albums worth of recorded songs on the back burner. As the main writer and producer, Jeffrey admits that it’s still more of his music, although everyone in the band has got their own thing going on. “I would describe our chemistry like a loving caring family who strives for comfort and happiness together. Everyone’s just themselves,” he adds. With their newly minted self-titled record now out on What’s Your Rupture Records, Savoy Motel only hopes that it’s good enough to stay for more than a season.

Since your debut, most headlines of music sites have been tagging the band as a “retro glam revival group.” What makes Savoy Motel more than just a ‘70s-inspired band?

J: I’m honestly surprised we don’t get more ‘90s comparisons–with as much ‘90s nostalgia that’s still in the air. None of us were even born in the ‘70s. We’re a modern rock band in 2016 making current viable music for a 2016 audience. We don’t live in the past; we live in the now.

savoymotel.com @savoymotel

What has changed in the past two years since the band got together in 2014?

Jeffrey: We finally found a label willing to release our material after two years of shopping around to general disinterest. We’ve started to build a small but loyal following that’ll hopefully expand with the release of our album. We’ve really tightened up as a live unit while still keeping it loose and not playing too fast.

What’s it like to be an underground rock band in Nashville?

J: It’s cool. Rock bands are pretty under the radar in Nashville compared to the big business country artists that are the bread and the butter of the city’s industry.

It’s probably not that much different from being an LA band; usually, no one pays that much attention to you unless you’re a successful national or international touring act.

How has the city helped shape your music?

J: It’s the city that brought us together. Though none of us are actually from Nashville originally. It’s a city where the majority of people that live there tend to be musicians, so that sets a certain bar. We love it.

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Armed with his own kind of music, The Strokes’ Nick Valensi fronts his side project CRX and they’re more than ready to rock.

By Denise Mallabo Photographed by Amanda de Cadenet and Darian Zahedi

C

ourtesy of his sheer desire to perform more often than usual, Nick Valensi might be the last among his cohorts from The Strokes to start his own band, but it’s certainly worth the wait. “I spent enough time taking it easy and got a strong urge to start being on stage more, and the only way to do that was for me to write songs and form a band. The truth is, I was just kind of desperate to start playing more,” admits the guitarist, who’s now fronting his LA-based band CRX. Alongside Albert Hammond, Jr., Nick has been on guitar duties for The Strokes for around 18 years now.

Though he initially didn’t really feel the need to do more, performing in front of a massive number of people for festivals and huge arenas led to a certain craving for playing in club stages and smaller intimate venues.

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“To have an audience that’s right there, as opposed to 50 feet away from you, I was just wanting that a lot more,” adds Nick. So the question is, what made him decide to be the singer of his West Coast project?

“I didn’t grow up looking up to the singers in rock bands. I always knew that I wanted to become a guitar player at a young age. The singing thing was something that I resisted for a long time. I’m not sure why, but now that I’m doing it, I’m having a lot of fun with it,” he shares.

Nick also admits that for the first

time in his life, he started writing and recording songs in his computer with the actual intention of singing them and no one else in mind, saying “I just felt like I had to sing my songs if I didn’t want to have any obstacles in the way when I eventually start touring.”

Composed of Nick, guitarist Darian Zahedi, bassist Jon Safley, keyboardist Richie James Follin, and drummer Ralph Alexander, CRX isn’t an acronym for anything. “It’s an inside joke between me and the band that happened when we were recording. What it means is a

MAESTRO mechanical sound that we were going for. It has to do with this drum machine that we were using on certain songs called the CR78, and we would mix the sound of our live drums with the drum machine.” Nick’s good friend and Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme produced CRX’s debut album entitled New Skin. Initially, Nick approached Josh after he had put together eight songs in demo form and thought that they were really rough and didn’t sound totally finished. “I played those songs for Josh because I wanted to get his opinion on them. I felt like I needed a producer to work with because the demos that I were making really sounded like demos and I needed some help in the studio,” he recalls. “My initial conversation with him was about who would be a good producer for the songs that I was writing. As we were talking, one thing

led to another and I asked him if he could produce it, then he said, ‘Fuck yeah! I’ll do it!’ From then on, we just moved forward.”

Their first single “Ways to Fake It” is a resonant of an early sounding Strokes tune, a comparison that Nick doesn’t really mind. “I don’t find it offensive because that’s how I play guitar and how I write music. We also have the dual-guitar thing that we do in The Strokes. I love the sound of two guitars playing together,” explains Nick. “Particularly in the guitar playing, people who love The Strokes are going to listen to this and find all the guitar sounds and arrangements familiar, but this album also has that other side to it that’s a little bit more aggressive and heavier than anything that The Strokes would do.” And speaking of

The Strokes, he says that they’ve been very supportive with this new endeavor of his and mentions that they’re all in a positive place right now working on some new music that hopefully will be released soon. “I don’t know exactly when but we’re working on it,” he shares. But let’s put the focus back to CRX ‘cause they’re definitely ones to watch out for. “I think I managed to put together a really great band, and I’m psyched for people to hear our songs.”

crxmusic.com @crxmusic

“I THINK I MANAGED TO PUT TOGETHER A REALLY GREAT BAND, AND I’M PSYCHED FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR OUR SONGS.” STATUSMAGONLINE.COM - 53

Marching to the beat of her own electronic drum machine, one-woman lofi act LISA PRANK uses old tricks to break new ground with her own brand of pop punk music.

By Pola Beronilla Photographed by Sarah Cass

R

obin Edwards’ solo project might sound too gimmicky, but Lisa Prank is far from a gag. Usually spotted performing live with only her trusty electric guitar, a Roland MC-505 drum machine, and a congenial cardboard crown on top of her ginger locks, she’s got more than what she needs to tug at your heartstrings. First tasting the emotional flavors of pop punk records during her adolescence, she recalls, “It was such a big deal on the radio when I was the perfect age to let music into my heart. I love a good hook and chorus you can sing or cry along to.” Though she mostly spent her hard-earned cash from her teenage bagel shop job on CDs, becoming a musician was something she never envisioned at first– until she saw it herself. “Seeing bands play that weren’t classically trained was so exciting for me and got me into the DIY music scene,” she shares. “It made me feel like writing songs and performing them in front of people was something I could do too.”

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Taking DIY in the most literal sense, Robin Edwards did it herself and launched a one-woman pop punk act in the form of Lisa Prank, and just last June, she ultimately released an 11-track debut. A self-professed feelings correspondent, Adult Teen reports on a rush of sugary pop hooks dipped in bubblegum angst that’s reminiscent of predecessors Blink-182 and Green Day; only this time, it’s told from a girl’s perspective. As her lyrics deal with the workings of the heart, all wrapped in a glittering lo-fi production, her songs somehow brim with hope. “I always want to be vulnerable and honest in my songwriting, maybe even especially when it feels painful. Lyrics about heartbreak and falling in love are just such a universal thing that connect people and really speak directly to my heart.” Though she’s captivated by the sound of pop punk’s past, Lisa Prank is taking us back to the future.

We read that you’re really into reading tarot cards.

Could you tell us what your most recent tarot card reading indicated?

I used the celebrity goddess deck my friend Faye Orlove (who also did the album art for Adult Teen) to draw a card for this question, and the one I drew was Amy Winehouse as the Tower. The Tower honestly always freaks me out a little bit in a tarot reading, because it’s all about change–especially change that might be uncomfortable–and dismantling the structures in your life that are no longer serving you. Ultimately, the Tower is a positive card of growth, ‘cause once you get rid of the things that aren’t working anymore, you’re free to build whatever you want!

MAESTRO

Speaking of building whatever you want, we heard that you recorded your debut album with Tacocat’s Eric Randall.

Were there any difficulties that you encountered during the making of Adult Teen?

Eric and I recorded Adult Teen at Spruce Haus, the punk house we lived in, so the record was done in little bits whenever each of us had time at home. It was mostly recorded in the living room, with vocals in the bathroom, and I think I was in my pajamas a lot of the time we were recording. It definitely takes longer to set everything up, but the freedom of not being on any time schedule really made me feel comfortable recording. And Eric is such a pro! He really knows what he’s doing recording-wise and he got what sounds I wanted.

Also, how’s it been living with Tacocat?

It was great and I’m so thankful to them for taking me in. I actually recently moved out of that house (sadly, it’s up on the market to be sold, along with a lot of other punk houses in Seattle), but I will always think of it fondly.

Will you ever get a drummer, or do you think that it would ruin the idea of Lisa Prank?

I’m not opposed to getting a drummer, and I’ve definitely been toying with the idea of playing with a full band.

But I have to tell you, I saw Dolly Parton a little while ago and she played with a drum machine, and seeing such an icon do that validated my use of a drum machine like nothing else ever could.

What has been your ultimate goal with your music?

To connect with people, make friends, and have fun, as well as buying my seaside mansion and starting my Lisa Prank-themed amusement park, of course.

Lastly, do you think that luv rly is dumb?

I think love can addle your brain and make you do stupid things, but I love love. It’s the best.

lisaprank.bandcamp.com @lisaprank

“I think love can addle your brain and make you do stupid things, but I love love. It’s the best.”

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M A S T E R M I N D

GOOD MAD

KID, CITY

They say that first impressions last, but in CARLIE CRAIG’s case, she’s actually made a lot. As she rekindles the fire of MADtv’s legacy with its reboot on The CW, the comedian goes out of character to reveal who she really is.

By Pola Beronilla Photographed by Shawn Adeli

K

eegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Will Sasso, Mo Collins, Ike Barinholtz, Alex Borstein, and Michael McDonald. These are just a few names that probably drove Lorne Michaels into panic mode when his beloved late-night sketch show gained a healthy competition as the shortlived MADtv came into the scene. With its recent reboot on The CW, the new cast members surely have big shoes to fill, and coincidentally, stepping into another’s shoe is what Carlie Craig does best. A Coral Springs native, Carlie grew up performing in musical theater and went on to study Theatre and Media Production at Florida State. “I moved to Los Angeles after graduating and started working in production right away,” she recalls. “I became an assistant

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to Todrick Hall shortly thereafter and began working on my stand-up comedy in my free time. I landed my manager and agent through performing stand-up, which led me to the audition for MADtv!” All kidding aside, Carlie Craig was born to be laughed at. An actress, singer, comic, impressionist, dancer, and occasional rapper all rolled in one, she has built a career through other people’s careers. “I love doing impressions, ‘cause physicality is key to bringing them to life,” shares the comedian. “I like challenging myself to try new impressions all the time. There are countless people out there to impersonate and it’s a great feeling when you feel you’ve nailed an impression that wasn’t in your repertoire before.” Taking cues from the slapstick humor of Lucille Ball, Steve Martin, Carol Burnett, Jim Carrey, and Amy Poehler, she made her television debut on USA’s First Impressions with Dana Carvey and stood out with her spoton imitations of Ariana Grande, Emma Stone, and Britney Spears. As she continues to build momentum with her comedic career, Carlie’s on her way to leaving a lasting impression to a worldwide audience.

MASTERMIND

You first made an impact on Dana Carvey’s First Impressions. How was it like being on the show?

Appearing on First Impressions was very surreal because I’ve been a huge Dana Carvey fan my whole life. He was super kind before the show, he sat down next to me in hair and makeup and gave a lot of great advice, especially to just have fun with the performance and not stress myself out before the show! That advice has carried over in that I try to stay present and live in the moment when I perform rather than overthink it.

How did you prepare for your gig on MADtv? There’s a little bit of pressure, however, I’ve spent a lot of time making sure that I take good care of my body, drink plenty of water, and stay focused on the work. The fact that our writing staff is so talented makes me feel more comfortable, because at the end of the day, if you’re performing quality material in a positive environment like MADtv, you’re in good hands.

Were you a fan of the show before?

I was a huge fan of the music videos and pop culture parodies like the Ashlee Simpson Show, Trapped in the

Cupboard with R.Kelly, and of course, Laguna Biotch, a parody of MTV classic Laguna Beach.

Who’s your favorite cast member from the original lineup?

I love Nicole Sullivan as Darlene McBride. She’s so committed and honest while singing horribly offensive songs–love that contrast.

Aside from MADtv, what other projects that you have lined up are you looking forward to doing the most?

What should we watch out for?

I’m looking forward to producing some online series and continuing to work in television. I would love to break into voiceover sometime soon as well!

Any dream project or other ventures you have in mind right now?

I would love to continue working on MADtv–it’s a dream job. I would also love to write and star in my own movies one day, perform on Broadway, or live out my dream of being the voice of a Disney Princess.

What’s the best part about being a comedian?

Hanging out with other comedians.

Life is fun when you’re surrounded by funny people all day.

What do you have to say to those people who still think that women aren’t funny?

I don’t think gender could ever define a funny person. Every person in this world has something different to offer with his or her gifts and talents; it just depends on how their tools are utilized.

carliecraig.com @carliecraig

“I don’t think gender could ever define a funny person. Every person in this world has something different to offer with his or her gifts and talents; it just depends on how their tools are utilized.”

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MASTERMIND

Not all things pixelated are unclear. Encoding high-quality verses into low-resolution imageries, 8-BITFICTION renders a sharp look at reality through a nostalgic remix of wistful poetry.

By Pola Beronilla

Y

ou feel it in your fingers, you feel it in your toes. Sadness is all around around us, and so the feeling grows–or at least that’s what 8-bitfiction makes us feel. Led by an anonymous writer along with a tech wiz in charge of the technical stuff and a psychologist-slash-professor who helps proofread, the unlikely trio’s bits and bytes of sappy notes have been cutting through the hearts of people across the Internet–whether it’d be about imminent woes, brute honesty, or self-deprecating humor.

Initially a product of boredom, the writer recalls, “Back in 2010, I had been writing short stories when I decided to add silly flash fiction to screenshots of NES games. Eventually, to my surprise and horror, my little corner of the Internet became popular.” 8-bitfiction might call their work silly art, but their

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retro-style exploration of the human condition hits you where it hurts–and that’s the best part of it.

While the name suggests that their narratives are a product of one’s imagination, their pixelated verses are far from fiction. “Most of our posts are what I am feeling at the very moment I create them,” expresses the writer. “If I make art without pouring out the very heart of me, then it would not be art, it would be a lie.” With today’s technology, things might come and go very easily. One day, you could be the top trending topic, and the next, you’re buried down the list. Luckily, they’ve cracked the code to keeping up with the millennials: the nexus between melancholia and nostalgia.

“The most popular ones are either about love or being sad because of it. I think that says a lot about people,” he shares. “Mush, smut, and sadness never go out of style.

As long as people feel, there will always be a place for melancholic lines, unsigned confessions, and silly, sappy proclamations of love.”

As they continue to pour their art into your childhood’s console, 8-bitfiction will never quit playing

games with your heart no matter how hard you hit pause.

Everything started from Tumblr for 8-bitfiction. What do you think makes Tumblr a more appropriate medium of choice as compared to others?

I’ve referred to Tumblr as a roiling ball of art, ideas, fantasies, and insanities in the past. The sheer amount of crazy and genius on it is staggering. It’s the only place on the Internet that would feel like home.

What exactly led you to mix poetry with 8-bit images?

I’ve been playing video games since I was two, and had an NES since I was four. At a time when kids had Playstations, I was still replaying Megaman games, Super Mario 3, and Adventure Island 4, so it’s not

“Mush, smut, and sadness never go out of style. As long as people feel, there will always be a place for melancholic lines, unsigned confessions, and silly, sappy proclamations of love.”

MASTERMIND so much as amusing to me as it is a part of me. I think you make art with what you are. And what am I but a pile of books, video games, and sentimentality sewn haphazardly together?

What’s your process in writing these specific topics and issues?

It starts with a feeling. The feeling may be good, it may be bad. An example: say, I miss someone. Have you ever missed someone? To want to be with a person so much your heart howls so loudly you can hear nothing else? Do nothing else? I wished to see this person smile, to be reason.

To occupy the same space. To slip my fingers between hers. She was sad, and I wanted to be there. But, alas, she wanted to be alone, and I understood that. Was it a good feeling or a bad one? I was neither mad nor bitter, I realized. All I felt was a simmering sadness, and the acute desire to see her. I realized I was feeling longing for the first time. Thus, I wrote it down, edited an image to reflect how I felt, then posted it.

With your works constantly basking in mush, smut, and sadness, what do you think is the greatest cure for being sad?

Seeing as I just had my heart broken merely hours before answering these questions, I think what I need right now is a person who loves you like a friend first, a lover second, holding a tall bottle of whiskey, ready to listen to your woes, laugh at your dumb jokes, and sit there quietly when all you need is company.

8bitfiction.com @8bitfiction

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MASTERMIND

From the stage to your screen, actress SEPIDEH MOAFI back tracks shady pasts as a former escort-turned-producer in ABC’s Notorious and as Loretta, a sex worker in the streets of ‘70s New York in HBO’s upcoming series, The Deuce.

By Janroe Cabiles Photographed by Ryan K. Orange Styled by Marni Seabright Makeup Elie Maalouf for Jed Root Hair Michael Kanyon for American English Hair and Celestine

D

ominating sequences onstage, onscreen, and on the streets is no problem for Iranian-American Sepideh Moafi. Before breaking ground on several roles on TV series such as Black Box, The Good Wife, The Blacklist, and Limitless, and ultimately her breakout role in Notorious, the actress started out as an opera singer.

“I found my voice in high school and went on to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music to study vocal performance for opera,” she recalls. “I was working professionally as an opera singer when I first became curious about acting, so I started doing acting classes and auditions. Then, on a whim, I applied for grad school and got a scholarship to the UC Irvine Acting Program. I moved to New York and started working there, and here I am now.”

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With an affinity for stepping in different shoes at the same time, she takes inspiration from many artists–in no way subjected to only actors; writer Sebastian Faulks, legendary choreographer and ballet director Pina Bausch, Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, soprano Maria Callas, as well as actors Marlon Brando and Anna Magnani. “I don’t necessarily believe in drawing inspiration from only the form of art you pursue; I draw inspiration from all beings.”

And in the same fashion, she puts her characters on like a jacket or a sleeve, constantly shedding layers until she’s left with who they are.

Case in point, her love for the character upon reading the script for Notorious is what led her to the ten-part legal drama, which explores the blurred line between criminal law and media. Her character, Megan Byrd, is a career-driven young woman working at a television network while striving to get away from her past of being in the escort service. “It was a really different concept. You see a lot of shows that explore media and the legal world, but to see a show that makes those two worlds intersect really piqued my curiosity. So when I read for it, I just loved my character and how much juice she gave me to play with, explains the actress. “[Megan Byrd] is very career-driven, focused, and vivacious. Her career is at the forefront of her mind at all times. And though she’s a working

“I don’t want to appease an audience, necessarily, but I try to stay true to the character in the story I’m telling.” class girl, she creates her own path and makes her own opportunities. I can definitely relate to that.”

Walking the street as a lady of the night in her upcoming role in The Deuce, created by author David Simon and writer and producer George Pelecanos, seems right up her alley.

“It’s been a dream of mine to work with David and George. The writing is fantastic. I read for a role, but they actually brought me back for another one, which was Loretta.” Set in the ‘70s, when New York is at its most dangerous with pimps, street workers, and gangs at their peak, the series walks us through the underground of the city when the legalization and rise of the porn industry took place.

Starring alongside James Franco as twin brothers working with the Mob and Maggie Gyllenhaal as a sex worker, Sepideh fits the heels of another street walker who introduces the latter to a whole different side of the business. “ Although perpetually under the influences of the fearless artists that came before her, the actress is

paving her own path, no matter what stage she chooses to stand on. “I don’t want to appease an audience, necessarily, but I try to stay true to the character in the story I’m telling,” she says. “I do want to see more stories that bring awareness to cultures, cities, religions, and just different backgrounds that we aren’t usually exposed to. As an actor, I’m more interested in exploring characters very different from who I am to allow me to understand a different type of person. It’s easy to relate to someone who shares your political views, social views, or morals. It’s harder not to be judgmental of someone who doesn’t, but only because we don’t understand them. That’s what I’d like to be doing.”

@SepidehMoafi

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Taking cues from scene to scene as a newcomer to be reckoned with, BritishEgyptian actor FADY ELSAYED takes notes for his role in the Doctor Who spinoff, Class.

By Janroe Cabiles Photographed by Joseph Sinclair

A

cting out and making a scene comes naturally to 23-year old actor Fady Elsayed. Setting the bar high with his first role as Mo in the 2012 film My Brother the Devil, he was nominated for Best Newcomer at the London Film Festival and as Young Performer of the Year in the Critics’ Circle Film Awards. But before getting into acting, he was studying media drama and psychology while also trying to pursue a football career. “In Year 7, I did my first musical,” he recalls the start of his passion for acting. “I played Danny Zuko in Grease and realized how much I enjoyed performing. Afterwards, I went on to sign with my local drama school, The Young Actors Theatre.”

Delving into his art with My Brother the Devil was the start to his versatile onslaught of roles to come, but as to how he got on board was a chip of luck. “My friend was the script consultant on the film at the time. The director mentioned that she was looking for a young Egyptian boy to play the role of Mo. I went on to audition, and prepared as much as possible; I read the script like six times to really understand my character’s journey, but I also made sure I was off book for my audition so I could really focus on my emotional scenes without worrying what my next line was.” A tale about two brothers struggling to escape a life of gangs and drugs with themes of acceptance and trust, the coming-of-age crime drama turned out to be a hit, to say the least. “It affected my career a lot. Casting

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MASTERMIND directors know who I am now and can take a look at the movie to see whether I’m capable to play a certain role.

The film is authentic and true to where it’s based, and a lot of people can connect to it and the topics discussed in the movie. It’s one of my favorite films now.”

Since then, his roster of work quickly lengthened into a mix of TV series, shorts, and indie films such as Casualty, Penny Dreadful, Law & Order: UK, Shakespeare on Love, and Ending. “I’ve learned so much from all the projects I’ve gotten, especially from being on set and filming. Everything you can learn, you can learn on the job. I’ve had the honor of working with some very established actors who offer nothing but amazing advice and are just a joy to watch work. What I’ve definitely learned most is that less is more.” One of his more recent films is Brotherhood, the final installment of director, writer, and actor Noel Clarke’s trilogy following Kidulthood and Adulthood, all following the life of an ex-gangster and convict. “[My character] Wino was a very funny character; I enjoyed playing him, besides getting beaten up all the time. Wino was a very relatable character, just someone who’s always at the wrong place at the wrong time,” he says. “I love playing in these cult, coming-of-age movies, as I feel like my upbringing allows me to connect with them. That’s my favorite sort of movie, one I can personally connect with.”

Taking a step both backward and forward, Fady takes up post in Class, a spin-off to the classic Doctor Who. Playing Ram, a student at Coal Hill Academy, he is one of six assigned to protect it from the invasions via the thin barrier of space and time by the Doctor himself.

Going back to its roots, he says, “Doctor Who is very much part of anyone’s childhood growing up in England from my generation. Since being cast for Class, I’ve done plenty of research and re-watched the first three seasons. This is something I’ve worked towards my entire life. I have always wanted to be in a regular TV series.

Class is a dream come true for me.” With years and roles of experience and many more to come, watch on as Fady Elsayed proves to be a class act.

@iFadyElsayed

“I’ve learned so much from all the projects I’ve gotten, especially from being on set and filming. Everything you can learn, you can learn on the job.”

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H E A V Y H I T T E R

Grooving to his own beat, all-around entertainer SHAMEIK MOORE ain’t joking when it comes to his career. This new kid in town is in hot pursuit to greatness.

By Denise Mallabo Photographed by JC Cerilla Styled by Theo Banzon Grooming Cherry Le

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jacket by GAP, shirt by Catch Surf,suit pants Stylist’s

by Yourown, Neighbors, shoes by shoes Calvin

by Klein Van’s

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Last year was a busy year for Georgia native Shameik Moore. Apart from landing the lead role in the all-star produced coming-of-age movie Dope, the young actor also joined the cast of the Baz Luhrmann-directed Netflix series The Get Down. However, Shameik isn’t letting this sudden rise faze him. He’s staying focused and sharp, just like his characters on both projects. In Dope, where he co-starred alongside Kiersey Clemons, Tony Revolori, A$AP Rocky, Chanel Iman, and Zoë Kravitz, he played Malcolm, a promisingly smart high school student, and in The Get Down, where he’s joined by Justice Smith, Jaden Smith, Jimmy Smits, and Herizen Guardiola, he stars as Shaolin Fantastic, a street-smart and persistent DJ’s apprentice. “I’ve learned more about myself. I learned how to be able to control my emotions, how to get upset, and express that, like everything is almost happening to you in real life,” explains Shameik when asked what he has learned about acting so far.

Spending his childhood in Lithonia and attending an all-boys military school for a while, he then transferred to public school, wherein he discovered his love for hip-hop and dancing. “I danced all the time.

My mom and dad were very supportive of me. Slowly then, I was booking jobs here and there, and just kept at it because I loved it,” says the 21-year old performer.

“Acting came along after I started dancing. When I saw myself dancing on TV, I just wanted to speak afterwards, and then things started coming my way. I love dancing because I can communicate my energy in a room filled with people. If you’re upset, you can see it when you’re dancing. If someone’s feeling sexy, you can see it, and it can make someone else feel sexy,” he says.

Apart from grooving to the beat, he’s also into music.

He admires his father Errol, who was the guitar player and founder of the New York-based reggae band Monyaka.

“I have musicians that I look up to like Usher, Michael Jackson, and my dad. Me growing up, I looked up to a lot of people, but right now, I just appreciate how a lot of people inspire my own creativity,” says Shameik. Named after the zip code of Lithonia, Georgia, he released a mixtape last year entitled 30058. Under the moniker King SAM, short for Shameik Alti Moore, his music is a sexy mix of R&B and hip-hop.

Shameik is one to look out for. He’s positively a gogetter. He’s the type of guy who won’t stop ‘til he gets enough. Know more about him as he gives us details about himself and what he wants to achieve in the future.

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jacket by Pelle Monde, shoes by Vans

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jacket, Stylist’s own, shirt by Topman, pants by Zara

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HEAVY HITTER How has your life changed since starring in Dope?

I got another project [‘cause of it] and that’s The Get Down. Since then, a lot of people started supporting me. Also, I’ve just been seeing a lot of progression since Dope and I’m really trying to take it even further.

How are you and your character Malcolm the same?

Our friendly spirit is very similar.

Initially, when people meet me, they think I’m shy, but when they get to know me, I’m a little bit closer to my character in The Get Down.

Speaking of it, how did you prepare for your role as Shaolin Fantastic?

I had a lot of help from Baz. Grand Master Flash, Lady Pink, Kool Herc, Rahiem from the Furious Five, Nelson George, Rich and Tone, and B-Boy Phantom were all there. They’ve given us a lot of knowledge by them being in that era. They all gave us stories and background to where our characters and the scenes were coming from, and how we need to portray them accurately in the reality of a lot of those situations. The research part was very fluid.

Are there any actors you look up to?

No one specifically, really. I admire actors that work hard to really succeed. It’s more about the new generation of actors for me. The veteran actors, they’re always very inspirational for us new entertainers, but I think Michael Jackson wasn’t focused on James Brown when he was doing Thriller.

He might’ve been inspired by James Brown when he was in The Jackson 5, but when it was time to do Thriller, I think he just did his own thing.

And that’s where I’m at in my mind; I’m doing my own thing. Everybody that has something to inspire, inspires me.

What was it like working with Baz Luhrmann?

He’s a lot like his movies—the colors, the theatric aspect of the films, that’s his personality. The art is like the person, for real. He’s larger than life.

What’s your favorite thing about playing Shaolin Fantastic?

Just getting to show my inner power, my swagger, and my presence. I used to be closer to Malcolm when I was younger and that’s how I was able to portray it so believably, but I’m closer to Shaolin now by how he carries himself, not his activities, but more of how he moves. That’s closer to where I am right now.

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“ Believe in yourself.

You have to believe that undoubtedly.

If you doubt it, then the universe will doubt it.”

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jacket, Stylist’s own, button-down by American Heritage, jeans by Lee, shoes by Vans

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suit, Stylist’s own, shoes by Calvin Klein

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As someone who’s very young, talented, and already starting to get recognized, how do you keep yourself grounded?

I just stay in the house and just do what I’m supposed to do. I meditate and go to the gym. I keep in touch with my friends and the people I grew up with. I just make sure that I stay focused on my art right now.

I want to continue to stay on my own path and not get caught up with the lifestyle.

What advice can you give to people who also have dreams of making it big?

Every thought that you have that’s creative or that makes you happy, pursue it. Anything that makes you feel negative, under any circumstances—thoughts, presence, or energy you stop it and focus on positivity. Don’t focus on hatred, focus on love. Believe in yourself.

You have to believe that undoubtedly.

If you doubt it, then the universe will doubt it.

What are you looking forward to the most?

Apart from having an album out and working on a short film, I’m looking forward to making a positive mark on history. I want my art to inspire people and to show them who they really are. I’m also looking forward to the part two of The Get Down.

@shameikmoore jacket by Gap, button-down by Catch Surf, pants by Your Neighbors

“ Every thought that you have that’s creative or that makes you happy, pursue it.”

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From pipeline dreams to grainy scenes, it was a broken tailbone that drew director ACE NORTON to the hazy world of tenacious visions in gritty videos.

By Denise Mallabo

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“Hustler” featuring Simian Mobile Disco

“I remember the first movie that I saw was Poltergeist,

“The Purgatory of Monotony” for Rhie 2014

but that definitely didn’t make me want to make movies. That film scared the shit out of me,” admits director Ace Norton, but that didn’t stop him. Even his father Bill, a renowned TV director, couldn’t curb him from becoming a filmmaker.

“My dad knows how much of a rollercoaster this business could be so he veered me far away from directing, but it was honestly the most fun for me to do.” Still residing in his hometown Venice Beach, California, which he describes as a melting pot of mixed cultures all stuck together in this same mile long stretch of sand, Ace grew up wanting to become many things—a soccer player, surfer, and skater but all were brought to a halt when he had an accident that reeled him into video production. “When I was 14, I ollied off a flight of stairs and broke my tailbone. For months, I couldn’t do physical activities, so I borrowed my dad’s 8mm camera and I’d make films after school with my friends around the neighborhood.

That started as a hobby and got more serious,” says Ace. Since then, he has done music videos for She & Him, Foster the People, Phantoms, Norah Jones, Caged Animals, Bloc Party, Tahiti 80, Death Cab for Cutie, Regina Spektor, and just recently, Vic Mensa, which he categorize as his recent crazy experience. Showing a wide array of mediums outside of music videos, he also works on fashion films and has done quite a few for Rhié, Garrett Leight Eyeglasses, House of Fraser, and Happy Socks. With his earlier works boasting of an analogue and raw aesthetic, making them quirkier and more unique in a lot of ways, Ace attributes it to working with a very tight budget back then.

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HEAVY HITTER my earlier stuff had low budgets.

That’s why I got into stop animation, because you don’t need expensive lighting equipment, you don’t need big grip trucks, and you don’t need a fancy camera. You just need your hands and the perseverance to move a piece of clay—frame by frame for ten days straight,” shares the director.

“I came at a time when everyone was doing glossy rap videos and very big budget productions, so at the time it seemed new and fresh, but I was just doing what a bunch of other people did ten years before that. And it worked.”

Fresh from wrapping up a commercial with popstar Christina Aguilara and basketball legend Shaquille O’Neil, STATUS caught up with him in the middle of his shoot with football prodigy Neymar in Spain to discuss his influences, his fascination with working on fashion films, and how was it like working with the coolest fucking dude on planet Earth.

“The Purgatory of Monotony” for Rhie 2014

What music videos made you realize that you also wanted to direct one someday?

I just watched a lot of Michel Gondry videos when I was a kid. The way he would create stuff with what seemed like zero budgets just took a lot of will and determination. I really look up to him, Spike Jonze, and old school videomakers. Also, my sickdays movies as a kid were Godzilla and Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, so my inspirations are actually like a gigantic blend of stuff that doesn’t really make any sense.

Tell us what it takes for you to come up with a concept for a film.

It just depends on what the job is.

A lot of the times, I’d get ideas on things, which I’ll write in a folder, and sometimes, a certain video or a fashion film will connect with this concept that I’ve been wanting to do for a while. Other times, you’d listen to the song right then and there and something inspires you. It comes very quickly, but sometimes, it’s a brutal, agonizing process wherein you’re listening to the song 500 times and nothing comes out.

“Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” featuring She & Him

How important is it for you to understand the lyrics of a song when brainstorming on a concept for a music video?

Most of the time, if the music video’s too literal to the song’s lyrics, it may take away from it a little bit. While I think listening to the lyrics of the song is very important in conceptualizing a music video, it’s more about the tone of the song and letting your ideas run with it.

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“Piles of $$$” featuring Caged Animals

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“The Art of Inspiration” for Happy Socks featuring Snoop Dogg

What’s the craziest music video that you’ve done?

That’s so hard to answer because I’ve done so many crazy fucking videos and I have so many fucking experiences.

But I would say the recent crazy experience was the video that I did for Vic Mensa, which on paper, was a logistical nightmare because we’re shooting live rounds in a street with a black man getting shot by a fire squad of police. Originally we were going to shoot in a very dangerous neighborhood in the south side of Chicago, which wasn’t a smart idea.

“Piles of $$$” featuring Caged Animals

“Volcano” featuring Felix Cartal and Johnny Whiteney

Which musician would you want to work with in a music video?

My dream would probably be The Rolling Stones. I would also love to work with Beck. I like 2 Chainz a lot; maybe after seeing my video with Vic, they’d give me a shot to do videos. It’ll be funny, glossy, and he’d look cool.

From making videos with independent artists to working with the likes of Vic Mensa, Jill Scott, and Emil Hirsch, was the process of working on the latter more challenging?

It presents a different kind of challenge. But if the vision and the process are pure, it can be just as easy as the indie artists’ stuff. It really just depends on the director’s rapport with the artist or the label.

If there’s a good vibe, you can skip through all the bullshit, but if there are a lot of players and politics involved, then it usually becomes a difficult situation that

HEAVY HITTER you want to avoid. It really just depends on who you’re working with and the team that they have around them.

Switching gears to fashion films, what is it about doing these videos that you like the most?

I love fashion films because they’re more like short films. They’re really an incredible venue for filmmakers. In music videos and a lot of short-term media, you’re only as good as what the song is, but with fashion films, you could do whatever you want: you can pick the music, you can do a voiceover, and you can make it the wackiest thing imaginable, and for some reason, in that world, it all makes sense. I don’t know a lot about clothing and fashion, but at the same token, the designers that I’ve worked with don’t know a lot about filmmaking. So, they let me do my thing and I let them do theirs. It’s a perfect kind of symbiosis.

How was it like working with Snoop Dogg for Happy Socks?

He’s just the coolest fucking dude on planet Earth.

I love that guy! I don’t smoke a lot of weed. I actually get paranoid when I smoke, but I think the guy smokes 60 blunts a day, no joke. And at the very end of the shoot, I was in the wardrobe room and he walked in with a joint blazing and asked me if I wanted to take a puff at which point I accepted.

Any plans of doing a full-length movie someday?

I was going to do one last year, but the budget didn’t worked out. I’ve been developing something with Emile Hirsch and we’re trying to find some money for it. It’s a bit difficult, but I hope it happens.

What’s next for you?

Just traveling and continuing to create as much as I possibly can, to stay busy, and not to get lazy.

acenorton.com @ace_norton

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“Voyeur” featuring Phantoms

“Hustler” featuring Simian Mobile Disco

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CLASS ACT

No matter how many timelines Barry Allen plans to ruin, The Flash’s DANIELLE PANABAKER remains to be a timeless talent regardless of what universe she’s in. Primped with a beautiful mind and the sophistication of a metahuman, she’s certainly no damsel in distress.

By Pola Beronilla Photographed by Irvin Rivera Styled by Katrina Guevara Makeup Nicole Walmsley from The Wall Group Hair David Gardner from Grid Agency dress, Stylist’s own

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“The chemistry between [The Flash’s] cast is fantastic...There’s so much genuine love and affection between each of us.” dress by BreeLayne 80 - STATUSMAGONLINE.COM

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“There’s so much more about [Caitlin Snow].

She’s such a strong character, and I love that she’s not afraid to fight for what she believes in.”

There’s something about Danielle Panabaker and superheroes. In 2005, she first made a superhero landing in Disney’s Sky High as the natureloving Layla Williams. After a streak of horror flicks and a multiverse of TV series, she eventually found a new home in S.T.A.R. Labs as the quick-witted bio-engineer Caitlin Snow. Now on its third season, The CW’s The Flash has been on a great run. “The fans respond to this idea that behind every episode, there should be heart, humor, and spectacle, and I think they quickly enjoyed that,” shares the actress.

Starring alongside a stellar cast that includes Grant Gustin, Tom Cavanagh, Jesse L. Martin, and Carlos Valdes, she admits that everything comes together so naturally. “The chemistry between our cast is fantastic. I feel very lucky that we all get along so well.

There’s so much genuine love and affection between each of us,” she adds. Found at the heart and mind of Central City, Danielle Panabaker is more than just a pretty face.

In real life, the actress is no different from her character.

Finishing high school at 14 years young and getting her bachelor’s degree by 19, acting wasn’t originally on her radar. “You know, I wasn’t actually allowed to watch as kid. We didn’t have TV in the house,” she recalls. As she answered her calling to the small and silver

screen, she’s now also a real-life superhero, working with a lot of nonprofit organizations, including The Art of Elysium, UNICEF, and Young Storytellers Foundation. Though she gives us the chills whenever she steps in the shoes of Caitlin Snow or Killer Frost, she definitely won’t get too cool for us anytime soon.

To loosely quote Earth Two Harrison Wells in the 23rd episode of The Flash’s second season, Danielle Panabaker is a tremendous actress, but an even better person. Minutes before she trades places with Caitlin Snow, Danielle chills with us to talk to us about her character’s fate on The Flash, her thoughts regarding Sky High’s sequel, and what genre of acting she wants to add on her résumé next.

There have been many strong yet complex characters on The CW’s The Flash. What do you think makes Caitlin Snow one?

There’s so much more about her.

She’s such a strong character, and I love that she’s not afraid to fight for what she believes in. I think her strength is obvious. She’s been through a lot over the last two seasons, and she keeps showing that.

She’s constantly pushing herself and learning more, so I think that she’s incredibly strong, but at the same time, she’s not perfect. You know, she’s made mistakes; she doesn’t always make the right choices in the moment. I think that’s what makes her very relatable.

For the second season, you got to explore another character in Killer Frost. How was it like to shift in between the two characters?

Logistically, it was a challenge to shoot that, but it was such a fun experience. I mean, where can you find a show that gives you the opportunity to play such different characters or allow our entire cast to shine and show off their incredible skills? It was a little bit nerve-wracking but also exciting to get to create this whole new character, switching between Caitlin Snow and Killer Frost.

Did you look at any comic books or other versions of Killer Frost for your inspiration?

Yeah, I went back to some of the original comic books, but I also wanted to rely on the material in the script because that’s the world we were creating. I think our writers do an excellent job at being faithful to some of the ideas that have been originated in the comic books while also putting in their twist on it.

The first few episodes of the third season have been teasing us about Caitlin having powers. How different would this be from the previous Killer Frost character that you portrayed?

It’s gonna be totally different.

I mean, pretty early on in some episodes, we saw that Killer Frost was already pretty villainous. With

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Caitlin over the past two seasons, we see her struggling with her powers, and I don’t necessarily think that she’s destined to turn into the Killer Frost that we saw on Earth Two. This is a fan question: How is it like working with Kevin Smith on some of the episodes of The Flash?

Fantastic. He’s such a genuine fan of the show, and he brings an incredible amount of enthusiasm. He’s also so experienced and knows what he’s looking for in terms of the shots and how it’s supposed to go. It’s a great environment to work with someone who knows what they’re doing and just does an incredible job.

So, Caitlin isn’t the luckiest when it comes to love in Central City.

Do you feel bad for your character?

Obviously, I’m sad when it doesn’t work out for her–I think Ronnie was such a great match for her–but do I feel badly for her? Not necessarily.

I’m sad that she’s been going through

so much pain, but I think that in the end, she’ll be able to find that person she’s meant to be with.

Do you think there’s room for love for Caitlin this season or would you rather have her focus on her powers instead?

Personally, I’d much rather have her focus on herself and her powers first, but I don’t know if it will actually turn out that way [laughs].

On the other hand, it seems that you’ve been lucky with superhero genres. Just recently, news of a Sky High sequel surfaced on the Internet. Would you want to be part of this project?

Absolutely! I can’t believe it. It was such a fantastic experience for me, and it was just a wonderful movie as well. I mean, it was such a big opportunity for me. I made some lifelong friends from making that movie. I would love to do anything related to Sky High.

How do you think your character would evolve since the last movie?

I don’t know, but I think Layla would probably be a teacher. She’s just such a giver, and she cares so much about the world, so I wouldn’t really be surprised if she was teaching kids now.

You’ve also dipped your toes in the indie scene in 2014 with Time Lapse and even won Best Actress in the London Independent Film Festival for it. What else do you want to explore, acting-wise?

I kinda like doing dark material, but I would also want to do a little bit more comedy. I think The Flash is giving me an opportunity to kind of do it with my castmates and have a good time, so I would love to have more comedy on my résumé for sure.

@dpanabaker

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“I kinda like doing dark material, but I would also want to do a little bit more comedy.”

coat and dress by BreeLayne, boots by Rag & Bone

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sentimental saturation

In gentle frames of soft light and lucid haze, Manilabased photographer SHAIRA LUNA snaps scenes with nostalgic nods to her inverted odyssey to the past.

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T

here’s a phenomenon in human error called semantic satiation wherein a word loses its meaning when repeated over and over. In the same fashion, time loses its meaning as you get lost in Shaira Luna’s photos. Far-off, deeply-felt images of landscapes, cities, portraits, unsuspected flares of light, and the powerful colors that belong to what the world was once all rise within her form of fashion photography. But the road less traveled was the one least expected. Making headlines at a tender age for her official assessment

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as a gifted child, a popular milk commercial she was cast in and several talk shows poised her as a future doctor. True enough, she entered college at the age of 13 at a pre-medicine course, but she eventually lost track and found her way to a camera. “It was a compact model–I had it with me all the time and could discreetly take photos anywhere,” she recalls. “I bought the camera mainly to take photographs during gigs I would sneak out to watch; I was very captivated by the stage lights and would usually sit alone at a table.”

Taking a shot at her newfound practice flittered around shooting for events, food, products, and travel stories, she found herself infatuated with fashion. “[What challenged me most about fashion photography was]

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that I didn’t know anything about fashion. I didn’t even have a sense of style when I got into photography.

I was completely bewildered by the word “editorial,” when I started shooting clothes. Eventually, I learned about trends, designers, stylists and art directors, and their references. I learned how to put everything together into a cohesive visual. Fashion photography is as challenging now as it was back then. It’s just that now, I am no longer intimidated by it.” With her versatile aesthetic found in Cake Magazine, The Fashionisto, C-Heads, Sticks & Stones, and Boys by Girls, local publications like L’OFFICIEL Manila, Preview, and Garage, and campaigns for brands Sunnies, Regatta, and Levi’s, her images cast endless moments, bringing you back to a time, a place, or a feeling.

“ I could easily just take a photo, but I would much rather create it.”

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“Fashion photography is as challenging now as it was back then. It’s just now, I am no longer intimidated by it.”

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“Depending on who you ask, they’ll say my work is either cinematic, retro, quirky, happy, or dramatic, but I just call it nostalgic and made with lots of love,” she says. “When left to my own devices, I always end up in dreamland. My personal work is usually light and free-flowing, regardless of the theme or genre.”

With her personal shoots being a meticulous tableaux of scenes created by only her, she takes inspiration from cities, icons, film, and people, recreating them into a series of an intangible sense of memory. “My process can be really short or really long, but there’s never a second that nothing is being created in my head.

I’m always thinking about a story or a look that I want to shoot; I don’t know how to turn it off. My many, many personal shoots are really that– personal,” shares the photographer.

“Literally, as I do most of it myself, from concept to the wardrobe and set styling, finding locations and booking models, providing food and transportation–and that’s not even the actual shooting yet. And yes, I do the driving, too [laughs].”

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Emotion interlaced with abandon in all her photos sets the scene; nostalgia is no longer an abstract concept that exists inside us, but transcends to a place neither here nor there. “There’s something I love about each era, and there’s always something new to learn from the past. Referencing eras bygone give me a reason to sit at my desk and research, no matter how hard I try to deny my nerdy past. It also has something to do with my tendency to shy away from styles that are current or trendy. Nostalgia is the perfect in-between. I think the aesthetic that I’ve developed in the recent years can also be traced back to growing up with lots of photo albums, and also the joy I get from looking through my grandma’s trunk of old photographs,” she recollects. “I can’t pinpoint when I really started getting into the whole vintage look. Old houses and thrift stores are quick sources of inspiration because I start imagining who they belonged to.” Being something of an auteur, there are specifics that are necessary, and some unnecessary, for her to pull it off. “When it comes to muses, I’d rather not have them. I love creating photographs of people and feelings, or scenes where people have felt or have been.

I could easily just take a photo,

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“They’ll say my work is either cinematic, retro, quirky, happy, or dramatic, but I just call it nostalgic and made with lots of love.”

but I would much rather create it.”

She continues, “One of the abilities I’ve acquired over the years is directing my subjects and giving them situations or storylines to work with, which is why I am notoriously picky when it comes to the people I shoot with for my personal work. They have to be nice and not conceited or self-conscious; they need to interpret direction, and basically shake off the model in them. Paired with the right lighting, setting, and mood, we can make magic.” With her penchant for storytelling and

a world of imagination, Shaira puts two and two together to make her mark. “Making anyone feel anything from a photograph is good enough for me. Having it stir up an old, vague memory would be a bonus.”

Constantly creating, there’s no doubt she’ll continue to make an entire universe of beautiful colors and bewitched moments. shairaluna.com @shairaluna

FASHION

BEAUT Y

CELEBRIT Y

www.starstyle.ph

facebook.com/starstyleph

@starstyleph

@starstyleph

DIRECTORY BRANDS ADIDAS Uptown Place Mall, Taguig City ALDO Greenbelt 5, Makati City BENCH bench.com.ph BOBBI BROWN bobbibrowncosmetics.com BOSSINI bossini.com BREELAYNE breelayne.com CALL IT SPRING Greenbelt 3, Makati City CALVIN KLEIN Greenbelt 5, Makati City CATCH SURF catchsurf.com CEE MARKET facebook.com/ceemarket CHAMPION champion.com CHANEL chanel.com DAISO Glorietta 3, Makati City DIOR dior.com DR. MARTENS Two Parkade, Taguig City ESTÉE LAUDER esteelauder.com FILA fila.com FOREVER 21 SM Makati, Makati City GAP gap.com GIORDANO giordano.com GIORGIO ARMANI giorgioarmani.com

H&M SM Makati, Makati City ICONIC iconicoptometry.com JEREMIAH ORIBE instagram.com/jeremoribe93 LEE lee.com LEVI’S levi.com MAC maccosmetics.com MANGO Power Plant Mall, Makati City MANGO MAN Power Plant Mall, Makati City MANGO TOUCH Power Plant Mall, Makati City MAKE UP FOR EVER makeupforever.com MARITON VILLANUEVA instagram.com/vmariton MILLENNX millennx.com MISS SELFRIDGE Greenbelt 5, Makati City MOROCCANOIL moroccanoil.com NARS narscosmetics.com NBA STORE Glorietta 3, Makati City NEAL CORPUS instagram.com/nlpz NICOLE PINEDA instagram.com/iam_nicol3 NIKE nike.com PACIFIC TRAIL pacifictrail.com POLLY PATCH instagram.com/pollypatch RAG & BONE rag-bone.com

SFERA SM Makati, Makati City SIGMA BEAUTY sigmabeauty.com STAUD staud.clothing TARTE tartecosmetics.com TOPMAN Greenbelt 3, Makati City TOPSHOP Greenbelt 3, Makati City VANS vans.com WAREHOUSE Greenbelt 5, Makati City YOUR NEIGHBORS urbanoutfitters.com YVES CAMINGUE yvestyle.blogspot.com YVES SAINT LAURENT ysl.com ZARA zara.com ARTISTS Shawn Adeli (Photographer) shawnadeliphotography.com Miguel Alomajan (Photographer) miguelalomajan.wordpress.com April Arabella (Photographer) aprilarabella.com Theo Banzon (Stylist) theobanzon.com Kevin Brent (Photographer) instagram.com/kevinbrentt Amanda de Cadenet (Photographer) amandadecadenet.com Sarah Cass (Photographer) sarahcass.com JC Cerilla (Photographer) jcerilla.com

Regine David (Photographer) reginedavid.com David Gardner (Hair) gridagency.com Katrina Guevara (Stylist) cubtrina.com Raymond Isais (Makeup) instagram.com/raymondisais Michael Kanyon (Hair) celestineagency.com Cherry Le (Grooming) cherryle.com Elie Maalouf (Makeup) jedroot.com Christine Dorothy Mamalio (Grooming) instagram.com/sunkissedbonita Ryan Orange (Photographer) ryankorange.com Matt Panes (Stylist) instagram.com/icedmattchalatte Lei Ponce (Hair and Makeup) facebook.com/makeupbyleiponce Irvin Rivera (Photographer) graphicsmetropolis.com Jen Rosenstein (Photographer) jenrosenstein.com Daniel Santillan (Photographer) instagram.com/dj.santillan Marni Seabright (Stylist) marniseabright.com Joseph Sinclair (Photographer) josephsinclair.com Semi Song (Photographer) semisong.com JP Talapian (Photographer) instagram.com/jptalapian Florian Trinidad (Stylist) instagram.com/floriantrinidad Nicole Walmsley (Makeup) nicolewalmsley.com Darian Zahedi (Photographer) cargocollective.com/darianzahediphoto

S T A T U S I NVA D E S

PASTTIME PARADISE Through grain and light flares with her signature glare, aspiring art director and one-half of Creative Bums ISSA AMORES is the muse to the analog eye with her nostalgic sensibility.

@issaamores Portrait by Kevin Brent Product photography by Daniel Santillan

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CRYBABY TOTE BAG

My almost-everyday tote bag from Randolf Clothing. I mostly use it when I go to gigs or when I hang out with friends.

CHLOË SEVIGNY BY CHLOË SEVIGNY

I love her! She’s one of my favorite icons. This book pretty much sums up how cool she is.

GLOSSIER BALM DOT COM

Another must-have! It smells like cherry candy and it also hydrates your lips.

VISIONS LP BY GRIMES

Hair and Makeup Raymond Isias

I saw Grimes four years ago and she was MAGICAL, just like this record.

BLACK BERET

I rarely wear this, but when I do, I feel like a Parisienne from the ‘60s. Haha!

GLOSSIER BOYBROW

I’m telling you, this is a musthave. I’ve only been using it for a month and I’m already in love with it.

FISH EYE NO. 2 35MM

I borrowed this from my cousin and I have yet to return it.

It’s one of my favorites since it takes really cool lomo photos.

ANG NAWAWALA DVD

One of my favorite local indie films.

I have the biggest crush on the Roco twins. Eeeeep!

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