SWOOP GIRLS
E I N A H P E ST LLIN WA
NATASHA MESSER
Vintage Rolex Oyster Steel Bracelets
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CONTENTS
Intergalactic Beats Written by Jeff Laprade Photographs provided by Mauryce Smith
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Raw Beauty: Paris Riddle Photographs by David Mitchell & Joseph Umbro
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Timeless Classics: Swoop Girls Stephanie Wallin and Natasha Messer
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Photographs by David Mitchell
On the cover
Midlife: How a midlife crisis turned into a motion picture
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Written by Jeff Laprade Photographs by Pat Reynolds
SWOOP GIRLS
ANIE STEPHLLIN WA
Going Mad: The Swoop Mad Men Release Party Photographs by Joseph Umbro
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facebook.com/swooper1
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@swoopmagazine
NATASHA MESSER
Models: Stephanie Wallin, Natasha Messer Photography: Joseph Umbro Hair: Tiffany Suzuki Makeup: Melissa Samayoa, Brina Moreno
instagram.com/swoopscoop
Jennifer Jones Collection Written by Jeff Laprade Photographs provided by Jennifer Jones Collection
A muse to share with everybody Celestin: Exactly, so that is the journey. We believe in energy, all of our jewelry is hand crafted made here locally in our studio. Everything has energy, this table, this chair, our thought and ideas are energies that we can endure things with. So we can get these tiny pieces and using wore wrapping and hammering work by hand, we infuse these objects with our positive intentions and energy. That someone is going to receive each piece and be filled with that energy, and be showered with compliments, be made to feel beautiful and sexy. It is almost ceremonial. The pieces are being made, there is soothing music playing, it is anything but a sweatshop. Everybody loves our Monday’s. When I am stuck in the office
Jennifer Jones Collection, where does the name come from? Celestin: My wife is Jennifer, she has been making jewelrey since she was a child. When I came in, I just helped her to believe in herself enough to become a designer. When we met, it was real interesting, she was married to this Hollywood producer guy, they were going through a breakup. You know, selling the two-bedroom house, everything was getting repossessed. Now at the time I owned a moving service. So I showed up with my buddy to move her; she was all stressed because she had to move, her ex wasn’t very helpful. A girlfriend of Jennifer’s and a friend of mine referred me to her. So I show up and she walks to the door and I am blown away by her, I tell my buddy to get off. I had to pull myself together and talk to her. I came up to meet her and six months later we move in together. On our second date I told her, “Look, this is how I feel about you, this is where I see us going, we don’t have to get married right now. But if you don’t feel the same way we don’t have to see each other again.” Immediately, since the day we met, I learned her father was battling cancer. She had to leave to another state, so we had to do the long distance thing for a month as her father went through hospice care. He comes back, we move in together and her mother’s cancer comes out of remission and we start helping her battle that in our home. Our entire lives revolved around that. At the same time I injured my back. I could barely move. We were struggling like crazy. Then her mom passes away, and we are down to the wire; I get a residual check from my acting, at that point if I had $700 it was a lot. I talked to my wife and said “You should start a jewelry line, pursue your passion”, at the time she was making jewelry on a smaller scale. I believed in her talent, I nurtured that, I took away all of things that clouded her mind, that she did not like to do, so she could truly be inspired. This same journey that she was going through: a beautiful women, incredibly talented, yet she could not see that even though everyone else could. I understood that other women were struggling the same way, because I grew up with my mom and four sisters, so I was used to seeing these strong beautiful women have all of these insecurities. My idea is, through taking my wife through the journey of finding the confidence to be a designer, I can help empower other women using fashion to gain self esteem. That is the whole point of the Jennifer Jones Collection. Our slogan is: “Hand crafted in love, to help you feel beautiful and sexy”.
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money, and business school teaches you to pick a market with very little competiton, you do not want to be first. We didn’t do that, we were never in the Jewelry industry, it was just my wife’s hobby. Every time an issue comes up we just have to figure it out and I love that. Moving further towards our goal of putting a Jennifer Jones Piece on every women, and making each one special. To her, that carriers love energy. Being the man I am, growing up around women like I have, I believe the key to a better future and world, is women. I believe if we empower women then we stand a real chance of building a world we can all enjoy and be proud of. Especially in front of the large audiences, the children of tomorrow, I believe that women can help the world to make descisions based on love and compassion instead of greed and fear; like we experience a lot today. I run my business on the idea of Karmic Capitalism. What that means is that my employees, my community, the entire world, benefits. That is why a fraction of our profits go to our foundation, the M.A.R.L.I., standing for Movmiento Artistica Libre, which means free artistic movement. I believe that through the arts we can inspire and empower individuals to really embrace their creativity, I believe that creativity is a catalyst for change that is incredibly needed. It hurts down to my soul when I hear humanities programs are being cut. If we empower the youth to imagine then we motivate them to manifest things never dreamed before, that will make this world a better place Facilitating their free expression, giving them a medium Cheers to that!
and my employees make a point of coming to say goodbye at the end of the day. I know this is cool. Drawn to our mission. When I hire people they have to have this drive, first of all our ideas need to resonate with them. No matter where they find themselves in life, they are always giving back. Our mission then resonates. One of the happiest emails I got, I received at 3am after one of our trunk shows, and the email read: I am walking around my home wearing nothing but your jewelry and I feel so beautiful and sexy. Mission accomplished.
CONTACT
How long has Jennifer Jone Collection been around? Celestin: 3 years, that we have been running as a jewelry line. It has been the most exciting three years of my life. As a business owner it is just incredible because statistically most startups fail within 18 months, particularly when they start without capital. We started ours in a recession with very little
Jennifer Jones 1007 N. Sepulveda Blvd #1144 Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 Email: Info@JenniferJonesCollection.com Phone: (310) 844-7485 Fax: (866) 371-0424
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INTERGALACTIC BEATS Native to the Midwest, but arriving in California too early to remember, Mauryce Smith is a LA local, growing up in Redondo Beach. Early in his life, music was one of the primary influences. Mixing is what he lives for. WRITTEN BY JEFF LAPRADE PHOTOGRAPHS PROVIDED BY MAURYCE SMITH
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H
is career as a DJ began through his promoting. Working to help promote for clubs in the South Bay helped DJ Quasar integrate into the music scene. After he became comfortable booking shows and pulling crowds, Mauryce simply started booking himself. Resonate with the crowd, sure anyone can get up there and play what they themselves like to hear, but what happens at Quasar’s show is that he reads the crowd and pleases the masses. By please, I mean get the dance floor cracking. The tracks are seamless and creative, a natural mix of original style and classics that instantly transform the crowd into a raving party. As he shares his diverse and comprehensive style, if you can’t find something you love about what he plays you got musical issues. Quasar is the conductor to an orchestra that is the dopest party around no doubt. Quasar’s priceless fusion of Nintendo’s Mario jams and gangster rap is a priceless, music forcing interaction that facilitates a wonderful time. He is metaphysically integrated with his crowds on another level, connecting and vibing the atmosphere. But just wait until he gets into his groove, the one that accentuates the energy of the crowd and his creativity at the same time.
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“The tracks are seamless and creative, a natural mix of original style and classics that instantly transform the crowd into a raving party.” I swear this man has no musical boundaries. After the initial exposure in Santa Barbara his following has swelled for obvious reasons. His contagious energy and ability to get under the soles of anyone who wants to hit the dance floor seems to originate from the fact that he himself is a part of that dance floor. Straight new releases mixed with timeless hits of yesteryear to create an enamoring collaboration of transtemporal culturals, taking an ordinary place and transforming into a sea of waves. He controls the room like tv controls the mainstream, a gorgeous symbiosis full of surprises, twists and turns. I guess a Quasar is a transformer of audible frequencies into a raging party. With literally over a decade of experience, the man understands the necessities of creating any type of atmosphere he pleases, the majority of the time catering to the crowd. Oh yea now it’s Zelda in the mix, perfect. A dynamic sculpture of audible culture he bends to his whim, incorporating so much diversity from the depths of history right into the new Daft Punk album, like I said before, no boundaries. Blatantly sensational, the dance floor is full for 3 hours straight. The opportunity to be here is the only way I would be possible to translate this, and if I weren’t writing this down, the vibes of the music would be escaping through the rhythmic movements of my body amongst the mass of the party.
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Lipo-Lite
Written by Emily Wheeler Photographs provided by Lipo-Lite Have you heard about i-Lipo yet? When it comes to looking good and feeling good about yourself, the most difficult and frustrating thing that you or a friend may be dealing with is those last couple of inches. Say that your friend has been working out, eating right, and lives a fairly healthy lifestyle, yet there is always that extra inch or two around her thighs or stomach that she can’t stand! No matter how much she does the stair-master at the gym, that stubborn fat just will not go away! If you or someone you know is in this situation, there is truly no excuse not to try i-Lipo technology at Lipo-Lite in Hermosa Beach! Have you seen those nightmare shows on liposuction? The amount of life threatening, not to mention mentally scarring things that you may have to go through just to lose those last inches? The downtime and the draining bags? Who would want to have to do this to themselves when there is a noninvasive, no-pain treatment that takes away inches and diminishes stubborn fat? If you chose the state of the art intense light therapy that is i-Lipo, you will discover that your dream of feeling better about how you look is right here in your area. i-Lipo uses 36 lasers inside of the treatment pads that are placed on the
AS SEEN ON DR. OZ desired area. These lasers gently release triglycerides within your fat cells that are then dissipated naturally through mild exercise post treatment. There is no pain, no needles, no toxic drugs, no excuses! The feeling patients have experienced during the short
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20-minute treatment is warmth where the treatment pads are in contact with the patient’s skin. Other than that, all you have to do is lay back, relax, and then get your muscles moving for 20 to 30 minutes afterwards with a little exercise to burn those triglycerides off and the inches melt away! i-Lipo is now offered at Lipo-Lite, located conveniently at in Hermosa Beach. Dr. Baker and Dr.
Giacalone run a caring business with a comfortable atmosphere. Patients feel at home, and know that they are under the compassionate, professional care of these two deeply knowledgeable doctors. Once you enter the doors at 3201 Pacific Coast Highway Ste. A, you know that you are in the best of hands, and under the care of top of–the-line professionals who believe in non-intrusive, safe treatment. Unlike some cosmetic doctors who may try to sell you on more treatments, pointing out your flaws, these gentlemen understand your reasons for being there, and in no way would dream of making a patient uncomfortable. If there ever were doctors you could trust, they are Dr. Baker and Dr. Giacalone! Now you may be thinking that this treatment is going to be out of your price range. You can stop worrying about that because it’s not very expensive! While other providers of i-Lipo treatments may want to charge you an arm and a leg, at Lipo-Lite they great offer pricing. For the recommended 8 to 10 treatments, Lipo-Lite will charge you a thousand dollars less than other providers. If you want to feel on top of the world about your looks, thanks to the state of the art technology of i-Lipo, it is no longer impossible, but impossibly easy. Please make an appointment at Lipo-Lite to start your simple, painless treatments at this close-tohome location right here in the South Bay.
THIS TREATMENT RECENTLY APPROVED BY FDA.
CONTACT Dr. Gary Baker, D.C., Q.M.E. Dr. Joseph A. Giacalone, D.C. Lipo-Lite 3201 Pacific Coast Highway Ste. A Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 Phone: (310) 376-8901 E-mail: gwbdc4u@hotmail.com Web: www.ilipolite.com
FROM THE
Photographer: voorheesphoto.com Model: Alec Musser
CATWALK TO THE CONCRETE
JUNGLE.
R AW B E A U T Y Paris Riddle
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAVID MITCHELL, JOSEPH UMBRO HAIR BY TIFFANY SUZUKI MAKE UP BY KRYSTAL CHAVARIN, KASSANDRA KARR (MAKEUP PROVIDED BY MAC) CLOTHING: ISLAY, (WWW.ISLAYSTUDIO.COM)
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PHOTOGRAPH BY JOSEPH UMBRO
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PHOTOGRAPH BY JOSEPH UMBRO
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PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID MITCHELL
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PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID MITCHELL
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PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID MITCHELL
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Pig Siren Written by Jeff Laprade Photographs provided by Angela Anderson
Photograph By: Joseph Umbro
Pig siren, when I first heard the name my mind was firing trying to make sense of it, where does the name come from? Yeah, it’s a pretty unusual name and a pretty crazy story. When I was a young girl, growing up in Iowa, I used to help on the farm. When it came time to take the pigs to market, we would have to sort them by weight, put them on a truck and then off they’d go to the butcher. I would feel sorry for them and didn’t like the forceful, aggressive way they were handled. I would sing to them and try to mellow them out and often times they’d follow me around or onto the truck. So I guess I was a Siren singing them to their demise. I like to think of it as some comfort before they became bacon. I still think I’m definitely a Siren, just not to pigs anymore. Haha
Illustration By: Antoni A Peluce
What is the format and platforms of the video game? The game is a multi-world, multi-character adventure with an explore/run/shoot (no guns!) feel. You earn points and your progress based on learning how to use the tools you have available to overcome challenges and obstacles. The platform is strictly iOS right now (iPhone and iPad), but we are looking to launch an Android version in the near future. Where did the inspiration come from? What led you down the video game route? Well, it started as a memoir then a screenplay about several
events in my life. I sold the rights to it several years ago and as I started writing it, I became very nervous about being so exposed. I kind of freaked out because I knew I wasn’t ready to release it, but what could I do instead? How could I give the positive lessons from the story while leaving me protected? The video game idea came to me driving down the 405 and seeing a violent video game billboard advertisement. Everywhere I looked I was bombarded with images of sex, violence, anger and materialism. It was like a light bulb went off. If I can’t beat ‘em, I’ll join ‘em. Pig Siren could be a video game that’s cool, fun with a positive message behind it. I texted my artist friend, Ryan James, told him the concept and asked if he could draw that into a character--- that was a pig. Within 15 minutes he sent an image back and my original pig was born. It was exactly what I saw in my mind and I knew the journey had begun. This concept seems to have evolved so quickly, it started back in November? Yeah we really hit the ground running. It’s been a collaborative effort and I have been blessed with a stellar team. Jameson Stafford is the genius mastermind behind the game. I call him the Tech Savant. I don’t understand how his brain works, the being that smart and all, but I am grateful that there are brains that big out there. My dear friend, Ryan James, a very avant-garde, Brooklyn based talent, was integral in the original design concept. Then there’s Tony Peluce. Tony kills it. Every time I get the samples back to approve, I am blown away by his talent. He has taken my little pigs and given them life. They can do all kinds of crazy stuff now. I love it.
There is so much potential with the Pig Siren brand idea, any other plans for the brand? What next steps are in the works? I want to raise awareness in the world. I hope our Pigs and this brand message reaches people of all walks of life. There are so many causes that are near and dear to my heart, mostly involving kids. I hope to have very successful philanthropic organizations through Pig Siren. There is tremendous cross marketing potential from a business perspective and charity platform. This brand doesn’t have geographical confines, a language barrier or age limitations and represents a multitude of genres. The opportunities are really limitless. I also think an animated feature would be awesome and a children’s book series has been written. I have Pig Siren clothing available with various characters from the game ready in our online store at pigsiren.com. Hoodies, tee shirts, beanies and backpacks are available for infants through adult.
I have seen a few of the shirts already, the characters are funny and adorable, Hipster Pig, Jesus Pig, what other characters do you have in mind?
Well, the pigs being released in the first game are a surfer Pig named Keilani Siren, a Motorcycle Riding Stunt Pig named Kimmer Siren, a Piggily Hills socialite Pig named Paris Olivia Siren, a Kick-ass Rocker Pig named Piggy Stardust Siren and a Genius Nerd Pig named Einy Siren. There are a few non-pig characters as well that will make their debut. Which one is your favorite? Well each character represents a person or time in my life so I love all of them but from a cuteness standpoint, I gotta say I love Einy. He is a combination of 3 people that are very dear to me. He’s a smart pig who’s full of surprises. He’s so far been our best seller too. How does it feel to have something you dreamed up forming? What qualities do you think are most important for bringing an idea like this to fruition? It feels really wonderful. Sometimes it’s overwhelming but most of the time it’s really good. I try to surround myself with positive people and people that had the balls to follow their dreams or fight for their life. Following your dreams is, in many ways, a fight for your life. So much of our existence gets lost in the day-to-day grind. It becomes common to lose the focus of passion. “Creating” is essential to really living. Perseverance, stubbornness, wildly courageous authenticity and a genuine love for what you do are the qualities that are needed to bring an idea like this to fruition. You just do it. There are no other options. Keep going. I like to call “No’s”, “Knows”. A “NO” means learn more, do more and figure out another way until you “Know” how to get it done. When is our trip to Tahiti? I’m ready when you are! Cannon Ball contest off the overwater bungalow?
CONTACT Angela Anderson Founder & CEO Siren Enterprises Email: angela@pigsiren.com Web: www.pigsiren.com facebook.com/PigSiren twitter.com/PigSiren
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LoungePac Written by Jeff Laprade Photographs by David Mitchell Models: Stacy Anderson, Prestin Obradovich thermally insulated coolers! No longer need you worry of interrupting your half nap to go grab another cold one. Even if your drink may be, say, the size of a wine bottle, the Lounge Pac was designed with all of these circumstances in mind, sizing the coolers at a generous size of 9”x 13’x 4”. Did I mention these coolers are also detachable? . What could be better?
The 21st century way to lounge outdoors. LoungePac is pretty much the only thing you will ever need to optimally enjoy a day at the beach, the park, concert, camping, or at a backyard BBQ. It comes with everything you would expect a top end luxury lounge chair to come with: It rolls on wheels and is 7 products in 1, lounger or chair (removable foot piece), removable coolers with cup holders, speakers built into removable tote bag, umbrella with mount, adjustable foam pillow, 6 reclining positions including fully horizontal, backpack straps, storage compartment as well as a comes with a plethora of things you wouldn’t have imagined.
Removable coolers I will tell you what’s better, removable coolers, and a removable tote bag as well as a storage compartment below the seat and a telescoping handle for easy rolling action roller blade wheels. Mind boggling, with all these features one may think about the complicated procedure it would take to assemble all of this together, well don’t. LoungePac comes fully assembled, and ready to for use, it opens up for use in 10 seconds.
A Short Bio; of G. Daniel Pedemonte For as long as I can remember I have always had two longing desires to fulfill, one was to walk every beach in the world and the other was to produce a commercially viable product that would appeal to a large portion of the world population and some how fit in with my number one desire. I have made a pretty good dent into walking a lot of beaches in the world and learned that along the way, you need to rest and appreciate the moment. So while daydreaming about what was needed to appreciate the moment, the vision of my idea of the perfect portable chair was conceptualized. In technical terms a stylish, multi purpose, practical all encompassing outdoor portable lounge chair. This having been accomplished (with a lot of vision and luck), I am now destined to introduce a new style into the portable chair market.
Umbrella attaches to chair The most surprising and thoughtful attachment is the Umbrella. Shade can be a scarce resource on those sweltering summer days, and you wouldn’t want your drink sitting out in the sun. The Lounge Pac comes stoked with a 360 ° umbrella mount, giving the relaxing party complete control over their own shade. The umbrella is pretty awesome it has SPF 35 and is vented for a hot day or an inconvenient rain, and this is only the first of many of Lounge Pac’s innovative features.
Stereo speakers for: If for some reason you aren’t already enamored with Lounge Pac, let me lay my favorite feature on you, the speakers. The speakers are in the removable tote bag so were ever you go you can keep the festivities going, and the creators were fore thinking enough to include a USB power cord so the speakers can be powered via mobile devices. Jam out anywhere you please. Coolers even hold wine bottles How lame is having to get up from your comfortable chilling position just to refresh your beverage? That does not sound too refreshing to me. Well, with LoungePac this heart-wrenching dilemma is solved by a crucial leap in lounge chair design, two built in
For the ultimate experience in straight up lounging, anywhere, LoungePac the only choice. Watch the 90 second video on web site , for complete demo! www.loungepac.com Lounge in Luxury!
CONTACT Dan Pedemonte Designer / Inventor LoungePac, LLC Ft Lauderdale, FL 33308 Phone: (312) 890-1054 Fax: (312) 624-7906 Web: info@loungepac.com Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:AM to 6:PM EST
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TIMELESS CLASSICS
Swoop Girls Stephanie Wallin & Natasha Messer
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAVID MITCHELL HAIR: TIFFANY SUZUKI, ANASTASIA ROMERO MAKE UP: KRYSTAL CHAVARIN, MELISSA SAMAYOA CLOTHING: UNIQUE VINTAGE, (WWW.UNIQUE-VINTAGE.COM)
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Stephanie Wallin Where are you from? South Bay, Lawndale Three words that describe you? Three words that describe me the best would be passionate, ambitious, and loving How do you keep that body so tight? I stay fit by running on the beach and lots of yoga, I eat a good balance of junk food and healthy food. (but mostly junk food lol) Dream trip? My dream trip would be to Krabi, Thailand. Beautiful clear relaxing beaches and beautiful people. What is your favorite quote? My favorite quote would be; “It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.” - André Gide What do you love about la? What do I love about la? I love everything! I love the weather, the close beaches, all the different types of people, the hiking areas,the great spots to eat, and we have the best radio stations. I’m lucky to have lived in LA my whole life, surrounded by my family. What attracts you to a man? What attracts me to a man is a strong, smart, confident gentleman who has a soft spot for animals. Any big summer plans? This summer I will be mostly be spending time with my son while he’s on summer break, and at the beach either swimming in the ocean or tanning on the sand and hopefully lots of trips to Disneyland. Favorite type of underwear? My favorite type of underwear would be Victoria’s Secret underwear. I own nothing but that. Have any projects in the works? The project I’m working right now is building my own website. What are your hobbies/passions/ dreams or the future? My hobbies are playing with my 5 year old son and spending time with my family and friends. my passion is to model and walk the runway, its something I can do and be myself in. I LOVE SWOOP MAGAZINE!
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Natasha Messer Where do you work? I work for a company that leases airplanes, it is interesting. I work in the legal department, there are two lawyers I assist and they’re always traveling so I get to live vicariously through them. Plus the are not there too often so I get to work independently. What would you like t do? It is kind of up in the air, I have my real estate license also. I really like real estate. Ideally I would like to do real estate but it can be so unreliable. I sold a place last year but this year I have been a distracted. Where are you from? Torrance, I’m a local, I went to school in irvine. Where did you goto school a d What did you study? I went to UC Irvine to study Political science, and I did a lot international relations focus, which can get very depressing, looking at the problems across the world. I want to fix everything! But it is going to take everyone! I studied abroad on London, Brussels, Amsterdam and Paris, we studied different government structures and whatnot. How does it feel to be a swoop girl? I was so surprised, super exciting. Definitely glad to be able to represent, being from LA and all, it is just so awesome to be a part of. The swoop readers want to know, Are you single? I am! What are your favorite qualities in a man? Personality wise, I’d say definitely humor, without that it’s gonna be tough. Someone that is not afraid to be an individual, to be themselves, that is really attractive to me when I know they are secure enough in themselves to express themselves and not need to fit into anything, but not too far off the path!
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Okabe & Haushalter
Written by Okabe & Haushalter Photographs provided by Okabe & Haushalter Are you charged with a crime? Facing criminal charges is an urgent matter. You need the immediate attention of an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney to provide you with the aggressive legal representation you need. You may have been arrested for DUI (such as a second DUI or a felony DUI) or may be under investigation for a serious felony offense such as manslaughter. When your future is on the line, a criminal lawyer will be your only hope. Taking immediate advantage of your right to legal counsel and your right to remain silent will mean that you can work to avoid self-incrimination and can offer your lawyer a better opportunity of seeking a positive case result on your behalf. The criminal defense law firm of Okabe & Haushalter is committed to excellence. We represent clients throughout L.A. County and the South Bay area. We have handled numerous high-profile cases for celebrities, CEOs, surgeons and other elite clientele whose careers and significant wealth were on the line. These clients expect only the highest quality legal counsel, and that is precisely what we provide. When you retain the services of our firm, we provide the results you pay for. You have most likely heard of our firm from our television appearances, newspaper articles and other media exposure from the nationally covered cases we have handled. We are ready to fight tooth and nail for you. We are ready to apply our diverse experience and knowledge on your behalf as we handle your case. Contact us immediately to find out exactly what we can do for you. Why hire a criminal defense lawyer from our firm? Our legal team understands just how much is at stake if you have been arrested, are facing criminal charges or are under investigation by the police in or around Los Angeles. We act quickly to assert our clients’ Constitutional rights. We provide the tireless defense counsel that makes a difference in seeking the best possible results for their cases. Though criminal
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charges may not have been filed against you at this point, taking preventative measures is crucial. If we are able to get involved to handle your case during the investigatory phase, we may be able to negotiate with the District Attorney’s Office to have your charges lowered or dropped altogether. Seeking the best result for your unique case is our primary concern. By thoroughly evaluating your case from every angle, our team will develop an innovative, tailor-made approach most advantageous to your legal matter. We handle virtually any type of State or Federal criminal case in Southern California. We can defend you against all types of violent offenses, including those that involve domestic violence, hate crimes, or assault and battery. Our team is experienced in all areas of criminal defense, and we will fight for you if you face charges of a drug offense, grand theft, or arson. The vast reach of the internet means that white collar and computer crimes are all the more common. State and federal law enforcement agencies harshly prosecute those suspected of such crimes as fraud, forgery, and insider trading. Law enforcement is especially severe in prosecuting those they believe are involved in child pornography, and will use their endless resources in an attempt to convict. Many white collar crimes are federal offenses, and conviction can result in enormous fines and lengthy incarceration in a federal detention facility. If you are charged with such crimes as extortion, consumer fraud, or a RICO act violation, you must be confident that your attorney has the skills and experience needed to successfully fight your charges.
CONTACT Okabe & Haushalter 1611 South Catalina avenue Suite 300 Redondo Beach, 90277 Phone: (310) 543-7708 Web: www.southbaylawyer.com
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LLY A R U NAT SE A E R INC YOUR O! LIBID * STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.
MIDLIFE
How a midlife crisis turned into a motion picture Written by Jeff Laprade
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o put it lightly, Greg Travis is an entertainment veteran. His talent spanning across the medium, from headline stand-up comedian to actor in major motion pictures. Behind the scenes to in front of the camera, Greg has no theatrical bounds. Scanning his list of projects will leave your jaw on the floor. Having directed over 20 shorts and two features along with his integral acting roles in prominent films, has brought him to a new pinnacle of his career. Midlife. Midlife is a featured film that is in depth look at one of the most discussed psychological phenomena of modern history, the midlife crisis. Mr. Travis vertically integrated himself into this work, as writer, director and star, to have a depth of control that allows him to express this circumstance as fully as possible. The brutality of real life is captured as coincidence diverts the protagonists life, fate twisting the mind of the star and the audience simultaneously. Salvation from this harsh grit of reality is realized through the risk taking in chasing a dream and removing yourself from the rat race. The journey of Midlife focuses on David Stanton, played by Travis, a battle hardened salesman. Soon enough his crutch of alcohol becomes obvious, as well as his past of love and love lost. His common booze fueled adventures open doors to endless possibilities, like bumping into an ex-wife at an underground goth bar, rekindling a past flame. These playful antics are contrasted by the dramatic confrontations with his daughter’s mother, another ex wife, while visiting in her in a rehab facility. A diverse range of emotional circumstance creates a sensational viewing experience, expressing beautifully the extremes of the human emotion. Wandering lost in his well established comfort zone, David’s saving grace comes from the courage to finally chase his dream. This story shows the tragedies and redemptions that now make up the new american male, his lifelong occupation that leaves him empty and unfulfilled. Forcing him towards a new dream. The sheer reality of the production is stunning, reminiscent of the strange little quirks in life that are too ironic to be made up, making this film experience feel like a factual
biography. Midlife presents a captivating glimpse into the struggles of the average man battling a ruthless world, and the rewards of going all in chasing purpose and dreams in this life and hitting the wall that is midlife and how one deals with it.. Years of technique and cultivated style led this production in an open path. Open in the sense there was a more improvisational scripting tactic to give a level of creative freedom to each individual in front of the camera. In order to achieve this hyper realism it was crucial to allow leighway for the actors and a highly stylized camera plot. Out blossoms this work of art that is a sort of new age wholesome, via Midlife we can recognize a new norm that has manifested in society and get an outside perspective on a game so many of us are blindly caught up in.
“His common booze fueled adventures open doors to endless
possibilities, like bumping into an ex-wife at an underground goth bar, rekindling a past flame.
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How long has Midlife been in the making? Greg - I think in the beginning of 2012, I was sort of having a midlife crisis and a few months later I decided to turn my feelings and thoughts into a movie about it.
Some people think the role of the joker drove Heath Ledger mad. How do the stresses of the roles affect you? Greg - I don’t believe that at all. I think Heath Ledger got caught up in the party lifestyle because of his celebrity status. And that can lead to addiction, and that can lead to self destruction. I went What were some of your inspirations for orchestrating this through all of that in 80’s and came out of it on the other side. whole project? Roles and movies don’t drive actors crazy, that’s what they live Greg - Well I wanted to do a film that felt real and the work for. What drives them crazy is not having the tools to deal with of John Cassavetes, was sort of the starting point for American stardom and success. realism. So I was inspired by his films and also the work of Robert Altman. So the idea was to take the Cassavetes style How did the improv style impact the actor’s performances? of filmmaking and update it and hopefully arrive at something Greg - Well that was the experiment, and it worked great. Giving uniquely my own. the actor the necessary information about the scene and the character, and letting them play the scene out in their own words How would you describe David Stanton? feels completely real. Greg - David Stanton is an old school salesperson much like my own mother and my uncle David. They were the kinds of sales This movie has a familiar harsh but hopeful realism tone about people who could talk a customer into buying anything. They it, to me it seems too true to make up! Is there any truth to the had the gift of Gabe, and they always closed the sale without too adventures of David Stanton? much effort. So I patterned David’s character, after this unique Greg - Well all fiction is based on some real life experiences and talent. a few of the things were based on some of my experiences. A few of the characters were based on others peoples experiences that I Which scenes were the most fun for you, either as a director or heard about. So you take all these things, toss them in a blender an actor? and hope for the best. Greg - I loved all the scenes in the New York loft. They were the most fun for me as a director and an actor, because I was What are your plans for Midlife at this point? able to realize the lighting scheme I was trying to achieve. I got Greg - We’re finishing the film this month and we will be the performances from the actor’s much better than I imagined. submitting it to distribution companies and film festivals. I’m very The New York loft scene is actually based on a real event that proud of this feature film. This is not a comic book movie, this is happened to me. about real human beings with real emotions that everybody can relate to and it’s also the kind of film you’ll want to own so that What are some of your favorite roles from over the years? you can watch it over and over again, and always find something Greg -I loved playing Phil Newkirk in “Showgirls”. Also I enjoyed new. It’s rich, thick, multi-layered and full of surprises. the creepy apartment manager in “Toolbox Murders” and I got a great part playing a Sheriff in a zombie comedy called “Dug Up”. 1
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Actors & Actresses (from left to right) 1. Michael Camacho, Greg Travis
2. Greg Travis, Nancy Ma
3. Greg Travis, Leilani Sarelle
4. Laci Kay, Amanda Sorvino
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Sugar Rays Studio
By Jeffrey Laprade Photography by Sugar Rays Studio
Denise has created a symbiosis of beauty and fashion, and consolidated it into a one-stop, must-see shop. Nestled in downtown Hermosa Beach, Sugar Rays is the perfect South Bay location for any of your beauty or fashion needs. Mindfulness is a priority in every step they take at Sugar Rays, constantly attentive to the health of their customers, employees, and of the environment. It is obvious as quickly as you can enter the establishment. At Sugar Rays, you will not be overwhelmed with the familiar chemical smells so common in ordinary salons. With ideals like “No drills. No dust. Just gel.”, no acetone on site, and fungus-free pedicures, Denise has gone above and beyond to ensure the health of her customers and her staff. Sugar Rays was inspired by the owner’s love of beauty, and her motivation to share that love in a healthy manner. Before Sugar Rays was established, Denise found herself let down by so many salons and their lack of consciousness about the toxicity of their products, and poor communication was affecting their customers. These experiences motivated Denise to revolutionize the beauty world of the South Bay and all of LA by opening up Sugar Rays. After all, being healthy goes hand in hand with being beautiful! Sugar Rays was inspired by and for the customers. Denise has cultivated an environment that maximizes convenience, customer service, and versatility. Enjoy a waterless pedicure, where your feet will be pampered via steamed towels, massages, and the rest of the pedicure bare necessities!
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No time for the beach? Then a safe beautiful airbrush tan is perfect for you. Stop in on the go and come out looking like you just returned from a Hawaiian vacation! To really put icing on the cake, with any service, customers receive a 10% discount on any merchandise! Whatever your beauty or style needs happen to be, Sugar Rays is the comprehensive destination. With all of these great qualities wrapped into one, a nail and tanning salon and fashion boutique, Denise has the modern woman in mind. That is why she has consolidated all of these essential beauty services in one location, making sure the Sugar Rays experience is convenient and comprehensive, all while maintaining the highest quality of atmosphere and service. A true one-stop shop for anyone looking to fine tune her look! Stop by and join Denise as she pioneers her own culture in the world of beauty. Dissatisfaction with industry. Every service is specialized. 10% off retail with any service.
CONTACT Sugar Rays Studio 1138 Hermosa Avenue Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 310 372 7766 www.sugarraysstudio.com facebook.com/SugarRaysStudio
GOING MAD The Swoop Mad Men Release Party
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOSEPH UMBRO, SCOTT BAILEY HAIR BY TIFFANY SUZUKI, ANASTASIA ROMERO MAKE UP BY MELISSA SAMAYOA, BRINA MORENO CLOTHING: UNIQUE VINTAGE, (WWW.UNIQUE-VINTAGE.COM)
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From left to right: 1. Natasha Messer, Stephanie Wallin 2. Natasha Messer 3. Stacy Anderson, Scott Bailey 4. Brina Moreno, Stephanie Wallin summer 2013 | swoopmagazine.com |
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PHOTOGRAPH BY JOSEPH UMBRO MODELS: NATASHA MESSER, STEPHANIE WALLIN CLOTHING: UNIQUE VINTAGE
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From left to right: 1. Brina Moreno, Stephanie Wallin, Michael Bay, Scott Bailey, Alex Curry 2. Stephanie Wallin, Jeff Laprade, Kimberly Chapman 3. Lawdie Pahlavan, Stacy Anderson 4. Brina Moreno
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOSEPH UMBRO MODEL STEPHANIE WALLIN
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Craig’s Automotive
Written by Scott Bailey Photographs by David Mitchell
“Swoop Magazine’s pick for ‘The Best Place to get your car fixed’”
Swoop office has been going to Craig’s Automotive ever since. That is why Craig’s Automotive is Swoop’s pick for “The Best Place to Get Your Car Fixed”! Although Craig’s Automotive has the experience to fix most any car, they specialize in classic cars,
Living in Southern California, we all have a car (perhaps even 2 or 3), and car problems are inevitable. When something happens to my car, the first thing I think is, “Can’t I just find a trustworthy place to fix my car?”. True story — when my truck
broke down in El Segundo, I desperately asked my neighbor where I should take it to get checked out. He said, “Go to Craig’s Automotive!” My neighbor had previously checked three different places and they had the best prices and great reviews. He continued his rave review and said it is a family business and he and everyone in the area trust them with their cars. Following my trusted neighbor’s advice, I took my car into Craig’s Automotive and was greeted by a friendly guy named Byron whose father opened the shop. They fixed my truck, and when I got the bill it was cheaper than I expected. Everyone from the
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which Byron prefers to work on because of their uniqueness and beauty. They also work on electric cars, if you happen to be part of the small, but growing population that has one. Swoop actually has an electric car, a gem car, so it’s nice to know there is someone trustworthy and conveniently located that can work on it. So if you live anywhere in the South Bay, or even if you don’t, it would be a safe bet to bring any of your maintenance or repair needs to Craig’s Automotive. You might see me there if you do. I’ll be hanging out with Byron talking about which project we’re going to work on next with the truck I’m restoring.
Craig’s Automotive CONTACT Byron Cooley 123 Nevada St El Segundo, CA 90245 Phone: (310) 322-2265 Email: Tcooley11578@yahoo.com
Up and Coming Model
Prestin Obradovich
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOSEPH UMBRO HAIR BY TIFFANY SUZUKI MAKE UP BY KASSANDRA KARR (MAKEUP PROVIDED BY MAC) CLOTHING: PIG SIREN