The Smash Hit Dr. Seuss Experience is now at Chicago’s Water Tower Place

 

Kilburn Live, a global live entertainment company, and Dr. Seuss Enterprises, a global leader in educational entertainment, have announced they are bringing the wondrous world of Dr. Seuss to the Midwest. Starting October 8 at Chicago’s Water Tower Place, guests will be able to visit the acclaimed The Dr. Seuss Experience. 

The Seuss-tacular immersive spectacle will give guests the opportunity to take a journey through nine different Dr. Seuss books, bringing the magical worlds to life and inviting new generations to make their own memories. After opening in Toronto in 2019 and Houston earlier this year to unprecedented success, Kilburn Live offered families and fans the opportunity to grab tickets early through a special pre-sale registration period. The multisensory experience will transport guests into the pages of the beloved stories and allow them to interact with the characters that are part of the fabric of popular culture. From “The Cat in the Hat” to “Horton Hears a Who!” and “The Lorax,” as well as other timeless favorites, visitors will encounter and enjoy these classic treasures in a whole new way. Chicago will also debut an all-new mind-bending feature crafted by world-renowned artist Michael Murphy, who is known for works that meld perception and perspective in unique ways. 

 “Partnering with Dr. Seuss Enterprises has provided Kilburn Live with an opportunity to create an exciting, interactive world that brings the stories we all know and love to life,” said Kilburn CEO Mark Manuel. “We believe this immersive experience will not only capture the fascination of children, but also adults who remember the books as a child, parents who are passing down the tradition, and Instagram aficionados looking for the perfect backdrop. And Chicago is a special place for us. Many of our team members have deep ties to this city. There is going to be something magical about bringing the Dr. Seuss Experience to Michigan Avenue, during the holidays, and we want to thank our venue partner Brookfield Properties for helping us make it happen.” Anchored by the attraction’s centerpiece – an interconnected maze inspired by “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” composed of thousands of suspended balloons – each room within the experience will represent a different Dr. Seuss book. These fantastically colorful and enchanting experiences bring the magic to life, all while exploring the social message at the heart of each featured story. The Chicago run will also premiere some new and noteworthy additions to the Experience including some newly introduced Seuss-inspired optical illusions and an original showpiece from world-renowned artist Michael Murphy, a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. 

 

Susan Brandt, president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, said, “We’ve had a fantastic showing of The Dr. Seuss Experience with Kilburn Live so far. We couldn’t be more excited to bring the exhibition to Chicago so that Midwest fans can see their favorite books and characters come to life in this extraordinary way. We are also delighted to be working with renowned perceptual artist Michael Murphy to create a one-of-a-kind Dr. Seuss illusion of images art piece.” “When we look for new experiences to bring to our shoppers, we try to find ones that appeal to as many people as possible. There are few fictional worlds out there that resonate with as big of an audience as those of Dr. Seuss,” says Water Tower Place Senior General Manager, Mitch Feldman."

Kilburn Live and The Dr. Seuss Experience teams will be strictly following state and city-mandated Covid-19 protocols to ensure the safety of all of our guests. Furthermore, Kilburn has adopted best-in-class cleaning and sanitizing protocols for all of its events. The Dr. Seuss Experience will kick off on October 8 in Chicago’s landmark Water Tower Place mall. Due to sellouts in both Toronto and Houston, Kilburn Live is launching a registration period for tickets beginning today. Fans who register in advance will be provided access to a presale on September 7th before tickets go on sale to the general public on September 10th. To register, and for more information about The Dr. Seuss Experience, visit www.experienceseuss.com and follow along on Facebook and Instagram @experienceseuss. #experienceseuss

Saving Paradise

Michael (William Moseley), a ruthless corporate raider, is forced to return to his small town when he inherits his father’s nearly bankrupt pencil factory. Managed by his long-lost love, Charlie (Johanna Braddy), the pencil factory is the heart and soul of the depressed community. With the foreclosure deadline looming, Michael must decide to either let it close or join Charlie and the community’s fight to save their way of life. 

SAVING PARADISE stars William Moseley, Johanna Braddy, and Mimi Kennedy. It was written by Van Billet and directed by Jay Silverman. It was produced by Bethany Cerrona, William Newman, Joe Gamache, and Jay Silverman. The film has a running time of 102 minutes and will not be rated by the MPAA. Vertical Entertainment released SAVING PARADISE in select theaters and On Demand everywhere on September 3, 2021.

Beautiful Jewelry for a Beautiful You - Starlette Galleria

As someone who absolutely loves and adores jewelry, especially diamond rings, I stumbled upon the perfect place - Starlette Galleria. Not only was it love from first sight, but I also got so many compliments about my ring. It is an absolute pleasure to wear it and I urge you lovely ladies and gentlemen to check them out. 

Starlette Galleria is a female-founded company founded in 2019 by Olivia Starling. It has been supplying luxury simulated diamond engagement rings at a fraction of the price you would pay at a jewelry store. Starlette Galleria rings are made of high-quality hypoallergenic metals and the stones are intricately placed in the setting, never glued, and made of the clearest and highest quality AAA CZ. 

Starlette Galleria caters to the woman on the go, offering necklaces, bracelets, and earrings with the same quality metals that are durable and won't tarnish. 

 “Your wedding ring is easy to swap out and difficult to replace. When you travel with your wedding or engagement ring, you are risking loss, theft, and damage on one of your most prized possessions. Don't travel with your real wedding ring! Snag a high-quality, simulated diamond ring that is plated to prevent tarnishing and safe for sensitive skin,” says Starling. 

 Fun fact about diamonds: Simulated diamonds are even more sparkly and shimmery than real diamonds. “It looks so real that no one will tell the difference,” says Starling.

This is my favorite Starletta ring and I am all in:

To find your favorite, go to: https://www.starlettegalleria.com/. 

HERE AFTER - Life is harder when you're dead!

For all Christina Ricci fans - check out Here After! The film doesn't only show the beautiful and talented Ricci in a new role, but also it is quite an enjoyable and unique film. We often see typical love stories play out on the big and small screen, but how often do we see a love story between a dead man and an alive woman? Now that caught my attention! As a sucker for romance, I absolutely indulged in this fantasy love story and I know you will too. I beg you and dare you to check out Here After. Who knows...your soulmate might be closer than you think!

A struggling actor, Michael, dies right after a bad breakup, awakening to a singles Purgatory where he must find his soul mate in order to cross over to the other side. With limited time to find true love among other recently deceased single New Yorkers, Michael must navigate the new customs of a ghostly dating life…as if dating in New York wasn’t hard enough already. When he meets the woman of his dreams, who happens to be alive, Michael must figure out how to cheat the system to cross over with her. 

Here After stars Christina Ricci, Andy Karl, Nora Arnezeder, Jackie Cruz, and Michael Rispoli. It was written and directed by Harry Greenberger and produced by Greenberger and Carmine Famiglietti. The film has a running time of 121 minutes and will not be rated by the MPAA. 

Here After features the brand new original song “Mysteries of Life” sung by Debbie Harry. Vertical Entertainment will release it on Demand everywhere on July 23, 2021.

Love Type D - Bad news. Being unlucky in love is genetic.

If you are looking for a worthy binge-watch movie then you have to see Love Type D. As a romance and comedy fan, I found this film to not only have both but also a lot of spirit. It was a delightful film to watch and enjoy while taking you away from daily life. I recommend it! Do you have the Love Type D gene? Watch and find out!

How can someone love you yesterday and not today? Shortly after her boyfriend sends his 12-year-old brother to break the news that she’s dumped, Frankie Browne discovers that she has a loser in love gene. Every man she goes out with will inevitably break up with her. Facing a lifetime of romantic failure, Frankie turns to the only genetics expert she knows: her former nemesis, Wilbur, a schoolboy science prodigy. Wilbur develops a maverick theory to reverse her romantic fortunes that sets into motion an unexpected and comic journey into Frankie’s past of questionable romantic choices. 

Love Type D stars Maeve Dermody, Rory Stroud, Oliver Farnworth, and Tovah Feldshuh. It was written and directed by first-time filmmaker Sasha Collington. The film has a running time of 94 minutes and will not be rated by the MPAA. 

Vertical Entertainment released Love Type D on Demand everywhere on July 9, 2021.

Who Will Win This Year's Oscars?

Get your popcorn, food delivery ready or your favorite snack by your side this Sunday because the 93rd Oscars are coming with a storm. Unlike any other awards show we have seen so far on TV, this one promises not just to be different but to be like a film we all will feel a part of.  The Academy Awards will be televised from two locations, the Dolby Theater and Union Station in LA, and it promises a whole lot of fun and glamour, as well as in-person red carpet moments.

This year's show with the theme "Bring Your Movie Love" is directed by Glenn Weiss and is divided in three parts - "Oscars: Into the Spotlight," the actual awards show and "Oscars: After Dark." To kick off the event the pre-show will feature all five of the nominated songs performed live by Celeste, H.E.R., Leslie Odom, Jr., Laura Pausini, Daniel Pemberton, Molly Sandén and Diane Warren, live from the Dolby Theater and Helsinki, Iceland.

This year's star cast includes Steven Yeun, Riz Ahmed, Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Bong Joon Ho, Don Cheadle, Bryan Cranston, Viola Davis, Laura Dern, Harrison Ford, Regina King, Marlee Matlin, Rita Moreno, Joaquin Phoenix, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Renée Zellweger and Zendaya.

These are my predictions for who will win the major categories this Sunday:

Best Film - "Nomadland"

Best Director - Chloe Zhao

Best Actor - Chadwick Boseman

Best Actress - Frances McDormand

Best Supporting Actor - Daniel Kaluuya

Best Supporting Actress - Maria Bakalova 

In addition to the big categories, there are also short films that are competing as well. These are the shorts nominated for an Oscar:

ANIMATED SHORT FILM NOMINEES 

 

BURROW 

Director: Madeline Sharafian 

Synopsis: A young rabbit embarks on a journey to dig the burrow of her dreams, despite not having a clue what she's doing. Rather than reveal to her neighbors her imperfections, she digs herself deeper and deeper into trouble. Country of Origin: USA 

GENIUS LOCI 

Director: Adrien Merigeau 

Synopsis: One night, Reine, a young loner, sees among the urban chaos a moving oneness that seems alive, like some sort of guide. Country of Origin: France 

ANYTHING HAPPENS I LOVE YOU 

Director: Michael Govier, Will McCormack 

Synopsis: In the aftermath of tragedy, two grieving parents journey through an emotional void as they mourn the loss of a child. Country of Origin: USA 

OPERA 

Director: Erick Oh 

Synopsis: “Opera” is a massive 8K size animation installation project which portrays our society and history, which is filled with beauty and absurdity. Erick enables viewers to experience the range of in-depth emotions through this epic reflection of human life. Country of Origin: USA/South Korea 

YES-PEOPLE 

Director: Gísli Darri Halldórsson 

Synopsis: One morning, an eclectic mix of people face the everyday battle - such as work, school and dish-washing. As the day progresses, their relationships are tested and ultimately their capacity to cope. Country of Origin: Iceland 

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM NOMINEES 

FEELING THROUGH 

Director: Doug Roland 

Synopsis: A late-night encounter on a New York City street leads to a profound connection between a teen in need and a DeafBlind man. Country of Origin: USA 

THE LETTER ROOM 

Director: Elvira Lind 

Synopsis: “The Letter Room” is a dark prison comedy about the secret life of a correctional officer who gets transferred to a job in the letter room, where a new world suddenly opens to him ways to find solace and spirituality afterwards. Country of Origin: USA 

THE PRESENT 

Director: Farah Nabulsi 

Synopsis: On his wedding anniversary, Yusef and his young daughter set out in the West Bank to buy his wife a gift. Between soldiers, segregated roads and checkpoints, how easy would it be to go shopping? Country of Origin: Palestine 

TWO DISTANT STRANGERS 

Director: Travon Free, Martin Desmond Roe Synopsis: In "Two Distant Strangers,” cartoonist Carter James' repeated attempts to get home to his dog are thwarted by a recurring deadly encounter that forces him to relive the same awful day over and over again. Starring Joey Bada$$, Andrew Howard and Zaria Simone. Country of Origin: USA 

WHITE EYE 

Director: Tomer Shushan 

Synopsis: A man finds his stolen bicycle, which now belongs to a stranger. While attempting to retrieve it, he struggles to remain human. Country of Origin: Israel 

DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM NOMINEES  

COLETTE 

Director: Anthony Giacchino  

Synopsis: On the anniversary of the start of the Nuremberg trials, 90-year-old Colette Marin-Catherine confronts her past by visiting the Nazi concentration camp in Germany where her brother was killed. As a young girl, she had been a member of the French resistance and had always refused to set foot in Germany. That changes when a young history student named Lucie enters her life. Prepared to reopen old wounds and revisit the terrors of that time, Marin-Catherine offers important lessons Country of Origin: France/Germany/USA 

A CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION 

Director: Kris Bowers, Ben Proudfoot 

Synopsis: A virtuoso jazz pianist and film composer tracks his family's lineage through his 91-year-old grandfather from Jim Crow Florida to the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Country of Origin: USA 

DO NOT SPLIT 

Director: Anders Hammer 

Synopsis: The story of the 2019 Hong Kong protests, told through a series of demonstrations by local protestors that escalate into conflict when highly armed police appear on the scene. Country of Origin: USA/Norway 

HUNGER WARD 

Director: Skye Fitzgerald 

Synopsis: Filmed from inside two of the most active therapeutic feeding centers in Yemen, HUNGER WARD documents two women health care workers fighting to thwart the spread of starvation against the backdrop of a forgotten war. The film provides an unflinching portrait of Dr. Aida Alsadeeq and Nurse Mekkia Mahdi as they try to save the lives of hunger-stricken children within a population on the brink of famine. Country of Origin: USA 

A LOVE SONG FOR LATASHA 

Director: Sophia Nahli Allison 

Synopsis: The injustice surrounding the shooting death of 15-year-old Latasha Harlins at a South Central Los Angeles store became a flashpoint for the city’s 1992 civil uprising. As the Black community expressed its profound pain in the streets, Latasha’s friends and family privately mourned the loss of a vibrant child whose full story was never in the headlines. Nearly three decades later, director Sophia Nahli Allison removes Latasha from the context of her death to craft a dreamlike portrait of a promising life lost, demonstrating the impact one brief but brilliant life can have. Country of Origin: USA 

You can purchase tickets to view the shorts at:  https://tickets.oscar-shorts.com/. 

Tune in to watch the Oscars live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT this Sunday, April 25. 

Undine

Undine works as a historian lecturing on Berlin's urban development. But when the man she loves leaves her, the ancient myth catches up with her. Undine has to kill the man who betrays her and return to the water. So when her lover Johannes (Jacob Matschenz) leaves her for another woman, Undine thinks she has no choice – until in the moment of betrayal, she meets Christoph (Franz Rogowski), an industrial diver, and unexpectedly falls for him. This is a new, happy and innocent love filled with curiosity and trust. But when Christoph starts to feel that Undine is running away from something, she has to face her curse once and for all. She doesn‘t want to lose this love. Undine is a film by award-winning German filmmaker Christian Petzold.  

In his director's statement, Petzold says:

“You humans! You monsters!” Thus begins Ingeborg Bachmann’s narration “Undine Leaves”. Undine is the betrayed woman of the waters. According to the myth, she lives in a lake in the forest. A man who’s fatefully enamored with a woman, whose love is unrequited and hopeless, who no longer knows what to do with himself or his feelings, who suffers absolute despair... can enter the forest, go to the banks of the lake and cry out Undine’s name. And she’ll come. And love him. Their love is a pact that may never be betrayed. And if it is betrayed, then the man must die. Then it comes to pass that he who loves and is loved seems easy and free, lovable and desirable once more." 

If you are captivated by myths, mysteries and love fairytales, Undine is a combination of all three. While set in a realistic setting in Berlin, this story unfolds in so many mysterious ways captivating the audience act by act. Its surprise ending is the perfect culmination of the love drama triangle. It is like a modern "Little Mermaid" story but in an adult and more realistic way. It is like putting a puzzle together and trying to make the pieces of the story fit, intrigued and guessing to its plot until the very last scene. It is a film I absolutely recommend. 

"...And maybe you can say that Undine is a fairytale figure who wants to become human. And we watch her realize this dream. She’s already human, she wants to remain human. When she goes diving with Christoph, she suddenly vanishes as if the water were pulling her into her element – she remembers nothing and says, “No, I don’t want to come back here again”. But the cursed/enchanted world, the mythical world, won’t let go. It sticks to her, it’s brutal, it pulls her under… The myths and fairytales, men’s myths, leave Undine a pitiful dearth of leeway. Undine is a woman who needs to escape the work of male projection," says the director. 

"...I liked the way it’s the Undine who speaks rather than some narrator or man. It’s a woman talking. You could make a film like that, I thought. One that’s about the undine or the undine’s despair. The curse in Ingeborg Bachmann is that men are never faithful because they basically only love themselves. And the breaking of this curse from a female perspective struck me as the right narrative approach; that our undine doesn’t want to go back to the forest lake. That she doesn’t want to kill. There’s a man, Christoph, who’s the first to love her for herself, and it’s a love she’ll fight for," continues Petzold. 

Motifs relating to the Undine myth can already be found back in Greek mythology. The word “Undenae” appears for the first time in a script of Paracelsus published posthumously in 1566: Undine – from the Latin unda, “wave”, is a water sprite in human form who can only attain an immortal soul through marriage to a human. Should she come back into contact with her element after her marriage, she must return to it. Should her husband remarry, he must die.

Undine will be released in select theaters and on VOD platforms on June 4, 2021. 

Shiva Baby

 

A near college graduate, Danielle, gets paid by her sugar daddy and rushes to meet her neurotic parents at a family shiva. Upon arrival, she is accosted by various estranged relatives about her appearance and lack of post-grad plans, while her confident ex-girlfriend, Maya, is applauded by everyone for getting into law school. Danielle's day takes an unexpected turn when her sugar daddy, Max, arrives at the shiva with his accomplished wife, Kim, and crying baby. As the day unfolds, Danielle struggles to keep up different versions of herself, fend off pressures from her family and confront her insecurities without completely losing it. Written and directed by Emma Seligman, Shiva Baby, is a dark comedy for the non-traditional tastes. 

"SHIVA BABY is about a young woman grappling with family, tradition, and independence. More importantly though, it is about that bitter realization many young women face when they realize that their sexual power isn’t as far-reaching as they thought and that their self-esteem can’t be entirely built upon sexual validation. For some women, this process takes years. For Danielle, it happens in a day, with her neurotic family, her sugar daddy, his wife and baby and Danielle’s accomplished ex-girlfriend all in tow to witness her self-combustion," says Seligman in her director's statement about the film.

Emma Seligman by Emma McInture

"Having grown up in an insular Jewish community, I attended a number of shivas. They always amused me because despite the fact that someone just died, people still ate bagels, complained, showed off their children, asked nosy questions and crossed personal boundaries. I always loved the contrast and thought it would be the perfect setting for a coming of age story. Family events can be filled with the utmost love and warmth, but they are also pervaded by generational differences that make you question your untraditional or non existent career path and your queerness. I wanted to put Danielle in an environment where she’d be confronted by a symphony of all her deepest insecurities," she adds. 

Shiva Baby cast includes Rachel Sennott, Molly Gordon, Diana Agron, Danny Deferrari, Polly Draper, and Fred Melamed.

Danny Deferrari and Fred Melamed in Shiva Baby

This award-winning film has captured the critics attention, including mine. In the witty and dark comedy, there is a lot of truth, vulnerability and raw authenticity that makes the film unique and oddly relatable.  From weird characters to strange motives, there is something for everyone in Shiva Baby. I absolutely recommend it.  The film has been released in select theaters by Utopia since April 2. 

Tough As a Mother - The New Elegant and Must-Have Jewelry for Every Mom

 

Jennifer Cervantes, Founder Tough as a Mother Tribe

I absolutely love the stone necklace pendants from Tough as a Mother Tribe and recommend them to all moms everywhere. As a mom and influencer, I want a jewelry that combines the power of looking both casual and elegant no matter where I am, while providing the healing energy of stones. I don't go anywhere without them now! They are a must-have and also the perfect gift for Mother's Day. 

Jennifer Cervantes who founded jewelry brand Tough as a Mother Tribe, utilizes the power and meanings of gemstones and the power of names to design jewelry that honors the most joyous and raw parts of motherhood and parenthood. Tough as a Mother Tribe is helping to empower and support moms on their parenting journey - to help women and parents find the strength to endure the real challenges of motherhood, no matter what stage of motherhood they may be in. 

“When you purchase a Tough as a Mother Tribe piece, you quietly unite with mothers across the world through our common bond. Our trials and triumphs through our motherhood journeys become shared experiences with each other, each of us silently cheering the others on. Whether you are buying for yourself, a first-time mom just embarking on her motherhood journey, or a third-time mom choosing hope as she carries her rainbow baby, you are in the right place,” says Jennifer.

 “COOL MAMA” Necklace - Chalcedony is a powerful healing stone that helps ward off negative thoughts and vibes to help mamas feel sane and grounded. Chalcedony helps promote good will while evoking benevolence, harmony and stability - something every mom needs! 

“GOOD VIBES MAMA” Necklace - Labradorite is a powerful stone that wards off anxiety and stress while imparting strength and perseverance. It can help strengthen intuition, eliminate fear and insecurity, and promote faith, self-love and trust in the universe. Labradorite can also promote creativity, focus and mental acuity, while helping calm and soothe the mind. 

 “BALANCED MAMA” Necklace - Quartz is a timeless gem that helps promote patience and balanced energy, and every mama needs the power to persevere! This master healing gemstone helps store, release and regulate good energy, while warding off negativity. It revitalizes and balances the body and can even promote focus and memory.

Get yours today: https://toughasamothertribe.com/. 

See You Then - A Powerful Film About The New Perspective on Transgender Experience

 

It is rare that I come across some original films that have a brilliant and real look at the characters' inner worlds and their emotional depths. See You Then is one of those films that does it so well. The film explores LGBTQ issues, transgender issues and the complicated world of fitting in. The film is emotional, raw and honest. It explores the complicity of motherhood, what it means to be a mother for a transgender and the character's inner desire be one. The reversal of roles and deep intimate relationships is authentic and worth seeing. See You Then had its World Premier at SXSW 2021. 

"Life has a way of showing you what is intended, beyond your plans and dreams. Whether you see it or not is up to you. Yes, I could not have children of my own for the reasons mentioned and beyond, but I have become a mother in a way that I would never have guessed and it has surpassed my expectations. I am a mother to any queer child, wherever they may be, who needs to feel that there is a maternal figure in their life: to listen to them, to show them love, to guide them and cheer them on their path. This is the greatest thing that I have accomplished in my life," says actress Pooya Mohseni.

Pooya Mohseni and Lynn Chen in See You Then

A decade after abruptly breaking up with Naomi (Lynn Chen), Kris (Pooya Mohseni) invites her to a dinner to catch-up on their complicated lives, relationships, and Kris' transition. Over the course of their one night encounter, they engage in a series of increasingly intimate and vulnerable conversations, before a shocking secret is revealed. See You Then focuses on the universal truth that no matter how much you change, a part of you will always stay the same. 

"I hope the film will provide a new perspective into the trans experience and spark a larger discussion around questions of identity, womanhood, and belonging. The aim of this story was never to focus on transitioning or trans- ness, but rather on the underlying humanity of these two characters and their lives. While everyone may not relate to the individual histories of these characters, they can empathize with trying to fix a broken relationship or harboring regrets for one’s past behavior. We endeavored to tell a story that anyone can relate to," says director Mari Walker.

Director: Mari Walker Writers: Mari Walker & Kristen Uno 

Cast: Pooya Mohseni, Lynn Chen, Nican Robinson, Danny Jacobs 

Producers: Mia Schulman, Matt Miller, Kristen Uno & Mari Walker

Make|SHIFT - New Documentary Film for the Shifting of Advertisement Today

 

In this ever-changing digital and social media age, it is hard to keep up with the latest trends. Social media has become the main tool advertisers and users, use to interact with one another. This concept is explored in the new documentary film Make|SHIFT. The film explores the trends and history of advertising and how it has changed through the years, the interaction between the viewer and the ads and the future of advertisement. It is an honest and raw look at the shifts and changes that have started to dominate the digital era and how advertisement has adjusted to engage the user. 

Make|SHIFT is a documentary film by WP Engine exploring the art and science behind the advertising industry's 20+ year evolution. Hear from a range of industry leaders from developers to designers to creative directors to founders at some of the most innovative agencies in the world, both small and large, digital and traditional. The film takes an inside look at how these makers and agencies have shifted and re-shifted their skillsets, creativity, and businesses, as new creative technologies emerged, declined, and were replaced by the next technology in an endless cycle of change.

Make|SHIFT was directed by Casey Suchan and Tim Cawley. The film was produced by Mary Ellen Dugan, David Fossas, Carley Thompson, Jeremy Coon, Barry Poltermann, Denise Roberts McKee, and 

Dorothy Ulrich. 

.  

For more information, go to: https://makeshift.film.

Social Media Handles: 

Instagram: @makeshift_film 

Twitter: @makeshift_film 

Facebook: @makeshiftmovie

Oscars® Nominations Announced - Historic Female Directors Nomination, Maria Bakalova Makes History for Bulgaria

Credit: The Academy Awards

This morning the 93rd Academy Awards nominations were announced by Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra. Unlike previous years, this year was historic for the Oscars®. There are two female directors nominated for the first time ever in the Best Director Category - Chloe Zhao ("Nomadland") and Emerald Fennel ("Promising Young Woman"). In addition, Maria Bakalova made history for Bulgaria with her first ever Oscars® nomination for her role in Borat 2. The Academy Awards will air LIVE on ABC, April 25, at 8 p.m. ET from both the Union Station in LA and the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. 

Academy members from each of the 17 branches vote to determine the nominees in their respective categories – actors nominate actors, film editors nominate film editors, etc. In the Animated Feature Film and International Feature Film categories, nominees are selected by a vote of multi-branch screening committees. All voting members are eligible to select the Best Picture nominees. Active members of the Academy are eligible to vote for the winners in all 23 categories beginning Thursday, April 15, through Tuesday, April 20.

Here is a full list of the nominees:

Credit: The Academy Awards

Performance by an actor in a leading role:

• Riz Ahmed in “Sound of Metal”
• Chadwick Boseman in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
• Anthony Hopkins in “The Father”
• Gary Oldman in “Mank”
• Steven Yeun in “Minari”

Performance by an actor in a supporting role:

• Sacha Baron Cohen in “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
• Daniel Kaluuya in “Judas and the Black Messiah”
• Leslie Odom, Jr. in “One Night in Miami...”
• Paul Raci in “Sound of Metal”
• Lakeith Stanfield in “Judas and the Black Messiah”

Performance by an actress in a leading role:

• Viola Davis in “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom”
• Andra Day in “The United States vs. Billie Holiday”
• Vanessa Kirby in “Pieces of a Woman”
• Frances McDormand in “Nomadland”
• Carey Mulligan in “Promising Young Woman”

Performance by an actress in a supporting role:

• Maria Bakalova in “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan”
• Glenn Close in “Hillbilly Elegy”
• Olivia Colman in “The Father”
• Amanda Seyfried in “Mank”
• Yuh-Jung Youn in “Minari” 

Best animated feature film of the year: 

• “Onward” Dan Scanlon and Kori Rae
• “Over the Moon” Glen Keane, Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou
• “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon” Richard Phelan, Will Becher and Paul Kewley
• “Soul” Pete Docter and Dana Murray
• “Wolfwalkers” Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young and Stéphan Roelants

Achievement in cinematography:

• “Judas and the Black Messiah” Sean Bobbitt
• “Mank” Erik Messerschmidt
• “News of the World” Dariusz Wolski
• “Nomadland” Joshua James Richards
• “The Trial of the Chicago 7” Phedon Papamichael

 Achievement in costume design:

• “Emma” Alexandra Byrne
• “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Ann Roth
• “Mank” Trish Summerville
• “Mulan” Bina Daigeler
• “Pinocchio” Massimo Cantini Parrini

Achievement in directing:

• “Another Round” Thomas Vinterberg
• “Mank” David Fincher
• “Minari” Lee Isaac Chung
• “Nomadland” Chloé Zhao
• “Promising Young Woman” Emerald Fennell

Best documentary feature:

• “Collective” Alexander Nanau and Bianca Oana
• “Crip Camp” Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht and Sara Bolder
• “The Mole Agent” Maite Alberdi and Marcela Santibáñez
• “My Octopus Teacher” Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed and Craig Foster
• “Time” Garrett Bradley, Lauren Domino and Kellen Quinn

 Best documentary short subject:

• “Colette” Anthony Giacchino and Alice Doyard
• “A Concerto Is a Conversation” Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers
• “Do Not Split” Anders Hammer and Charlotte Cook
• “Hunger Ward” Skye Fitzgerald and Michael Scheuerman
• “A Love Song for Latasha” Sophia Nahli Allison and Janice Duncan

Achievement in film editing:

• “The Father” Yorgos Lamprinos
• “Nomadland” Chloé Zhao
• “Promising Young Woman” Frédéric Thoraval
• “Sound of Metal” Mikkel E. G. Nielsen
• “The Trial of the Chicago 7” Alan Baumgarten

Best international feature film of the year:

• “Another Round” Denmark
• “Better Days” Hong Kong
• “Collective” Romania
• “The Man Who Sold His Skin” Tunisia
• “Quo Vadis, Aida?” Bosnia and Herzegovina

Achievement in makeup and hairstyling:

• “Emma” Marese Langan, Laura Allen and Claudia Stolze
• “Hillbilly Elegy” Eryn Krueger Mekash, Matthew Mungle and Patricia Dehaney
• “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson
• “Mank” Gigi Williams, Kimberley Spiteri and Colleen LaBaff
• “Pinocchio” Mark Coulier, Dalia Colli and Francesco Pegoretti

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score):

• “Da 5 Bloods” Terence Blanchard
• “Mank” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
• “Minari” Emile Mosseri
• “News of the World” James Newton Howard
• “Soul” Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste

 Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song):

• “Fight For You” from “Judas and the Black Messiah”
  Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas
• “Hear My Voice” from “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
  Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
• “Husavik” from “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”
  Music and Lyric by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Göransson
• “Io Sì (Seen)” from “The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)”
  Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini
• “Speak Now” from “One Night in Miami...”
  Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth

Best motion picture of the year:

• “The Father” David Parfitt, Jean-Louis Livi and Philippe Carcassonne, Producers
• “Judas and the Black Messiah” Shaka King, Charles D. King and Ryan Coogler, Producers
• “Mank” Ceán Chaffin, Eric Roth and Douglas Urbanski, Producers
• “Minari” Christina Oh, Producer
• “Nomadland” Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Chloé Zhao, Producers
• “Promising Young Woman” Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell and Josey McNamara, Producers
• “Sound of Metal” Bert Hamelinck and Sacha Ben Harroche, Producers
• “The Trial of the Chicago 7” Marc Platt and Stuart Besser, Producers

Achievement in production design:

• “The Father” Production Design: Peter Francis; Set Decoration: Cathy Featherstone
• “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Production Design: Mark Ricker; Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara and Diana Stoughton
• “Mank” Production Design: Donald Graham Burt; Set Decoration: Jan Pascale
• “News of the World” Production Design: David Crank; Set Decoration: Elizabeth Keenan
• “Tenet” Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Kathy Lucas

 Best animated short film:

• “Burrow” Madeline Sharafian and Michael Capbarat
• “Genius Loci” Adrien Mérigeau and Amaury Ovise
• “If Anything Happens I Love You” Will McCormack and Michael Govier
• “Opera” Erick Oh
• “Yes-People” Gísli Darri Halldórsson and Arnar Gunnarsson

Best live action short film:

• “Feeling Through” Doug Roland and Susan Ruzenski
• “The Letter Room” Elvira Lind and Sofia Sondervan
• “The Present” Farah Nabulsi
• “Two Distant Strangers” Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe
• “White Eye” Tomer Shushan and Shira Hochman

Achievement in sound:

• “Greyhound” Warren Shaw, Michael Minkler, Beau Borders and David Wyman
• “Mank” Ren Klyce, Jeremy Molod, David Parker, Nathan Nance and Drew Kunin
• “News of the World” Oliver Tarney, Mike Prestwood Smith, William Miller and John Pritchett
• “Soul” Ren Klyce, Coya Elliott and David Parker
• “Sound of Metal” Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés and Phillip Bladh

Achievement in visual effects:

• “Love and Monsters” Matt Sloan, Genevieve Camilleri, Matt Everitt and Brian Cox
• “The Midnight Sky” Matthew Kasmir, Christopher Lawrence, Max Solomon and David Watkins
• “Mulan” Sean Faden, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury and Steve Ingram
• “The One and Only Ivan” Nick Davis, Greg Fisher, Ben Jones and Santiago Colomo Martinez
• “Tenet” Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley and Scott Fisher

Adapted screenplay:

• “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern; Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Nina Pedrad
• “The Father” Screenplay by Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller
• “Nomadland” Written for the screen by Chloé Zhao
• “One Night in Miami...” Screenplay by Kemp Powers
• “The White Tigers” Written for the screen by Ramin Bahrani

Original screenplay:

• “Judas and the Black Messiah” Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King; Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas
• “Minari” Written by Lee Isaac Chung
• “Promising Young Woman” Written by Emerald Fennell
• “Sound of Metal” Screenplay by Darius Marder & Abraham Marder; Story by Darius Marder & Derek Cianfrance
• “The Trial of the Chicago 7” Written by Aaron Sorkin

For more information, visit: www.oscars.org 

2021 Cinema Unbound Awards Honorees

The Cinema Unbound Awards is an annual celebration presented by the Northwest Film Center, honoring boundary-breaking multimedia storytellers working at the intersection of art and cinema. This year the awards took place virtually on March 4. 

The Cinema Unbound Awards statement: "We honor artists and nonconformists who are not content to be contained but instead expand the notion of what’s possible. The Cinema Unbound honorees defy expectations and refuse to embrace labels using their creative vision to inspire and push us to look at what is beyond the norm. The Cinema Unbound Awards represents the Portland Art Museum & Northwest Film Center’s embrace of artistic exploration and commitment to equity and inclusion."

This year the Cinema Unbound Awards honored Steve McQueen, Garrett Bradley, Mollye Asher, Gus Van Sant and Alex Bulkley. Presenters of the awards were Chloe Zallo, Guiilermo del Toro, Rajendra Roy, Mollye Asher, Charles Burnett, among others. Event partners of the event were Gucci and Netflix. 

“The Cinema Unbound Awards celebrate those who are not content to be contained,” says Amy Dotson, Northwest Film Center Director and Portland Art Museum Curator of Film & New Media. “We honor these multi-media misfits and nonconformists who expand the notion of what’s possible; these unbound storytellers who defy expectation by refusing to embrace what is for what might be. They inspire us not just by simply coloring outside the lines, but by redrawing the lines entirely, creating a more interesting, inclusive and inspiring space where cinema and art collide.”

Alex Bulkley. Courtesy: Cinema Unbound Awards

"The Cinema Unbound Award is a particular and personal honor because it truly reflects that same spirit that was taught to me to instill in the work that I do."

Guillermo del Toro said: "Normally the role of producer comes with this preconception that the producer has to be tough, has to be rough, has to be brutal. But Alex is nothing but gentle, and thoughtful, and a champion of the arts and a champion of the artist. He is a perfect example of keeping cinema unbound from reality while bound to reality.”

Garret Bradley. Courtesy: Cinema Unbound Awards
"I see it really as a celebration of the gray area of intersectionality of a place where practice, and function, and ideas, geographies, spaces, things that might seem to even be in contradiction with one another can be in dialogue, to help us gain new understandings of ourselves and to pave the path for a more transparent and just and loving world.”

Mollye Asher. Courtesy: Cinema Unbound Awards
"As an indie producer, you often have to think outside the box because the industry isn't constructed to fit anything other than what's been done before. But when you're working with partners like Chloe and Josh, that necessity to think outside of the box becomes a choice."

Chloe Zhao, who recently won for Best Director for Nomadland a Golden Globe Award and a Critics Choice Award, said: "It's in those darkest times that I think the character of a great producer really shows. And Mollye has shown that over and over and over in the times I've worked with her."

Steve McQueen. Courtesy: Cinema Unbound Awards

"I've always tried to look at places where maybe it would be uncomfortable, but having to go there, because that's what we as artists do. We try to, sort of get driven on to reflect who we are as human beings.”

Gus Van Sant. Courtesy: Cinema Unbound Awards.

For more on the awards, visit: https://cinemaunbound.org/. 

Golden Globes Awards Make History With Many Firsts

Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo at the 78th Golden Globes Awards. Photo: Rich Polk/NBC

This year's 78th Golden Globes Awards made history by nominating the first ever Bulgarian actress, Maria Bakalova, for her role in Borat 2, as well as giving the Best Director Award to Chloe Zhao, the first ever Asian female and second woman in the Golden Globes history, to receive this award. A lot of Black actors and actresses received awards as well for various films and a promise was made by the HFPA on stage to include more Black journalists in the association. A recognition for her historic nomination was also given to Maria Bakalova who marked the first ever Golden Globes nomination for Bulgaria. She was also thanked for her bravery, talent and work by Rosamund Pike and Sasha Cohen in their acceptance speeches.

Maria Bakalova dressed in Armani. Credit: Maria Bakalova Instagram

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted the first-ever bi-coastal show with Fey at New York's famed Rainbow Room and Poehler at the iconic Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. Kerry Washington,Ted Danson, Brie Larson and Laverne Cox paid tribute to 2021 Cecil B. deMille Award honoree, Jane Fonda. 

Hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Photo: NBC

Jane Fonda gave a remarkable speech after she received her award: "...You know, we are a community of storytellers, aren't we? And in turbulent, crisis-torn times like these, storytelling has always been essential. You see, stories have a way to ... they can change our hearts and our minds. They can help us see each other in a new light. To have empathy. To recognize that, for all our diversity, we are humans first, right? ..."

Jane Fonda. Photo credit: Golden Globes, HFPA

Wanda Sykes, Marisa Tomei and Lin-Manuel Miranda participated in a tribute to Noman Lear, who was honored with the 2021 Carol Burnett Award. Satchel & Jackson Leeserved as this year’s Golden Globe Ambassadors, and supported the charities Callen-Lorde NYC and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America as part of their role. 

In addition to celebrating the best in film and television, the telecast highlighted Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization and its COVID-19 Relief Fund, as well as CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), which is dedicated to saving lives and strengthening marginalized communities affected by or vulnerable to crisis. In appreciation of their courage and sacrifice to provide care, support, and public service for their communities throughout the pandemic, frontline and essential workers, including food bank workers, attended the event. 

This year’s presenters who appeared from multiple locations around the world included Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Anthony Anderson, Awkwafina, Kevin Bacon, Angela Bassett, Sterling K. Brown, Jamie Lee Curtis, Laura Dern, Michael Douglas, Ava DuVernay, Cynthia Erivo, Colin Farrell, Gal Gadot, Tiffany Haddish, Salma Hayek, Bryce Dallas Howard, Kate Hudson, Jeanise Jones, Christopher Meloni, Tracy Morgan, Annie Mumolo, Sandra Oh, Sarah Paulson, Rosie Perez, Joaquin Phoenix, Margot Robbie, Kyra Sedgwick, Amanda Seyfried, Christian Slater, Ben Stiller, Kenan Thompson, Susan Kelechi Watson, Kristen Wiig, Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

The stars were dressed in various high-end fashion designers. For example:

- Maria Bakalova was dressed in a beautiful red Gergio Armani dress;

- Kate Hudson wore a Louis Vuitton dress;

- Jodie Foster wore Prada pajamas;

- Peter Morgan wore a Prada suit;

- Catherine Zeta-Jones wore a Dolce & Gabanna dress;

- Awkwafina wore Gucci;

- Renee Zellweger wore Armani Prive and Jimmy Choo shoes;

Amanda Seyfried in Oscar De La Renta. Credit: Marcus Mam.

Julia Garner dressed in Prada. Credit: Hung Vaango.

Tahar Rahim dressed in Louis Vuitton. Credit: Naj Jamai 

Among many other amazing designers....

Golden Globes winners:

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA NOMADLAND 

 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA ANDRA DAY 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA CHADWICK BOSEMAN MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM 

 

BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY - BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY - ROSAMUND PIKE 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY - SACHA BARON COHEN 

 

BEST MOTION PICTURE – ANIMATED - SOUL 

BEST MOTION PICTURE – FOREIGN LANGUAGE - MINARI (USA) 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE - JODIE FOSTER 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE - DANIEL KALUUYA 

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE - CHLOÉ ZHAO, NOMADLAND 

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE - AARON SORKIN, TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7  

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE - TRENT REZNOR, ATTICUS ROSS, JON BATISTE , SOUL 

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE - “IO SÌ (SEEN)” THE LIFE AHEAD 

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA - THE CROWN 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA - EMMA CORRIN 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA - JOSH O'CONNOR 

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY - SCHITT'S CREEK 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY - CATHERINE O'HARA 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – MUSICAL OR COMEDY - JASON SUDEIKIS 

BEST TELEVISION LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION - THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION - ANYA TAYLOR-JOY 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION - MARK RUFFALO 

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SUPPORTING ROLE - GILLIAN ANDERSON

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SUPPORTING ROLE - JOHN BOYEGA