The Knocturnal attended Celestial Arts Presents The Influence, Writers Who Brunch, and Inconvenient Conversations.
Born and raised in Wales, independent artist and singer-songwriter Ben Ellis is most certainly one to watch.
Photography by Dijana Mesin
Christmas on Cherry Lane was a unique and thoughtful film that followed the story of three families simultaneously. We witness each family member’s festivities, traditions, worries and anxiety, especially pertaining to their holiday plans.
The film’s brilliant showcase of separate plots over various decades was perfected effortlessly and beautifully by both the writer and director. Christmas on Cherry Lane had a unique “big picture” take and gave us both a bird’s eye view and fly on the wall perceptions. The audience stepped into each of the three houses and rooted for each person to manage to surpass their personal obstacles.
The film was not only a sentimental and thoughtful seasonal movie but also a confirmation of how we’re all connected. The sense of humanity and empathy in the movie was done intentionally and with a purpose. Audience members discovered how all the families have been connected through different generations thanks to the protagonist’s evolution from being a teen to an elderly resident in the community tying it all together.
Besides Christmas on Cherry Lane displaying charming holiday themes, the movie philosophically confirmed the domino effect of our actions and the beauty of us all being connected with each other over decades of time. It’s a family friendly film that tugs at your heart strings and leaves a lasting effect of hope and positivity on the watcher and perhaps even a tear or two (guilty!).
Ever wonder if your favorite SNL stars get nervous before a show or if they get star struck when getting to work with a new host? Now’s your time to find out!
SNL episodes have a fast turnaround rate and the actors are all tremendously talented at being able to adapt quickly to new scripts, characters and changes that are being made. Not only are they adapting to those elements, but to add in another level, they work alongside new hosts frequently.
Some of the SNL cast confessed to getting star struck when working with Emma Stone, Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny. Others admitted that they still get nervous before getting on stage despite all the practice they’ve had and the amount of years they’ve been with the show. However, as one actor said, “feeling nervous means you care,” and I couldn’t agree more.
The cast lit up the red carpet with their charm, witty jokes and honesty. The tight knit members often spoke highly of each other and served as each other’s hype men and woman. Given the amount of long hours they put into the show, the actors dotingly told me that they consider each other family, and that was more than evident on the AMNH’s Gala red carpet.
In a groundbreaking move, RZA, the visionary force behind the iconic Wu-Tang Clan, is poised to captivate audiences with his latest venture—Wu-Wednesdays, a dynamic radio show set to debut on LL COOL J’s esteemed Rock The Bells Radio on SiriusXM, broadcasting on Channel 43. This innovative platform promises a sonic journey through the rich tapestry of Wu-Tang Clan’s storied legacy, showcasing classic tracks that have left an indelible mark on the genre.
However, Wu-Wednesdays goes beyond the realm of nostalgia, offering an immersive experience with exclusive DJ mixes, unreleased musical gems, and engaging interviews with special guests. RZA, known for his groundbreaking contributions to the hip-hop landscape, invites listeners to join him on a weekly exploration of the past, present, and future of the Wu-Tang legacy, making Wednesday nights a must-listen for hip-hop enthusiasts and music connoisseurs alike.
We recently caught up with RZA. Embarking on a project he has long harbored a desire for, RZA expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming launch of “Wu-Wednesdays” on LL COOL J’s Rock The Bells Radio. Reflecting on the journey, he revealed, “Well, it’s just something I’ve been wanting to do for years. It’s funny because maybe five years ago I was going to do it with the BBC, and then I was going to do it right in New York with Hot 97,” he said. In essence, RZA sees Rock The Bells Radio as the ideal platform to bring “Wu-Wednesdays” to life, aligning seamlessly with the station’s significance in the hip-hop landscape.
RZA acknowledged, “It’s something that I probably had in my creative wheelhouse and never really got a chance to fully explore. And now I do have the chance, and I’m looking forward to exploring it.” RZA has always wanted to do radio, so this radio venture represents the fulfillment of a creative aspiration he had for years.
RZA also highlighted the importance of staying authentic to different demographics as Wu Tang Clan’s music is geared towards Gen X, older and younger Millennials while also Gen Z, who is discovering it for the first time. The optimal approach is to retain your talent and music within your creative arsenal. Wu-Tang Clan, in particular, has carved out a distinctive subgenre within hip-hop, evident in their expansive catalog that could arguably require the collaboration of a substantial portion of the hip-hop community to match. It’s extensive catalog serves as a perpetual source of discovery, marking a rite of passage for generations—from Wu-Tang’s inception to the present day. Countless enthusiasts have attested that their initiation into the realm of hip-hop stemmed from the transformative experience of engaging with Wu-Tang’s seminal works like “36 Chambers” or other projects within the Wu-Tang Clan.
“I think that Wu-Tang, especially in our first 5 to 7 albums, are capturing the youth energy of the world, especially of America, of our community, but of the world because you get nine points of view of young energy. And I think when somebody hears it, that is something that relates to them. A kid could be 14 years old and he’s ready to bring the ruckus. A kid could be 19 about to go to college and think about his parents and growing up saying why life can be all so simple. Or a kid could be exploring life and getting into the job market and realize cash can rule around him,” he said.
Also during our discussion about the intricacies of musical production, RZA delves into the episode of sampling on “Wu-Tang: American Saga,” shedding light on the artistry and innovation that defined the group’s distinctive sound. With a narrative that intertwines personal anecdotes and creative processes, RZA offers a unique glimpse into the transformative role of sampling in shaping the Wu-Tang Clan’s iconic tracks.
“That was the intention of that when we sat down and we decided how we wanted to explain it,” said RZA. “We thought about other movies that did great music documentaries, whether it was Rocketman or whether it was, you know, James Brown or all these biopics. Everybody has a way of going into showing the creation of music. But for hip hop, it’s a different formula, a different process. And we said the only way to do it is to actually see if we could go into the mind of the producer and explain what he’s doing. And as I explained it in the writers room, we were able to put it in writing and we had Mario Van Peebles, a very intelligent director. He was able to then take that and translate it into the episode that we saw, which I think is good enough to be shown in classes. I think it’s like an educational tool. You could take that now and use it as a reference to understand the process of hip hop creativity and production.”
Photos By Dijana Mesin
Ready to get festive this holiday season! The Holly Jolly Bar at Mad Morton will transport you to a winter wonderland!
Google recently organized a mingle and jingle event in New York City to showcase some of their latest trends, tips, and tools that can come in handy during the holiday season.
VIPS and partygoers flooded Vegas this past weekend for the inaugural race weekend, making Las Vegas and F1 history. All of the top DJs, Music Artist, Actors, Athletes and Entrepreneurs flocked to the hottest events and happenings all week long from November 16th through the 19th. Everyone from Brad Pitt to Jennifer Lopez could be seen and heard popping around town.
Allē Lounge on 66 added to the excitement by transforming into ‘TURN 66’, an exclusive late-night hospitality series by leading experiential partner CMG (Corso Marketing Group) following the evening race and qualifying night run. Hosted by global hospitality leader Richie Akiva, known for curating the most A-List of events globally, and music artist Badius, the two-night after affair catered to VIP guests on Friday and Saturday nights, November 17th and 18th, for an exclusive post-race celebration perched above the Las Vegas Strip on the 66th floor of Resorts World Las Vegas’ Conrad Tower. Featuring captivating 360 degree views and a stellar lineup of famed world class DJs including DJ Pee .Wee aka Anderson .Paak, Guy Gerber, Kaz James, Ruckus, Vice, Carlita, DJ Tennis, Swaylo and Miramar.
The high energized late night party that went until 6am for two straight nights was attended by notable talent such as Travis Scott, Swizz Beatz, Zedd, Odell Beckham Jr, Glen Powell, Nyjah Huston, Swae Lee, Heidi Klum, Tom Kaulitz, David Dobrik, Badius, Ross Butler, Jessica Serfati, Leonardo Del Vecchio, Michael Rubin, Will Makris, Mark Birnbaum, Bobby Kennedy III, Taras Romanov, Leon Bridges, Rufus Du Sol, Christopher Schwarzenegger, Galen Gering, Amber Black, Haley Amaya, Chloe Hock, La Demi, Jessica Belkin, Sienna Raine, Chord Overstreet and many more.
The room of music artists, supermodels, athletes, influencers, VIPs and top global entrepreneurs sipped on top shelf spirits, Heineken Silver and Red Bull fueled the evening. The party went until the sun could be seen rising over the Las Vegas Strip and mountains from the floor to ceiling windows of the extraordinary and sophisticated venue that played home to the late night fete.
ZOUK, the nightclub at Resorts World, also had headliners Travis Scott, Zedd and Tiesto, who performed each night of the weekend racing events.
Corso Marketing Group is a leading experiential agency that was also on the ground for F1 Vegas handling the Heineken House at the track, featuring a three day series of programmed DJs, artists and performances as well as additional Resorts World and Zouk Group programming.
Follow @CorsoMG @RichieAkiva #Turn66 @ResortsWorldLV on social channels
All photos courtesy of Resorts World LV
