The Georgia entertainment industry is one of the most exciting industries, both economically and culturally, to come to our state in a long while. Our industry fosters inclusiveness, adventure, creativity and opportunity to all. Regardless of age, ethnicity, skin color or socio-economic background, the entertainment industry in Georgia is truly an equal opportunity zone. This fabric is why Georgia Entertainment only has one direction to go. Up. We hope you enjoy all that this issue has to offer. In each issue of the magazine and on each episode of Georgia Hollywood Review TV, we will cover the unique tapestry of talent, both above and below the line, that makes the Georgia film, television and music industry vibrant, strong and fascinating.
I DR I S E L B A stars in Jeymes Samuel’s The Harder They Fall
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
Publisher/Founder/Editor-In-Chief: Miles K. Neiman
The Harder They Fall
Managing Editor: Jennifer Thompson
Hollywood means many things to different people. It’s not just a place, it’s a state of mind. Whether it’s the feeling you had as a child when Luke learned to mas- ter the force in Star Wars , or the dreams of romance that Casablanca gave you when Bogart looked into Ingrid Bergman’s eyes, or simply the elation you felt when Rocky climbed those stairs on his run in the streets of Philadelphia, Hollywood is a place which transforms the imagination and takes us to places which we would not ordinarily go on our own. In this same vein, Jeymes Samuel (The Bullitts) takes us to a place we are familiar
viewpoint of what that experience was about. They made women subservient and people of color treated less than human so we never got to learn that until much later.” “Black culture has always celebrated the West,” continues Samuel. Samuel blends his passion and acute ear for musical rhythm with his eye for detail to create a western landscape that both capti- vates and shocks us with its pulp brutality and irony. With an all-star cast and a signa- ture Samuel cheeky vibe, The Harder They Fall doesn’t disappoint. As we know, Hollywood doesn’t always get it right. However, we are now living in
Proofreader: Sloane Neiman
Magazine Designer: Brenda J. Oliver
Advertising Design: Sharon Jollay
Photography: Richie Arpino Mia McCorkle
with, but it looks very different on-screen. In The Harder They Fall , Samuel shows us many things. He shows us the absurdity of violence and revenge, and how it never ends. He shows us various levels of “good and bad” and how things aren’t always so “black and white.” And he shows us what real cowboys looked like in the frontier days of the American West. “Cowboys was the term for black people and Mexi- cans,” says Samuel. “There wasn’t even a term for the white people. Then Hollywood took it right back and erased everyone of color from the narrative. Black people were always a huge part of the cowboy experience. It wasn’t even the old west, it was the new west, the new frontier. The new America. And a huge part of that was people of color and black peo- ple in particular. It’s just Hollywood gave us a really narrow
a time where more voices are being heard in Hollywood. It’s an exciting time. One where brand new stories can be told on-screen. There is a freshness in the air. The Georgia Hollywood Review is dedicated to telling these stories. The stories of all people. We represent the storytellers who tell the stories of marginalized voices. Peo- ple of color, women, the LGBTQIA+ community as well as mainstream voices. We celebrate all people. All cultures. All stories. We invite you to join us on our journey, as a leader in this space. Speak out. Listen. And absorb the knowledge and wisdom of the storytellers on the pages that follow. Let us, and them, entertain you. While Hollywood may indeed be a place, the ride there begins in our minds. After all, that’s where the real fun is.
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Advertising Sales: miles@georgiahollywoodreview.com
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Georgia Hollywood Review TV Hosts: Angelo Diaz Andry Palacio Jai Santiago
Videographer: Jason Jones MONUMENTALmedia Contributing Writers: Carol Badaracco Padgett Connor Judson Garrett Echo Montgomery Garrett Tracey Hawkins Julie Herron Carson Jessica Holthaus Badour Ellen Howle
Sincerely,
Miles Neiman
about the cover
The Georgia Hollywood Review is published every other month by Georgia Hollywood Review, LLC. Repro- ductions in whole or in part, without expressed writ- ten permission of the publisher, are strictly prohibited. The Georgia Hollywood Review is not responsible for the content or claims of any advertising or editorial in this publication. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted. Copyright 2022. Send inquiries to 227 Sandy Springs Place, Suite D-288, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. For more informa- tion, contact miles@georgiahollywoodreview.com.
Pictured: Idris Elba in Jeymes Samuel’s The Harder They Fall . Available on Netflix. Photography: Courtesy of Netflix
Jerome Jackson Denise K. James
Jessa Jansen Chris LeDoux Autumn Murray Michael J. Pallerino Mary Welch
Visit our webpage: www.GeorgiaHollywoodReview.com
Social Media: FB @gahollywoodreview IG @georgiahollywoodreview
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CONTENTS
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8 l.a. to georgia Louis Gossett Jr. 10 georgia streaming Ryan Millsap 12 georgia actor Deji LaRay 14 art in film Anderson Smith 16 actor/producer Elaine Del Valle 18 actor’s life Cadden Jones 19 thursday night live 20 voice for the stars Mama Jan 22 l.a. actor Katie J. Stone 23 exercise for a-listers A History of Pilates 24 makeup artist Sheena Razmi 25 music legends Bruce Springsteen 26 lgbtqia+ Marsha Molinari August Getty 30 l.a. director Romel X Rose 32 film culture scene Mondo Video! 34 new releases The Harder They Fall Bruised 38 l.a. culture Quentin Tarantino’s New Beverly Cinema
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CONTRIBUTORS
Carol Badaracco Padgett
Tracey M. Hawkins has been a contributing editor and writer for various print publications,
Connor Judson Garrett
Echo Montgomery Garrett has written for more than 100 media outlets, including Delta Sky, Parade,
is an Atlanta-based writer and copywrit- er. Over the past 30 years she has written
was the 2017 Edward Readicker-Henderson Travel Classics Award recipient, honed his
Photo by Kevin Garrett
such as The Thirty-A Review, American Contemporary Art, and Frontier Airlines magazines; as well as award-winning websites, galleries and novelists. She has served as a collegiate Professor of Art History, as well as a collections consultant, curator, and artists’ representative. traceymhawkins.com and skrybes.com
for the Atlanta Business Chronicle , Oz Magazine, National Real Estate Inves- tor, Waste Age, Retail Traffic, and other B2B and B2C publications. She also worked as a copywriter crafting copy for Revlon, Georgia-Pacific, Stainmaster, and Publix. She loves to meet people, find their spark, and share their stories. Reach her at badaracco.carol@gmail.com .
craft as an advertising copywriter in Los Angeles. He is the author of two poetry books, Become The Fool and Life in Lyrics; a novel, Falling Up in The City of Angels; and a co-authored mind-body self-help book, The Longevity Game. His writing has appeared in Private Clubs Magazine, South Magazine, and Hook & Barrel.
ABC.com, AARP, The Atlanta Journal- Constitution, and Business Week . She’s the author of 20 books, including multi-award winning My Orange Duf- fel Bag: A Journey to Radical Change. Up next: a book called Unsung about growing up around Nashville’s Music Row with parents in the industry.
Julie Herron Carson ,
Jessica Holthaus Badour From veteran com- munications specialist to preeminent food safety professional,
Denise K. James
Jessa Jansen is the founder of J Squared Ven- tures and a regular contributor at The Boom Bap
is an independent writer and editor based in Atlanta with clients across the Southeast. When she isn’t working, you can find her exploring the city or dancing around her apartment —or on another road trip.
an Atlanta native, has over 30 years of public relations and feature writ-
Hour Podcast Blog, Sociomix, The Borgen Project and more. Connect about writing projects on Medium @jessajansen.
ing expertise. Her specialties in- clude media relations, newsletters, website writing, and cause-related marketing, as well as feature writing for The Thirty-A Review magazine and Atlanta ShowGuide . Julie is a graduate of the University of Geor- gia and lives in northeast Atlanta with her husband and teenage son.
Jessica Holthaus Badour has built a successful and diversified career de- veloping compelling means of sharing information while engaging the public on essential issues. She is currently working full-time for the Georgia Department of Agriculture while freelancing in her spare time. www. linkedin.com/in/jessicaholthausbadour
Autumn Murray has written for various print and online publications includ-
Michael J. Pallerino is an award- winning writer who has written for a number of national B2C and
Mary Welch is a veteran writer and editor who has worked for a number of publi- cations, including the Atlanta Busi- ness Chronicle,
Chris LeDoux Alaskan born and bred, Chris earned degrees in both psychology and sociology, but his fascination with cinema and filmmak- ing instead led him
ing The Plunge, Divine Lifestyle,
and Simply Amazing Living . Authority Magazine and Thrive Global declared her a “Social Media Impact Hero” for her “Choose Love” campaign to pro- mote acceptance and diversity. She is working on a book about her life and overcoming abuse while inspiring oth- ers to Choose Love in all situations. autumn@simplyamazingliving.com
B2B publications. When he is not lost in his writing, music and binge watching, Michael can be reached at mpallerino@gmail.com.
to the world of visual effects. Chris’s impressive résumé includes composit- ing and VFX supervision on numerous films and TV shows, including 12 Years A Slave , Doctor Strange , The Greatest Showman , and Better Call Saul . Chris has also directed major music videos and led visual effects teams. craftyapes.com
Travelgirl Magazine, Atlanta Woman, Business to Business, Car Business Today and biography.com . In her spare time she enjoys travel- ing with her son, Grady, and tries to fix up her 100-year-old home in Virginia-Highland. www.marywelchwriter.com
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LA TO GA
Louis Gossett Jr. By Autumn Mur r ay
L ouis Gossett Jr. is an icon in the film and television industry with more than 400 acting credits in his repertoire. He is highly known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 romantic drama film An Officer and a Gentleman, in which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor—the first black actor to receive the award. He has also won an Emmy Award for his role as Fiddler in the 1977 ABC television miniseries Roots . The highly acclaimed series broke television records and was even viewed more times than the American classic Gone With the Wind . Gossett Jr. started acting at the age of 15 and worked throughout the 1950s and ‘60s on Broadway making a good living. In 1967 he made his way to Los Angeles for roles in film and television. On his first day in Los Angeles, he went for a drive and was pulled over by police officers because they thought his music was too loud. They pulled him out of the car, chained him to a tree for hours, and eventually released him because he hadn’t committed a crime. Even in the south where he had visited several times to help harvest his family’s watermelon farm over the course of several summers, he had not been treated in such a degrading manner. This experience changed the way he viewed the world from that moment on and it is one of the main reasons why he founded The Eracism Foundation. Gossett Jr. founded The Eracism Foundation with the mission of contributing to the creation of a society where racism does not exist. The foundation defines eracism as “the removal from existence of the belief that one race, one culture, one people is superior to another.” Throughout his acting career, getting jobs was twice as hard for Gossett Jr. and he was typically paid on a lower scale than his white co-stars. Even winning the Oscar didn’t change his ability to be equally compensated or get first opportunities in starring roles. However, he believes that going through all these things made him the person that he is today. In his book An Actor and a Gentleman Gossett Jr. highlights the problem of racism in Hollywood and the challenges faced by black actors from the 1950s through to today. It also includes revealing stories and his friendships and interactions with celebrities, including Sidney Poitier, Paul Newman, Shirley Booth, Sammy Davis Jr., Steve McQueen, Richard Gere, Halle Berry, and many more. Gossett Jr. has been acting for more than 70 years. He is also known for his acting roles in A Raisin in the
Academy Award Winner Louis Gossett Jr.
tale that spans cultures and generations. I play a former Havana jazzman with Alzheimer’s whose mind is revived through Cuban music. Foster Boy is about a high-powered lawyer and an angry young man who has been imprisoned after years of abuse in the foster care system. Together they strive to overcome their differences to find justice and expose the foster care system. My character is the judge in the foster care trial. Gossett Jr. has survived two bouts with cancer and at the age of 85, he is not showing any signs of slowing down. Gossett Jr. is still taking on acting roles and has several projects in production and others in negotiation. He will be launching his podcast For What It’s Worth in the next few weeks where he speaks as an elder, sharing his stories and lifetime experiences for the younger generations to engage in and learn from. The show’s guests will include music artists, dancers, writers, athletes, and motivational speakers. He is highly known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 romantic drama film An Officer and a Gentleman , in which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor—the first black actor to receive the award.
Photo by Bobby Bosston
Sun with Sidney Poitier, Skin Game with James Garner, Enemy Mine with Dennis Quaid, The Deep with Jacqueline Bisset, Toy Soldiers with Sean Austin, Iron Eagle with Jason Gedrick, the Return to Lonesome Dove miniseries with Barbara Hershey, Lackawanna Blues with S. Epatha Merkerson, the Watchmen series on HBO featuring Regina King, Jean Smart, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Don Johnson, and several others. GHR: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT ANY OF THE FILM PROJECTS YOU ARE WORKING ON? LG: I am superstitious. I don’t talk about the projects that I am involved in until they are released. I can tell you about The Cuban airing on Netflix, which I am very proud of; as well as Foster Boy , which can be viewed on BET and several streaming services. The Cuban combines music, romance, loss, and memories into an emotional
www.eracismfoundation.org
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GA STREAMING
Content King Ryan Millsap, Chairman and CEO of The Blackhall Group, conceives his latest film industry venture By Ca ro l Bada r acco Padge t t
S ome people follow movements, while others create them. Some interpret data, while oth- ers generate it. Some are busy finding them- selves, while others are productive being who they are. Atlantan Ryan Millsap is the latter in each of these scenarios. He creates, generates, and produces his own brand of results in the film industry and beyond. “One of my gifts is seeing opportunities that are be- ing neglected or hidden in plain sight, and understand- ing the growth of industries in a manner that allows me to take action early,” he says when asked how he contin- ues to innovate and build powerful businesses within the film and real estate industries. Millsap recently sold the ultra-successful Blackhall Studios in Atlanta near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Inter- national Airport to LA-based Commonwealth Group, a private equity firm. Of the sale of the studios he opened in 2017, which became one of the largest film produc- tion complexes in the state with 165 acres, 850,000 square feet of interior space, and nine sound stages, he says the decision was a natural progression. “I had a lot of my personal net worth tied up in the studio, and it was a lot of risk tied to an element of the entertainment industry that is completely dependent on the tax credit remaining in place,” Millsap says. “If the tax credit falters, studio space that is a real estate play is worth very little in Georgia.” He adds, “I worked very hard to build Blackhall Studios into an international footprint, and it allowed me to exit the Atlanta asset at a great time.” So with a metaphorical blank sheet of paper before him, Millsap set out to do what he does best as a self- described opportunistic entrepreneur—he took original action. “I’m an adventurous and curious spirit, open minded and searching for understanding,” he describes when asked about his business acumen. The latest concept to spring from a page in Millsap’s imagination is Blackhall Americana, a new streaming service that will offer original programming in a genre he finds to be under-represented by the OTT giants like Netflix and Prime: Action Adventure. Specifically, Millsap says that Blackhall Americana’s films will explore quintessentially American characters who exhibit American virtues. “Qualities like self-reli-
Ryan Millsap
“ The future of Georgia entertainment is only now just beginning. So grab some popcorn, or a camera, and get
ready for 10 years of growth that will blow your mind. An epic adventure is on the horizon! ”
Photo by Scott Areman Photography
ance, self-determination, self-defense, and a ruggedly independent ability to survive and thrive,” he explains. Some examples of the types of films that Blackhall Americana will both showcase and have in mind when creating original content are Braveheart , the Bourne se- ries, Atomic Blonde , and the old 007 movies. And Millsap says his new streaming service will also have an entire di- vision devoted to military shows and movies, a la Black Hawk Down . “Americans are a culture of bad-asses,” Millsap reflects. “And there is a huge part of the market both domestically and internationally that wants to see movies and streaming shows that reflect the virtues of good humans [who] aren’t afraid to fight evil and who are damn good at kicking ass when it’s required.” When asked how he first conceived of a streaming service devoted entirely to the genre, his answer circles back to his ability to see opportunities hidden in plain sight. “I observed Hollywood over many years and how they make decisions in California, and how under-sup- plied large portions of the American population are that crave action/adventure content that isn’t being produced in large enough quantity to meet the intrinsic demand.”
Then he adds, “ Yellowstone is doing so well because it is speaking to this neglected audience of Americans.” Like Blackhall Studios, Blackhall Americana will be based in Georgia inside what Millsap describes as a series of opportunity zones. “Georgia is a perfect home for a streaming service that celebrates these American virtues,” he notes. Yet, both a strong crew base in the state as well as other favorable economic factors play into the decision. “The tax credit is a nice bonus, just as it is for Disney to make content in Georgia. But just like Disney, we are planning a company that does not need the tax credit to survive.” In closing, the content king and visionary offers this insight: “The future of Georgia entertainment is only now just beginning. So grab some popcorn, or a camera, and get ready for 10 years of growth that will blow your mind. An epic adventure is on the horizon!”
For content submission, visit www.BlackhallAmericana.com. @blackhallamericana
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GA ACTOR
Both Sides of the Performance Deji LaRay, creator and star of Johnson , discusses his craft By Den i s e K. Jame s
W hen Deji LaRay was in elementary school, his mother wisely heeded the advice of his 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Banks: to foster his natural talent through live theater. Young Deji immediately took to the stage, first at school and then around the city of Atlanta, performing his heart out in venues such as the Horizon Theatre, Neighborhood Playhouse and, eventually, Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, or YEA, which was based in Little Five Points. “I think it was YEA that really made me into a true performer,” he says now. By the young age of 13, LaRay was in New York City, signed with the Carson-Adler Agency—at the referral of Barbara Hawkins-Scott, play director at home in Atlanta—and performing his very first Broadway production. A few years later, 17-year-old LaRay planned to attend Howard University but decided to go to Los Angeles for the summer and attend a few auditions. “About a week before I was supposed to begin my studies at Howard, I decided to stay in L.A.,” he shares. “I already had my dorm assignment and had paid my washer/dryer fee!—but I enrolled in California State University, Los Angeles.” It turned out to be the right decision. LaRay was soon producing his own films and even writing his own scripts. He realized that he enjoyed both sides of performing—not only acting in a production, but also creating one. “I knew at that moment I wanted to be a well-rounded filmmaker,” he says. “I love all aspects of filmmaking.” Today, LaRay’s multifaceted love for performance art is more fruitful than ever. His show Johnson recently broke records on the Bounce network, opening to 2.1 million viewers and producing the highest-rated month in network history: August 2021. In LaRay’s thinking, Johnson resonates with audiences thanks to its honest portrayal of many controversial topics, not just in the Black community but on a universal level. Filmed in Atlanta and featuring LaRay himself as writer, producer, and lead actor, the success of Johnson is the result of impeccable timing; he began brainstorming the pilot back in 2014. In 2017, he met his producing partner Thomas Q. Jones, who came on board as an executive producer. In 2020, Reesha L. Archibald took the pilot to Eric C. Rhone and Cedric the Entertainer, all of whom “championed the project.” LaRay says developing the show and putting together “a strong team” is something he was willing to wait patiently
for—and the wait was clearly worth it. “I think it’s all a testament to creativity—timing is everything. It was a long road, but it needed the right people,” he says. Of course, there have been a number of simultaneous projects: LaRay is consistently writing scripts for more shows and feature films, as well as guest-starring on shows and performing his recurring role on Amazon Prime’s Bosch . He looks forward to future successes with his production company, Midnight Pro- ductions, which he co-founded with Thomas Q. Jones, and has “a lot of other projects in the queue.” These include a feature film shot in the Philippines called Escaping Paradise and other shows and films he’s not at liberty to discuss just yet. At the time of our interview, LaRay was preparing for his guest role on an episode of NCIS: Los Angeles the next week. In early 2022, he’ll be back home in Atlanta for three months to film season two of Johnson —he currently resides in California but says he always looks forward to spending time with his immediate family back home. “I’m part of the community, and I value having a show that employs people in Atlanta,” he says. To anyone with the inkling to pursue acting, writing, or any facet of performance art, LaRay offers his heartfelt encouragement and claims, “it’s all about enjoying the process” rather than just the finished product. “We all think happiness is a destination, but in actuality, the journey is what you’re supposed to enjoy,” he says. “To anyone reading this, persistence is the key. Work on your craft and be prepared when the opportunity arrives.”
“ Persistence is the key. Work on your craft and be prepared when the opportunity arrives. ”
Deji LaRay
@dejilaray | bouncetv.com/show/johnson/54026
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ART IN FILM
The Allure of Anderson’s Art Artist Anderson Smith opens up about what hides within his work By Ca ro l Bada r acco Padge t t
I n the easy, cultured vibe of Atlanta’s Buckhead Village District sits mixed media artist Anderson Smith’s studio at Buckhead Art & Company. “The environment, the location, the people—it inspires me,” he says of his creative home base. “A lot of patrons come through as I work, young and old,” he describes. “And then the retail around the studio lends to the whole dynamic.” Alongside the roaming neighbors and potential clientele who take note of Smith’s artwork, which is known for its vibrant color, are the famous who pur- chase his prints. They include Carolina Panthers’ quar- terback Cam Newton, rapper T.I., hip hop artist and rapper Future, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Interna- tional Airport, where some of his work are on display. Before Smith became artist Anderson Smith, though, he was just a Chicago boy watching his closest aunt draw cartoons. “I would sit and watch her, and I started mimicking what she was doing,” he recalls of teaching himself to draw. “I got good at it. It was something natural that I had. And then I moved on to comic book characters.” As a young man, Smith moved to Atlanta where his art began to shift. “I visited New York for the first time with my late fiancée in 2011,” he recalls, “and I was doing photography and shooting the streets of the city. Then, when we got back to Atlanta I was struggling artistically. And she said, ‘What about the images from New York?’” That’s when a lightbulb went on, Smith says. “So, I started mixing art with photography and everything was born out of that.” At his first mixed media exhibition, he lucratively sold three pieces of work and went on to launch a new series immediately after. Of his fiancée and her influence, he shares, “She
Of all the ideas and objects he encounters in everyday life that make it into his artwork, Smith says that it’s his collages that truly have his person- al signature upon them. His patrons gravitate to- ward them, too, keeping them consistently among his most popular offerings. Another sought-after series of Anderson’s is what he calls the Ms Van- ity Collection , which “has different connotations regarding things that I find personal to me,” he cryptically shares. A hallmark of Smith’s work, alongside its incredibly vibrant color, is hidden objects. “Sometimes there are people or things within the work,” he confirms. “Words sometimes.” When asked if film, and more pointedly the Georgia film industry, has impacted his work in any way— or is perhaps hidden within it—he says “somewhat”; that he’s a movie buff, after all. From watching movies since he was a child and spending time on film sets in Atlanta over recent years, he finds that the experience has influenced his work in terms of composition, and has changed how he sometimes looks at things. “Especially in my collage works,” he notes, “there are certain entertainment figures that work their way in—probably 85% of the time they are there.” Alongside his observation of the film world, Smith maintains a consistent involvement in the art commu- nity and with his fellow artists. Just before Christmas 2021 he joined a group called the Obsidian Collective for a creative panel discussion at Emory University’s Hatchery Center for Innovation, followed by an ex- hibit of the Collective’s artwork at a downtown gallery. In addition, an event that Smith attends annually each winter is Art Basel Miami Beach, a show that brings together the international artworld and some of the world’s leading galleries. “It’s always a great way to
“ I started mixing art with photography and everything was born out of that. ”
passed in 2015 of breast cancer. She is the sole reason I became the artist that I am now.” And when asked if her memory continues to shape his work to this day, he softly responds, “Definitely.” Another source of influence and inspiration for Smith today is simply everyday life. “TV, thinking of things from years ago, things I see—just everything really,” he admits. “I can be sitting in traffic and something pops into my head.”
network and be inspired by all the art that’s going on,” he says. “I always look forward to it. It’s the biggest festival in the world.” One thing the artist can’t hide, as it turns out, is his deep love for art and everything that surrounds it.
@artbyanderson_
Artist Anderson Smith
Photos courtesy of Anderson Smith
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ACTOR/PRODUCER
Elaine Del Valle Writer, Actor, Director, Casting Director, Powerhouse By Chr i s t i ne St e e l e
off-Broadway show—and what I wrote about was what I know—which is my true coming-of-age story in Browns- ville, Brooklyn, New York, where I grew up in the wel- fare projects during the height of the crack and crime epidemics. I just felt like I had a great story to tell about people who weren’t authentically represented.” Del Valle took the play to festivals, underground artist stages in Manhattan, and then regional theaters, performing it widely for sold out houses and rave reviews. It landed off-Broadway and then was selected to be performed as part of New York City Theater in the Park. While performing, Del Valle got the attention of people in the entertainment industry who began to champion her work. A publisher was interested in turning her one- woman show into a young adult novel but when she sent sample chapters, the publisher said it was too dark. But where she couldn’t find opportunities, Del Valle created them. “I had to write my own play and write my own stories, because people aren’t used to hearing them.” In addition to opening the door to more diverse acting roles, the success of Brownsville Bred spurred Del Valle to write and produce more stories. Her next, Reasons Y I’m Single , would launch her into the world of directing and producing comedy web series. With her production of Gran’pa Knows Best , Del Valle became the first person to ever license an interstitial web series to HBO. “I fell in love with creating content and directing,” Del Valle says. “I found that it was the only place that I could wholly express my vision.” Her next two short films, Me 3.769 and Princess Cut , were both licensed by the HBO network. And now, with seed money from WarnerMedia OneFifty, a grant from the Sundance institute, and money she raised, Del Valle has just finished directing the first act of her screenplay adaptation of her play Brownsville Bred , with plans to launch it on the festival circuit under the “pilot” category. Things have come full circle. “It wasn’t until my play that I felt the legit space was letting me in,” she says, speaking of the world of film and television. “It wasn’t until I took control of my own career by writing my autobiographical story as a stage play that I understood the power that I had to make my career what I wanted it to be. I understood the power of the pen and the thirst of Latino audiences for real Latino stories. Once I got to understand that I was so impassioned.”
York City system she grew up in, is in devel- opment with Sutton Street Productions. And Del Valle the casting director is cur- rently head of casting for Alma’s Way , a new animated series from Fred Rogers Produc- tions, launched in October on PBS Kids. The show features a Puerto Rican family from the Bronx and their multicultural neighborhood. But most recent- ly, Del Valle wrapp- ed directing the first act of the screenplay adaptation of her highly lauded, one- woman play Browns- ville Bred . But it wasn’t al- ways this way for the multi-talented Brooklyn-born Puer- to Rican. She’s had to forge her own way, creating opportuni- ties for herself, and carving out a path in the entertainment in- dustry. Del Valle has been acting regularly since
“ I understood the power of the pen and the thirst of Latino audiences for real Latino stories. Once I got to understand that I was so impassioned. ”
Elaine Del Valle
Photo By Zalo Castillo
E laine Del Valle is a powerhouse. The writer, actor, director, and casting director has so much going on these days, it’s hard to keep track. Del Valle the actor just had a guest star recurring role in the ABC hit drama series Queens, which premiered in October. She spent six weeks in Atlanta, shooting episodes in which she plays a mysterious beautiful Latina stranger who first appears in episode five. (No spoilers!) For Del Valle the writer, a one-hour original drama she wrote called The System , about a compassionate but jaded social worker who navigates the same broken New
her early 20s, with roles in films and television and steady commercial work, particularly Spanish language—every- thing from Easy Off Oven Cleaner to the sexy girl next to John Leguizamo in the Budweiser commercial. “I was this quintessential Latina face,” she says. “I studied acting at Carnegie Hall under a legendary act- ing teacher (Wynn Handman), but what I was finding is that I wasn’t getting the opportunity to play great parts because there just weren’t any… great parts for Latinos out there. That prompted me to really want to make the change. I began a writer’s group, and I ended up writ- ing what would become an award-winning one-woman
linktr.ee/delvalle
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ACTOR’S LIFE
Waking Up Every Morning in Her Artistry Meet Cadden Jones By Chr i s t i ne St e e l e
C adden Jones began cultivating her artistic talent early. Like most children, young Jones loved playing pretend. Growing up in Atlanta, she attended the Paideia School, a progressive liberal arts school that nurtured her creativity and free expression. “It really encouraged my inner artistic self to blossom and shine,” she says. “That was incredibly important for my later years. Atlanta was a wonderful environment for a child. I have fond memories of the parks, the weeping willow trees, and the hot Atlanta sun.” By the time she was a senior in high school, Jones knew what she wanted to do. “I applied early decision to the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, and once I came to New York, it was full steam ahead. I devoted all of my studies and energy to my craft and career.” She booked her first professional role the day she graduated from college, landing the role of Maria in West Side Story at the Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston. She continued to pursue musical theater into her 20s, until, she says, “My partying days caught up with me, and I needed to step away from the spotlight and focus on my mental and physical health.” That’s when Jones found recovery, and herself. “It was truly the greatest gift, because it allowed me to go inward, and I was organically drawn to the camera. At that time in my healing process, I was finding my authentic voice, and the camera allowed for a great deal more intimacy and vulnerability, which I needed.” With sobriety as her foundation, her career began to take off. Her credits include recurring roles in the drama series Billions and the CW series Katy Keene , as well as roles in the comedy/drama The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel . Most recently Jones appeared as a guest star in FBI: Most Wanted . She has also won numerous awards for her performance in the short film, Dogmate . Cadden Jones will celebrate 15 years of recovery in March 2022. “My sobriety has given me everything,” she says. “I don’t think I would have any of the gifts that I have without that foundation. But even more so, the access to my emotional life that sobriety has given me has fed the characters that I have played. I am the actor I am today because of that emotional accessibility.” Her latest project, though, doesn’t involve a stage or a screen—yet. During the pandemic she wanted to continue to exercise her artistic muscles, so she took a writing class through The BGB Studio, led by Risa Bramon Garcia, a longtime casting director and director who founded the acting studio in LA with Steve Braun. “I’ve always wanted to write, and many shows have inspired me. Fleabag was one show that, when I saw
it, I thought, I want to write. And I want to write something like that.” Her first project, called Timing’s a Bitch , also features her in an act- ing role, along with Mike Faiola, one of the teachers at BGB. The short film is packed with drama and emotion in 15 minutes. She posted the short to her Instagram and it’s also featured on Vimeo through the BGB Studio. “I put off writing for years because of fear,” says Jones. “When I’m acting, I move into the character’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions, so I can be vul- nerable—but I’m playing a role. I won’t feel judged for myself because it’s the character that I’m portray- ing. But with writing, it feels way more vulnerable to tell stories from my own heart.” With TV, film, the- ater, and now writing under her belt, Jones says she’ll continue to pursue roles in all mediums and look for opportunities to stretch her artistic mus- cles. Her advice to other performance artists is to continue to hone your craft, be kind to yourself and others, and don’t try to be anyone but your own authentic self. “I think what I’ve learned is that your unique-
Cadden Jones
Photo by Chris Sorensen
ness is your gift. Don’t try to be like anybody else. Your career trajectory is not going to look like anyone else’s, and it probably won’t look the way you think it’s going to look, but just trust it and keep going.” “I am waking up every morning in my artistry,” she adds. “When you embrace that lifestyle—knowing that it is going to be up and down, all around and everything
in between—it is a great deal more rewarding. And comforting, in a way. A true surrender to the journey.”
@caddenjones | www.imdb.me/caddenjones
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THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE
Thursday Night Live is a monthly, high energy event for the Georgia entertainment industry held at Studio 135 in Inman Park. We celebrate the art and artists of storytelling with a televised roundtable discussion. It’s a great place to network, and be entertained with live musical performances and an aerial DJ performance by Mami Chula. Visit GeorgiaHollywoodReview.com to find out next month’s date.
DJ Stacey and Kenneth Trujillo
Angel Massey and musical artist Yoli
Sonya Seigler and Shakia Garrett
Kenny Kim, Ryan Ellison and Nina Morm
DJ Stacey
A. Davis Aka HiztoryFinesse, Amanda Davis, Apryl Bellinger, and Kenny Bellinger ll
Rev. Felix White and Kisha Howard, Ed.S., Founder of Howard Scholars Academy
Anna Marie and Miles Neiman
Preston Harris, Lynne McDonald and Fitzroy C. Reid II
Dajour Ashwood
Dave Di Pietro, Jake Kaufman, Cami Bradford, Anoop Surya and Robin Chaudhuri
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VOICE FOR THE STARS
Atlanta’s Mama Jan By Autumn Mur r ay
J an Smith, dubbed Mama Jan by Usher, is a world premier vocal producer and instructor. Rob Thomas, The Band Perry, Justin Bieber, India Arie, Ciara, Usher, Ludacris, Collective Soul, and many other multi-platinum, Gram- my winning and nominated artists of all music genres have worked with Smith to hone their voices and to help nurture their musical careers. She has also worked with industry CEOs such as Matt Serletic, Jermaine Dupri, L.A. Reid, and Clive Davis. Billboard named her one of the top 100 women in music business. Smith began her musical career as a performer, singer, and songwriter, releasing her first album when she was 15. She has recorded albums both as a solo artist and as part of several music projects with various artists. Smith is a Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee and has received Grammy participation certificates for her production on Grammy-nominated songs. Smith’s special brand of technical artistry, tough love training, and music industry expertise is highly sought after. She founded Jan Smith Studios, which is dedicated to developing music industry newcomers who are aiming for successful musical careers, in addition to honoring the crafts of industry icons. The number one priority of Smith and her diverse team of music industry professionals is to change the world one voice at a time by serving others with excellence and helping them to achieve the same. GHR: HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? JS: In my youth I was always singing and making up little songs. I picked up a guitar and learned how to play and started performing in rock’n’roll bands. I came into all of this as an artist purely to express myself… cathartically as a songwriter and a singer. I started playing in clubs, touring, and then working in studios and recording music. Ultimately, these things led me to helping other artists in the music industry. WHO WERE YOUR BIGGEST MUSICAL INFLUENCES? I would have to say, Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, and too many Gospel and Rhythm & Blues artists to name. Joni Mitchell was the single biggest influence as she was one of the few female solo artists that played guitar in addition to her significant voice and beautiful song lyrics.
“Mama” Jan Smith
Photo by Kimberly Evans, KO Photography
In addition to being a creative force for vocal excel- lence, Mama Jan is a visionary executive working across entertainment to reboot the music industry into an art- ist-driven business. As CEO of Mama’s Music House, she works tirelessly to fuse artist development, technology, and music education into a successful career roadmap for all musicians. She has played a significant role in shaping numerous award show performances and received a Grammy nod for producing the song Born to be Somebody, written by Diane Warren, and performed by Justin Bieber for Paramount’s documentary Never Say Never . Smith has worked with many actors including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Liam Neeson, and most recently Naturi Naughton. Smith has a YouTube video series called Q & A with Mama J where she answers questions about the music industry, vocal techniques, and more. She has thousands of followers that watch and send in questions to learn from her expertise. Jan Smith Studios offers a wide range of services in- cluding Vocal Coaching, Guitar Instruction, Stage Pres- cence/Performance, Vocal Production, Career/Business Consultation, Vocal Rehabilitation, Songwriting Coach- ing, Tour Prep, GarageBand Instruction, Logic Pro In- struction, Beginner Piano Instruction, and Music Theo- ry. In addition, Smith continues to produce records in her private production studio, Homegirl Entertainment.
Photo by Mil Cannon, ImageMil
HOW DID YOUR NICKNAME “MAMA JAN” COME TO BE? Usher announced my nickname to the public during an interview when he was 19. However, there are at least two other artist clients of mine that will take credit for calling me by that name. John Hopkins, with the Zac Brown Band, and an artist named Jeffrey Butts who played with another local band would call out “see you next week, Mama” when they left the studio and the nickname just kind of stuck. When Usher mentioned that he was working with me, people were surprised that a southern white woman was working with the biggest hip-hop artist on the planet. WHO ARE THE ARTISTS YOU ARE WORKING WITH NOW THAT WE SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR? Sage (R&B/Pop artist), Grace Asbury (Country music singer) Cece Benz (singer/songwriter), WhoaDa (Rap artist), Revel in Romance and DIM (Alt Rock bands), and Oscar Stembridge (Pop artist in Sweden). I really believe in the potential of all these artists and their dedication to their craft.
jansmith.com/mama-jan | @mamajanmusic
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THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE
Rico Paris, Angelo Diaz and Anthony James
Eric Smith and Georgia Hollywood Review Founder, Miles Neiman
Preston Harris, Monica Bey and Fitzroy C. Reid II
Artists Kate Saville and Lynne McDonald
Angelo Diaz and Greg Savage
Greg Savage, MB Bailey and Ray Baker
Yolanda Chavez and Kyle Massey
Anthony James and Ray Dejesus
Heng Teng, Rico Paris and Raxiel Luz
Franck Mille and Kylie Delre
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LA ACTOR
Katie J. Stone By Autumn Mur r ay
K atie J. Stone is a television writer, actor, and performing artist, and is one-half of the writ- ing team of Stone and Daitch. Stone and Da- vid Daitch’s writing credits include Netflix’s Splinter Cell, USA’s Shooter, Call of Duty, and previously developed dramas Interceptor at Fox and Adversaries at ABC via Sony TV. Stone was born in Taiwan and raised in Tennessee. She has a BFA in Writing for Screen and Television from The University of Southern California. She began her career as a fine art model and her work has been featured in Photo Magazine , the Musée d’Orsay, and David LaChapelle’s “anti-commercial” 10-minute long art film as well as in international campaigns for Swedish retailer Happy Socks. GHR: WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR TALENT FOR WRITING? KS: I went to an all-girls preparatory school and one thing I really took for granted at the time was how the single- sex environment really gave space for the girls to play all the classroom roles. From overachiever, class clown, slacker; you know anything, and everything in between was all girls. When I was auditioning for girl roles in commercials, I couldn’t believe how the scripts were written. Girls didn’t talk or act the way these roles were being written and in my teenage mind I believed that I could write better. Very rarely is material written for all women. So, I started rewriting scenes in my acting classes and tran- scribing and converting all the boys’ roles to scenes we could do as girls or writing new material altogether. I didn’t realize that I was a writer and didn’t consider my- self one at the time because I saw a space that needed the work, so I did the work and I found it fun. Looking back now, I realize this was the time where my dedication to feminism began. HOW DID STONE AND DAITCH COME TO BE? David went to USC as well and had read my writing. In 2010, when David was a Naval Officer, he called me out of the blue and told me he was considering a career outside of the military as a TV writer and asked if I was looking for a partner. I declined the opportunity but accepted his request to review a script for him and provide my feedback. I read his script within days of receiving it and provided him detailed notes on his writing and sent it back to him. A week later, he sent me a second draft of the script with my notes incorporated and it was much better. David was extremely thankful that I took his writing
Katie J. Stone
.
and his ambitions to be a writer seriously. We kept in touch and discussed different script ideas and once he got off active duty and was living in Los Angeles, we began our writing partnership. After we got representation, we started selling pilots and the rest is history. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PARTNERSHIP? With my feminism and humanitarian views combined with David’s military and technical expertise, we were able to create a product that nobody else really had on the market at the time we launched Stone and Daitch. It truly is a remarkable partnership, and I can’t imagine this amazing experience with anyone else. We consider each other the
Photos courtesy of Katie J. Stone
sibling we never had as we are both overly fussed over only children. David was the best man at my wedding. WHAT CURRENT PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON? David and I are excited that our spy drama Candygram just went into development at ABC via 20th Television. We have several projects in the works as well, but I can’t reveal any information on them yet. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ASPIRING FEMALE WRITERS? When they say write what you know, what they mean is bring what you know to what you write. Put some distance on what you are writing, make it fiction
so that you have the freedom to create. This process makes your writing more accessible both to you and your audience. In addition to her writing and acting, Stone has toured nationally as a burlesque and pole dancer; volunteers her time and image with Pin-ups for Vets, a non-profit dedicated to helping the veteran’s community; and is the Director of Development for “More Than NO”—a nonprofit that champions consent culture through artistic activism.
@katiejstone91
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EXERCISE FOR A-LISTERS
A History of Pilates By Dr. Ju l i e Lord
With a strong Pilates practice, you recover faster and are more protected from injury and imbalances caused by long workdays and hard-core workouts.
balance, stability, core, full body strengthening and breath work. And similar to the dancers who frequented Joe’s original studio, my clients love the rehabilitative nature of Pilates and how it com- plements and supports their other workout practices. With a strong Pilates practice, you recover faster and are more protected from inju- ry and imbalances caused by long workdays and hard-core workouts. Also, one of my personal favorite things about Pilates is the footwork
Dr. Julie Lord
Photo by Hannah Antley with Flourish Photography
P ilates was started by Joseph Pilates. The prac- tice was originally called Controlology. Maybe not the most marketable name but Joe was ahead of his time in understanding creative movements and exercises. He loved box- ing and the circus. He studied how animals moved and ultimately named many of his ex- ercises after animals (e.g., Cat on the Chair, Eagle on the Trap Table, and Parakeet). Joe opened a studio in New York City, very close to the New York City Ballet, and established himself as the premier trainer for dancers who were rehabbing from injuries. Joe was a very serious trainer. He had a list of exercises on the wall for the Re- former. He expected you to learn his exercises and then you were on your own. And that practice became Pilates. WHEN DID PILATES TAKE OFF AND BECOME MAINSTREAM? Pilates did not really take off until after Joseph Pilates’s death. Joe wanted Pilates performed his way and allegedly his lack of openness and humility closed
Eliza Bacot, nurse practitioner and certified wellness practitioner. Pilates student of Studio13.
doors that would have propelled Pilates to an early success. Rumor is that Joe got very offended when the mainstream medical community did not embrace his work. However, after his death, Pilates spread across the United States and the world, not by the mainstream medical community, but through the work of Joe’s former students. One student, a dancer named Romana, took over Joe’s studio in New York, and Eve Gentry, Ron Fletcher, Kathleen Stanford Grant, and Carola Tier each started their own studios and began training their own protégés—multiplying teachers and students around the world. WHY DO CELEBRITIES LIKE PILATES? Celebrities like Pilates for the same reason you and I like Pilates. It is fun, creative, beautiful, and perfect for
on the Reformer and Chair. With 26 bones in each foot and a large part of the nervous system residing in your feet, the Pilates footwork provides health benefits that stabilize and strengthen your whole body from the feet up. WHAT DO I LOVE ABOUT PILATES? Pilates is transformative in mind, body, and spirit. I honestly cannot explain it. You have to practice it to experience it. I just know that when I do Pilates, I feel connected in a dance with my body. It makes me feel bet- ter inside and out. Who wouldn’t want that? Sign me up!
@studio13serenbe
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