is keeping it reel j une 2017
4 MASTHEAD 5 CONTRIBUTORS 6 STATUS MESSAGE
30
FEATURES MAESTRO
50 RULE
STATUSPHERE 9 THREADS 12 SETTING 13 BRICK & MORTAR 14 SCREEN 15 BEATS 16 TECH PACK
By Denise Mallabo
52 SMOOTH
19
FACE PAINT: PINK FLAMINGO
One leg up the competition.
By Ida Aldana
54 DAYTIME
Flower hour.
STREET STYLE GO SEE
By Pola Beronilla
VISION BOARD
22 NIGHT
56 LOST
WATCH
By Q & Cumber
54
By Hannah Koehler
SHOPPING GUIDE
40 SWAG:
CHARACTER REELNESS
Make jaws drop with these ensembles inspired by your favorite cult films.
42 DEEP
IMPACT
Jordana Bevan
43 TRAIN
OF THOUGHT
Spud Murphy
44 FOREVER
YOUNG
Napoleon Dynamite
45 SISTER 46 47 48 49
By Pola Beronilla
AND LOATHING
Have a field day by putting the fun back in fundamentals with bold patterns, striking colors, and intricate fabric detailing.
ACT
Lux Lisbon
FREE SPIRIT
Penny Lane
FIRST SERVE
Richie Tenenbaum
ETCH-A-SKETCH
Juno MacGuff
HIGH GEAR
Driver
IN PARADISE
Wandering across the spectrum of R&B, traditional rock, and bedroom pop, Vagabon is now ready to begin her journey to Infinite Worlds with her full-length debut album.
Embrace your dark side and get tough as nails with a protective armor of plaid, mesh, and denim in staple hues.
32 FEAR
REVOLUTION
Marrying retro rock and pop with glitter-infused girl power anthems, English-Icelandic trio Dream Wife is here to break boundaries and glass ceilings with their indie punk cuts.
VANITIES: HEAVY PETALS
FASHION 20
SAILING
Starting off with a bump in the road, alt-pop band Ocean Park Standoff sets sail with their R&B and hip-hop beats to different shores with their newly released self-titled EP.
BEAUTY 18
BREAKERS
Electronic music trio Cheat Codes may infuse their own formula of pop with other genres to keep things fresh, but they’ve definitely cracked the code to their sound.
MASTERMIND
58
OFF SCREEN
Fresh off the screen of his miniseries The New Edition Story, Algee Smith lifts the script from the pages to real places as he steals the scene in upcoming biopic, Detroit. By Bianca Serrano
60 CHRONIC
YOUTH
Penning love notes as an ode to the youth, director Dana Boulos takes color and emotion and translates her vision into films with her signature peek of cherries. By Janroe Cabiles
62 DOUBLE
TAKE
Caught in between art and life, director Samantha Lee’s works all come from a piece of her own story, expertly crafting heartfelt narratives with dreamy visuals. By Janroe Cabiles
64 YOUNG
BLOOD
Stepping on the stage and screens at just 15, fresh-faced but seasoned actress Sophia Lillis hits the ground running as The Loser Club’s Beverly in the upcoming It. By Ida Aldana
is keeping it reel j u ne 2 0 1 7
HEAVY HITTER
66
ZERO TO HERO
95 DIRECTORY STATUS INVADES 96 BLONDE AMBITION
Sparkling like the delicate patches of sun on her skin, there’s never a dull moment in the frame with BritishSingaporean model Tessa Burton.
By Pola Beronilla
74
A STREETCAR FUELED BY DESIRE
64
MORE
Holding the doors open at the start of his career, Tony Revolori brings diversity and holds his own alongside ensemble casts as he goes from Zero to surrounding a hero real quick as Flash Thompson in Marvel’s SpiderMan: Homecoming.
Crashing into a new fused genre of crime-thriller intertwined with a killer mixture, Edgar Wright might have seen the road sign at The World’s End, but shows no sign of stopping as he gases up his sense of visual comedy and thrill in Baby Driver. By Pola Beronilla
82
THE BOOM BOX
Breaking into the scene with his unique visual language, director Benny Boom changed the game of hip-hop and R&B music videos before stepping into new shoes with films, taking on the challenge with Tupac Shakur’s bipic, All Eyez on Me. By Denise Mallabo
88
96
GOLDEN RIFFS
First spied with our little eyes in Kingsman: The Secret Service, Sophie Cookson packs a heavy punch as she continues to tell these stories of strong female characters in the sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle and upcoming series Gypsy. By Bianca Serrano
ABOUT THE COVER We follow Toni Revolori in the sunny streets of LA as photographer Isaac Sterling captures his every move. Standing between shades of blue and dramatic shadows, his laid-back nature and piercing gaze are enough proof why we’re anxious to see him again on the big screen.
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 keeping it reel June 2017
editor-in-chief
Rosario Herrera @RosarioHerrera
managing editor
Denise Mallabo @denisemallabo
art director
Nyael David @nyaels
fashion editor
Jill de Leon @orangetoenails
editorial assistant
Janroe Cabiles @janroetheboat
sr. graphic designer
Nadine Layon @nadinelayon
jr. graphic designer
Sheila Gomez @sheilarenei
contributing writers
Ida Aldana, Pola Beronilla
What’s your STATUS? tell us. editorial editorial@statusmagonline.com
contributing artists
interns
Margaret Williamson Bechtold, Hollie Fernando, Anastasya K., Hannah Koehler, Shaira Luna, James Minchin, Esther Monbel, Theresa Padin, Javier de Pardo, Q & Cumber, John Russo, Daniel Santillan, Isaac Sterling, Kerrie Urban
Shaira Bungcag, Bianca Serrano
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 ONTRIBU T O R S
Q & CUMBER To be as cool as Q & Cumber ain’t no easy feat. The Spanish photography duo shoots high concept fashion editorials left and right, and they’re showing no signs of stopping. With their body of work seen on publications like Vogue España, Neo2, and Fucking Young!, they’re not backing down from the dark as they capture the Night Watch (22).
MARGARET BECHTOLD Spending the last decade working in different sides of the fashion industry, it’s safe to say that Margaret’s eye for fashion is something to be aspired. Switching between trend forecasting, styling editorials, and writing, she takes her talents to the field for Fear and Loathing (30).
ANASTASYA K. Sharing her sensibilities for pops of bold hues, Ukraine-born stylist Anastasya K adds a bit of color to the world. Spreading her threads from editorials and commercials to the runways and red carpets, she quips effortless looks as she styles for Vulkan, Creem Magazine, Cake, Vision Los Angeles, as well as our Zero to Hero cover boy, Tony Revolori (66).
HOLLIE FERNANDO Mastering the art of grains and light leaks, Londonbased photographer Hollie Fernando takes portraits that marry the elegance of the pre-Raphaelite paintings of the 19th Century with the candid youth of today. Snapping her subjects with a sincerity at the disposal of her film camera, she captures retro rock outfit Dream Wife as they start their Daytime Revolution (54).
STATU S MESSAG E
IS KEEPING IT REEL
O
ne can say that the crossroads of where multi-passionate creatives seamlessly converge lie in the genre of film. From lights, sounds, scenes, and emotions, film can take you anywhere and everywhere. And if it’s really good, it makes you come back from more. From superhero moments to musically driven action sequences, this month’s Film Issue is a fresh class of filmmakers and budding stars set to take over our screens. Twenty-one-year old actor Tony Revolori kicked off his budding career by working on the Oscarwinning film The Grand Budapest Hotel. You would think that working with the acclaimed director Wes Anderson would be a career high, but Tony continued his streak working on the indie hit Dope. He next moved on to one of the biggest Marvel franchises, Spider-Man: Homecoming. Not only is it part of the blockbuster franchise, but he also finds himself surrounded by a great ensemble cast again. During our shoot in LA, Tony shares with us his childhood connection to films, what his newfound addiction is, and which villain he would like to play. English director Edgar Wright is probably classified as a film genius with his multilayered talents in directing, screenwriting, acting, and producing. Known for “The Cornetto Trilogy,” he is taking a turn in his film career with his new action film Baby Driver. Swapping zombies for car chases, we are certainly seeing another side of this director. In our interview, he tells us how he prepares himself for a film, the strong influence of music in his films, and what it takes to translate his vision to film. Acclaimed director Benny Boom, like everyone else, starting climbed the ladder one step at a time. But the difference is that he learned early on from the greats: Spike Lee and Hype Williams. First starting out in music videos before transitioning into film, Benny created an amazing roster of artists and casts on his reel. Now set to release his Tupac Shakur biopic All Eyez on Me, he tells us the challenges of taking over the film and what he wants the viewers to take away from his upcoming biopic. British beauty Sophie Cookson can hold her ground against the patriarchy. She is set to fight crime for another round in her role as Roxy in the espionage sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Being the only lead alongside Taron Egerton in the film says a lot about her star power. Although she sees a lot of similarities between her and her character’s drive and ambition, she also tells us how she’s handles the uncertainty of her career and what social responsibility she feels she has as an actor. Theses filmmakers aren’t only playing a role or carrying out their vision; they are putting their heart and soul in every project. Though they might have hit a few bumps along the road, they are letting their passion be their compass.
Editor-in-chief
FASHION
www.starstyle.ph
BEAUTY
CELEBRITY
@starstyleph
@starstyleph
THREADS / setting / BRICK AND MORTAR / BEATS / SCREEN / Tech pack june 2017
full circle G
et your jackets ready, ‘cause Japanese street brand F-LAGSTUF-F is here to take you to the North West for their newest collection. Taking every streetwear enthusiast’s favorite silhouettes to a new direction, the set customizes drop crotch pants, shearling jackets, berets, turtleneck tops, and graphic tees with typography, geometric prints, and retro imagery fused in with shades of orange, pink, blue, and black. flagstuff.jp
FRINGE BENEFITS A
mp up your accessories game with a little taste of the east, as ORA-C gives you a selection of jewelry that’s sure to turn a few heads. Offering a wide selection of earrings, necklaces, rings, and bangles in a variety of shapes, lengths, and colors, the new collection takes you to a journey around the world with fringe and textured gold as well as striking hues of green, red, and orange. ora-c.com
COVER GIRL A
midst a sea of basic crop tops and cutoff shorts, J. PAPA don’t preach, but they have every right to. Putting the right amount of zest into every It-girl’s wardrobe staple, their newest offerings highlight the beauty of mixing luxury and street with halter dresses, co-ords, bralettes, jackets, and ponchos in lamé gold, frayed denim, and wool. #SORRYMOM but not sorry. jpapanyc.com
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THREADS
BRANDS TO KNOW
SWEET STYLE W
ith just enough sweetness to bring all the boys to the yard, BRUJAS goes hard this season with Soft Serve. Steering away from their usual sporty releases, the brand mixes it up with their “Soft Skate” drop crotch pants and “Maria” pocket tees among other pieces that come in pastel pink, mint green, orange, and black to create a modern take on the badass skateboarding culture of the early ‘00s. brujas.nyc
stash and carry R
ectangle girls of the world unite with BUILDING BLOCK’s new set of standout handbags. Shaping up your aesthetic with mostly leather and suede in hues of powder blue, forest green, and a deep red seen on different silhouettes, including a cylindrical two-tone clear pouch, no matter, the size, no matter the shape, you know you’ve got this in the bag. building--block.com
HANDS ON DESK orking 9 to 5 has the unfortunate reputation of being mundane, but ZDDZ aims to please with Corp. Taking their cue from usual business clothing, the collection oozes cool with asymmetrical cuts, patent leather pieces, quilted vests, and tops embroidered with phrases like “self unemployed,” “employee of the month,” and “certified specialist.” No more excuses for slacking off. You better work. zddzlondon.com
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Words by Jill de Leon
W
THREADS
BRANDS TO KNOW
WORKING CLASS U
nlike their previous shows that playfully confuse yet stimulate imagination, SACAI’s Spring/Summer 2017 Mens Collection is all about being a toned-down hybrid of wellmade clothes that still function to address a single need. Bomber jackets, trench coats, embroidered sweatshirts, and parka overalls, though predominantly pink and layered on top of white mesh undergarments, still give a refreshing utilitarian feel–perfect for a creative that knows how to work hard and play harder. sacai.jp
CALCULATED RISKS J
ust when we thought denim on denim was a thing of the past, MÜNN starts to reignite the fire by adding a contemporary flavor to an all-time favorite. The embroidery of intricate designs put good contrast to the typical blue denim jackets we all know and love. Their structured trench coats, patterned suits, and metallic silk make “plain and boring” ancient history, munnseoul.kr
NEUTRAL GROUND T
aking inspiration form Eastern Asia, SATURDAYS NYC plays on classic staples and silhouettes for their newest offerings. In a clean neutral palette of beige, white and black topped of with light washed denim, their “Mickey” shirt, “Mason” sweater, “Keigo” shorts, and “Pacho” shirt flows in between the cool summer breeze and the relaxed winter days. saturdaysnyc.com
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SETTING
PLACES TO GO
SUITE
PULITZER HOTEL, AMSTERDAM A n escape from the city along a hidden neighborhood facing the iconic canals, the PULITZER HOTEL consists of 25 restored houses connected throughout a maze-like structure, boasting of 17th-18th century grandeur of the Golden Age. With a luxurious feel to its Dutch craftsmanship and a peaceful environment of soft lighting, hardwood floors, and brick walls, the hotel embodies tranquility in its botanical displays inside the main building, an art space, antique interior design, and serene gardens nestled in the center. Providing guests with plush spaces and themed suites, a garden cafe and hotel bar, as well as spacious rooms for events and dining halls for gatherings, the Pulitzer gives a glimpse of what living peacefully is like. Prinsengracht 315-331, 1016 GZ Amsterdam, Netherlands pulitzeramsterdam.com
GRUB
recking the bar for all the night spots along the lane, PURA VIDA is the first Costa Rican reggae lounge for anyone down for a good hangout. Resonating with its name, you enter a space inhabiting the lifestyle of the coasts of Costa Rica situated beside Z Hostel. Opening up into a wide wooden space, warm light washes over all the red, green, and yellow accents with funky interiors like swings along the bar and a similarly spacious balcony area overlooking the street lights and skyline of Poblacion. With fresh food and cocktails, they cultivate their dedication to reggae, with Latin reggae Mondays, PassaPassa nights on Tuesdays, Ladies’ Night on Wednesdays, acoustic reggae for Thursdays, and live acts on Fridays and Saturdays. Don Pedro St., Poblacion, Makati City facebook.com/PuraVidaMNL
PLATE
REGGAE ROOTS Check in for Costa Rican cuisine at PURA VIDA, a reggae lounge serving the freshest ingredients with recipes straight from the coast.
DADOS DE QUEZO Crusted cheese balls served with Caribbean sauce
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DESAYUNO Spiced chicken with rice and red beans, avocado, egg, plantains, and fried kesong puti
ARROZ CON POLLO Chuchu rice, pico de gallo salad, chips, and refried black beans
SURTIDO DE BOCAS Chicharones con yuca, patacones, enyucados, and dados de quezo
Words by Kimberly Carpio and Janroe Cabiles, GRUB photos by Nadine Layon
PURA VIDA, POBLACION W
BRICK AND MORTAR
STORES TO SHOP
WHAT A PETIT, Munich Zieblandstraße 2, 80799 München, Germany whatapetit.com Dime to drop: €6–€299 (₱328.84–₱16,386.97) Don’t leave the store without: A bright-colored Gosoaky “Crouching Tiger” poncho
L
iving on the cusp of the modern trends in fashion and pairing niche with the mainstream, concept store WHAT A PETIT is a sight for sore eyes that fills the gap in the nursery market amidst the wellspring of humdrum pastel threads in Munich, Germany. Step right onto a clean slate with a pure, laid-back style centered around muted tones, clean lines, minimal ornamentation, and understated elegance that make for easy navigation and highlights what matters most–making sure your little tots stays on track with their off-the-rack street garbs. Making way for the rugrats to one day take over the urban streets, the high-end kidswear salon offers a huge swath of designer clothing meant to make your children look too cool for school with labels that purvey quality and modernity with notable brands like Stüssy, Vans, Converse, New Era, Fred Perry, Helly Hansen, Thrasher, and AKID, ensuring your baby a seat as the most popular kid in pre-school. All the other kids with the pumped-up kicks ain’t got nothing on your mini me.
BONA DRAG
Words by Bianca Serrano
I
t’s not personal, it’s BONA DRAG. True to its name, nothing drags a la mode like the fair charm of this online retailer– a melting pot of fashion that holds curated items such as jewelry, quirky home good finds, and a dainty lookbook collection of ladies wear that encapsulates modern yet delicate femininity with brands such as Mara Hoffman, Unearthen, Lindsey Thornburg, Pamela Love, Made Her Think, Anna Sheffield, Lover, MLE Hagen, Aesa, and Talon NY to name a few.
bonadrag.com
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SCREEN
SCENES TO SEE
REMOTE CONTROL TICKET
I’M DYING UP HERE (SHOWTIME) Based on William Knoedelseder’s book of the same name, Jim Carrey’s new comedy-drama explores the damaged psyches that inhabit the knotty minds of the struggling comedians that bare-knuckled their way to the heyday of Hollywood’s 1970s standup scene, with aspiring performers hoping to make their way to Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show.
THE MIST (SPIKE) Following the film adaptation in 2007 of Stephen King’s The Mist, Spike’s TV adaptation follows multiple settings in which an eerie, sinister mist rolls into a quiet little town, with the residents battling to keep their sanity and morality intact, posing as much as a threat to themselves as it does with the monsters roaming through the fog.
BABY DRIVER Edgar Wright drives a tongue-in-cheek spin on the classic heist with Ansel Elgort, playing a driver forced into a heist chase with a killer soundtrack to keep him company.
WONDER WOMAN Warner takes on another awonder of the DC Universe as Gal Gadot takes the forefront as the hero we’ve all been waiting for, telling the woman’s impressive myth and legend.
ALL EYEZ ON ME Director Benny Boom tells the true story of prolific rapper, poet, and activist Tupac Shakur from his days in New York to his evolution to one of the world’s most influential voices.
BEATRIZ AT DINNER After some unlucky turn of events, Beatriz (Salma Hayek) a masseuse and healer finds herself in an unlikely setting at a dinner from hell with rapacious realestate tycoons.
OKJA Bong Joon-ho’s story follows Mija, a young girl who sets out on a daunting journey to prevent a powerful company from kidnapping her best friend, a massive animal named Okja.
DEAN Dean tells a heartfelt tale of a father and son set out on their own paths to moving on, and coming to terms with the redemptive sentiment of love, loss, and everything in between.
HACKERS (1995) This movie defined my teenage days, and I was obsessed with all of it– the soundtrack, haircuts, and the outfits.
REALITY BITES (1994) I would watch this movie and imagine that this is what my life would be like in my 20s and all I wanted was to grow up, go to diners, and talk about social issues.
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF A SPOTLESS MIND (2004) The characters are so relatable and flawed, and it’s filmed so beautifully.
FOXFIRE (1996) This meant a lot to me as a kid. I loved all the girls and their candlelit moments getting tattoos and getting drunk.
ROBIN EISENBERG (Artist) robineisenberg.com WAYNE’S WORLD (1992) One of the greatest movies ever made. So funny, iconic, and quotable.
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Words by Bianca Serrano
PLAYBACK
BEAtS PLAYLIST I am Poppy. There is only one Poppy and she loves you more than any other pop artist.
POPPY impoppy.com
“Cars” Gary Numan
“Starman” David Bowie
“Nocturnes, Op. 9, No.2” Chopin
“The StarSpangled Banner” Francis Scott Key
I enjoy listening to a nice eclectic mix of hip-hop and dance music.
DILLON FRANCIS dillonfrancis.com
“Element” Kendrick Lamar
“Feel Me Flow” Naughty by Nature
“I Feel It Coming” The Weeknd
“Xxplosive” Dr. Dre
Our music comes from different perspectives, because for me, music is really about sound, and then for her, music is more about about personality, character, and playfulness.
SHE-DEVILS Kyle Jukka (Producer) shedevilsinc.com
“Memories” Roy Orbison
“Jumbo” Underworld
“Moi Je Joue” Brigitte Bardot
“Life is Strange” T. Rex
MUSIC TO HEAR
RELEASES
The 22-year old singersongwriter, Ashley Nicolette Frangipane professionally known as HALSEY is releasing her second studio album, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom for 2017. The singer has been dropping hints for fans about this upcoming offering, releasing its first single from it entitled “Now or Never.”
Following up their hit album Bankrupt! released in 2013, the French rock band PHOENIX announces their new album Ti Amo. This will be the band’s sixth studio album with summer and Italian discos to their inspiration. The release will be followed by a world tour this year.
Words by Kimberly Carpio
MUSIC NEWS
UK’s biggest music fest Glastonbury Festival will be held from the 21st to the 25th of June. Bringing in performers like Radiohead, Foo Fighters, The XX, Stormzy, and many more, the festival is known to never disappoint.
Manchester’s Parklife Festival brings the world’s biggest artists together, showcasing performers like The 1975, Frank Ocean, Two Door Cinema Club and more. The two-day event will start from the 10th of June until the 11th.
The EDM festival Ultra will be dominating Seoul, Korea on a two-day rave night from June 10 to 11. Get crazy partying with the worlds biggest DJ’s like guest Alesso and Tieso.
After her long absence of four years from the music scene, New-Zealand singer and songwriter LORDE is back with a new album called Melodrama. She’s already released two singles from the upcoming album namely, “Green Light” and “Liability.”
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tech pack
GADGETS TO BUY
MOTION PICTURE
DOWNLOADS
No need for a production team to get good shots with these gadgets.
hover camera • Self-balanced, hovering camera • Has 13 megapixels and 4k video quality • Takes stable footage and follows you wherever you go SRP: PHP 250,000
Slingstudio Multi-Camera Broadcaster • Allows live broadcast to ten cameras • Professional level, HD quality camera • Portable and controllable with an app
MARVEL: COLOR YOUR OWN By Pixite LLC Boost your creativity and generate a distinctive Marvel character of your own with this app that allows you to color more than 200 designs with the use of specially made coloring tools.
SRP: PHP 50,000
Leica Q GINZA SIX • A special edition Leica Q with focal length prime lens • Has 24MP full-frame CMOS sensor • ISO sensitivities up to 50,000 SRP: PHP 30,209.91
NeoMe Wearable Camera • One of the most versatile, lightweight, and highly compact video cameras • Has time lapse photography, wide angle, and one-touch 15-second captures • Connectable with clip or magnet
TAPE IT UP By Devsisters A game that allows you to be an efficient player and work at a warehouse factory as a tape dispenser that continuously seals boxes in a speed constraint conveyor belt.
SRP: Php 8,500.00
• A camera with a square format film that prints out instantly • Photos can be saved for future viewing • Has 10 filters and editing features SRP: PHP 14,000.00
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ANIMATIC By Doodle.ly, Inc. 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 Kimberly Carpio
Fujifilm SQ10 Square
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F A CE PAI N T LA MER Soleil The Bronzing Powder P4,548.82
BURBERRY BEAUTY Eye Colour Cream in Dusty Pink P1,605.46
LANOLIPS Tinted Balm in Rhubarb P722.46
CLINIQUE “All About Shadow” Shimmer Eyeshadow in Bubble Bath P883.01
PINK FLAMINGO Get your head into it.
BOBBI BROWN Limited Edition Cheek Glow Palette in Homecoming Pink P2,675.78
YVES SAINT LAURENT Touche Éclat Glow Shot Liquid Highlighter in Sunset P2,247.65 RÉVIVE Le Tint Moisturizing Veil P 5,619.13 LAURA GELLER Brow Sculpting Palette in Brunette P1,551.95
PLUME Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum P5,083.87
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LAURA MERCIER Candleglow Concealer & Highlighter P1,712.50
HOURGLASS Jumbo Veil Mineral Primer P4,013.66
Runway photo from Adam Selman Spring/Summer 2017
ORIGINS Starting Over Age-Erasing Moisturizer with Mimosa P2,782.81
VAN I T I ES
HEAVY PETALS
Get in line with the floral code this season with the JOUER SPRINGTIME IN PARIS COLLECTION. Add a sprinkle of romance to your mug with their eye shadow palette that features 12 hues of warm neutrals, plums, and pinks and match it up with their powder highlighter, long-wear lip crème, and lip topper, all in rose gold. How’s that for flower power?
EXPERT ADVICE
Words by Jill de Leon
MOISTURIZERS
Step into the future with MURAD CITY SKIN AGE DEFENSE BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 50, a mineral sunscreen that not only protects from the sun, but also from pollution, radiation, and environmental toxins.
Apply your moisturizer right after stepping out of the shower to lock in the natural moisture of your skin.
Shield yourself from those harmful UV rays with CLINIQUE BROAD SPECTRUM SPF SUNSCREEN 30 FACE CREAM’s oil-free formula and new SolarSmart technology, which also help prevent signs of aging.
Keep an eye on those peepers with DR. DENNIS GROSS C+COLLAGEN BRIGHTEN & FIRM EYE CREAM which infuses vitamin C complex to keep your eyes looking fresh and energized.
Reach for the skies and get that perfect glow with PERRICONE H2 ELEMENTAL ENERGY HYDRATING CLOUD CREAM, which solves all your texture and dryness troubles in one boost.
Feel like a queen as ASPACE NK. APOTHECARY BY TERRY BAUME DE ROSE VISAGE FACE CREAM soothes and protects your skin with its rosescented formula designed for dry skin.
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GO S E E Suit up for some serious #adulting with corporate pieces amped up to fit the streets. Photos courtesy of lookbook.nu
@christianbelvin
@ivan_chang1007_
@ult
@hannahlouisef
@natinstablog
Here comes the sun in DAY JI’s ensemble brightened up by bursts of yellow. @itsdayji
@griztriz
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@matthiasgeerts
@ven
trvlnc_blog
nswifestyle
@katiquetteblog
MARK-HENRI NGANDU may be rocking a vest, but his style ain’t restrained between 9 to 5. @lcroco_alpha
@bymerks
@andreeabirsan_
@pazhalabirodriguez
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earrings by 3X1 sweater by Raf Simons pants by Saint Laurent shoes by Jeffrey Campbell
Photographed by Q & Cumber Styled by Javier de Pardo
dress by ASOS top by Sita Murt
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top by Sita Murt
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hat by 3X1 bodysuit by COS tights by Wolfordt
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dress by ASOS top by Sita Murt
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top by Xavi Fernandez skirt by Sandra Esseme belt by 3X1 tights by Wolford
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hat by 3X1 bodysuit by COS
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top by Xavi Fernandez skirt by Sandra Esseme belt by 3X1 tights by Wolford
Makeup Esther Monbel Model Adriana of Berta Models
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cape and jumpsuit by Friends & Neighbors necklace by Sacred Knots by Lise Silva eyewear by Pro Acme
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Photographed by Hannah Koehler Styled by Margaret Williamson Bechtold
top by Friends & Neighbors
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top and pants by Friends & Neighbors shoes by Kenneth Cole
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cape and jumpsuit by Friends & Neighbors
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top and skirt by Friends & Neighbors earrings by Zulma
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sweater by Russell Athletic skirt by Alfonso bag by Friends & Neighbors eyewear by Pro Acme
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jeans by Express shoes by Kenneth Cole
Model Karla Boone Producer Jill Bradshaw
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SWAG JUNE
20 1 7
CHARACTER REELNESS Make jaws drop with these ensembles inspired by your favorite films. Product photography by Daniel Santillan
top by Forever 21 [P915] shorts by Topshop [TBA] scarf by Forever 21 [P330] choker by Forever 21 [P450] shoes by ALDO [TBA] bag by Call It Spring [TBA]
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J O R DA N A B E VA N
DEEP IMPACT Girl of your dreams.
jacket by Sfera [P2,999] top by Mango [P1,295] socks by Forever 21 [P225] skirt by Forever 21 [P805] bag by Charles & Keith [TBA] shoes by Pedro [TBA] 42 - STATUSMAGONLINE.COM
SPUD MURPHY
TRAIN OF THOUGHT Last man standing.
shirt by Mango Man [P1,995] black button-down by Forever 21 [P915] gray button-down by Topman [TBA] pants by Forever 21 [P915] hat by Topman [TBA] STATUSMAGONLINE.COM - 43
NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
FOREVER YOUNG Eye of the liger.
pants by Topman [TBA] socks by Forever 21 [TBA] white shirt by Topman [TBA] yellow shirt by Forever 21 [P755] beanie by Forever 21 [P565]
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LUX LISBON
SISTER ACT
Youth in revolt.
top by Miss Selfridge [P2,595] skirt by Topshop [TBA] dress by Forever 21 [1,175] scarf by ALDO [TBA] bag by ALDO [TBA] shoes by Call It Spring
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PENNY LANE
FREE SPIRIT A penny for your thoughts.
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RICHIE TENENBAUM
FIRST SERVE
Game, set, match.
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JUNO MACGUFF
ETCH-ASKETCH Full-time friend.
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DRIVER
HIGH GEAR
Full speed ahead.
hat by Forever 21 [P735] blue button-down by Mango Man [P2,995] white button-down by Sfera [P1,499] pants by Forever 21 [P1,425] jacket by Mango Man [P2,995]
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RULE BREAKERS
M A E S T R O
Producing one hit after another, it’s safe to say that electronic music DJ trio CHEAT CODES are pressing the right buttons. By Denise Mallabo
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lectronic-infused pop music trio Cheat Codes’ formation in 2014 was both naturally permeated and a bit messy. Back when Matthew Russell was still part of a hip-hop project and Trevor Dahl was following the singer-songwriter route, the two lived together as Trevor rented Matt’s laundry room to be his bedroom studio. “I remember being jealous that I didn’t think of that idea before,” shares Matt. Kevin Ford, known back then as King Kevi, used to rap while Matt would produce beats for him. Unfortunately, the guy who brought
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him and Kevi together stole money from them, so they had no choice but to take him to a small claims court. “Through that process, Kevi and I became really good friends, so it was like a fun, little adventure that we went on together to become friends,” says Matt. After the whole ordeal, all three came to a realization that they didn’t want to continue with where they were headed, music-wise, so they decided to create a new sound together, which resulted to their first single “Visions.” Cheat Codes didn’t want to be put into a box—that’s why their sound is a mix of where they came from musically, highlighted by electronic beats, prominent piano and guitar, and pop hooks. “The possibilities are endless, and that’s what intrigued us about it. Electronic music is cool because it puts you in the producer’s chair, and
being able to look at music in that perspective more than any other genre is so collaborative and everyone seems open to it,” says Matt. Sampling other artists to produce their songs wasn’t an idea that they were too open to doing at first, but when they saw the magnitude that their song “Sex” brought, a song wherein they sampled Salt-N-Pepa’s “Let’s Talk About Sex”, their perspective on the matter changed. The trio recently released the music video for their latest single “No Promises,” featuring popstar Demi Lovato. Getting ready to go on their No Promises Tour, the band can’t wait to travel to places they haven’t played before and to hype everyone up.
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Most of your songs have a strong positive vibe. What do you want your listeners to take from them? Matt: The cheat code to life or to being successful is the idea of having fun—just relaxing into it and allowing it to be easy. I think a lot of us make things harder than they have to be, so we get to that point in our jobs and careers where we should view it as being easy so that it becomes easy. It’s not a coincidence; it’s more of a mindset. We had that point of view from the very beginning and that’s why our first song was called “Visions,” because we were literally envisioning places around the world where we wanted to play, and that within two years, we would like to accomplish all those dreams. Are there any people that you guys take inspiration from for your style? M: We’re really involved in the business side of our career. We really take inspiration from anybody that’s doing what they do successfully. We played a show with Steve Aoki in Dubai and the way he put his show on, he does it the same way as far as him throwing his cakes. He has a team that makes it happen, and I really respect that he shows up to really perform and not just DJ, as a lot of other DJs do. But as far as music goes, Calvin Harris is always at the cutting edge of keeping it relevant. We just love good songs.
“The cheat code to life or to being successful is the idea of having fun—just relaxing into it and allowing it to be easy.” How’s it like playing in huge venues versus intimate settings? Which do you prefer and why? M: We’re most comfortable playing in festivals, especially with ones that have a little bit of every genre, because when you go and see our show, we’re mixing every type of genre. We would play pop, EDM, hip-hop, and then we’re singing and hyping as well. Sometimes, if we play at a club, you have to limit the amount of interaction with the crowd. Any other dream collaborations for you guys? M: We’d love to collaborate with artists that have never been on a dance song before, like Elton John or Paul McCartney, someone that would shock people just like how Calvin Harris did that a little bit with Frank Ocean for “Slide.” I think those are the best collaborations, with people coming from different worlds and creating something new.
@cheatcodesmusic
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MAESTRO
Seamlessly mixing R&B and hip-hop beats, alt-pop band OCEAN PARK STANDOFF is setting the course for a musical getaway. By Ida Aldana Photographed by James Minchin
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he last thing one would imagine while listening to Ocean Park Standoff’s alt-pop sound and catchy melodies would be police cars and guns, but just the day after they decided to become a group, Ethan Thompson, Pete Nappi, and Samantha Ronson found themselves in the middle of it all. “Samantha had a house right next to Ocean Park Boulevard,
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and Pete and I were coming over to work on some music,” Ethan begins. “We were an hour and a half late getting there because the street was blocked off,” he narrated. It seemed like something out of a movie. “There were SWAT teams and helicopters by the time we got to Samantha’s house. She found out online that there was a standoff between cops and a guy with a shotgun over at Ocean Park and 10th.” They were, quite literally, in an Ocean Park standoff. Naming their group based on an untoward event would be very telling
of the band, in that they always look for the good in everything, and if it’s nowhere to be found, they make the good themselves. “When we do our shows, we want it to be an escape,” Ethan says. “That’s why we try not to talk about anything too specific about what’s going on in the world. We want you to escape from whatever you’re in. Whether you’re in good or bad times, we want you to be invested in that moment,” he enlightened. “We’re sharing the music together.” Samantha also sees their music as a way to keep the negativity at bay. “There’s
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a conscious effort to keep a tone of hope. We deal with tough things, dark issues, and heartbreaks. Whatever the inspiration is for each of us behind each song, we definitely make it a point to keep it uplifting,” she says. “There’s enough shit in the world, so we’re trying to give people a little bit of escape and hope through our music.” This shared experience of music is also what goes on when the trio starts working on their music. All hands are on deck when they start their songwriting process. “Pete handles most of the production—I’d say around 90% of it. Then Ethan and I handle 90% of songwriting,” shares Samantha. Their ideas easily bounce off of each other as they go along. “We just go back and forth,” she continued. “Pete will come in with a track or the music he’s working on. Then we’d mess around, pick up some instruments, and just start playing. It’s pretty organic.” Chill and upbeat isn’t just a description of their sound, but their relationship as a band as well. The creative flow comes natural for the three of them, and it undeniably shows. “For me,” says Pete, “our music is a big reflection of how the three of us are like when we’re together.” There’s something about being in a group that keeps them working towards a common goal. “There are mornings when we’re exhausted beyond any measure, but we have to get up at seven in the morning for something and we’ll get together for it. If there’s just one of us going on and doing that thing, we’d be the grumpiest, angriest people possible,” Pete says with a laugh. Samantha
echoes Pete’s thoughts, having taken a break from spinning as a DJ and getting into the band. “Being a DJ is pretty lonely and I love it for what it is. But being in a band is like having a family. I come from a family with a lot of siblings, so it feels like home. It’s like having a team—it’s a squad,” she shares. With an EP released just last March, the three of them are now taking their route to the road, as they go on a summer tour with Third Eye Blind and Silversun Pickups. They might even be doing a fall tour. “It might be relentless all the way ‘til January,” Ethan jokes. But for now, they’re set on course. “We want to keep creating as much as possible and we want to keep releasing music during the whole time we’re doing this. That’s our main goal.” With their individual talents united through their shared love of creating feel good music, the coast is clear for Ocean Park Standoff to set sail.
“THERE’S ENOUGH SHIT IN THE WORLD, SO WE’RE TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT OF ESCAPE AND HOPE THROUGH OUR MUSIC.”
oceanparkstandoff.com @OPStandoff
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MAESTRO
d a y t im e revolution From fiction to fact, UK retro rock outfit DREAM WIFE throws some pastel shade with truth in every diction. By Bianca Serrano Photographed by Hollie Fernando
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dding a realistic bite to their pastel dreams, EnglishIcelandic riot grrrl trio Dream Wife ascends from their basement and plugs onto the stage with positively charged girl power. Stuck in a daydream nation of the ‘90s and Canada, their initially-made passion project took an unsuspecting turn and fell into a glitter-infused mosh pit where they rolled up into something more than just their punk-informed retro rock blueprint. “Making a band with the sole purpose of traveling to Canada, that’s how it all started really,” says the three-piece girl gang. Inspired by the spirit of reckless abandon of the ‘70s, Rakel Mjöll, Alice Go, and Bella Podpadec pluck the day with a nonchalant air and uncompromising do-it-yourself attitude. “It was made for fun with no expectations. Our friends doubted we would go, but we made a few songs, took some press shots of us, and then we’re off on a month-long tour around Canada. We didn’t have any idea of how to book a show or a tour in a foreign country, but we
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got some help through other musicians and ended up having an amazing time! The unity the three of us formed together on the road was something special. What came after was Dream Wife.” With a pop anthem that’s loaded with phrases like “I am not my body / I am somebody” from their 2017 hit “Somebody,” the band struck a major chord on stereotypical femininity with their punchy indie punk cuts. When asked how they want Dream Wife to be remembered in music history, they said, “Good people making good music. We hope to encourage more women to get into music and write their own songs.” With three members in the band, what’s your creative process like when making music? We’ve been writing our debut album and have a drummer on board now writing with us. His name is Alex and he’s great! Usually, one of us brings in an idea to a song in the rehearsal room, and then we go on from there. It’s a natural way of writing songs.
MAESTRO You’ve played festivals, gone on tour, and even signed with a label. How do you feel about the trajectory of your career? We’re happy and thankful. We’ve learned a lot and we’re looking forward to whatever comes our way. We’re excited to release our debut album to see the light of day and for people to hear it. What has greatly influenced your music? Are you open to evolving and trying different techniques? We’ve been playing a lot of shows this past year; the more shows we play, the more we evolve as a band. The live shows are what this band is truly about. It becomes one big party with the crowd. We were thankful to join two of our favorite bands The Kills and Sleigh Bells on tour this year. Seeing them perform with such energy and skills was incredible.
“PLAY MUSIC WITH FRIENDS YOU TRUST AND BE ABLE TO EXPRESS YOURSELF THE WAY YOU WANT TO, BUT NOT WHAT YOU THINK OTHERS EXPECT OF YOU. HAVE FUN.”
One lyric from a track you covered was “Stay in school ‘cause it’s the best.” Do you happen to live by this virtue? That’s a Peaches cover we did for i-D. It was for Valentine’s Day. We love Peaches and that song is so epic. I guess you gotta ask her about those lyrics. But yeah, we formed in school, and we loved it–maybe you will too. Any tips you could give your fans who want to pursue a music career? Play music with friends you trust and be able to express yourself the way you want to, but not what you think others expect of you. Have fun. Take your music seriously, but don’t take yourself so seriously.
dreamwife.co @DreamWifeMusic
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MAESTRO
L OS
T IN
PA R A D IS
E
Not all those who wander are lost. After exploring the realm of DIY indie rock with a poetic revolution in her fulllength debut, VAGABON finds her place in Infinite Worlds. By Pola Beronilla Photographed by Ebru Yildiz
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aetitia Tamko was born to this world to bring us music of an almost otherworldly beauty. Crafting intimate tales of fuzzy, melodic indie rock gems under the moniker of Vagabon, the New Yorker’s musical roots grew from her humble abode in Cameroon, Africa. With the region serving as a deep pool of West African influences from the folk, blues, and psyche genres, she dove into her intuitive rhythm and taught herself how to play the guitar through an instructional DVD and strummed along the songs she heard on the radio. Although she never really took it seriously, little did she know that her simple hobby was bound to take her places. The first in her family to pursue a career in the arts, music had to take a backseat as she took up engineering and computer code at The City College of New York. But as she was nearing her graduation, her passion called the tune of her heart as she found herself falling in love with music again. With working on her songs while studying an engineering course at the same time, you can’t help but wonder if it affected her musical style in any way– however, she thinks differently. “That duality hasn’t affected my music style. It feels very much like a left brain, right brain kind of thing. They just exercise different parts of my brain,” she explains. Getting by with a little help from her friends, Laetitia started uploading her songs on Bandcamp under the name Vagabon. Despite barely having any expectations, she was invited to perform at NYC underground mecca Silent Barn, where
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she found a space to explore and perform alongside the likes of Frankie Cosmos and Told Slant. “The time I spent constantly playing shows, touring the country, and seeing how music communities in many cities operate kept me motivated,” she adds. Finding inspiration on a smaller stage, she released her debut EP Persian Garden through a small tape label. Not restricted to a single genre, Vagabon wanders across the spectrum of R&B, traditional rock, and bedroom pop. Having control of the vocals, guitar, and SP404, she has a clear sense of musical direction. “It’s a long one! A lot of trial and error–it’s a process I respect though,” she suggests. Her inimitable take on DIY indie rock mostly comes off as raw and vulnerable. Backed up by her soaring tenor and electric sensibilities, she pours her art all over her understated sonic framework, taking us deeper into her personal space. “I tend to start from a memory I’d like to archive through song and go from there,” she shares of her creative process. Describing her music as her personal catharsis, the multi-instrumentalist and producer also aims to do the same for the listener. “I hope my songs brings comfort and solace to someone,” she
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“ I wanted Infinite Worlds to be my vision and my doing. It was important for me to establish that foundation for myself and from here on out.” adds. From one lost soul to another, Vagabon is the kindred spirit you’ve been looking for. Released via Father/Daughter Records, she recently dropped her debut album Infinite Worlds last February. “It’s a reference of a book of poetry named The Crisis of Infinite Worlds by Dana Ward,” she explains of her record’s title. Burning deep with a heart-tugging single called “The Embers,” Laetitia croons, “I feel so small, my feet can barely touch the floor / On the bus, where everybody is tall / I surrender myself to the demons that carry them.” Delivering such a powerful debut, she’s clearly destined for bigger things ahead. “I wanted Infinite Worlds to be my vision and my doing. It was important for me to establish that foundation for myself and from here on out, I know I can go whichever way,” she shares. Reeling in a tour with Tegan and Sara this June, a spot on the Pitchfork Festival in July, a gig at the Lincoln Center in August, and more US and EU tours for the rest of the year, better run and tell everybody that Laetitia is not a small fish.
vagabon.bandcamp.com @vagabonvagabon
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M A S T E R M I N D
From a grainy trip down the filmstrip to rolling onto the main show on the road, actor and musician ALGEE SMITH steals the scene with a high resolute performance for upcoming biopic motion-picture, Detroit. By Bianca Serrano Photographed by John Russo
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eeling down the pike in rapid and boffo sequences, Algee Smith continues to establish himself frame by frame as a young actor to watch out for. Being no stranger to the camera, he starred in multiple TV series like Disney’s Let It Shine and 2014’s Earth To Echo, but is wellknown for his powerful depiction of Ralph Tresvant in Chris Robinson’s three-part biopic miniseries, The New Edition Story. His character plunges into the rocky details of their consequential stint in the music industry and successfully brings to life the riveting tale of legendary R&B hit group New Edition, as they unveil the nitty-gritty facets brewing behind the curtains of the big screen. “Having Ralph there to actually guide me was the best thing. He would always tell me not to try and be exactly like him, but just to do my best translating the emotions of these real life events that happened.” He continues, “The experience was literally a life-changing one. I’m blessed to say I’ve
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worked with Chris Robinson, New Edition, and all of my castmates. Come on, I was working with Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis. Working with people of that caliber gives you no choice but to grow.” With roles that demand truth in every line, he explains how taking cues from a story reflecting reality is a little more intense. “There’s pressure to do the person you’re playing justice,” Algee explains. Now one of the leads in the compelling film Detroit by Kathryn Bigelow, Algee explores the fate of one of the characters trapped in an inescapable and violent period in the Algiers Motel. “I can’t give away too much [about my character], but I can say that he has a very interesting journey that will definitely pull at your heartstrings.” With a story that sparked the largest uprising in United States’ history known as the 12th Street Riot, the stakes are undeniably high, but donning a convincing face of a victim, Algee wraps up with a justified narration of the macabre. “It’s telling a part of a story that hasn’t
MASTERMIND been told. I feel the media always finds a way to tell you what they want you to hear, and not exactly what happened.” Coming to the point of attack, Algee surprises us with his smooth sailing transition to being the renowned pop singer. With most biopics being a hit or miss, Algee scores a home run by being an artist himself and having created his own debut single, “She Say.” “I was always into music ever since I was nine. I didn’t get into acting until I was 15 when my music managers introduced me to my first agent Joy Pervis, but I did always know that I wanted to entertain,” the multitalented actor says. “I feel most connected to myself when I’m expressing a feeling either through singing or acting.” For Algee Smith, his kaleidoscopic performances breathe life to the cardboard cutouts of cinema and go beyond the pages and borders of coining a phrase. “Committing to the character for me is just being completely open to go places, physically and mentally, that allow me to get the emotion across on screen.” Flashing in the eye of glamour and set on a foray for stardom, his good sense of direction steers him to a humble yet bright future ahead. “I’ve learned a lot from every role I’ve played. Rather, it’s a new way of delivering lines, and learning how to go about handling a similar situation in my life.”
@itsalgee
“COMMITTING TO THE CHARACTER FOR ME IS JUST BEING COMPLETELY OPEN TO GO PLACES, PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY, THAT ALLOW ME TO GET THE EMOTION ACROSS ON SCREEN.” STATUSMAGONLINE.COM - 59
CRIMSON ROSE
Stuck in a succession of illusory sequences, Los Angeles-based director DANA BOULOS immortalizes the candid youth in their element with her surreal vision. By Janroe Cabiles Photographed by Harry Glazier
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ummoning the restless sensation of youth in dark rooms full of neon lights, video games, lipstick, and disco balls scattered around, Dana Boulos hashes out pretty, pictureperfect plans with her penchant for capturing adolescent recklessness in her films. But before filmmaking came into the picture, she tapped into the influences around her during her early years in London, with her mother being an artist and her grandmother a model in Lebanon in the ‘60s. “Art was a huge part of my life growing up,” she shares. “My family is also really into fashion, so I learned about designers and artists at an early age.” Moving to Los Angeles at the age of ten, she put two and two together and channeled her creativity into light-soaked atmospheres in photographs with her handy disposable Kodak, choosing to
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immortalize moments with a camera before picking up a camcorder. Working with Oyster, Teeth Magazine, BULLETT, Autre, Elle Girl, C-Heads, Cake, Jalouse Magazine, Vice, Vogue Japan, and Live FAST as well as Milk Studios, Glossier, Missoni, Badlands 777, and Urban Outfitters, she honed her raw sensibilities in seizing stills of muted beauty, but eventually translated that into moving pictures. “I first got into filmmaking when my high school added a Cinematography class. I wanted to study filmmaking in college, but I ended up going into Fashion and got a degree in Visual Communication–I didn’t have the full confidence to take it up until two years ago when I decided to really go for it,” she recalls. “I took a simple Cinematography course and had met Jesy Odio by chance on a shoot to make her short film CAMGIRL. After that, I then realized directing is something I’ve been dreaming to do, so why the hell shouldn’t I be doing it?” Scratching the surface with her idiosyncratic cinematography, she plays with surreal sequences accompanied by stellar soundtracks– an experience just like stepping
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into a dream. From music videos for Wetrobots+Bosaina’s “Bang & Blow” and Slow Hollows’ “The Art School Kids” to video lookbooks for The Little Vicious and Cypress The Label, she creates rapid scenes of mixed elements: vintage shots and vaporwave aesthetics in delicate frames of light. With her film production company Cherry Runaway Films, Dana took hold of her own narrative in CAMGIRL starring Karina Fontes. “It was my first time directing a short and I loved every second of it,” she shares. “Since we had no budget, I definitely had to wear more than one role for it, which I love.” Taking a closer look into digital catalogue in the information age, we see the vague border that stands between private lines and online personas, as well as the evolution of constant communication behind our bedroom doors. Collaborating again with Jesy Odio, she recently released her second short Crimson Rose, a horrorinspired revenge story of a young seductress who schemes her way into the university of her dreams, even at the expense of the boy of her dreams. “Crimson Rose was inspired by
a few of my favorite late ‘90s bad girl characters who always got what they want. Such characters include Drew Barrymore in Poison Ivy, Bijou Phillips in Tart, and Isabelle Adjani in Possession.” Repeating the mantra, “I am young, I am beautiful, and I will fuck you over just like everybody else,” model Kate Bowman steals the scene with her demented glare and weaves a bizarre tale alongside her other street-cast actors Lucas Bin, Melahn Frierson, Emily Labowe, and Elizana Gil Rodriguez. Perfecting the unsettling atmosphere frame by frame, the director took inspiration from her natural habitat. “When it comes to my creative process, I’m pretty crazy. I have a bunch of books everywhere, scribbles of handwriting on receipts on my walls, and my computer is always about to blow up from how many images I have on my laptop. I’m sort of like the Tasmanian Devil with inspiration everywhere.” Fascinated by youth culture, she continues, “I love how real they are to themselves and daring to others. But my inspiration could be literally anything–people, sounds, colors, shapes, and even a scribble of a font.” Now working on her first feature film, Dana blends her love for color, lighting, texture, and emotion, with her signature peek of cherries.
danaboulos.com @danaboulos
“My inspiration could be literally anything– people, sounds, colors, shapes, and even a scribble of a font.” CRIMSON ROSE STATUSMAGONLINE.COM - 61
MASTERMIND
Creating a fictional realm from the same vertebrae of her life, Manilabased director SAMANTHA LEE breaks the fourth wall for stories of sunken memories. By Janroe Cabiles Photographed by Shaira Luna
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the continuum of art imitating life as life imitates art, Samantha Lee is caught in between, left to pick up the pieces and see the truth in both ideologies. First falling for filmmaking in high school, she would make mini videos for fun. “I was just always interested in the many ways different visuals work together,” she says. “I was lucky enough to have some very supportive teachers who encouraged this kind of output.” Keeping the momentum of making movies and pursuing her passion through college, she’s gone on to pen full narratives in video lookbooks, BTS reels, music videos, and interviews in collaboration with clients Float Swimwear, Proudrace, CNN, Esquire, and L’Officiel to name a few. Forging a way forward to tell stories of her own, she found the path of least resistance right to her documentary Agos for her
thesis. “Everything about that film stemmed out of going with the flow. I originally wanted to shoot the documentary in La Union starring a surfer named Jeffrey. While in the middle of developing the concept for the film, my thesis adviser asked me if I would consider featuring a female subject instead. When she said that, I had just gotten back from a surfing trip in Daet where I met Mocha [Eduzma].” Finding her voice in creating films as reflections and not as pure fiction, she arrived at a point to intersect her reality with Baka Bukas
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her craft. “I was living in Melbourne and I was living a pretty good life,” she recalls. “I could walk down the street holding the hand of a girl I liked and not think twice about it. I just remember waking up one day and wishing that I had this life, but back in Manila. I had no idea then how I was going to go about it, but I knew I wanted to help improve the representation of the LGBTQ community in the Philippines.” Taking a chapter out of her life, Samantha wrote a love letter to her painful past with her debut feature film Baka Bukas, in scenes all too real: tossing back amber antidotes of alcohol while listening to your friends anecdotes all around you, just to forget. Literally translated as Maybe Tomorrow, she weaves a tale around Jasmine Curtis-Smith as Alex, a 20-something writer,
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director, photographer, and production designer in the slash generation who falls in love with her best friend. Deviating from a social commentary on coming out, the film goes beyond the proverbial closet and sees the story in a simpler light: two friends asking the same questions, holding off on the answers for tomorrow. Winning the Audience Choice Award and Best Sound at the 2016 Cinema One Originals, the director lets her guard down and makes her personal story universal. “Cinema should always act like a mirror of society, and growing up, I never really felt like I saw myself in the cinema. I just wanted to see myself and my friends on film; I didn’t want to feel so invisible anymore.” Headed to the Frameline Fest at San Francisco for the film’s North American debut, Samantha Lee has a lot more on the horizon. Tell us your creative process. In any type of video production you do, be it film, an interview, a BTS video, etc., how do you create a visceral story to tell? I do a lot of research and try to draw inspiration from non-film resources. For example, the whole time I was writing Baka Bukas, I just kept listening to “Weak” by Wet. I find that stepping away from the source material can sometimes be more inspiring than diving deep into it.
Baka Bukas
“CINEMA SHOULD ALWAYS ACT LIKE A MIRROR OF SOCIETY, AND GROWING UP, I NEVER REALLY FELT LIKE I SAW MYSELF IN THE CINEMA.”
Who would you say are your top inspirations in the film industry in terms of aesthetic and storytelling? I never really had any inspirations. I really love Wes Anderson, Sofia Coppola, and early Cameron Crowe works. You worked with All Girl Productions on Baka Bukas, and you’ve talked about how much easier it was to communicate a tender story alongside other women. Can you talk more about this? A lot of people like to ask me why I chose to work with mostly women for this film and I always answer, “Why not?” Female voices and talents deserve to be showcased more, both behind and in front of the camera. What do you love most about filmmaking? Doing what I love with people that I love doing things with.
vimeo.com/givemesam @givemesam
Baka Bukas
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MASTERMIND
While most fifteenyear-olds spend their time screaming through horror films, freshfaced SOPHIA LILLIS is already in one, playing The Loser Club’s Beverly in It. By Ida Aldana Photographed by Hibbard Nash Styled by Samantha Fletcher Makeup David Tibolla of Exclusive Artists Management
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ost of the time, you don’t really know what it is until it happens,” says Sophia when asked why she loves acting. “I like being part of an artistic project. It’s a totally exciting adventure– being able to be a different person, to be with others doing the same, creating.” The Brooklyn native got an early introduction to the creative process, beginning when she was just seven years old and training at the NYU’s Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute. But it was actually her stepdad who gave her her first lead. “My stepfather took a film class and used me in his final project. I had a good time, so my parents sent me to acting school. Things just went on from there,” she shares. Ever since then, she’s been taking on roles from the stage to the film set. Back in 2014, she was in a production of
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream and played Winthrop in a co-production of Strasberg. “Film and theater are very different, but I like them both. I hope to always be able to work both in film and on the stage,” she says. For now, she’ll be reminding everyone why our seemingly irrational fear of clowns isn’t so irrational after all. She’ll be starring in It, the new film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel of the same name, that was also a miniseries back in the ‘90s. Sophia takes on the role of Beverly, the only girl in the group of kids who discover the shapeshifting clown, Pennywise. “Beverly is strong, brave, and loyal,” she describes. “She has lived–literally in the same house– with her fears for a long time.” She continues, “We certainly have very different lives, but I think both of us basically don’t dwell on the past and try to learn from our mistakes.” By the looks of it, this fifteen-yearold’s off to a running start and we can’t wait to see where it leads to– even if there are some scary clowns along the way.
“It’s a totally exciting adventure–to be able to be a different person, to be with others doing the same, creating.”
MASTERMIND
my tape from the first round and had me come to LA to read for Beverly, and I was offered the part.
Your first project was The Lipstick Stain, which you won an award for. How were you able to evoke the emotion behind Addie’s tale? How did it feel garnering recognition at this fresh point of your career? It was actually based on the real life story of the director, so we talked a lot about how she felt. I was surprised to hear I received the award. I thought, “Wow, OK.” Tell us about your new film It. How did you land your role? I auditioned and was called back but then they switched directors. A year later when they re-started casting, the new director, Andy Muchietti saw
With your theatrical background along with your experience at just 15, can you tell us what your creative process is like when you embody a character? I usually try to imagine the character’s past, the things she’s experienced, and try to imagine how those things made her feel. Then, I relate to those feelings when acting. I don’t know if that makes sense. Another interesting thing about you is your venture into photography, as seen on your Instagram. How’d you get into it? And who are your muses, or what inspires you to take a photo of any given moment? My stepfather Chris Mellevold got me into it. He has been into photography all his life and has taken some great photos. He gave me this really nice monochrome Leica camera to borrow
when I was in Toronto doing reshoots and I took a bunch of photos of the cast and crew. I like capturing people as they are. I draw a lot too, and it’s sort of the same thing–to accurately portray what I’m trying to draw. Are there any dream directors, writers, actors, or specific genres you want to work with? In almost everything I do, either my mother is dead or abandons me, or my father is absent or abusive; it would be nice to do a comedy someday. I would also love to work with Bill Murray. What’s next for you? I just started working on a new series for HBO called Sharp Objects where I play the younger version of the main character Camille, who is played by Amy Adams. Jean Marc Vallée is the director who also directed Big Little Lies and Dallas Buyers Club.
@sophia_lillis
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H E A V Y H I T T E R
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From checking in to The Grand Budapest Hotel as Wes Anderson’s courteous lobby boy to riding high on Rick Famuyiwa’s sleeper hit Dope, TONY REVOLORI is now taking a page from the comic book universe as he makes a marvelous debut in Spider-Man: Homecoming as Flash Thompson. By Pola Beronilla Photographed by Isaac Sterling Styled by Anastasya K.
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“I LOVE GETTING THAT REACTION, GOING TO THE CINEMA AND SEEING [PEOPLE’S] HAPPINESS FROM WATCHING THE FILM. IT’S A HIGH THAT I’M CONSTANTLY CHASING.”
IN A GENERATION
where everyone’s Instagram bio reads “started from the bottom, now we’re here,” Tony Revolori literally started his career from Zero. Although the opportunity first came knocking after securing a baby food commercial at the age of two, it was The Grand Budapest Hotel that opened the doors to his career as Wes Anderson cast him over his older brother as the titular hotel’s doting lobby boy in the 2014 Oscar-winning film. “It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life to work with Wes. He is brilliant beyond compare,” shares the 21-year old actor. “I remember him telling me to never stop right in front of a dolly when it’s following you ‘cause you might get run over and you won’t survive that [laughs].” Coming into service all decked in a matching purple uniform and a pencildrawn mustache, Tony held his ground starring alongside Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Saoirse Ronan, Jeff Goldblum, Edward Norton, Léa Seydoux, and Jason Schwartzman not exactly an easy feat for a 17-year old newcomer. “I kind of felt the same self-discovery that Zero [Moustafa] got in the film. The
confidence it gave me to pursue things that I love in the correct way, I think that was the biggest lesson I learned,” he recalls. Carrying the film with expert ease and palpable charm, Tony Revolori checked out of The Grand Budapest Hotel and stepped into the wicked world of the motion picture industry. It wasn’t necessarily luck that led him to his first lead role in a major Hollywood movie. Although fate played a role in his acting reel, his childhood was spent preparing for his impending debut on the silver screen. “My dad kind of put me in acting from a very young age, but I really fell in love with the experience of going to the theaters and watching movies. That’s kinda how my passion grew for it,” relays Tony. From one iconic director to another, he soon found himself in a gangsta’s paradise, starring as the nerd misfit Jib in Rick Famuyiwa’s 2015 coming-of-age dramedy Dope. Apart from the commercial success the indie flick picked up, it also generated buzz among both critics and moviegoers, which he admits can get pretty addicting. “It’s unexplainable. It’s such a wonderful gift. I’m so very fortunate to have made a couple of films that people seem to really enjoy,” he explains. “I love getting that reaction, going to the cinema and seeing their happiness from watching the film. It’s a high that I’m constantly chasing.” Now swinging by a familiar comic book franchise, the actor sort of makes a superhero landing in the Marvel
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Cinematic Universe as he nabs the role of Spider-Man: Homecoming’s egocentric bully Flash Thompson. “The 12-year-old in me was super excited–we were both very happy,” he quips. Tony Revolori might not have suited up as the superhero he wanted to be, but he’s been saving the art of cinema one role at a time as the friendly neighborhood actor takes on his projects with great power and responsibility.
Spider-Man: Homecoming isn’t only part of a huge franchise, but it’s a historic one as it makes its return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. How did you feel when you learned that you got the role of Flash Thompson? As someone who read the comic books as a young kid, I was extremely excited and very happy. To be joining the franchise that is the MCU is quite wondrous. They have a very nice, tight-knit family, and it’s an honor to be a part of it. I researched as much as I could about the character and I wanna do him justice for the people who love him. Yet again, you find yourself starring alongside a well-rounded ensemble cast. How was it like working with both familiar and fresh faces? With the amount of talent and the level of people we have in this film, I’m very fortunate to be among them. Whether it’s Jacob Batalon (who’s playing Ned Leeds) who has never done anything before this and seeing his fresh eyes on the whole industry or talking to someone like Michael Keaton who’s been around the block more times than I could count, it’s quite amazing how we all got along and were able to come together and make this great film that people can hopefully enjoy.
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On a side note, what superhero or villain have you always wished to portray? As a kid, I used to love reading Spider-Man 2099, which is the hispanic Spider-Man, and I’ve always wanted to portray him. But now there are a lot of roles in comic books that I feel are more geared towards ethnic people, and I think a lot of those are roles that I wanna take, including Deadpool, but I think Ryan Reynolds has the perfect sense of humor for it. Flash Thompson is barely seen in the trailers, and you’ve mentioned before
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jacket and T-shirt by The Kooples jeans by Levis
“[FLASH THOMPSON] IS A CHARACTER THAT PEOPLE DON’T OFTEN UNDERSTAND VERY MUCH, AND I TRIED TO BRING THAT LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING TO THE SCREEN.”
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“EXPECTATIONS COME AND GO, BUT I THINK THIS [INTERPRETATION OF FLASH THOMPSON] IS PROGRESSIVE...I JUST DID THE BEST THAT I COULD AND I’M GONNA LET MY WORK SPEAK FOR ITSELF.”
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underneath Flash Thompson that people will hopefully get to see in the movie. He’s a character that people don’t often understand very much, and I tried to bring that level of understanding to the screen.
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that there’s a reason for that. What can you say about your character without saying too much about the plot? People are gonna get to see where he’s coming from, and the thing is, we don’t want to spoil all the great lines. A lot of my lines are quite revealing. I think that’s why I haven’t been seen in the trailers much. Also, you get to see a whole lot of great, great costumes. I wear a lot of very interesting clothing [laughs]. Do you think there are any similarities that you share with him? I guess sometimes I can be a dick [laughs]. I crack a lot of jokes, and I think that’s something he and I have in common. Although his jokes take it maybe a little too far. But beyond that, there’s a lot
Comic book fans can get really passionate when it comes to the details of film adaptations, and Flash Thompson is generally depicted white in the comics as well as in the previous ones we’ve seen in Sam Raimi’s and Marc Webb’s versions. How have you been handling people’s expectations of your character? You know, expectations come and go, but I think this is progressive. It’s funny ‘cause there are so many films where a white person will play a role that is generally known or depicted as either Asian, brown, or black and no one bats an eye, but when it’s the other way around, people suddenly get so antsy–especially with comic book fans. For the most part, I’ve just been handling it and taking it with a grain of salt. I don’t really listen to what they say. I just did the best that I could and I’m gonna let my work speak for itself. You’ve worked with an iconic director like Wes Anderson and are now part of a big comic book franchise. Any dream project, certain directors you wanna work with, or genre in film you have in mind right now? Too many to name and count. As far directors go, there’s always Tarantino who’s at the top of the list for me, as well as Wes Anderson again, if I get the opportunity. But you know what would be a dream role? Playing Santiago in the film adaption of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I think that is my biggest dream. Or possibly Aladdin. I would love to be a Disney Prince. Oh, I would love to be on a carpet and just fly around the world [laughs].
@tonyrevolori
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Driven by his passion to deliver something fresh to the silver screen, EDGAR WRIGHT makes a sharp turn towards a new genre and chases a 22-year old idea for a straight-up crime-thriller fueled by a killer mixtape. With every action-packed sequence moving to the beat of the music, Baby Driver is on the Wright track. By Pola Beronilla
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Baby Driver Photos by: Nino Munoz ©2017 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved. **ALL IMAGES ARE PROPERTY OF SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT INC. FOR PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY. SALE, DUPLICATION OR TRANSFER OF THIS MATERIAL IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
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LET’S CUT TO THE CHASE.
We’re halfway into 2017 and yet movie theaters are still often crowded with reboots, sequels, and remakes. Although an increasing number of nostalgic franchises find themselves struggling at the box office, modern cinema is still banking on the tedious Hollywood trend—and this is where we do a quick-cut to Edgar Wright. The British writer-director is that tiny ant in a vast cinematic world dominated by repackaged pieces of intellectual property, and just like how the pint-sized insect can carry 20 times its weight, this ant of a man is loaded with more unconventional narratives than a normal brain could bear. Since the very first time he held a Super 8 as a young film geek in Somerset, England, he has been reeling in a meticulous love for filmmaking, gradually developing a kinetic directing style rooted in a keen sense of visual comedy, which can be seen throughout “The Cornetto Trilogy”: Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End, as well as his adaptation of Brian Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim
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vs. the World. His latest effort takes a turn from his usual route of comedy-hybrids and goes into action with Baby Driver. Sure enough, car-chase thrillers aren’t exactly something we haven’t seen on the big screen, but he’s certainly the Wright guy for the job. Starring Ansel Elgort as the titular character, the story is told through the eyes and ears of Baby, a young getaway driver suffering with tinnitus who has to drown out the constant ringing in his ears with his own personal soundtrack in order to properly navigate frantic car chases with a gang of bank robbers. But when he meets the girl of his dreams (portrayed by Lily James), he soon finds out that making a clean getaway isn’t as smooth when you’re racing against crime. “I initially had the idea based on listening to this particular song. I started to imagine this car chase that turned into an idea about a getaway driver who can’t operate at full capacity unless the right music is playing. It was basically a way for me to kind of bring music and film together,” recalls the filmmaker. “I even made a music video [for Mint Royal’s ‘Blue Song’] that was a dry run for it in 2002. But I didn’t really have the plot of the movie in any way until maybe six or seven years ago–that’s when I actually started writing it.” Strapping in an all-star cast that includes
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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Photo by Kerry Hayes - 2010 Universal Studios
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
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“There are just several factors that have to be all working in perfect harmony [when shooting action sequences]–it’s an amazing ballet of teamwork.” 78 - STATUSMAGONLINE.COM
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Kevin Spacey, John Hamm, Eiza González, Jamie Foxx, and Flea, Edgar Wright directs a masterful collision of sound and imagery as he takes the classic heist genre on a spin and sets the entire thing to one killer soundtrack. With the writer, director, and film geek extraordinaire working behind the wheel, Baby Driver is steering towards the Wright direction. Your films usually reference the great classics. Any homages in Baby Driver? There are a couple, but maybe not as many as in my previous movies. There’s a nod to Walter Hill’s The Driver that’s buried somewhere in the movie, which I’d like the audience to try and figure out what that is. There’s also a reference to the opening sequence of Sam Peckinpah’s The Getaway. A couple of times, we made references to Bonnie and Clyde. Once, it’s in a spoken gag, and then a sequence where Ansel at one point gets his sunglasses broken and he has one lens popped out. This is your first solo writing and directing credit in 22 years. How did you prepare for this movie? Did you talk to actual getaway drivers or people who have been on heists? Starting this movie was really tough ‘cause I was staring at a blank page and I wasn’t writing with anybody, I was writing on my own, so it was much tougher. But yeah, that was something that I did. I spoke with some ex-convicts who have been
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
involved in robberies and had gone to prison. I asked them questions about their crimes, their process at the time, the consequences, also more specific questions such as, “Did you ever listen to music when you were preparing to go on a heist?” There were lots of things that are in the movie that were details that came out of talking to getaway drivers, which was amazing. Since the movie is completely driven by music, how was your process of writing it like? Did writing the scenes come first before the music or was it the other way around? In some cases, there were songs that I had an idea of what the scene was, and it came from listening to the song—maybe about seven songs on the soundtrack. And then as I started writing the rest of the movie, I would write scenes once I found the right songs to go with them. Speaking of it, your taste in music is as great as your taste in films. Was there ever a time that you dreamed of becoming a musician instead? No, never really [laughs]. I mean, I don’t play an instrument, and so I’ve never really thought about that. I do love music and I am envious of people who can play, but I’ve never actually done it. I was just thinking, when I was very young, I sort of learned the piano for a bit, then my parents had to sell the piano, so that was the end of it.
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You’ve shot action sequences before, but never to this extent. How was it like shooting it? I’ve done some car scenes in Hot Fuzz and The World’s End, but nothing at this scale, and I knew it was going to be difficult. I spoke to a lot of directors who had divine car sequences, so I sort of had an idea of what it would be like going in, but it still doesn’t prepare you for how complicated it is [laughs]. Doing car sequences is very painstaking because it’s a lot of set-up time and you have to be really safe. It’s all in the timing and the organization of it. There are just several factors that all have to work in perfect harmony: cameras, stunts, locations–it’s an amazing ballet of teamwork. It seems like you always have a clear vision of what you want with all your projects. Going into the postprocessing, how involved are you with the editing? I’m there everyday. There’s not a single day of the edit where I’m not there. I mean, some directors don’t do that. I just found out that Ridley Scott doesn’t sit in his edit; he watches when his editors finish something. But I like to be in the edit everyday. In fact, for this one, we had two editors, so I would go between two different edit tweaks. It’s a very precise, intensive process. I’m used to doing this for the whole part of it, not just the editing but the sound work as well and the way the music works and the sound checks. It’s a lot of work. Moving forward, would you still be open to doing comic book adaptations? Not necessarily superhero adaptations, but something similar to Scott Pilgrim? Sure, if it was the right thing. There are some things that I’ve been interested in potentially, but I think for me, I just want to make sure that if I do something like that, it’s bold, new, and something that’s a bit different. Or if it’s sort of a very established franchise, I would only want to do it if I can do my take on it. Otherwise, I’m not that interested in it, emotionally. I want to make films that I can give something of myself to. It’s just such a huge and personal process to make a movie, so doing something and being completely anonymous in the process isn’t that interesting to me.
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Baby Driver
Baby Driver
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Quite a contradiction to my previous question, but in an age where a majority of the films are almost a reboot, re-imagining, or sequel of a familiar franchise, what advice can you give to aspiring filmmakers? You have to make original work. The future of cinema relies on people telling original stories. It’s just not about the established franchises. I think all too frequently what happens now is great directors make one original movie and then go off to franchise land, and you don’t necessarily see something more personal from them for years. A lot of my favorite directors are people whose personal style I can really see throughout a number of their movies. My advice to new filmmakers would be to try making as many original movies as you can and find your voice.
edgarwrighthere.com @edgarwright
“You have to make original work. The future of cinema relies on people telling originalstories.”
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Taking over the director’s chair to unfold one of the most anticipated and controversial biopics to come to the silver screen, BENNY BOOM sets his sights on All Eyez on Me with a strong will and stern game face. By Denise Mallabo Photographed by Joshua Telles Styled by Lauren Taylor Grooming James Elle STATUSMAGONLINE.COM - 83
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AS MUCH AS
Benny Boom loves his hometown, the Philadelphia-bred director had to move to New York City to propel his career. After graduating from Temple University’s School of Radio, Television, and Film, he got an internship at Spike Lee’s production company 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks where he got to work on the 1995 crime-drama film Clockers, which he admits was his introduction to the movie business. But before fully venturing into the big screen, Benny dabbled in directing music videos and he had Hype Williams to thank for it. “He was the person who took me under his wing and put me in a place right next to him. I was traveling with him and he would put me in big jobs,” relays Benny. “I learned the craft of directing music videos from him. During the late ‘90s, there was nobody better than Hype; he was the greatest at that time.” His music video catalogue is very impressive. A self-confessed kid of hip-hop and R&B, he has directed videos for the titans of these music genres, including 50 Cent, Keyshia Cole, Lil’ Kim, LL Cool
J, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Nelly, P.Diddy, and more. His recent project would be Nicki Minaj’s “No Frauds,” which also features Drake and Lil Wayne. “Some of these new artists look at me as an old hat, which is just normal because it’s the generation gap. But from time to time, I’d get the opportunity to do something for brand new artists,” shares Benny. Speaking of newcomers, he also shot two music videos for Kehlani, which brought him back to the time when he did music videos for then-newbies Ciara and Keyshia Cole. Starring Donald Faison, Mike Epps, and Mos Def, his first full-length film called Next Day Air was a comedy about the drug game in Philly, a subject matter that he admits to be very familiar with. When asked what he currently enjoys doing the most, Benny answers, “I think timing is everything. I’m now at a place in my life wherein I’ve shown interest a lot more in directing movies. The reason is that music is not the same as it used to be.” At the moment, he’s at the helm of All Eyez on Me, a biopic of rap icon Tupac “2Pac” Shakur that will be played by Demetrius Shipp Jr. who’s a splitting image of the late rapper. It took two directors
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to jumpstart what seemed to be a laborious movie before Benny took the reins, but it wasn’t until when the production house officially let go of the last director that he was able to wrap his head around on what he was set to do to finish the film. “The good thing is that Tupac is somebody to me who’s very much in my mind. He’s probably one of the biggest icons that we’ve had in hip-hop, and I’ve been a fan of his since forever. It was a no-brainer for me to jump into the director’s chair,” admits Benny. Since Tupac’s life and death have always been something of a continuous discussion, what’s factual, fiction, buzz, and legalities pose as hindrance for this movie to even be produced, but Benny is confident that this movie will open the minds of everyone who have doubts regarding Tupac’s role in revolutionizing rap music. “Going in, I knew that there are going to be some issues with making this movie. But once I understood the script and made the changes that I wanted to do, I got to a phase where I felt that the story was strong. All the other stuff about making a biopic are just afterthought. I didn’t really want to put that kind of pressure on myself,” shares Benny. “I already had Tupac in
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“THIS IS THE ONLY MOVIE OF TUPAC THAT YOU HAVE, SO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE IS TO GET THE IMPACT OF SOMETHING THAT WILL RESPECT HIS LEGACY AND UPHOLD THE GREAT ARTIST AND MAN THAT HE WAS AND CONTINUES TO BE.”
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“I ALREADY HAD TUPAC IN MY HEART, SO I’M COMING FROM A PROPER STATE THAT THE SCRIPT WAS RIGHT. THEY CASTED THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND WE HAD THE RIGHT TEAM AROUND US TO MAKE THIS FILM GREAT, SO THOSE ELEMENTS ARE THERE.”
my heart, so I’m coming from a proper state that the script was right. They casted the right people and we had the right team around us to make this film great, so those elements are there.” It won’t be long until everyone could set their sights on All Eyez on Me. It’s scheduled to be released on June 26, Tupac’s 46th birthday. Love, hate, and criticisms about the biopic, Benny is geared up and ready for all of them. “Not everybody is going to be happy with some of the things we did in the movie, and that’s okay. We chose to make the film that we wanted to make. There’s nowhere in the world that says some other director can’t go and make his own Tupac movie, but right now, this is the one,” admits Benny. He can only wish that people can walk away and see how determined everyone was working on the film and have a clearer understanding on how Tupac captured the minds of a lot
of people through his songs and life after seeing the film. “This is the only movie of Tupac that you have, so what we would like is to get the impact of something that will respect his legacy and uphold the great artist and man that he was and continues to be.”
@superboom
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Gypsy
A damsel out of distress, actress SOPHIE COOKSON is a femme fatale who sucker punches her way into the big screen and puts all the cookie-cutter cutouts back to the drawing board with her role as the gun-toting heroine Roxy in Kingsman: The Golden Circle. By Bianca Serrano Photographed by Alison Cohen Rosa for Netflix
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The Cruxificion
Breaking away from the molds of cinema, Sophie Cookson effortlessly adapts the role of a natural-born leading lady, Roxy, in both installments of Kingsman: The Secret Service as well as the upcoming Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Set in a familiar stage of ludicrous violence and self-aware burlesque humor, Sophie wraps up another scene playing onepart sophisticated English rose among thorns and two-parts resolute huntress. “She’s the only girl in that group so no one expects much from her, which makes it harder for her, and I can kind of relate to that.” With a sobriquet to match the lauded and well-deserved title of being a Kingsman, she fights caddish crimes with impassioned grace amongst the rest of her team. “Once you’ve worked with someone before, you have more of a short hand, and there’s some kind of potential well-
established dialogue for the director and your castmates to work around with.” With director Michael Vaughn making one big cheeky jab against the typical narration of espionage films, all the supporting factors that solidified the direction of the film has helped infiltrate their way to the red carpet, with Sophie easily being part of the forefront of its success. “The whole thing was such an adventure, and I just want it to remain fresh and enjoy it like my first, and we’re all in this together.” Not one to break the fourth wall, Sophie smoothly grabs her winning title of Lancelot, both on and off screen. “Roxy’s pure ambition and the fact that she never gives up, there’s definitely a bit of me in her. I think for me, it’s always about having a challenge for the next job–whether it’s the type of role, an acting challenge, or a different style of filmmaking, if it says something to you and you can connect with it emotionally, then that’s fundamental,” explains the British actress. Flashing back to her years in drama school, we cut to a scene where she was just about to
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“What’s important to me is to give a voice to people that might not have one–sharing emotions, when you share that kind of suffering.” set on her tryst to stardom. “When I was absolutely tiny, I wanted to be a vet for a while. I always enjoyed singing, and acting never felt like a tangible thing. But I had helpful teachers point me to the direction of acting, and I saw all these older people going to drama school and thought ‘Wow, you can actually act for a living!’” she recalls. Now as determined as the characters she plays, Sophie dominated the center stage despite the uncertainty that came with performing. “Having faith and support is crucial, I think. Just having teachers that really believed in me and thought, ‘You’re actually quite good at this, maybe give it a go!’ All you need is the right people to push you in the right direction, and the rest comes down to you.”
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With a philosophical doctrine written down in all her cues, Sophie reads her lines with a heavy intonation on relatable truth. “You have to connect with your characters, otherwise you can’t necessarily play them,” Sophie adds. And now being cast in the upcoming psycho-sexual thriller Gypsy, Sophie taps on the life of Sydney whose face makes up an unsuspecting victim-slash-vixen. Co-starring with two-time Oscar nominee Naomi Watts, she explores the dissonance of her character’s repressed identity with a slow-
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Kingsman: The Golden Circle
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“I’m really proud to be a part of a very female-driven project–written by women, mainly about women.” Gypsy
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The Cruxificion
burning story promising to tell a twist on the moral standards society has for female protagonists. It also goes beyond the pages of a twisted narrative as it looks into the deepseeded impulses women hold through the tenacious visions of six female directors such as Fifty Shades of Grey filmmaker Sam Taylor-Johnson, Yelling to the Sky’s Victoria Mahoney, and Penny Dreadful’s Coky Giedroyc and Rubin, Stranger Things’ Jessica Mecklenburg, and Arrow’s Sneha Koorse as the visionaries who penned the ten-part series. “I’m really proud to be a part of a very female-driven project–written by women, mainly about women, and I think it’s a very important show. I have never read a script like that before, and I can kind of relate to Sydney. In some way, we have the same age and definitely I think, that’s a time in your life when we all go through quite some huge shifts and real change into adulthood where you kind of find your own thing.”
Which explains what cemented her path to acting–on the far end of the glittering building blocks of fame, Sophie understands the complex layers a character has in order to fully pull people into the performance, shedding the spotlight on the disjointed and untold stories in our society. One obvious example was her latest role in Marius A. Markevicius’ film, Ashes in the Snow (2017), which follows the story of the Stalinist repressions during the 1940s, adding the pressure to relay the emotions right. “To me, it’s that kind of social responsibility that I think all artists have. What’s important to me is to give a voice to people that might not have one–sharing emotions, when you share that kind of suffering. You try to connect with it and maybe think of their lives in a different way. I think that’s why we tell stories or pass them on.”
@cooksonsophie
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FASHION
www.starstyle.ph
BEAUTY
CELEBRITY
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DIRECTORY BRANDS 3X1 3x1.us ALDO Greenbelt 5, Makati City ASOS asos.com BOBBI BROWN bobbibrowncosmetics.com BURBERRY burberry.com CALL IT SPRING Greenbelt 3, Makati City CHARLES & KEITH Greenbelt 5, Makati City CLINIQUE clinique.com COS cosstores.com EXPRESS express.com FOREVER 21 SM Makati, Makati City FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS friendsaustin.com HOURGLASS hourglasscosmetics.com JEFFREY CAMPBELL jeffreycampbellshoes.com KENNETH COLE kennethcole.com LA MER cremedelamer.com
LANOLIPS lanolips.com LAURA GELLER laurageller.com LAURA MERCIER lauramercier.com MANGO Power Plant Mall, Makati City MANGO MAN Power Plant Mall, Makati City MISS SELFRIDGE Greenbelt 5, Makati City ORIGINS origins.com PEDRO Greenbelt 5, Makati City PLUME COSMETICS plumescience.com RAF SIMONS rafsimons.com RÉVIVE reviveskincare.com RUSSELL ATHLETIC russellathletic.com SAINT LAURENT ysl.com SFERA SM Makati, Makati City SITA MURT sitamurt.co.uk TOPMAN Greenbelt 3, Makati City
TOPSHOP Greenbelt 3, Makati City WAREHOUSE Greenbelt 5, Makati City WOLFORD wolfordshop.net ARTISTS
John Russo (Photographer) johnrussophoto.com Daniel Santillan (Photographer) instagram.com/dj.santillan Isaac Sterling (Photographer) isaacsterling.com Kerrie Urban (Makeup) kerrieurban.com
Margaret Williamson Bechtold (Stylist) margaretbechtold.com Hollie Fernando (Photographer) holliefernandophotography.com Anastasya K. (Stylist) anastasyak.com Hannah Koehler (Photographer) minkmade.com Shaira Luna (Photographer) shairaluna.tumblr.com James Minchin (Photographer) jamesminchin.com Esther Monbel (Makeup) esthermonbel.com Theresa Padin (Makeup) instagram.com/theresa_padin Javier De Pardo (Stylist) instagram.com/javierdepardo Q & Cumber (Photographer) qandcumber.com
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S T A T U S I NVA D E S
BLONDE AMBITION There’s a light that never goes out of British-Singaporean model TESSA BURTON, and it’s evident in the way her hair shines like silver moonlight in the frame.
@hellotessa Portrait by Shaira Luna Product photography by Yuuki Uchida Styled by Jill de Leon
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PHONE ACCESSORIES
I love dressing my phone up almost as much as I love dressing myself. Plus, the ring light is essential for getting that perfect selfie when the light just isn’t quite right.
GRL PWR TEE
I adore this simple but sassy tee from @TheBasementPH, representing girl power and local girl gangs, and the rose reminds me of my favorite emoji.
HATS WITH EARS
I love adding a touch of kawaii to my outfits with fun accessories like these.
POM POM EARRINGS
Hair and Makeup Theresa Padin
I have a total obsession with anything fluffy. I’ve started my pom pom earring collection, also featuring “Bobo” my keyring monster that I attach to my rucksack to jazz it up.
INSTAX MINI AND POLAROIDS
Anyone who knows me will tell you I take far too many photos–but polaroids are my favorite because I love the element of surprise.
BRALETTES
The best kind of underwear in my opinion! Not only are they pretty and delicate, but they’re also super comfy. My current favorites are from Beetroot.
UKULELE
I have such tiny hands that I struggle trying to play the guitar, so my boyfriend surprised me with a uke for my birthday.
UNICORN BEAUTY PRODUCTS
These unicorn beauty treats keep my skin glowing–blind the haters! Fun fact, did you know that the UK passport has a unicorn on its coat of arms?
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