This year was special for the Sundance Film Festival because it was the first year in two years since the Covid-19 pandemic that the festival took place in person. In addition to attending press lines and meeting some of my favorite celebrities like Debby Ryan and Anne Hathway, I had a great time celebrating films with friends for the short weekend I attended (Jan 21-22).
What I absolutely loved about the festival this year was the great selection of films, the different and exciting sponsor events, as well as the beauty of Park City that I had missed so much. It is only during this time of year that I get to find my perfect place with friends, parties, celebrities, mountains, and film in one!
I stopped by Audible to find out a breathtaking view of the Park City's mountains as well as colorful booths that actually matched my pink jacket. I had a custom Binnie made at the Shore Club. But most of all I had fun celebrating the festival with actors and directors at the LatinX House, as well as journalism colleagues at the Neo Lounge hosted by Ericka Nicole Malone and featuring live music with Angie Stone. I also attended a VIP party hosted by Funny or Die Entertainment at an amazing mountain resort. This year the Cannon studio didn't disappoint as well.
It was a warm, fun, and extraordinary experience I will not forget! See you next year Sundance!
This year's Sundance Film Festival held in-person at Park City, Utah, had a big comeback after two years of online presence due to the Covid-19 pandemic. There was a variety of great films to choose from and I chose the film "Shortcomings," which was an official selection of the U.S Dramatic Competition section at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. This was also the first Sundance year for actor/director Randall Park. The film also received an emotional standing ovation from the audience.
Short synopsis:
Ben, a struggling filmmaker, lives in Berkeley, California, with his girlfriend, Miko, who works for a local Asian American film festival. When he’s not managing an art-house movie theater as his day job, Ben
spends his time obsessing over unavailable blond women, watching Criterion Collection DVDs, and eating in diners with his best friend, Alice, a queer grad student with a serial dating habit. When Miko moves to New York for an internship, Ben is left to his own devices and begins to explore what he thinks he might want.
The cast:
Randall Park (Director/Producer), Adrian Tomine (Writer), Justin H. Min (Cast), Sherry Cola (Cast), Ally Maki (Cast), Debby Ryan (Cast), Tim Simons (Cast), Margot Hand (Producer), Hieu Ho
(Producer), Jennifer Berman (Producer), Howard Cohen (Producer), Eric d’Arbeloff (Producer), Michael Golamco (Producer), Michael Bloom (Producer), Ryan Heller (Producer), Ryan Paine (Producer), Lia Buman (Producer), Neil Shah (Producer), Max Silva (Producer), Gene Back (Composer), Robert Nassau (Editor), Santiago Gonzalez (Director of Photography), Ava Yuriko Hama (Costume Designer), Nicole Abellera (Casting Director), Bill Boes (Production Designer)
I was able to talk to a few of the cast members at the red carpet event held on Sunday, January 22 at the Eccles Theater.
Meeting Anne Hathway was one of my biggest highlights at this year's Sundance Film Festival. She was part of the cast for "Eileen" at this year's Sundance Film Festival - one of the most anticipated films this year.
Based on the book of the same name by literary powerhouse Ottessa Moshfegh, Eileen follows a peculiar young woman whose dreary life stretches on toward unending misery. In frigid 1960s Boston, Eileen (Thomasin McKenzie) shuffles between her father’s dingy, emotionally haunted home and the prison where she works alongside colleagues who have ostracized her. When an intoxicating woman (Anne Hathaway) joins the prison staff, Eileen is taken. Just when the possibility of a salvational friendship (or maybe more) takes hold and forms a singular glimmer in Eileen’s darkness, her newfound confidant entangles her in a shocking crime that alters all.
Cast:
Thomasin McKenzie (Cast), Anne Hathaway (Cast), Shea Whigham (Cast), Marin
Ireland (Cast), William Oldroyd (Director), Ottessa Moshfegh (Screenwriter), Luke Goebel (Screenwriter), Anthony Bregman (Producer), Peter Cron (Producer) and Ari Wegner (Director of Photography).
The "Eileen" red carpet premiere took place on Saturday, January 21, at the Eccles Theater during Sundance Film Festival. I was able to talk to some of the cast and this is what they had to say:
This year has been one to remember - from the good to the bad, 2022 will remain in our history forever as it has been a year of so many challenges, battles, and also great moments!
It was also the year I wanted to support other creatives like me who work hard to mark their name in the Hollywood world. I proudly sponsored and supported the film "Team of Two" for the premiere and red carpet event on Sept.1 at the James Bridges Theater in LA. Even though I wasn't able to make it in person, I was there in spirit. I felt honored to see my name displayed on the big screen as well as to see the attendees take photos in front of the movie banner with my name written among the stars and other sponsors. The premiere was a huge success and I wish the film and the cast all the best in 2023!
"Homicide detective, Marc Valentine thinks he still lives in the 80s and has a DeLorean as his police car. Big Boss Tango is the most powerful criminal that has created a deadly virus that will cause a pandemic and plans to release it and sell the vaccine for billions of dollars unless Marc can stop him."
The film stars Joss Gomez (Among Us, The Leather Man), Eric Roberts (The Expendables, The Righteous Gemstones), Marc Singer (V, The Beastmanster), Lorenzo Lamas (Renegade, Jane the Virgin), Ken Davitian (Borat, Cobra Kai), Eugenia Kuzmina (Fury, Bad Moms), Keith Coogan (Toy Soldiers, Adventures in Babysitting), Dr. Robert Rey (Dr. 90210, On the road with Dr. Rey), Eliza Roberts (National Lampoon's Animal House, Dr. Who), Joel Weiss (The Warriors, Another 48 Hrs), Motown Maurice (Snake outta Compton, Snowfall), Carlo Mendez (90210, Parks and Recreation) and many more!
Photos from the premiere (Courtesy of Joss Gomez):
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
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.
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:
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.
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.
