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

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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

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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!

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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