"LOVE IN 2020" WEB SERIES JOINS THE 24TH ANNUAL DANCES WITH FILMS FESTIVAL, AUG. 26 - SEP. 12, 2021. Wonder what it is like to date during a pandemic? Anna Jaller producer for the series, director/editor Eirinn Disbrow and writer Christina Garofalo Bonifacio spoke with KUCI 88.9fm host Janeane Bernstein

LISTEN to the conversation with Anna Jaller (Homecoming, Entourage the Movie) who produces the series alongside director/editor Eirinn Disbrow (Ghostbusters, Snatched, Long Shot), writer Christina Garofalo Bonifacio (When Dogs Heal, Robb Report, Huffington Post).

LISTEN | WATCH

ABOUT 

When the COVID-19 pandemic hits, 28-year-old Kenna Benjamin hates her job and is unsuccessful in love.

Now human contact is banned (or at minimum, requires six feet of separation). While everyone around her has a quarantine companion, she takes to dating apps in search of meaningful connection.

After a dozen FaceTime dates, a virtual booty call gone awry, and bad news about her job, Kenna learns that the only way to get through quarantine is to get comfortable with who she is. Kenna discovers it's possible to find connection amid this newfound isolation, if first she can connect with herself.

PRESS RELEASE

August 6, 2021 -- LOS ANGELES "LOVE IN 2020", a timely millennial rom-com, has joined the lineup at the 24th Annual Dances with Films (DWF). The pandemic-themed series is written, directed, produced, and shot entirely by women. Actor Anna Jaller (Homecoming, Entourage the Movie) produces the series alongside director/editor Eirinn Disbrow (Ghostbusters, Snatched, Long Shot), writer Christina Garofalo Bonifacio (When Dogs Heal, Robb Report, Huffington Post) and Brandi Hart Craig, (SPY, Game Night, Shazam); Director of Photography Kristin Mendez (CT Fletcher, Vegas Baby) completes the team.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hits, 28-year-old Kenna Benjamin (Jaller) hates her job and is unsuccessful in love. Now that human contact is banned (or at minimum requires six feet of separation), Kenna fears that she will have to navigate the lockdown alone. After a dozen disappointing FaceTime dates, a virtual booty call gone awry, and bad news about her job, Kenna discovers that it is possible to find connection amid this newfound isolation, if first she can connect with herself.

Packed with Judd-Apatow style comedy, Love in 2020 doesn’t shy away from heavier issues, including double standards for women in work and dating, the mental effects of isolation, and anti-Chinese racism. However, it was important to the producers to keep it light and stay true to a comedic tone.

“Ultimately, it’s a story that asks who we want to be and how we want to show up in the world when this is over,” says writer/producer Christina Garofalo Bonifacio. “When we look back on 2020, no one will forget the strife; it was important to us to give people permission to find joy and laugh during this time, too.”

Other cast members include Jeff Pierre (Shameless, Walker), James Tang (NCIS, Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Gabrielle Lane (911, The Rookie), Kat Purgal (Dave, Criminal Minds), Michelle LaRue (How I Met Your Mother, Workaholics), Deja Soufka (Seal Team, S.W.A.T.), April Lang (My Fiona, Something Evil Becomes us), Ryan Pratton (Jimmy Kimmel Live, viral Tik Tok star), Yolanda Esquivel (Showdown), and Nicole DuBois (known by her 800k Tik Tok fans as NickyDoobs.)

The festival screening will be on August 28 at 12 Noon at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Tickets can be purchased at www.danceswithfilms.com



DANCES WITH FILMS (DWF)

Started in 1998, DANCES WITH FILMS has grown from presenting a handful of films to nearly 200 each year. Starting with only narrative features and shorts, DWF now includes the top documentaries, music videos, TV programs and Webseries on the circuit today. With the festival's 2012 return to the TCL Chinese Theatres in the heart of Hollywood, DWF is one of the highest attended film fests in Southern California with more than 20,000 attendees each year.

Legendary drummer Matt Sorum talks about his new book, new music and more! DOUBLE TALKIN’ JIVE: TRUE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL STORIES FROM THE DRUMMER OF GUNS N’ ROSES, THE CULT, AND VELVET REVOLVER

LISTEN to Janeane's conversation
with legendary drummer Matt Sorum

                            Photo credit: Zack Whitford

LOS ANGELES, CA, March 18, 2021—In Double Talkin’ Jive legendary drummer Matt Sorum takes music lovers behind the scenes of a remarkable life in rock. Sorum, whose albums have sold tens of millions of copies around the world, provides an honest, engaging account of the highs and lows of superstardom. Sorum recounts his childhood years idolizing Ringo Starr and surviving an abusive stepfather. 

After leaving high school, Sorum sold pot to get by. Over time, his drug dealing escalated to smuggling large quantities of cocaine, a career that came to a halt following a dramatic shoot-out. Sorum fled his old life and settled in Hollywood, where he’d enjoy a rapid ascension to rock ’n’ roll immortality. He caught his big break drumming for the Cult, and only a year later was invited to join Guns N’ Roses, with whom he’d record two of rock’s most iconic albums: Use Your Illusion 1 and 2.

The Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee & Grammy Award winning Sorum opens up with forthright honesty, sharing anecdotes from his time touring the globe, battling drug and alcohol addiction, as well as working with Axl Rose, one of the greatest frontmen in rock, Slash and the rest of the GNR team. His career with the Cult, Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver, Motörhead, the Hollywood Vampires, and Kings of Chaos costars an ensemble of rock royalty, from Billy Idol to Steven Tyler, Billy F Gibbons, and Alice Cooper.

Double Talkin’ Jive goes beyond the clichés of sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll, telling the very human story of what it takes to make it in music, and the toll stardom exacts from those who achieve success. Sorum invites fans to revel in the debauchery of the good times, but also paints a stark portrait of life after the party. Music fans of any generation will find value in the pages of this evocative, thoughtful, and candid autobiography.

“Matt lights up rooms, corridors, clubs, theaters, arenas, and stadiums with the kind of infectious rock ’n’ roll energy that is increasingly becoming obsolete. His dedication to his craft remains virtually peerless, and when the sticks are resting, you’ll have to go a long way to find someone cooler in rock ’n’ roll. Dive into these shenanigan-saturated pages immediately and find out for yourself!" —Lars Ulrich, Metallica

“A colorfully dark look into the f * * * ed-up psyche of a legendary and badass drummer. I want to read it over and over.” —Jonas Åkerland, Film Director



Available in hardcover, e-book, and audiobook,

including a signed limited-edition hardcover with vinyl audiobook bundle,
narrated and performed with music by Matt Sorum

Signed preorders bundles ship August 2021—Preorder at rarebirdlit.com

Trade hardcover, e-book, and audiobook formats available
wherever books are sold September 7th, 2021

Hardcover and E-Book Distributed by Publishers Group West
Audiobook Published and Distributed by Recorded Books/Tantor Media

Author Site: mattsorum.com

Mike Dougherty | Director of Festival Programming of Outfest shares details of Outfest Los Angeles 2021 - August 13-22, 2021

OUTFEST LA 2021

AUGUST 13 -22

The 39th annual Outfest LA film festival features in-person and digital films, outdoor screenings, galas, special events, talks and more!

Mike Dougherty | Director of Festival Programming

LISTEN

As Director of Festival Programming Mike is in charge of programming Outfest Los Angeles and ensuring the highest experience of filmmakers and audiences at all Outfest festivals. He has over a decade of experience in the finance, production and distribution aspects of the industry. Mike joins Outfest after five years as Acquisitions and Distribution Executive at Radiant Films International, and five years prior to that as a Creative Executive at Hyde Park Entertainment. Since 2014, he has been the Director of Programming for the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) and is an Associate Programmer for AFI FEST.

https://www.outfest.org/

Thomas Duplessie and Phil Connell talk about their new LGBTQ family drama, JUMP, DARLING, starring Cloris Leachman and Thomas Duplessie. The final, stunning swan song performance by the late Oscar winner Cloris Leachman which had its International Premiere at BFI Flare London to rave reviews, just screened at Frameline and the Director's Guild Los Angeles.

JUMP, DARLING - The final, stunning swan song performance by the recently deceased Oscar winner Cloris Leachman 

LISTEN  to Janeane's
recent conversation
featuring
Thomas Duplessie and Phil Connell

Jump, Darling is the new LGBTQ family drama starring Cloris Leachman, who recently passed away at the age of 94, in her final starring performance, praised by critics in this worthy swan-song from the late Oscar and BAFTA-winning Hollywood legend.

Written and directed by debut filmmaker Phil Connell, Jump, Darling follows a rookie drag queen (played by newcomer Thomas Duplessie) reeling from a breakup who moves in with his declining grandmother (Leachman) to protect her from the local nursing home. The film is a thoughtful exploration of the right to live as who we are and how we wish, while also grappling with end of life care.

Filmmakers, cast and members of Leechman’s family in attendance. (See Trailer Here)

Oscar Winner Cloris Leachman Shines in Final Starring Role
at Outfest in
JUMP, DARLING
*Plus Special Celebrity Tribute introduced by Cybill Shepherd, featuring Lily Tomlin and others

Writer/Director: Phil Connell
Producers: Katie Corbridge & Phil Connell
Executive Producers: Karen Harnisch & Allison Black
US Festival Distribution: The Film Collaborative
Canadian Distributor: LevelFilm
Production Company: Big Island Productions

“a powerful swan song” - The Mirror
“a stunning debut feature.” – theBUZZ
“very real and very moving.” - Screen International
“a truly dazzling story.” - London Evening Standard
“One of the must-see films of the festival.” - Bay Area Reporter.
“It's lovely to watch Leachman at work one last time.” - National Post
“Leachman delivers a luminous performance…a fitting final role."- SF Chronicle
“What’s surprising is the emotional power of Phil Connell’s touching feature.” -Mercury News

OUTFEST IN-PERSON SCREENING @ DGA 1 (Director’s Guild)
Sunday - August 15TH - 7:15PM
Tickets HERE

Screening will include a celebrity In Memoriam tribute honoring of Leachman introduced by Cybill Shepherd and featuring Lily Tomlin and others.

CLICK FOR TRAILER
www.jumpdarling.com

90 MIN | CANADA

Jump, Darling is the new LGBTQ family drama starring Cloris Leachman, who recently passed away at the age of 94, in her final starring performance, praised by critics in this worthy swan-song from the late Oscar and BAFTA-winning Hollywood legend.

Written and directed by debut filmmaker Phil Connell, Jump, Darling follows a rookie drag queen (played by newcomer Thomas Duplessie) reeling from a breakup who moves in with his declining grandmother (Leachman) to protect her from the local nursing home. The film is a thoughtful exploration of the right to live as who we are and how we wish, while also grappling with end of life care.

The initial seeds for Jump, Darling were two parallel tracks: Connell’s experience with end-of-life care conversations with his grandmother and his experience choosing life as an artist. “Over a period of years, my late grandmother struggled with how to prepare for her ‘decline’ –be it physical or mental,” shares Connell. “It was ‘the’ topic of conversation each time I would visit her. Meanwhile, as I recommitted to filmmaking, I struggled to maintain my resolve – against all the forces and voices – the ones that every artist face.”

The supporting cast of Jump, Darling includes Linda Kash (Best in Show), Jayne Eastwood (Chicago) and cameos from well-known drag queens Tynomi Banks (featured recently on Canada’s Drag Race), Fay Slift and Miss Fiercalicious. The film showcases six on-screen drag performances against a pop soundtrack including Robyn, Allie X, Rough Trade, Years & Years and more. The film is produced by Katie Corbridge (An Acquired Taste), Executive Produced by Karen Harnisch (White Lie) and Allison Black (Giant Little Ones).

Cloris Leachman won both an Academy Award and a BAFTA Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Last Picture Show and holds the record for the most Primetime Emmy acting nominations in history – 22. She is best known for her role as Phyllis on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, played to such great success that it led to her own television series spinoff, Phyllis.

“Cloris was an icon and an ally,” said Connell. “To work with her, to know her, and now to share her final leading performance with the world is a true honor.”

TEEN LINE is promoting two up-coming events for teens! BACK TO SCHOOL ANXIETY - Social Campaign August 15-29, 2021 and in support of National Suicide Prevention Week, TEEN LINE presents their annual CALL-A-THON September 11, 2021 - DETAILS BELOW

 

Marian Vosumets talks about her debut film, THE BODY FIGHTS BACK - A JOURNEY INTO THE LIVES CONSUMED BY DIET CULTURE

THE BODY FIGHTS BACK is a feature documentary about five people navigating the paradoxes of diet culture. While promises of happiness, desirability and perfection are irresistible, joy and contentment remain out of reach.

WATCH | LISTEN

Personal stories from vastly different backgrounds quickly merge into a shockingly similar experience of battling one’s body. Self- starvation and compulsive exercise bring temporary satisfaction, only to be replaced with binging and purging soon after. Surprisingly, none of it has much to do with food.

Featuring exclusive footage from London’s contemporary anti-diet movement and fascinating personal archives, the film offers a unique insight into the complexity of eating disorders, body image struggles and most importantly, the socio-economic realities of health.

The film is the first feature documentary to tackle diet culture and shift the debate around health towards inclusivity. It also highlights newest research findings in Nutrition and Weight Science, disproving the widespread belief that one’s health is solely determined by body mass index.


THE BODY FIGHTS BACK was written and directed by Marian Võsumets. It has a running time of 106 minutes and will not be rated by the MPAA. The film fully meets the Academy diversity criteria, providing a platform to underrepresented groups such as Black, LGBTQ+ and Disabled people and features a female director and mainly female cast. Gravitas Ventures will release the film on digital platforms including iTunes and Apple TV on July 13, 2021.


For more information, go to: WWW.DIETCULTUREFILM.COM


For the trailer, go to: https://vimeo.com/563013907


SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES
@dietculturefilm

JAMES WHITESIDE -- AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE PRINCIPAL DANCER - CENTER CENTER: A Funny, Sexy, Sad Almost-Memoir of a Boy in Ballet

CENTER CENTER: A Funny, Sexy, Sad Almost-Memoir of a Boy in Ballet is a daring, hilarious, inspiring memoir-in-essays from James Whiteside, the American Ballet Theatre principal dancer, drag queen, and pop star who’s redefining what it means to be a man in ballet. CENTER CENTER is his literary debut and Whiteside takes readers on a delightfully absurd and entertaining journey as he reveals how he got to the top of his field as a primo ballerino. Considered “one of the most talented dancers of his generation” (Vogue), Whiteside is extremely well-known in the dance world, he has also choreographed for music videos, commercials, film, and ballet. 

And Whiteside’s profile is on the rise off the dance floor: He has been profiled in the New York Times, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and Allure; he hosts a popular podcast, The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside; and he has 335k and counting Instagram followers. James is available for interviews on Monday, August 16th, and I hope you’ll consider having him as a guest on your show. Please reach out if you would like to schedule an interview or would like to see a copy of the book.


“James Whiteside is an electrifying performer, an incredible athlete, and an artist, through and through. To know James is to love him; with Center Center, you are about to fall in love.” —Jennifer Garner

There’s a mark on every stage around the world that signifies the center of its depth and width, called “center center.” James Whiteside has dreamed of standing on that very mark as a principal dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre ever since he was a twelve-year-old blown away by watching the company’s spring gala: the glamour, the virtuosity, the extremely fit men in tights!

In CENTER CENTER, “Whiteside pours out his soul in a debut that’s deeply resonant—but no less raunchy for it” (Publishers Weekly). He tells tales of the two alter egos he created to subvert the strict classical rigor of ballet: JbDubs, an out-and-proud pop musician, and Ühu Betch, an over-the-top drag queen named after Yoohoo chocolate milk and member of the NYC-based drag posse the Dairy Queens, which also includes RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Milk. Whiteside also muses about the tragically fated childhood pets who taught him how to feel, and reminisces on summer dance camps at which he paid more attention to partying than his craft. The memoir’s emotional core is firmly located in “Nancy,” a novella-length biography of Whiteside’s “brilliant, complicated, unicorn of a mother” that is breathtaking in its vulnerability and tenderness.

CENTER CENTER is an exuberant behind-the-scenes tour of Whiteside’s triple life, both on- and offstage—a raunchy, curious, and unapologetic celebration of queerness, self-expression, friendship, creativity, and pushing boundaries that will entertain you, shock you, inspire you, embolden you . . . and maybe even make you cry.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
James Whiteside (alter egos JbDubs and Uhu Betch) is a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, a pop star, and a member of the NYC-based drag posse the Dairy Queens, which also includes RuPaul's Drag Race alum Milk. He has choreographed for music videos, commercials, film, and ballet, and in 2018, he starred in Arthur Pita's dance/theater work The Tenant at The Joyce Theater in New York City. Whiteside also hosts his own popular podcast, The Stage Rightside with James Whiteside. His song and music video "I Hate My Job" has been featured in The New York Times, Huffington Post, MTV, Billboard, and more.

Follow James Whiteside on Twitter @JamesBWhiteside, 

Instagram @jamesbwhiteside

http://jamesbwhiteside.com/

Ashton Applewhite - she/her author • speaker • activist This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism

“It’s not loving a man that makes life harder for gay guys, it’s homophobia. It’s not the color of their skin that makes life harder for people of color; it’s racism. It’s not having vaginas that makes life harder for women, it’s sexism. - Ashton Applewhite

 

LISTEN | WATCH

Ashton Applewhite - she/her

author • speaker • activist

This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism

TED talk: Let’s End Ageism

thischairrocks.com

oldschool,info

yoisthisageist.com

facebook.com/ThisChairRocks
@thischairrocks

About Ashton Applewhite
I didn't set out to become a writer. I went into publishing because I loved to read and didn't have any better ideas. I had a weakness for the kind of jokes that make you cringe and guffaw at the same time. My boss insisted I write them down, which turned into the 1982 best-selling book, Truly Tasteless Jokes, writing as "Blanche Knott." As Blanche, I made publishing history by occupying four of the 15 spots on the New York Times bestseller list.

My first serious book, Cutting Loose: Why Women Who End Their Marriages Do So Well, was published by HarperCollins in 1997. Ms. magazine called it "rocket fuel for launching new lives." It landed me on Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum enemies list and an invite to join the board of the nascent Council on Contemporary Families, a group of distinguished family scholars.

The catalyst for Cutting Loose was puzzlement: why was our notion of women's lives after divorce (visualize depressed dame on barstool) so different from the happy and energized reality? A similar question gave rise to This Chair Rocks: "Why is our view of late life so unrelievedly grim when the lived reality is so different? I began blogging about aging and ageism in 2007. Since that time, I have been recognized by the New York Times, National Public Radio, and the American Society on Aging as an expert on ageism.

Currently, I blog at This Chair Rocks, speak widely and am the voice of Yo, Is This Ageist?. I've written for Harper's, Playboy, and many other publications. I have also been on staff at the American Museum of Natural History since 2000, where I write about everything under the sun. In 2015, I was honored to be included in Salt Magazine's list of the world's 100 most inspiring women--along with Angelina Jolie, Elizabeth Warren, Amal Clooney, Aung San Suu Kyi, Naomi Klein, and other remarkable activists--committed to social change.

The Netflix documentary, PRAY AWAY, is a powerful look at the Pray The Gay Away Movement. KUCI's Janeane Bernstein speaks with Pray Away Producer, Jessica Devaney

From Executive Producers Ryan Murphy and Jason Blum

LISTEN | WATCH

A MULTITUDE FILMS Production

In Association with

Blumhouse, Lamplighter Films, Naked Edge Films,

Chicken & Egg Pictures, Perspective Fund, Secret Sauce Media

Official Selection - 2020 Tribeca Film Festival

Official Selection – 2020 Hot Docs Film Festival

Official Selection – 2020 Telluride Film Festival

Official Selection – 2021 DOC 10 Film Festival

Release Date: August 3rd on Netflix

Director/Writer: Kristine Stolakis

Producers: Jessica Devaney (Always In Season, Roll Red Roll), Anya Rous (Always In Season, Roll Red Roll), Kristine Stolakis

Executive Producers: Ryan Murphy, Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman, Mary Lisio, Amanda Spain, Daniel J. Chalfen, Jim

Butterworth, Katy Drake Bettner, Johnny Symons, Julie Parker Benello, Patty Quillin, Nion McEvoy, Leslie Berriman, Regina K. Scully, Alexis Martin Woodall

Logline: Former leaders of the "pray the gay away" movement contend with the aftermath unleashed by their actions, while a survivor seeks healing and acceptance from more than a decade of trauma.


Running Time: 101 minutes


Synopsis: In the 1970s, five men struggling with being gay in their Evangelical church started a Bible study to help each other leave the "homosexual lifestyle." They quickly received over 25,000 letters from people asking for help and formalized as Exodus International, the largest and most controversial conversion therapy organization in the world.

But leaders struggled with a secret: their own “same-sex attractions” never went away. After years as Christian superstars in the religious right, many of these men and women have come out as LGBTQ, disavowing the very movement they helped start. Focusing on the dramatic journeys of former conversion therapy leaders, current members, and a survivor, PRAY AWAY chronicles the “ex gay" movement’s rise to power, persistent influence, and the profound harm it causes.

Janeane speaks with Matt Yoka and Marika Gerrard for Greenwich Entertainment documentary WHIRLYBIRD, which opens in theaters and on demand August 6th.

LISTEN | WATCH

About the film

Flying high above Los Angeles in a whirling news helicopter, Marika Gerrard and Zoey Tur (known then as Bob) captured some of the city’s most epic breaking news stories. The two recount the salacious details of their career as a husband-and-wife journalist team doing whatever it took to catch an unfolding story. Their camera captured the extreme adrenaline of the culture of live news and, as a result, the strain it took on their relationship—and, ultimately, a major life transition for Zoey. A wholly unique take on the story of Los Angeles told through stunning aerial footage and remarkable home videos, Whirlybird reframes many of the city’s pivotal moments of the 1990s, including the O. J. Simpson pursuit and the 1992 riots.

In Matt Yoka’s sprawling debut feature, he deftly mirrors the peaks and valleys of one unique American family to the city of Los Angeles, showcasing their parallel growing pains and their search for a sense of self. Whirlybird is a completely original and intricately woven tapestry that reveals the agony and the ecstasy of breaking news.


RELEASE

In Theaters and on Demand August 6th

TRAILER:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bDG6383kkM

SYNOPSIS:

Soaring above the chaotic spectacle of ‘80s and ‘90s Los Angeles, a young couple revolutionized breaking news with their brazen helicopter reporting. Culled from this newsduo’s sprawling video archive is a poignant L.A. story of a family in turbulence hovering over a city unhinged.

A pioneer of helicopter reporting, Zoey Tur, along with then-wife Marika Gerrard, forever changed broadcast news with their action-packed live coverage of monumental moments in the history of L.A., including the 1992 riots and the O.J. Simpson Ford Bronco chase in1994. This intense work delivered a needed daily dose of adrenaline for Zoey (known then as Bob), but the thousands of hours spent chasing breaking news eventually took its toll.

Through the meticulous digitization and restoration of Zoey and Marika's sprawling videotape archive, this documentary brings to life the candid memories and reflections delivered by Zoey and Marika - as well as their kids, including their daughter, MSNBC host and author Katy Tur. In Matt Yoka’s feature debut, WHIRLYBIRD, he delivers an immersive L.A. epic through the intimate story of a relationship.

Melissa Davey talks about her film, Beyond Sixty. The myth that older women are invisible is shattered in this inspirational look at remarkable women thriving, leading lives rich in experiences and accomplishments that defy perceptions and reveal what is possible beyond sixty.

LISTEN | WATCH

A documentary that challenges the way we think about ageing by exploring ten remarkable women whose resilience, defiance and achievements prove there is life beyond sixty. Beyond Sixty is an documentary feature film initiative about women over the age of 60.

The original voice of Siri, the Madam CJ Walker biographer and the sculptor of Lady Gaga’s Fame perfume carriage are among the inspirational stories revealed in this compelling documentary. From a very early age women are made to believe that our relevance has an expiration date. Showing us the power of resilience, defiance and the wisdom of experience Beyond Sixty will challenge the way we think about aging and the value of our own stories.


About the Director

Melissa Davey is a documentary filmmaker who lives in Valley Forge, PA. She is a wife, a mother and a grandmother to three young boys. She is a world traveler and curious about everything unknown. She recently retired after more than two decades from GENEX Services Inc., where she was recruited to build and operate the company's Social Security representation division. GENEX is the largest Managed Care case management organization in the U.S. Prior to GENEX, Melissa had almost twenty years of diversified experience in the field of disability. She held senior leadership and management positions throughout her career. Melissa's second act is fueled by a lifelong passion for film and story-telling.

Janeane speaks with Lissa Zanville - Executive Director of Los Angeles Trial Lawyers' Charities (LATLC) shares details about their upcoming Summer Soiree, her role at LATLC and more!

LISTEN

Lissa fills us in on:

*The upcoming Summer Soiree- what it is about, what the night will be like and why it is so important

* Los Angeles Trial Lawyers' Charities (LATLC)- what they do, their mission

* How Lissa became involved with LATLC and what her role is in the organization

* The role LATLC has played in bringing about change in the greater Los Angeles community

* How LATLC was able to keep supporting their partner charities throughout 2020, even with the absence of in-person volunteer events



ABOUT LISSA

Lissa Mozur Zanville has more than 30 years of experience in the non-profit, public,and private sectors, including government affairs, media relations, crisis management, community relations, strategic planning, spokesperson training and stakeholder management.

A graduate of UCLA, Zanville worked for the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C., the California Democratic Party, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, the California State Assembly, and Pacific Bell (now AT&T) where she was Director of Media Relations and primary spokesperson.

She started LMZ Communications in 1990. The company provided spokesperson training to corporate, sports, entertainment, and political clients such as Toyota, Microsoft, City of Los Angeles, Knott’s Berry Farm, IBM, Claritin, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and the United States Equestrian Federation.

Immediately before joining Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities in 2016, Zanville was with the PHASE ONE Foundation, a non-profit that supports early cancer research and clinical trials. For nine years she has served as the sole staff and Executive Director of this $16 million foundation.

Zanville lives in Los Angeles with her husband Stuart.



About Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Charities (LATLC):
Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities (LATLC) was founded in 2006 by seven plaintiff personal injury attorneys whose mission was to make a tangible, positive difference in the community through financial support and volunteer service. Today, LATLC focuses on education, children, survivors of abuse, persons with disabilities, and homelessness. Since its launch, the LATLC has grown to more than 3,000 supporters, provided more than $5 million in grants and goods, and volunteered over 6000 hours. For more: www.LATLC.org.

Indian-American music artist Saahil Bhargava to compete against Paul McCartney, Yo-Yo Ma at LA Shorts International Film Festival for ‘Best Music Video’ Award

Indian-American music artist Saahil Bhargava speaks to host Janeane Bernstein about competing in the LA Shorts International Film Festival for ‘Best Music Video’ Award

Animated short film award winner becomes qualified for Oscars 2022

LISTEN | WATCH (coming soon!)

Music artist and writer Saahil Bhargava jolted awake to news of being an official selection in two categories at the LA Shorts International Film Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious and largest international short film festivals.

Nominated in two key categories (Animation, Music Video) for the video of his song Kohima, Saahil finds himself in stellar company. The list of nominations includes Paul McCartney’s latest music video ‘When Winter Comes’ and Yo-Yo Ma’s concert ‘See Me’.

In its 25th year, LA Shorts International Film Festival is accredited by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences (Oscar®), the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), and the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television (Canadian Screen Awards). Throughout the fest’s history, 60 LA Shorts filmmakers have earned Academy Award® nominations, with 16 taking home the Oscar. In other words, if Saahil Bhargava’s Kohima wins best animated short film, then it will be qualified to compete for the Oscars in 2022.


LA Shorts International Film Festival founder/director Robert Arentz said, "It is such a high honor for the LA Shorts International Film Festival to welcome Kohima into the competition this year, which is our 25th anniversary. Only a handful of films were accepted into the brand new Music/Dance category, and Kohima is one of those elite few. In fact, we created the special Music/Dance program due to high-quality content from exceptional artists, such as Paul McCartney, Yo-Yo Ma, and of course, India's own Saahil Bhargava!"

Saahil’s music has always been about telling great stories, especially through his companion screen content. For the innovative and groundbreaking Kohima, Saahil collaborated with Big Bang Music and co-directed the music video with Harmeet Rahal to bring his vision to life. With Kohima, Saahil Bhargava addresses the plethora of emotions - from panic to despair - of a combat soldier. Kohima is set during the infamous World War II battle in the northeast of India.


Curiously, Saahil’s Kohima is trending among video game fans worldwide. On YouTube, gamers flood Kohima’s comments section with love. Mostly, they marvel about the ways that the song effectively captures a serviceman’s journey. It’s a big win for any independent artist, and Saahil is exceptionally grateful.

Talking about the exciting nomination Saahil Bhargava says, “It is a huge honor to be recognized alongside so many amazing artists. Kohima was written to be a story about the horrors of war from the perspective of an individual soldier, and I think this video really captures the pain and terror that soldiers go through in a brutal battle. I’m very excited for more people to watch this video and also hope that my future songs and videos can have a similar impact.”

Co-director and animator, Harmeet Rahal says “It was such a great challenge, bringing the Battle of Kohima to life, and exploring the horrors of war through the story of an abandoned, lone soldier. It was great working with Saahil and Big Bang Music. It's an honor to be nominated alongside such amazing work, and I hope this helps more people learn about this hidden piece of Indian history.”

Saahil’s Social Media

Website: https://www.saahilbhargava.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saahilbhargava

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saahilbhargavamusic

Twitter: https://twitter.com/saahilwb

ABOUT SAAHIL BHARGAVA

MUSICIAN | WRITER | ENTREPRENEUR

Saahil Bhargava is originally from New York but has lived in London and Mumbai before calling Los Angeles home.

After performing in front of a crowd as a young boy, he was hooked and knew he would pursue music.

Saahil enjoys telling stories and exploring interesting concepts and emotions. All of his songs tend to be stories about characters going through emotional experiences or intense moments.

He is musically influenced by a range of artists such as Freddie Mercury, Bono, Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell to Radiohead, Muse, Keane and My Chemical Romance.

Columnist, author, and writer Patricia Bunin speaks with host Janeane Bernstein about her column, Senior Moments, poetry, surviving breast cancer and more!

LISTEN

About Patricia 

Patricia writes about “life moments”: the smaller and larger moments that define our lives. Her openness to sharing her own stories has resonated and endeared her to readers of all ages.

Her Senior Moments column is published every Sunday in the Los Angeles Daily News, Orange County Register, Pasadena Star News and all other papers of the Southern California Newspaper Group. Her work has been honored multiple times for Best Column by the Los Angeles Press Club, The National Society of Newspaper Columnists and she is a recent recipient of The Southern California Journalism Award for Commentary.

Patricia edited a poetry magazine under a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts, and is the author of the books, Password: SeniorMoment, and Do You Think We Could Have Made It?: and Other Love Poems for the Separated and Divorced.

A breast cancer survivor, excerpts from her own journal were published in the Pasadena Star-News and converted into a brochure for patients at The USC/Norris Cancer Center in Los Angeles. She is the creator of breastbuddy.net, a free support website for women.

Learn more about Patricia Bunin here.

A tribute to Calvin Gantt - a member of our KUCI family

 

If you are fortunate enough in life, you will meet some very special people that will see something in you that you didn't recognize. They will take the time to point out the goodness you bring to this world. That you have created something special, and this is your legacy; this was Calvin. He was someone so kind, wise, and compassionate, and I am so saddened to hear the news that he passed away. I met Calvin at KUCI, but really got to know him when he invited me on his show, Awoke. He also attended my first book talk with his lovely wife, and told me in front of everyone, "This is your legacy. How does it feel?" I was humbled and honored to know him.

I am sharing our conversation on his show. He is so missed, and I treasured our time together.

Calvin Gantt - a writer, public speaker, radio talk show host, community organizer, and Interfaith minister, who has dedicated his life to being of service to others.


LISTEN: http://getthefunkoutshow.kuci.org/.../5819-shout-out-to...

I am relistening to this show with Calvin and I will forever treasure this conversation. He is filled with wisdom, and we certainly laughed a lot. Much love to his family and friends. What a blessing to know you, Calvin.

Sharing this video with his wife: Movements Toward Oneness Calvin Gantt and Nicole Mitchell Gantt