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INITIO Parfums Privรฉs Host Launch Party In NYC for Their Newest Scent Narcotic Delight

by Branda Ayo February 3, 2024
written by Branda Ayo

The recent launch party hosted by INITIO Parfums Privรฉs at Lume Studios in Soho was an immersive and alluring experience, perfectly complementing the unveiling of their newest fragrance, Narcotic Delight. The venue, adorned with a red-hued room and carefully curated drinks, added to the evenings mystique, creating an atmosphere that was both chic and sexy.ย The music enhanced the aesthetic, elevating the sense of desire surrounding the experience.The strategic perfume placements, wall art & guests added an intentional touch to the event, with an elegant presence that avoided overdone extravagance settling instead for a bold and sophisticated ambiance that captivated every attendee’s senses.hedione

Narcotic Delight is aย  sensual aphrodisiac with fragrance notes of cherry, vanilla, cognac, black and pink pepper, tobacco, & an overdose of hedione. Hedione, a versatile chemical compound widely used in the fragrance industry, adds a light and sweet floral scent. Recognized for its adaptability, hedione is a key ingredient in both feminine and masculine scents. INITIO Parfums Privรฉs takes pride in crafting perfumes that transcend gender boundaries,ย  ensuring a beautiful fragrance for everyone.

The Carnal Blends collection, spearheaded by Narcotic Delight, introduces a sensory journey with fragrances like

  • Atomic Roseย 
  • Side Effectย 
  • Psychedelic Loveย 
  • High Frequencyย 

As the night unfolded, INITIO Parfums, took a moment to express gratitude to the attendees. Reflecting on the brand’s journey since its launch in 2015, they congratulated their team on the event’s success and thanked the guests for their unwavering support. At the end of the night, guest were treated to a gift of their own Narcotic Delight perfume, everything from the detail in the packaging exuded elegance.ย 

As a global company INITIO Parfums Privรฉs has successfully bridged heritage and modernity, embodying quality perfumery that honors the rich tradition of French fragrances while carving its niche in the global fragrance market. Their commitment to providing a luxurious and unique experience makes them a standout presence in the realm of niche luxury fragrances.

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Narcotic Delight is available to purchase on their website, Saks, and other distribution partners.

February 3, 2024 0 comments
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EntertainmentEventsFashion & BeautyLifestyleUncategorized

Celebrities Took to the Runway During the 8th Annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show

by Julia Mazza February 3, 2024
written by Julia Mazza

On Thursday, February 1st, celebrities assembled at the 8th annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show, sponsored by Zero Prostate Cancer, Johnson & Johnson, and the Fashion Group Foundation. Models for the night included actors, news hosts, current and former athletes, reporters and journalistsโ€”even two Tony winners.ย 

(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Blue Jacket Fashion Show)

The Blue Carpet Fashion show was founded by fashion designer Frederick Anderson as a platform to openly discuss prostate cancer. Throughout the day on Thursday, the Blue Jacket Initiative took to the streets to set up free testing and provide educational materials on prostate cancer across New York City. The organization is also raising funds for future prostate cancer testing resources and to support patients in need.

The eventโ€™s festivities began with a โ€œblue carpet,โ€ where the models of the night gave previews of what they would be wearing for the evening. Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award winning actor and singer Billy Porter was only on the blue carpet for mere seconds before rushing backstage to fetch his favorite piece of the outfit. He returned a moment later, accessorized with a Thom Brown bag.

Other special guests for the evening also assembled on the blue carpet, including journalist and talk show host Tamron Hall and actress Holly Robinson Peete.ย 

All of the models for the evening soon took to the runway to strut their stuff in their blue ensembles. Every model who participated, and the designers who dressed them, were as followed:

Billy Porter, dressed by Thom Browne

J. Harrison Ghee, dressed by Terry Singh

Rodney Peete, dressed by The Privilege

Marcus Samuelsson, dressed by The Privilege

Wilson Cruz, dressed by Arjona Collection

Luis Miranda, Jr., dressed by Talya Bendel x HAAS

Don Lemon, dressed by The Privilege

Nigel Barker, dressed by Ben Sherman

Alex Lundqvist, dressed by Stephen F

Young Paris, dressed by Arjona Collection

Eric West, dressed by AARC55

Les Trent (Inside Edition), dressed by Don Morphy

James Aguiar (Modern Luxury), dressed by jameAstyle X Fleurโ€™d

Carlos Greer (Page Six & Extra TV), dressed by AKNVAS

Frank DiLella (NY1), dressed by Bruno Magli

Louis Finley (NY1), dressed by Leviโ€™s

Jeremy Helligar (People Magazine), dressed by Elie Balleh

John Dias (WCBS-TV), dressed by Gustavo Moscoso

John Hill (Sirius XM), dressed by Don Morphy

Ty Hunter, dressed byย Tommy Hilfiger

Brian Ceballo, dressed by POTRO

Don Hood, dressed by Magpies & Peacocks

Ty-Ron Mayes, dressed by BARABAS

Omar Hernandez, dressed by Gustavo Moscoso

Kris Bennett, dressed by Burkindy x Jahnkoy

Erik Bottcher (NYC Council Member), dressed by Carlos Campos

Dr. Brad Schaeffer, dressed by Elie Balleh

Phillip Bloch, dressed by AKNVAS

Mike Woods (Fox5 New York), dressed by SOU KUU (by THE NORTH FACE)

Richard Thomas (TAO Hospitality Group), dressed by Gustavo Moscoso

Dr. Ash Tewari (Johnson & Johnson spokesperson), dressed by Elie Balleh

Tyrone Brewer (President, U.S. Oncology, Johnson & Johnson), dressed by J.Mclaughlin

Robert Ginyard (Prostate Cancer Survivor and Zero Prostate Cancer spokesperson), dressed by J.Mclaughlin

 

To learn more about the Blue Jacket Fashion Show, and to place a donation to help their patient support and awareness efforts, you can visit their website here.

February 3, 2024 0 comments
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Victoria Monรฉt Celebrates Her 7 Grammy Nominations and Kicks off Music’s Biggest Week with New CรŽROC Limonata

by Hakeem Animashaun February 1, 2024
written by Hakeem Animashaun

Last night, artist/songwriterย Victoria Monรฉt and CรŽROC kicked off musicโ€™s biggest week in Los Angeles with a private party celebrating her 7 nominations alongside her closest friends, family and industry peers. The event transported guests into a jungle-themed oasis inspired by her Jaguar II album, where they danced, sang and were the first to enjoy the new CรŽROC Limonata hitting shelves on February 1.

Highlights from the evening included:

  • Victoria Monรฉt kicked off the night by welcoming and thanking her guests for coming with a โ€œJaguar Spritzโ€ CรŽROC Limonata toast.
  • Artistsย Becky Gย andย Jessie Reyezย took center stage to dance to Monรฉtโ€™s biggest hit, โ€œOn My Mama.โ€
  • Best New Artist nominee,ย Coco Jonesย on the CรŽROC Limonata Vespa for a playful, Mediterranean photo moment.
  • Actresses,ย Jordin Sparksย ย andย Quinta Brunsonย who were seen celebrating and cheering Victoria on during a special toast.

The industry-packed night also includedย actressย Amber Riley, artistย Baby Tate,ย DJย Kaytranada, singerย Lauren Jauregui, artistย Ty Dolla Signย and more who alsoย stopped by to raise a glass to Victoria andย vibeย to some of her biggest hits.

“I’m excited to collaborate with CIROC to launch their latest flavor Limonata and my 7 nominations this week! Limonata is a celebration, an embodiment of the flavor for life that music brings and I invite fans to kick back, and get their vacation vibes going โ€” anytime, anywhere.โ€ย said Victoria.

New CรŽROC Limonata is distilled from fine French grapes and masterfully infused with fresh lemons, citrus, limes, and other natural flavors, resulting in a taste experience that is lusciously different and elegantly smooth.

February 1, 2024 0 comments
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FilmUncategorized

Super Producers Discuss New Projects for 2024

by Antonio Pinheiro January 31, 2024
written by Antonio Pinheiro

Last week we sat down with the lawyer-turned-producer Jordan ‘J.B.’ Beckerman, and Jordan Yale Levine, one of Varietyโ€™s 10 Producers to Watch, to learn about their journey to becoming a co-founders of a powerhouse production team.

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January 31, 2024 0 comments
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UMI Has Spoken & the Universe Has Responded

by Hakeem Animashaun January 23, 2024
written by Hakeem Animashaun

2024 marks a groundbreaking year for visionary R&B artist UMI, as she continues to set records. Her latest single, “wherever u r,” featuring V of BTS, debuted at #1 on Billboardโ€™s R&B Digital Songs Sales chart. The track also achieved #1 status on iTunes charts in 89 countries, making a significant impact on various Billboard charts, including Global 200, Hot R&B Songs, and Digital Song Sales.ย 

UMI released her highly anticipated EP, “talking to the wind,” today (January 19) and celebrated the achievement last night at Soho Warehouse in Downtown LA. The EP has already garnered early praise from publications like V Mag, Numero, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Vibe, and Hypebeast.ย 

UMI’s previous single, “wherever u r,” received coverage from notable outlets such as New York Times, Billboard, and Forbes. The release event featured a live listening of the EP, led by UMI, along with a meditation session and a dance party that concluded the night.ย 

Make sure to celebrate UMI’s musical journey and the release of “talking to the wind” by listening to the new project available now on all streaming platforms!

January 23, 2024 0 comments
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EventsFeaturedLifestyleUncategorized

Finish Dry January Strong with these Delicious Drinks and a Game of Pickleball

by Catherina Gioino January 21, 2024
written by Catherina Gioino

CityPickle is the perfect place to go instead of a bar for Dry January

Yes, you can have fun out with friends without drinking alcohol, and you can stay fit too! Join the rest of the country in playing the fastest-growing sport in the nation, pickleball, instead of going out to a bar and spending another weekend day recovering from the night before.

CityPickle, along with the sport, is growing in popularity all across the city. With its Long Island City location home to New York City’s first indoor pickleball court, you can now play pickleball all yearlong and beat the snowy and cold outdoors. CityPickle’s LIC location offers brand new, state-of-the-art nets, paddles and equipment– and sure looks way better than any tennis court or gym we’ve been. A cute “CityPickle” in subway-mosaic tile lettering adorns a large wall that catches your eye as soon as you walk in– just as there’s a bar in the back that serves up all of the non-alcoholic (and also alcoholic for those who do want to drink!) cocktails you can ask for.

Pickleball offers a social and low-impact sport that anyone can participate in

The Knockturnalย recently visited the LIC flagship (a very short bike ride from the author’s native Astoria home) to celebrate CityPickle and pickleball as a perfect accompaniment to people taking on the Dry January challenge.

As the new year unfolds, many people seek out a fresh start and healthier lifestyle choices. And Dry January is no stranger to that movement, gaining much popularity as a month-long challenge that prompts poeple to reconsider their relationship with alcohol. It offers numerous health benefits, including improved sleep, enhanced mental clarity, and increased energy levels. And people love it, saying the break from alcohol gives them a reset buttton to start the year off with a clear mind.

You probably have a few friends who are attempting the challenge or you may be yourself! And oftentimes the challenge always comes down to one question: how do I hang out with friends without alcohol?

That’s a question Hilary Sheinbaum, author of The Dry Challenge and her newest book, A Journal for Bad Days, has answered countless times before, and she has plenty of advice: literally anything else.

Pickleball counts as one of those things. The Knockturnal joined Sheinbaum and several others interested in the sober-curious movement at CityPickle to play the nation’s fastest-growing sport and to have fun, all sans alcohol– and boy did we have fun.

Sheinbaum gave a speech about joining in on the Dry January challenge over four years ago, saying she and her friend were curious about it and wanted to challenge themselves– and each other. While her friend gave in during the month, Sheinbaum didn’t, and ended up participating in the Dry January again and again.

CityPickle’s Co-founders Mary Cannon and Erica Desai

With CityPickle co-founders Mary Cannon and Erica Desai expressing their gratitude for everyone trying out pickleball, and with a hands-on training on how to play and best tips, we took to the courts. A few swings later, we were professionals and ready to tackle any pickleball that passed through our court.

And seriously, let this author be a pickleball convert because it is so much fun. Having grown up going to public school in Queens where our school trips involved trips to the U.S. Open because it was just a stone’s throw away, I thought tennis was where it’s at, and wow am I so wrong.

One of the most remarkable aspects of pickleball is its inclusivity. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a beginner looking for a new hobby, pickleball caters to all skill levels. The rules are straightforward, and the learning curve is gentle, making it easy for anyone to pick up a paddle and enjoy the game.

Often described as a fusion of tennis, badminton, and ping pong, pickleball offers a unique blend of fun, fitness, and social interaction– and that last part is what makes me consider giving up drinking for good if it means I get to play a quick game of pickleball. You won’t see me talking much during a tennis or ping pong game (not to mention the countless sports bars in the city with inadequate ping pong tables– rest assured CityPickle has all the space you need not to feel clustered), but you will see me chatting away between points in pickleball– probably about how much of a pickleball convert I’ve become.

And the LIC location is perfectly aesthetic for those Instagram posts

It’s played in doubles and has a pretty low impact on the knees and joints– or if you’re a bit more competitive like me and the team I’ve played with, still a pretty low impact on the knees. It was super quick to learn, and that’s completely in part thanks to the great team at CityPickle walking us through the rules and making sure we understood why the rules were what they were. Most of all, it was super stress-free and relieving: it didn’t feel like I was playing a sport to get points or had too many rules to follow; instead, it was a sport I picked up quickly and enjoyed playing all night.

To keep us satiated during the gameplay, vegan dips, sliders and tacos were served as we served up aces on the court. Players could choose from a spicy guacamole, lemon and garlic hummus and a beet ricotta dip, and for something more filling, a falafel slider with a beyond perfectly acidic pickled red pepper jam, and crunchy fried cauliflower tacos.

The Gaia Elderberry syrup is part of Gisele Bรผndchenโ€™s favoriteย  smoothie flavor at Erewhon

Although we were bummed to call our games for the night, we walked out with one of the most well-designed and appealing totes I’ve seen, featuring the CityPickle logo before the strings of a paddle. In the tote was Sheinbaum’s newest book as well as a bottle of Gaia Herbs Elderberry Syrup, and Curious Elixir’s booze-free cocktails, including the cocounut pineapple painkiller and a spicy- stormy pineapple margarita. You might recognize the elderberry syrup as part of Gisele Bรผndchenโ€™s favorite and new smoothie flavor that launched at Erewhon this week.

If you want to join in on the pickleball craze, have no fear since there are plenty of options to choose from. CityPickle’s other locations include a pop-up at Industry City, as well as its outdoor locations at Dilworth Park, Wollman Rink, Hudson Yards and Union Square as well as the TWA Hotel if you’re a fan of playing outdoors when the weather gets better.

January 21, 2024 0 comments
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EntertainmentUncategorized

The National Board of Reviewโ€™s Annual Gala in NYC!

by Nova Bajamonti January 20, 2024
written by Nova Bajamonti

 

Photography and Videography: Dijana Mesin

All the stars were out for the National Board of Reviewโ€™s Annual Gala!

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January 20, 2024 0 comments
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EntertainmentFilmTVUncategorized

โ€œThe Power of Filmโ€ Was Inside All of Us All Along (INTERVIEW)

by Julia Mazza January 19, 2024
written by Julia Mazza

Some might say that Howard Suber, renowned UCLA professor emeritus, is one of the biggest secrets inside the gates of the Los Angeles filmmaking community. It wasn’t until 2006 that he pulled back the curtain for the first time when he published his debut book. “For years students in Howard Suber’s legendary classes at UCLA begged him to write a book,” Alexander Payne, director of Sideways and The Holdovers, wrote in The Power of Film, “Now that he has delivered it, filmmakers, scholars and anyone else with a serious interest in film can rejoice. A fascinating and thought-provoking work.”

The book is now a docuseriesโ€”and it’s also long overdue. Executive produced by two of Suber’s former students, Doug Pray and Laura Gabbert, The Power of Film was a labor of love for nearly a decade. Wanting to give back to their mentor, they stepped in to help his dream of widely sharing his knowledge via television a reality.

The duo discusses the process of bringing this docuseries to Turner Classic Movies, selecting films to feature in each episode, and the most important things they learned from Howard’s classes at UCLA.ย  (This interview has been edited for clarity.)

 

One thing that stood out to me about this series is that it’s unique in the way it turns a mirror on TCM viewers and cinephiles who are usually accustomed to documentaries about the technical aspect of filmmaking or deep dives into their favorite films. Is it something you thought about while conceptualizing the series?ย 

Laura: We were really just trying to capture Howardโ€™s main teachings and scholarship were and although Howard has taught many classes in his lifetime on all sorts of aspects of filmmaking it was really this particular scholarship on structure and story and character and why certain movies stay in our memories, and looking at why that is. So what really drove the making of the series is wanting to capture this group of lectures for 50 years at UCLA.ย 

Doug: The series reflects his teaching and his teaching is on that deep psychological very human very universal level of what makes us storytellers. Why do we like good stories that are well-told? Even 10,000 years agoโ€”what were the best stories around the campfire in the cave? Heโ€™s really good at getting into that that, and applying it to movies, of course.ย 

 

I loved how the series connected to mythology and storytelling over time and connecting it back to film. Were there any specific kinds of mythologies you and Howard explored to include in the series in episode one?

Laura: In a typical Howard Suber class at UCLA, they would run for three and a half hours, sometimes four hours, with an intermission. In those classes, he would digress and get into more detail about certain myths or Shakespeare or whatever. We just knew this had to stay condensed and suitable for television.

Doug: It feels like every episode he does go back to something, like heโ€™ll talk about Antigone or, in episode three, heโ€™ll talk about narcissism in the myth of Narcissus and Echo. He definitely dips into some of those things but it doesnโ€™t get overly academic. He didnโ€™t want to overdo it, and neither did we in the series.

We tried carefully to not make this feel like an academic lecture. Itโ€™s not really educational programming. Itโ€™s not really a masterclass. Itโ€™s really just the history. We certainly donโ€™t really get into the celebrities and lives of past great movie stars at all. He mentions names fondly.ย 

Itโ€™s sort of its own thing. It really just comes from his teaching. This is why we liked his class, and this is how it was. Although, [the show zips] a lot quicker. And it has all the amazing film clips.

 

Iโ€™m just surprised this is the first time Howard Suber is bringing his expertise to TCM. It does feel long overdue. How did this project come about?

Laura: Well, we agree with you. [laughs]

Howard had always thought about these particular lectures, that they would work for general audiences. He always felt like it would be like, a PBS series and it was always a bit of a dream of his, I think, to do it. I think there were some starts and stops.

And about eight years ago, Howard started sharing his frustration a little bit that it hadn’t happened yet, and Doug and I said, โ€œLetโ€™s just make it happen. Let’s just do it independently. Let’s just start somehow.โ€

And we did. Thatโ€™s also why it took so longโ€”because we had to do it in bits and starts, and we did it on a shoestring budget, which is quite unusual for a television series being made independently without a buyer in your back pocket already.ย 

Doug: And regarding TCM, Howard loves TCM, and of course honors and teaches all about classic movies. I mean,

He used to teach critical theory classes and everything else, and I’m sure he taught some history classes as well, like the history of various directors. I don’t actually know all the other classes he taught, because I just focused on this one, and I was his TA. And actually so was Laura, at the same class which was called โ€œSeminar on Film Structure.โ€

But he doesn’t get lost in what I think a lot of cinephiles get lost in, like, โ€œDid you hear so-and-so did this on fourth take of this one thing in the 1958 film?โ€ [laughs] Heโ€™s filled with great stories, and he does have plenty of stories like that, but he doesnโ€™t do it with the enthusiasm of a fan.ย 

Heโ€™s always interested in digging deeper. And saying, โ€œWell, I donโ€™t care so much about that actor, I just want to know why does this work?โ€ย 

I don’t know if you had a chance to see the other episodes, but he does talk about actors, he does talk about persona. he does talk about great heroes in the past. Itโ€™s not at all like he’s opposed to that, but he’s not one of those writers or teachers who just totally gets into the history, like a fan. He’s not quite his style.

 

There’s a lot of well-known films featured so far in The Power of Film, including The Godfather, Citizen Kane, The Graduate, Thelma & Louise,ย etc. What was Howard’s process of selecting films to be featured in the series?

Laura: He usually taught towards those types of movies in his classes. So, often times, when he was teaching a class would also talk about contemporary films too, films of their day. That’s what was born out of his lectures, those are the those are the films that he would talk about, and for the most part, that’s what we found. When we use clips from those movies, there are times where we’ll be referencing something a little bit broader, or a pattern that happens in certain memorable popular movies. And then the three of us would sort of discuss which clips to include what would what would work and what would be something contemporary, something old. We would sort of fill in the little spots where he talks about things in more general terms. But mostly it was it was, he really thought long and hard before we recorded this before he did the actual taping on a stage, which movies he would highlight. And most of those are the same ones he taught in his classes.ย 

Doug: And in stepping back from that, all of the films except for very contemporary filmsโ€”which he does like to talk aboutโ€”most of the films are all under the category of popular and memorable. It can’t be just a huge box office hit. And it can’t just be some really cool film that’s memorable that maybe only critics love. It has to be universally popular and universally memorable across generations.

With the more modern films, something like Moonlightย or, you know, I could name three or four other more contemporary films. He’s just hoping and guessing that those echo exactly what he’s teaching. They are perfect representatives of the kinds of films that have lasted generations. And so he’s just looking at that as, well, โ€œIโ€™m going to talk about modern films too.โ€ Partly because he also doesn’t want to just be cordoned off into that classic movie ghetto, just only ’50s movies and โ€˜30s. He really wants this to be for all audiences.

 

Did you get a chance to speak in some of your favorite movies that always make you feel?

Laura: Little bit?ย 

Doug: Yeah, Midnight Cowboy. Actually, for some weird reason because he loves Midnight Cowboy, but it hadn’t made it into the final cut. And I remember like we were cutting episode one and we’re just like, โ€œGod, we need one more example of somebody having a feeling that leads to action.โ€ And I was just suddenly like, โ€œOkay, what’s what’s the absolute greatest film thatโ€™s not in the series yet? OH, Midnight Cowboy!ย [laughs]

Which is funny because there’s this huge great documentary out right now all about Midnight Cowboy. But anyway, that’s always been one of my all-time top favorite films, like top five list for life. And so I was like, โ€œOh, God, we got it.โ€Just for a few seconds. [laughs]

 

And Laura, were there any that you got to sneak in as well?ย 

Laura: I didn’t try it. I was just thinking.

Doug: Yeah, I know one.ย 

Laura: Really?

Doug: You snuck into the last one. You didn’t sneak it in, but we were talking about comedy and characters and the one on the airplane. The scene of the airplane. But with the crazy bridesmaids.ย 

Laura: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that’s right.

Yes, it may not that that’s one of my all time favorite movies. But it was a good example of what we were doingโ€”and it was contemporary. And I do like that movie very much.ย 

Doug: Which is really funny. Definitely a great scene.ย 

I think we were talking about great scenes, like how certain scenes just stand out. Like, you remember a scene, you might watch a whole movie. And there’s some the one scene that you just go, โ€œOh, you know that one scene and everyone talks about it?โ€ I think it was an example of that.ย 

Laura: Yeah, I think that’s right. That’s right.

Doug: It is true.

 

I also noticed, there were some beloved, and you can see popular movies that are made outside of Hollywood that are noticeably missing from this series. Was there a choice to just focus on Hollywood?

Doug: Just American films. You know, call it a bias, but It’s not a bias at all. He has studied popular and memorable American films.ย 

Of course, he’s well versed in the French New Wave and, like, film noir. He could go on and on about European films. He’s very studied. He’s a very smart professor. But that’s what he studied.โ€”that’s his thing.ย 

I think it’s part of the charm of his teaching, and hopefully, something that’s interesting about the series is actually like he was saying, turning the lens on [the audience.] Like, no, we’re actually going to talk about Star Wars. You know what I mean? We’re actually gonna talk about The Godfather yet again, we’re gonna talk about all these like, amazing filmsโ€”

E.T., Jaws, and we’re gonna talk about some of these great, massive American movies, but not in the same way that we usually talk about them. We’re not just going to fawn over them and say how great they were, we’re going to talk about why they work, why they became great movies. And so it’s a different emphasis. But that’s all.ย 

Laura: Yep. I think that’s right. And again, he’s really interested in the audience psychology. It’s not that The Godfather was lauded when it came out, but why do we why do we still watch it? Why do students still talk about it? That’s what he’s really that’s what he’s really delving into.ย 


Both of you are Howard Suberโ€™s former film students at UCLA. What are some things that each of you learned in his classes that resonated with you all this time?

Laura: I would go back to the overarching thing that I bring into my day-to-day documentary filmmaking is the audience psychology. Youโ€™re telling a story, and you’re immersed, and you’re trying to figure out how to tell that. And at the same time, you need to always be thinking about what is the audience experiencing? And how am I going to take them on this ride?ย 

And it might be a much more subtle story than The Godfather but the same principles apply.

Doug: Yeah, I would say very much the same thing. And also, he doesn’t formally talk about film structure within this series. But almost everything he talks about, falls under the umbrella of film structure, like the order of things, the pacing of things to see a character rise. He talks in episode three beautifully about how if a character starts out like this in act one, but then by the end of the film, this character has to come up to here, and the character who was here who has all the power has to go here. [Gestures highs and lows.]

I mean, there’s different examples, but I think film structure which applies by the way to documentariesโ€”Laura and I are we’re documentary filmmakersโ€”but it applies to everything. It applies to short films and documentaries, it applies to [screenwriting], it applies to commercials. I’ve done some nonfiction-style commercials, like 30 seconds long, and I’m still applying the same principles of, โ€œWell, wait a minute, we need this character, and this character needs to feel more like they’re trapped. And this is the solution.โ€ It feels cheesy as hell to say that, but I really mean it.ย 

All good storytelling is based on a lot of these principles and these structures that have existed forever, kinda. And, yeah, it’s subtle, but I think I’ve applied his lessons to everything. And of course, I could say that about other great professors I’ve had, he’s not the only mentor I’ve ever had. But he really was one of the most profound teachers in terms of filmmaking and storytelling that I’ve ever encountered.

 

I mean, it’s no wonder that he keeps coming back to UCLA, even after retiring all this time. Itโ€™s just incredible.

Laura: Yeah, exactly. I think the other thing I was gonna just say about one of the things that always I took away from Howard’s class is that he’s always encouraging you to really ask, what is this film about? Not โ€œWhat’s the topic?โ€ Not โ€œWhat happens?โ€ But what is it about?ย 

Is it about an exchange of powers? Is about an exchange of gifts? Why is it resonating? And how do you define that in terms of what is the film about?ย 

I think that that’s really, if you’re just making even a documentary about very straightforward topic, let’s say, a social issue. You still have to ask yourself that question, because there should be a deeper answer to that question.ย 

Doug: Yeah, I mean, people are always saying in our business, like when you’re either pitching a story or reading a script, or talking to someone about a documentary idea, or anything, there’s always discussion of like, โ€œwell, what’s it about?โ€ And people say, โ€œoh, it’s about a football team and how they overcome.โ€ No, no, what’s it really about?ย  Forget all the surface, I don’t care. โ€œIt’s about musician who wins a Grammyโ€ No, what’s it really about? โ€œOh, it’s really about this person’s need for this.โ€ย  It gets deep into the motivation.

And that’s when you’re starting to really figure out a story, and that helps you structure, and edit if you’re making a documentary that helps you, if you’re writing a screenplay it helps you go, โ€œOh, I know what has to happen now.โ€ Those limits are actually helpful to a writer, if that makes sense.ย 

 

It’s huge. Just thinking about all of that seems important, so important to so many storytellers in Hollywood. And itโ€™s so incredible that you’re bringing this series to TCM [for future storytellers.]

Laura: Aw, thank you.ย 

Doug: I keep joking about this, like, we almost didn’t want this to come out. Because Howard has been this great secret of ours. Itโ€™s like, we have all this great knowledge. [laughs] The stupid selfish part of me doesn’t want to share that with the rest of the world. And then the more magnanimous, optimistic, better side of me is, like, โ€œNo, everybody should learn from Howard, and maybe we’ll have better movies and better stories toldโ€

I mean, knowledge should be free for everybody. And I think I do think he has some good lessons for people and making movies.ย 

 

Well, thank you so much for not gatekeeping. [Everyone laughs.]ย 

Just looking over the โ€œPower of Filmโ€ book, I know there’s so many chapters in there that you didn’t get to cover in this series, just from looking over the episode list. How did you make the decisions of what to include and what to cut from the series?

ย Laura: I would say that it was it was a process for sure. And that that early on, Howard spent a lot of time thinking about what he wanted to include what he thought was, like, essential in the series, and he worked closely with another former TA and student of his, Joey Sierra. And with Doug and me tooโ€”just figuring out, what if you had to come up with โ€œHoward’s Greatest Hits?โ€ What are they? And it was really thinking about it like that, but I think Howard had a really strong instinct about what needs to be in it and what he didn’t have to include.ย 

And of course, we cut a lot outโ€”our episodes were far longer and even had a seventh episode for a while. So then it was just really a process of, what you do in any kind of edit, is how do we make this whole together? And this specific episode works structurally? Is it modulating? Is it coming up and down?ย  How do we end it? How do we bring these ideas together? So, we applied the same principles that Howard talks about in his classes and in the series to cutting the documentary. Doug can speak about that a little bit more than I can, because he really did a lot of the heavy lifting on the edit.

Doug: Well, I mean, I would say exactly what you said, Laura. There’s definitely some โ€œgreatest hitsโ€ that are on the cutting room floor. But for the most part, I think we touched on anybody who studied with Howard, I think we touched on some of the more memorable, [both laugh] popular and memorable teachings.ย 

[Both continue to laugh.] I just realized that, my God, itโ€™s like, completely meta here.

But seriously, it’s true. I don’t want to go into all the details, but there were things that we wished we could have gotten in that we couldn’t, but that’s normal for any edit.

And there were times that we would, we would get into trouble, like we would edit a section. It might be like seven minutes long and be very complicated. And we didn’t have the right examples from movies, it just, it sort of fell on under its own weight. And Howard would be the first one to say, โ€œGod, that’s just not working. Let’s try this other movie. Let’s try this other example. Let’s do this. Let’s do that. Or let’s just cut it out.โ€ย 

And in the last year or two, we got very bold, and we were like, โ€œNo, less is more. Let’s just cut out the whole section. We’re gonna miss it, but it’s okay. It’s a better episode.โ€ You know, leaner and leaner. There was a lot of back-and-forth, and, simply put, we had the ability to get some voiceovers from Howard after we had filmed. We filmed them on a soundstage for six days. And that represents the six episodes generally, although we borrowed from many across the episodes.

And that’s how that worked. And then as we were editing sometimes it’d be like, โ€œOh, wow, that’s the wrong film example.โ€โ€”Howard would say that. So weโ€™d say, โ€œWell, let’s switch film examples. And maybe you could give us a few new words with a voiceover that we could, you know, fit in there, so that it makes sense, and that we are talking about that film.โ€ And there was a fair amount of back-and-forth like that.

 

I would definitely say that the โ€œTrappedโ€ episode resonated with me a lot, because based on the film’s you picked, I really did feel the claustrophobia versus just having an explained to meโ€”there was such good selections in there. Was there anything that you wanted to include in that episode, but couldn’t?

Doug: That’s one of his clearest, biggest points. It’s interesting, because when he when he had reached 50 years of teaching at UCLA, which is a lot of years for any professorโ€”itโ€™s a big deal. And there was a big celebration of his 50th year, and he gave this talk to all of his colleagues, and all a lot of his students came back, and it was a packed room, and he gave this talk for about a half hour.ย 

And at the end, he came to this conclusion of like, โ€œYou know, all the films I’ve studied and all the lectures I’ve given, everything I’ve looked at, I’ve really comes back down to this one idea of every movie is trapped, all the great movies are trapped.โ€

It is such a simple thing, it’s almost childlike, like, โ€œOh, you’re trapped, you’re gonna get out of the trap.โ€ It was very profound, though, the way he delivered it, and I’ll never forget that. And that’s why episode two really lends that. So it’s very simple. I don’t think we’re, I don’t think we’ve missing anything on that idea, if you can really explain that.ย 

And you’ll see, in subsequent episodes, it comes back again, and again, like he can now use the word โ€œtrapped,โ€ and we know what he’s talking about with other characters. He talks about different ways to set up traps, and he gets more and more complicated and deep as the series goes on.ย 

Laura: And again, the reason that’s so powerful is it because exactly what he says we it resonates with us, because we all have our own traps in our own lives, we all feel trapped, right? So it immediately just hits you emotionally, right? And we’re all trying to get out of those traps to a certain degree. And then we landed in a new one, and we go to movies to watch people get out of their traps. I mean, it’s, it’s psychologically very powerful for an audience to see that happen.ย 

Episodes one through three of “The Power of Film” are now available to watch on the Watch TCM app for a limited time. New episodes are now airing on Thursdays at at 8 pm EST/5 pm PST through February 8th.

January 19, 2024 0 comments
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Shudder’s ‘Destroy All Neighbors’: An Original Comedy/Horror

by Antonio Pinheiro January 13, 2024
written by Antonio Pinheiro

Shudder Original โ€˜Destroy All Neighborsโ€™ premiered last with Tuesday, with some stars and surprise guests making an appearance.

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January 13, 2024 0 comments
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On the Scene: HCAโ€™s 2024 Astra Awards Red Carpet

by Antonio Pinheiro January 11, 2024
written by Antonio Pinheiro

Last Week, we had the pleasure of attending and chatting with some of the most talented individuals in Film and Television at HCA’s 2024 Annual Astra Awards; Barbie swept with eightย wins including Best Picture.ย 

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January 11, 2024 0 comments
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Some things are just a perfect matchโ€”milk & cook Some things are just a perfect matchโ€”milk & cookies, Oreos & a cold glass of milkโ€ฆ and @nickbarrotta on the red carpet celebrating 30 years of the iconic milk mustache. ๐Ÿฅ›๐Ÿช

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First-time nominees dominated the 77th Emmys, turn First-time nominees dominated the 77th Emmys, turning the spotlight on breakout stars and fresh wins. ๐ŸŽฌ๐Ÿฅ‡โœจ

Read about the rising talent redefining televisions biggest night.

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We had the honor of celebrating VMAs weekend with We had the honor of celebrating VMAs weekend with @bacardi and @mtv! ๐Ÿ’ซ
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The Hamilton movie premiere transformed the Delacorte Theater into a stage of its own, as the original cast and creative team reunited to celebrate a story that changed Broadway forever. From the first note to the final bow, the revolution continues. ๐ŸŽญ๐Ÿ“œ

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From @iamcardib undeniable reign to @wutangclan ev From @iamcardib undeniable reign to @wutangclan everlasting impact, the 2025 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players Awards celebrated the artists and executives shaping the culture today. ๐ŸŽค๐ŸŽธ๐Ÿ’ฅ

With honorees like @leonthomas and @gelo alongside hip-hopโ€™s legends, the night was a reminder that the genreโ€™s future is just as powerful as its past. ๐Ÿคฉ

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