The New Orleans Saints’ March Madness

So far, March Madness has lived up to its name in both college basketball and in the NFL. Thankfully, the national media has been paying more attention to the Eagles, because I know Saints fans are shaking their heads and voicing concern. Shocked is a word that loosely describes the feelings of the Who Dat Nation at the moment. I will lists all the current transactions around the Saints organization and can hopefully shed some light on the situation at hand.

First, let’s discuss the Jimmy Graham situation. Was that one ever out of left field. Nobody saw that one coming, including Jimmy Graham. The trade broke the internet. The beloved Saints hybrid tight end/wide receiver was just coming off the first year of his first huge pro contract. He’s worth the money. He’s an incredible athlete and plays the most pivotal and now revelatory position in pro football. He has helped revolutionize the tight end position in the NFL.

With a 6’6 frame and freakish athleticism and great hands, Jimmy Graham had become one of the most deadly red zone options in the game. The new wave of rebounding bruisers from college hardwood has found its niche in the NFL tight end circuit. It started with Tony Gonzales and Antonio Gates and has now evolved into guys like Jimmy Graham and Julius Thomas, who just signed with the hell hole they call Jacksonville.

Back to the Jimmy deal. I’m fine with shipping out a huge contract for a much needed two-time Pro Bowl center in Max Unger, but why did we have to deal with the Seahawks!? As if I didn’t hate the Richard Sherman-led Seahawks enough. Now this just gives us all one more reason to root against the reigning Super Bowl choke artists. With the Jimmy Graham deal, Mikey Loomis also found a way to add a pick late in the first round. The Saints can do a lot with the 31st pick in the NFL draft as they can move up or down to grab a needed position. Loomis and Sean Payton have been preaching that their goal is to shore up the defense this offseason. The deal with Jimmy Graham helped the offensive line so you would think that Saints will use their newly acquired draft picks on defensive positions. With Ben Watson now leading the way at tight end, this opens up a tight end spot that can be picked up in the upcoming draft. The Saints should look to pick the New Orleans native Rico Gathers who is currently the rebounding machine at Baylor University. Are you asking yourself this question: “a rebounding machine?” Yes, Rico Gathers is the undersized but Herculean-built power forward for the Baylor Bears basketball team. You heard it here first! Rico Gathers will be the next Saints secret weapon at the tight end position.

If shoring up the defense was the front office’s plans initially, then why send Curtis Lofton packing? Lofton was by far, without question, the Saints leader on the defensive side of the ball. Coming off his second career hundred tackle season, the steady linebacker led the Saints in tackling for the third consecutive season. The hole that the Saints must climb out of financially is the lone reason why Lofton must find a home elsewhere. Instead of trading away Lofton to receive some pieces in return, the Saints cut Lofton, sending him into the ever-changing world of NFL Free Agency.

Although I don’t understand the Lofton move, I do completely understand the Pierre Thomas decision. Pierre Thomas was one of the Saints best acquisitions in franchise history. The underrated running back from Illinois University has been an impact player on the ground and through the air. Thomas is the all-time leader is receptions by a running back in Saints history and has been one of the most consistent players in the organization since Deuce McAllister. As much as I love Pierre Thomas, this was the right move for the Saints. Saints signed a very deserving Mark Ingram for four more years and picked up Jarius Byrd’s former teammate and friend CJ Spiller. This move will be up in the air until the speedy Spiller plays and remains healthy throughout the year. The Saints have always had a relatively deep backfield as Sean Payton has a style of playing multiple backs for various offensive situations. Spiller could be used as a pawn to move up or down in the draft, or in the rotational style in the backfield and can be an instant weapon in the special teams.

The final big move of the year is cutting ties with Kenny Stills and Ben Grubbs. There were rumors that Drew Brees was unhappy with both Stills and Grubbs’ work ethics so this is no surprise here. These moves are very under appreciated moves from Loomis. Stills was a fifth round draft pick and exceeded expectations tremendously. He fit the mold of a Lance Moore-type player. Stills is a small, shifty yet fearless receiver who could play from the slot all the way to the outside. The Oklahoma alum was also a deep threat on any given play. The Saints have always done a fine job of drafting underrated talent deep in the draft and this year should be no different. They will look to pick up some offensive firepower late again. Stills was sent to Miami for Dannell Ellerbe, a name that I had to Google upon reading, and also received a third round pick. Elbe will play linebacker for the Saints and this move will impact the goal of shoring up the defense for the future. The Grubbs move will immediately impact the Saints as they have a large hole to fill in the offensive line. This too is a good move for the Saints. Grubbs held a $9.1 million year in front of him and the organization decided that they needed to continue to free up cap space.

After an underwhelming 7-9 season the Saints are looking towards the future. Future Hall of Famer Drew Brees’ Super Bowl window is quickly closing and the Saints will look to protect him in his remaining years. Who knows how the job Mikey Loomis and Sean Payton have done will pan out but for now let’s support them and leave the brown bags at home. These guys have rarely failed throughout their incredible run thus far with the Saints. I have all the confidence in the world that these are the correct moves in order for this blossoming franchise to succeed. But, if the Saints fail to have a winning record, expect to see Loomis on the hot seat and expect some unruly fans to voice their opinions come Sunday in the Dome.

‘The Jinx’ Subject Robert Durst Arrested at New Orleans Hotel on First Degree Murder Charges

It’s not TV. It’s HBO. Just before the premium cable channel concluded its now-landmark documentary The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, the man himself was in New Orleans. On Saturday, March 15, Durst was arrested at the JW Marriott Hotel at 614 Canal Street.

So, if you haven’t been watching The Jinx, what happened? Here’s a quick rundown of a long and bizarre saga that has spanned decades. Spoilers for the documentary – and real life – follow, but we suspect that these final details will be revealed to you in the news in the coming days anyway.

In 1973, Kathleen McCormack married Robert Durst, the wealthy and wayward son of one of the most powerful families in New York, who founded The Durst Organization a hundred years ago. After nine years of marriage, Kathleen Durst disappeared. Robert Durst was never charged, but a veil of suspicion would follow him for his entire life. Durst has continued to deny the informal allegations about his first wife.

In 2000, eighteen years after the disappearance of Kathleen Durst, the investigation into Robert Durst was reopened. That same year, Durst’s long time friend Susan Berman was killed execution style at her home in California. Berman is believed to have knowledge of the death of Kathleen Durst, whom she also knew.

Robert Durst was questioned in the matter of Burman’s death but was not charged. Durst also moved to Galveston, Texas that year to escape the increased scrutiny he was under in New York for the death of his first wife. He also began cross-dressing and posing as a mute woman.

In 2001, Durst was arrested in Galveston for the murder of Morris Black, his elderly neighbor at a rundown apartment complex. He was released on bond the next day, posting the $300,000 without blinking. He skipped town, but was later picked up in Pennsylvania for petty theft at a supermarket (despite having $500 in his pocket).

In 2003, Durst was tried for the murder of Morris Black. But despite admitting to dismembering and disposing of the body, he was acquitted. However, he did spend time in prison for the lesser charges of bond jumping and evidence tampering.

In 2005, he visited the site where Morris Black died, and was put back in jail for violation of his parole. He was discovered after bumping into Susan Criss at the mall, the very judge who presided over his murder trial.

In 2010, director Andrew Jarecki’s film All Good Things was released. The narrative feature starred Ryan Gosling as David Marks, a cypher of Robert Durst. His wife was played by Kirsten Dunst. The film is an exploration of a couple’s tumultuous, but not unloving, relationship that ultimately results in her demise.

Robert Durst sees the film based on his life and calls the film’s distributor and asks to be put in touch with Andrew Jarecki. Durst says that he really likes the film and wants to do an interview with Jarecki to share his side of his story.

That interview is the underpinning of The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst. The six-part documentary is riveting, unfolding in dramatic detail the events of Durst’s life. It’s also an occasionally sympathetic portrayal, as Jarecki actually gives Durst the opportunity to share his side of the story, an opportunity to explain his often bizarre behavior. Throughout, Durst continues to declare his innocence.

But it appears The Jinx does more than just give Durst a platform. In the final episode, which portrays the events of the final interview, Jarecki confronts Durst with evidence he and his team uncovered surrounding the death of Susan Berman. On its face, it clearly implicates Durst in her death (we’ll spare you the details so you can watch the documentary). As the interview ends, Durst goes to use the bathroom, but forgets that his microphone is on. He begins to whisper to himself. He regrets an awkward hiccup he made right after being presented the evidence.

And then he whispers, “What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course.”

Apparently fleeing the increased scrutiny that The Jinx would bring upon him, Robert Durst ran to New Orleans, where he was arrested on Saturday, March 14 at the JW Marriott. He was arrested on a warrant issues by the Los Angeles County Police Department on suspicion of first degree murder. The murder of Susan Berman.

Durst is currently in custody awaiting transport to California.

Robert Durst Of ‘The Jinx’ Arrested On Murder Warrant, Recorded Saying He “Killed ‘Em All” – UPDATE

Updated March 15, 2015, 6:37 PM: Less than 24 hours after he was arrested in New Orleans in connection with a 2000 murder, Robert Durst is heard on tape in the final episode of HBO documentary series The Jinx: The Life And Deaths of Robert Durst admitting he “killed ‘em all, of course.”
That was one of several incriminating comments by Durst caught on tape during the interviews he did with makers of the series, which concluded tonight. Durst was arrested late Saturday…

IN THEATERS: ‘Cinderella,’ ‘It Follows,’ ‘Run All Night’

Cinderella

Disney takes on the challenge of a live-action retelling of one of the most famous fairy tales involving a fairy godmother, a glass slipper and a prince looking for his true love. 112 min. Rated PG.

It Follows

A young girl is followed by an unknown force. This terrifying horror film has gained traction from various film festivals. 100 min. Rated R. 

Run All Night

Liam Neeson stars as an aging hit man forced to take on his former boss to protect his own family. 114 min. Rated R.

Large New Film Facility Opens in New Orleans East

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held this week commemorating the opening of FilmWorks New Orleans, a new film production facility that is now available in New Orleans East.

FilmWorks New Orleans offers thirty-seven acres of flexible indoor and outdoor space, including a 20,000 square-foot stage, a 406,000 square-foot backlot, two floors of 92,000 square feet of mill/work space each, extra storage and warehousing space, as well as acres of usable green space.

Although New Orleans already has several film facilities, including the first built-for-purpose soundstages at Second Line Stages, Quixote Studios New Orleans, the soundstages at NIMS Center and the re-appropriated space at NASA’s Michoud assembly facility, the film industry continues to demand more space.

“We are proud to contribute to the growth of the film industry in New Orleans, and we truly appreciate the incredible community support we’ve received,”  FilmWorks president George Steiner said in a press release. “FilmWorks New Orleans’ flexible studio space will help ensure that we continue to draw major film projects to the area.”

“The film industry is decentralizing away from its origins in Southern California and relocating to new places across the country, particularly Louisiana. As a result, people are migrating to Louisiana, and tourists are visiting because of the near constant exposure to our authentic culture in films and on TV,” said Will French, president of the Louisiana Film & Entertainment Association. “We are excited to see a new production facility open in New Orleans. It is the surest sign that our motion picture tax credits are working and creating new jobs for Louisiana.”

The property was once the main headquarters and distribution center of MacFrugal’s, a discount outlet chain, which burned down in 1996. Several years later, the property was purchased, restored and utilized as a warehouse. Steiner, who has been in the film industry for more than forty years, has led the transformation of the space.

For more information about FilmWorks, visit www.FilmWorksNewOrleans.com.

Aaron Williamson Demystifies Functional Fitness

What is functional training?
That’s a great question. I get it all the time. Functional training is essentially exercise that mimics real life movements and activities. Most training is based around core strength, which is really important for what I do with my clients. It teaches the muscles how to work together. You are doing full body movements that work more than one body part. For instance, doing a burpee or a jumping jack, you are using your arms and your legs and your chest. The muscle groups in your body are working together.

Why has functional training become so popular?
There’s been so much hype about it. The first reason is just for the fun factor alone. Not having to go from machine to machine at the gym, or be stuck to a dumbbell or a barbell. You truly have to be into another style of training to enjoy that on a daily basis. But for the normal person, when you can go into a functional training facility or a room that has battle ropes and kettle bells and monkey bars and stability balls, you can do so many different exercises. It changes the monotony of the gym. It’s a different feeling of going in there and being depressed because you’re gonna have to get under heavy weight and do ten reps, four different times. In addition, it helps keep your body injury free. If you’re doing it right, your muscles are going to be a lot stronger and you’re going to be more conditioned, which gives you that more lean, toned look people seek, and film actors especially want.

Even when you’re doing a functional training exercise that might be targeted at your legs, you’re still using your back and your arms and other muscles in lesser ways?
Absolutely. These exercises are typically always based around your core stability, so if you’re turning from side to side or you’re jumping down on the floor and then getting back up every time, you transition from one position to another and your core is indirectly engaged. You really don’t think about it engaging, it’s just naturally happening which is such a great way to train.

How does this type of training differ from traditional weight training?
Traditional weight training is exactly how it sounds. It’s your normal gym feel. You go into the gym and you have a specific body part you want to work out. Something very common is for people to come in and train chest and triceps or back and biceps. You’re going in, doing specific exercises for a certain number of sets and a certain number of reps, and you’re targeting a certain body part. But it’s not all working together like it would if you were going into a functional training room and doing a cardio circuit or a plyometrics circuit, where you’re going to engage everything at one time. You’re going to work your whole body through one workout but you can come in again the next day and do another workout, but you’re not going to be overly sore.

It sounds like it reflects real world activities. If I’m going to outside and stack wood, I’m not isolating my biceps. It’s a full body exercise to do that.
Some of the people I train, even non-film people, are folks I’m just trying to get back in shape. And they actually noticed a difference even driving in their car. Turning a corner, they can feel their abs engage and it’s something they’ve never felt before. There’s a connection there now. Even for the average person, it’s a great way to get back into the gym and get into physical fitness because it can be low-impact or high-impact. It can be whatever you make of it. There’s just so much room to be flexible with the training.

Do you recommend one style of training over the other?
It really depends on the goals. If I’m training a film client, it depends on what their character needs to look like. I like both styles and I incorporate both of them into my training. I actually do a lot of functional fitness for my cardio, but I’m a meathead at heart. I love to just get in their with dumbbells and lift heavy stuff all the time but that’s just me. I know it’s not for everybody.

Do you train most of your film clients with functional training when you’re preparing them for action films?
Most of them right now, yes. This is the preferred method of training. First, for its ability to keep them injury free, and, second, if they’ve had a long day, it needs to be fun. It needs to be something that will allow them to stay engaged with what they’re trying to do. If you come into a gym, and someone doesn’t really like to lift weights, it’s not going to be a good experience for either of you. Most actors really don’t like to just come in and ground and pound with heavy weights. So, every time they come in, there’s a different workout, a different circuit and a different style of training. One day we might focus more on cardiovascular stuff. I can actually put workouts together with treadmills, stead mills and rowers. It doesn’t have to be what you would think is workout equipment.

How does cardio factor into functional fitness?
Cardio’s a huge thing because of the toll it takes on your body to do full body movements like burpees, squat jumps, TRX bands and using balls. You’re going to find that your heart is going to beat out of your chest before your muscles actually fatigue out. When getting into functional fitness, there’s a progressive approach that you have to take because you’re going to want to beat the world, but your heart’s going to tell you to slow down a little bit. That’s where you have to start to do a little more traditional cardio, eat a little cleaner, stop smoking and other things that’ll help your respiratory system.

So cardio’s incorporated into the training?
Yes. I’m not a big cardio guy. I’m not up before the sun and on a treadmill with 30,000 other people. If you really engage in functional fitness, your cardio’s going to be built into the workout, so you’re actually going to knock out two birds with one stone. You’re going to get the benefits of both.

Who have you recently used functional training techniques with to prepare for a film?
Recently with Jai Courtney for the new film Terminator: Genisys. Out of everyone I’ve worked with, I’m most jealous of his genetics. We had to be very careful with training him because he can put on muscle really easily. So, we stay away from lifting heavy weights and focused on a lot of plyometrics. A lot of box jumps, burpees, TRX, a lot of stability work. We were on the battle ropes everyday doing different intervals. He progressed on this show tremendously. I’m excited to see him on screen July 1st.

How does nutrition differ while in a functional training program versus traditional weight training?
It can differ greatly or it can be pretty similar, depending on the goal. When I’m training my guys and we’re trying to get lean, there’s going to be more meals that are frequently eaten. Your metabolism’s going to be higher doing functional fitness. It’s a type of metabolic training. Your body is burning fat over a certain number of hours a day. Essentially, you can eat more when you’re training in a high level functional capacity. How hard are you training when you go in to lift weights traditionally? Are you feeling the pain from lifting weights? Or are you just going through the motions? Because if you’re doing that, then your nutrition’s pretty much always going to be off. It all goes back to your goals. With nutrition, there’s always going to be deviations and variations. Maybe I need a little more carbs on days I do legs, or if I’m doing a high intensity day, maybe I need to eat certain foods the day prior. There’s a lot of variables with nutrition with both styles of training. If you’re going to really get into one or the other, make sure you have someone who can guide you in the right direction with nutrition.

It’s really easy to see how you can lose weight with functional training. But can you bulk up?
It’s going to be a lot harder to bulk doing functional training. In order to put on or gain more muscle, you need to be eating more calories than you’re burning off. When you’re trying to put size on, you need to overload the muscle with weight in a progressive fashion for that muscle to be able to grow. The muscle’s going to break down, it’s going to rebuild while you’re recovering, and then you go back into the gym and you want to expand on that. You want to lift heavier, lift stronger, and that’s where the weight’s going to come from. With functional fitness, it’s not really geared around putting mass on. It’s going to be a lot harder because functional fitness lends itself more to losing weight and to toning up.

What advice do you have for people wanting to explore functional fitness further?
Look at some videos online and see what functional fitness is. Everyone’s got a different take on it. Some people say it’s this, some people say it’s that. But at the end of the day, it’s really anything that mimics what you would do on a normal day. Picking up your grocery bags out of the store and loading them in your car. Picking up wood. Shoveling snow. Those are all movements that you can mimic in the gym. I recommend that you find a good trainer to show you the basics and how to keep yourself safe and injury free. It can be high impact and if you’re doing it incorrectly, you can get injured very easily. Have someone show you the right form and how to progress into it.

True or false: functional fitness was invented by Sylvester Stallone when he prepared to fight the Russian in that movie where the Russian was in the gym the whole time and Rocky was in the mountains lifting logs and rocks?
Ha! That’s probably some the most creative functional training I’ve ever seen. I think people still want to train like that. Go into a place and be that creative in trying to figure out how to train with such limited assets. Even for us over in Iraq, you’re using water jugs and you’re using sandbags. You’re using whatever you can use and that’s functional fitness at its best right there. Be creative with what you have and make it work.

For more health and fitness tips, read the Health Scene online at health.sceneent.com and visit Aaron’s personal website at aaronwilliamson.net.

The Oscars, Birdman, American Sniper, Save The Date, The Jinx, Rudderless, The Search for Michael Rockefeller | The SceneCast

Micah and David talk about what they’ve Scene Recently, including The Oscars, Best Picture winner Birdman, the films Rudderless, Save the Date, American Sniper and the documentaries The Jinx and The Search for Michael Rockefeller.

The SceneCast is the official podcast of Scene Magazine, the entertainment magazine. Find out more at Sceneent.com. Email us at scenecast@sceneent.com.

SHOW NOTES

0:52 – Intro
1:20 – The Oscars
15:23 – Best Picture Winner Birman
21:43 – American Sniper
36:39 – Rudderless (directed by William H. Macy)
40:52 – Save the Date (now on Netflix)
42:50 – The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
50:51 – The Search for Michael Rockefeller (now on Netflix)
52:33 – FIVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO (Upcoming stuff we’re excited about)

SPONSOR:
This episode of the SceneCast is brought to you by the Apres Lounge, who invite you to New Orleans for a night out in an unforgettable atmosphere. Located at 608 Fulton Street, the Apres Lounge exudes elegance and excitement, all in walking distance of the city’s best hotels and restaurants. Stop by for a drink, or let the experts host your next private event or wrap party. For more details, email info@apresnola.com.

Matthew McConaughey in Louisiana-Shot ‘Free State of Jones’

All three actors have found success while filming in Louisiana. Russell’s role in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes received high praise. Ali played alongside Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. And Matthew McConaughey’s career resurgence was shot almost entirely in Louisiana, with roles in Killer Joe, Dallas Buyers Club and True Detective.

The Hunger Games director Gary Ross will produce and direct from his own script. Gary Ross started the Hunger Games franchise before leaving to direct other more “serious” projects, including Free State of Jones. It will be interesting to watch Ross direct major battle scenes compared to the common one-on-one battles we see in The Hunger Games. The release of the film is set for March 11, 2016.

REVIEW: Focus | The SceneCast

FASHION: Andi Eaton on Southern Design Week and the Apple Watch | The SceneCast

Southern Design Week founder and fashion writer Andi Eaton discusses Southern Design Week and the Apple Watch, the first major foray into the world of fashion by the makers of the iPhone.

The SceneCast is the official podcast of Scene Magazine, the entertainment magazine. Find out more at Sceneent.com. Email us at scenecast@sceneent.com.

1:20 – Andi Eaton discusses Southern Design Week and regional fashion weeks
19:01 – Wearable Tech: The Apple Watch and “Jewelry Store Practices” at the Apple Store

SPONSOR:
This episode of the SceneCast is brought to you by Delaney and Robb, a premier New Orleans law firm focused on estate planning, family law and general practice. The only established firm in New Orleans dedicated to the LGBT community, Delaney and Robb greet each client with compassion and understanding, in addition to experienced legal expertise. Whether you are a member of the LGBT community or just need great legal representation, Delaney and Robb are there for you. Visit delaneyandrobb.com for more information.

Introducing The SceneCast, the Official Podcast of Scene Magazine

When Tom Magliozzi died, I didn’t feel anything. Condolences were popping up on Facebook and Twitter, but I didn’t know who he was. Until I heard his voice. For decades, he was half of “Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers,” the fake names of two real brothers who hosted NPR’s Car Talk.

I knew exactly who he was. The sound of his voice carried with it so many memories. Of working on cars and tractors with my dad. Of painting houses with my brothers. Of trekking across the country on vacation with my family. Of stacking boxes during my summer job. I could repeat twenty jokes Tom told over the years and rattle off the fake credits at the end of his show without even trying. He was someone I had a strong connection with, and yet, I didn’t know his name and had never seen his face.

When Tom died in November, we’d already been developing the SceneCast for months. But his death reminded me of how powerful the spoken word can be. I invited him into my childhood, my teenage years and on vacation with my brother only a few weeks ago.

Now I want to invite you into Scene Magazine. I want you to be there when I interview Meghan Trainor. I want you to be there when I interview Kevin Costner. I want you to hear how Mark Wahlberg and Craig Robinson struggled to make it early in their careers, and how Mike Birbiglia treated our interview like it was a one-man show with a one-man audience.

Everyone at Scene wants you to hear how screenplays are written and movies are made. How sets are built and music is recorded. How actors stay in shape and films are financed. How to get a job in the entertainment industry and what you really need to study in school.

And we also want to talk about what’s actually worth watching! We want to share the music, movies, television series and more that are inspiring us. On the SceneCast, we’re going to talk about all of that, and we’re going to invite the entertainment industry into the conversation. You never know who’s going to pop up as a guest.

The best part is this: it’s free and you can take it with you. If you’ve got a smart phone, you can stream the SceneCast wherever you go. Take celebrity trainer Aaron Williamson with you while you’re at the gym. Take Shane West with you to Mardi Gras. Bring me, Beth Burvant and David Draper with you while shopping. Whether working, mowing the lawn or avoiding your in-laws, the SceneCast is the best way to get you through the day until you can get to the movie theater, or curled up on the couch to knock out some Netflix.

During our launch week, we’ll be debuting a slew of awesome launch episodes! Although Meghan Trainor is really great, we couldn’t limit it to just one episode. So enjoy all of the great content and make sure to leave a review and subscribe in iTunes. It’ll ensure you get every new episode right on your phone.

Go to thescenecast.com to get started. We’re already there, eagerly awaiting you. So, listen up.

Aaron Williamson Talks Training James Marsden for ‘The Best of Me’ | The SceneCast

Meghan Trainor Talks “All About That Bass” | The SceneCast

IN THEATERS: ‘Chappie,’ ‘Unfinished Business,’ ‘Kidnapping Mr. Heineken’

Chappie

In the near future, one police droid is captured and given new programming. The police droid, Chappie, is the first robot with the ability to think and feel. 120 min. Rated R. 

Unfinished Business

Two associates of a hard-working small business owner take a business trip to Europe. With hopes of closing the most important deal of their lives, their trip goes haywire. 91 min. Rated R. 

Kidnapping Mr. Heineken

A true story about the heist of Freddy Heineken (Anthony Hopkins). Five childhood friends generated the largest ransom ever paid. This film was shot in New Orleans. 95 min. Rated R.

All films will be released March 6 in a theater near you.

New Orleans Native Quentin Alexander Advances to ‘American Idol’ Top 16

Last week on American Idol, New Orleans native Quentin Alexander sang “I Put a Spell on You” and received high praise from the judges, the voters and Dr. Funkenstein himself, George Clinton. This week, the Mcdonough 35 alum smoothly belted Stevie Wonder’s “Master Blaster.” Alexander wowed the judges and wooed the audience with his reggae spin on the Stevie Wonder classic.

Alexander closed out the show with his rendition of “Master Blaster.” He and seven other male contestants would advance, solidifying his spot in the top sixteen. Jennifer Lopez said, “I’m so glad you’re here,” after Alexander’s polished performance. The 2015 Jazz Festival artist Keith Urban chimed in to the same tune adding, “You know who you are, you know what song suits you, you know what plays to your strengths. You know how to look, how to move, how to sing. That’s why it was a bullseye.”

Another New Orleans hopeful is street performer Joey Cook. Although American Idol claims her hometown is Woodbridge, Virginia, she has been busking on the bustling streets of the Big Easy in the months prior to the airing of the show. Cook sports an odd look and says, “Anywhere else in the US, people kind of double-take and think, ‘Oh, that girl looks so weird.’ In New Orleans, I blend in, kind of. I fit a little bit more down there. It’s way more my speed. It’s a very artistic city, which I’ve always been very drawn to.”

There’s finally a reason to watch the aging Fox show. So tune in, sit back and watch the New Orleans spirit shine. The top twelve finalists will be revealed Wednesday, March 11 at 8pm on Fox.

Source: nola.com.

TRAILER: Ryan Reynolds in New Orleans-Shot ‘Self/less’

New Orleans-shot Self/less stars Ben Kingsley and Ryan Reynolds. Kingsley plays the man who built New York. He is a self made man whose buildings symbolize the strength and power his life once had. When his health begins to deteriorate, he is brought an opportunity of immortality.

This sci-fi action film is directed by Immortals helmer Tarsem Singh. It seems that immortality is a common theme in Singh’s films. He also has directed multiple visually striking films such as Mirror Mirror, The Cell and The Fall. The film is written by David and Alex Pastor.

It’s very refreshing to watch Ryan Reynolds step out of his comedy shell and attack more solemn characters. He has continued the trend by co-starring with the most desirable sixty-nine year old on the planet Helen Mirren in The Woman in Gold. In the trailer above, Reynolds explores his emotionally and physically torn life in Self/less.

Shot in New Orleans, we catch glimpses of the historic cemeteries, beautiful houses on Esplanade and even see the small towns Louisiana has to offer. The film is set to be released July 31. Below is the Self/less teaser poster.

RED BAND TRAILER: NOLA’s ‘Get Hard’ Earns It’s R Rating

The NSFW trailer is finally here and I for one can’t keep a straight face while watching. The two comics, Ferrell and Hart, are irresistibly funny and have great screen chemistry. This Red Band trailer displays nudity, cursing, drug and alcohol consumption and some quality patriotism in a bathroom stall.

Will Ferrell stars as a falsely accused corrupt banker, who is sentenced to San Quentin Penitentiary. Ferrell looks to Kevin Hart, a black man who isn’t exactly a thug, to help prevent him from being someone’s female dog. Judging by the trailer, Ferrell seems to fit in just fine with his new found soul mates.

Community’s Allison Brie will star as Ferrell’s wife, TI, Matt Walsh and Entourage’s Paul Ben-Victor also star. The film is produced by Warner Bros and Gary Sanchez Productions. Get Hard is directed by Tropic Thunder helmer Etan Cohen.

Watch the first trailer here. For more information visit the official website here. This film is set to be released March 27.

TRAILER: Lucy Lawless in Shreveport-Shot ‘Salem’ Season 2

The new devilishly cryptic trailer for Season 2 of Salem has been released. Mary is singing a lullaby to her son. The lullaby is sweet on the exterior but is riddled with frightening subtext through high pitched sounds to every jump cut. We also catch a glimpse of Lucy Lawless. Lawless will play Countess Marburg, she claims to be the last of the remaining witches.

Hopefully Lawless’ character will be a worthy adversary to Mary Sibley, the reigning witch. Shane West is briefly seen, too, bloodied and disordered in the forests of Salem. That scene, in particular, reminds me of a scene right out of the Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Young Goodman Brown. The townspeople are frightened as the word “WAR” is written in a fiery font atop a patch of grass. Their fears are answered as they realize that the witch war is upon them.

Salem released some provocative Season 2 key art that illustrates the inevitable witch war.

Finally, the trailer closes with a man sheepishly walking into a house. A small girl tells the man not to enter the house because someone is inside. The man quickly finds out that the small girl was warning the man of his certain death upon entry.

Salem Season 2 premieres April 5. For more information visit the official website wgnamerica.com.

OPENING FRIDAY: Kidnapping Mr. Heineken

New Orleans-shot Kidnapping Mr. Heineken follows the planning, kidnapping and the aftermath of five kidnappers acquiring their target, Alfred “Freddy” Heineken. Heineken, a major dutch businessman and Chairman and CEO of Heineken International, was actually kidnapped in 1983. This film is based on the novel written by Peter R. de Vries. De Vries was also an investigative journalist on the case in 1983.

Set in the Netherlands, Kidnapping Mr. Heineken is a bold crime thriller. Anthony Hopkins will star as the beer tycoon. Sam Worthington, Jim Sturgess and Ryan Kwanten will also star in the film. The kidnappers shockingly abducted the heir to the Heineken beer kingdom on the streets in Amsterdam in broad daylight and were paid the largest ransom ever for a single individual.

This story has been told once before on screen in the 2011 film, The Heineken Kidnapping. Rutger Hauer played Alfred Heineken in that iteration, which was released in the Netherlands and oversees.

Watch the trailer for Kidnapping Mr. Heineken here. The film is set to be released March 6.

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Magnificent Seven’ Headed to Baton Rouge, Will Reunite ‘Training Day’ Alums Denzel Washington & Ethan Hawke

It’s time for another remake and a reunion. The Magnificent Seven looks like it’s headed to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. If the title sounds familiar, that’s because it’s a remake of the famous 1960 film that starred Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Eli Walach, Charles Bronson, James Coburn and was directed by Western master John Sturges.

Before you start hating on remakes, Sturges’ Seven was itself a remake of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai. So please join with me in suspending suspicion until we see the final product.

Training Day co-stars Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke and director Antoine Fuqua are set to reunite on the film, which will also star Liam Neeson, Haley Bennett and Jurassic World‘s Chris Pratt. Fuqua will direct from a script written by True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto and John Lee Hancock, who also wrote The Blind Side.

Washington won an Oscar for his performance as Det. Alonzo Harris, a veteran LAPD officer who likes to work outside of the law in order to enforce it. Ethan Hawke was also nominated that year.

The classic story is about the widow of a murdered man who hires a bounty hunter (here played by Washington) to protect her against a ruthless gold baron and his goons, who have taken over a town. The bounty hunter hires six gunmen to help him. And one plus six equals seven.

The MGM/Sony production is eyeing a mid-April start in Baton Rouge, although such big studio films are known to be a little unpredictable. We’ll keep you posted.

PREVIEW: 2015 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

The lineup has been announced and the stars are aligned for the 2015 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The festival will kick off its first weekend Friday, April 24-26. The second weekend will begin Thursday, April 30 and continue through Sunday, May 3. Legends like Elton John, The Who, Jimmy Buffett, Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, Widespread Panic and Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue will be featured in this year’s stellar cast.

I will break down each day, let you know who to check out, and what snap chats will make all of your friends jealous.

Friday, April 24: The first day of the festival includes performances from Keith Urban, Wilco, Jimmy Cliff, Hozier and New Orleans’ own Earphunk. I’m not a huge fan of Keith Urban, but if you can get close enough to the stage you might be able to catch a glimpse of his beautiful Australian wife, Nicole Kidman. Worth it. Even if Jimmy Fallon doesn’t think so.

Wilco and Jimmy Cliff are sure to put on great performances. Hozier has been radio-hot lately. His song “Take Me To Church” will probably be towards the end of his setlist, guaranteeing people to stick around until they hear “I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies.”

Finally, you must go see Earphunk. The name alone is pretty sweet. These guys are New Orleans natives who have brought high energy white boy funk to a whole new level. They’re fun, they’re young and hip, and have very cool stage production. They’re essential to your snap chat story.

Saturday, April 25: The first Saturday of Jazz Fest is jam-packed with outstanding acts. These acts include fabled British rock band, The Who, John Legend, Juvenile and Nola native Mannie Fresh, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Shovels & Rope, The Revivalists, Big Sam’s Funky Nation and an old veteran of the festival, Walter “Wolfman” Washington.

Let’s begin with The Who, one of the most storied and everlasting bands of the century. The Who have toured together longer than Rapunzel’s hair. They have the energy of twenty-year-olds and rock louder than most young bands do today. They are your pinnacle end-of-the-night rager.

John Legend is coming off of an inspirational performance at the 87th Oscars. He is smooth, talented, his last name rocks and maybe we’ll see a guest performance from Common. Next up is the bounce and hip-hop extraordinaire Juvenile and Mannie Fresh. Juvy will make you move in slow motion while you back dat azz up.

If you’ve seen the funkiest veterans of the festival, Dumpstaphunk, you need little introduction. Ivan Neville and his squad create sounds that enable you to stand still. Throw your lawn chairs away for this show and get ready to groove.

One of the best folk/grassroots bands around is Shovels & Rope. This husband-and-wife duo hail from Charleston, South Carolina and harmonize with the best of them. They will be a great show to watch with your shades drawn and laying on that blanket that you’ll have to wash nineteen times after the weekend.

Sunday, April 26: Sunday will round out the first weekend with Jimmy Buffett, Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, Pitbull, Allen Toussaint and Rebirth Brass Band.

Jimmy Buffett is one of my favorite shows to watch. The guy literally walks to the beat of his own drum. The Margaritaville native wears flip-flops, sweat bands, shades and no sunscreen. He constantly lives in an aspiring boyish daze and no need to check your watch because it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere.

A show that I truly want to check out is the odd but Grammy-award winning pair of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. The Mother Monster is flying high after her incredible tribute to “The Sound of Music” at the 87th Oscars. She was also recently cast in American Horror Story.

Don’t go see Pitbull. We’ve all seen him enough on those atrociously brutal Pepsi commercials.

The man, the myth, the legend Allen Toussaint will grace the stage at Jazz Fest. Toussaint has been involved with the music industry since the dawn of time. He has had his hand in albums from Paul McCartney, The Band, Etta James and Dr. John, just to name a few.

Finally, the annual performance of Rebirth Brass Band at Jazz Fest never disappoints. Smooth horns, vocals and stage presence is always a site to see.

Thursday, April 30: If you like jam bands and you attended Phish on Thursday last year, then get your tie-dye shirts ready and show some love for Widespread Panic. Unfortunately there won’t be “the lot” experience but I’m sure you’ll find what you need in the crowd.

If you loved the Coen’s O’ Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack, then go listen to the glorious vocals of Alison Krauss. Krauss will perform with Union Station. The Grammy-award winning artist has a voice that Brennan Huff wishes he had.

Friday, May 1: The first day of May will be a blast, No Doubt. One of the most exciting news I heard of the festival was the revival of Macy Gray. She will play alongside Galactic and boy am I excited. Get your snap chats ready for the “I try to say good-bye and I choke” line.

Shooter Jennings and Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr will also perform. A great act to check out is Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes. You can sketch over to The Prytania Bar and see him before he hits the festival stages.

Saturday, May 2: One of the biggest names to ever play at Jazz Fest is Elton John. This Tiny Dancer has been controversially lovable for years and years. He is joined by ginger sensation Ed Sheeran, TI, Jerry Lee Lewis and the “Queen of Bounce” herself, Big Freedia.
I am incredibly enthused to see Elton John. When he belts “Tiny Dancer,” I will immediately be taken back to Stillwater’s tourbus scene in Almost Famous.

The Brit pop-star Ed Sheeran will play to a huge crowd. Ladies, please keep all arms and legs outside of the barricades. Now, if you listen to one thing in this piece it’s this: Go. See. Big. Freedia. After attending the Queen of Bounce’s show, you will certainly need a shower and a bottle of Axe body spray (can’t believe I just typed that). Test yourself; see how fast you can move.

Sunday, May 3: The secret’s out, Lenny Kravitz is this year’s surprise performer. The smooth, always shirtless, nose-pierced, Super Bowl performer will serenade with powerful electric guitar rifts and awesome showmanship. Joining him are the Coors Light heroes, The O’Jays, Buddy Guy, The Meters, Dr. John and the reinvented jam and blues infused musician Anders Osborne.

Notably, Trombone Shorty returns as the newest New Orleans native superstar to close out the festival, which looks like it will be a great ride this year. Let’s just hope the weather co-operates. There’s nothing worse than walking around in ankle deep mud as hot rain falls on you. Especially because we all know that isn’t mud. Not on a horse track.

Purchase your tickets here and visit the official website.

Shreveport-Shot ‘Salem’ Season 2 Key Art

Mary Sibley is the baddest witch in Salem. WGN America has just released key art for Season 2 of Salem. The series will pick up during the epic Witch Wars. Janet Montgomery plays the powerful witch Mary Sibley who will face rivals old and new, contending for her mighty throne.

The war-torn town of Salem has undergone wretched havoc as Mary Sibley defends her sovereignty. Shane West, Seth Gabel, Ashley Madekwe, Tamzin Merchant, Elise Eberle and Iddo Goldberg will return with Montgomery for Season 2. New faces such as Lucy Lawless, Stuart Townsend, Joe Doyle and Oliver Bell will inhabit the old witch town in 17th century Massachusetts.

Watch the Season 2 trailer. Salem Season 2 premieres April 5. For more information visit the official website wgnamerica.com.

Mary Sibley hanging from a traditional cross as the world behind her is turned upside down.

A crow roosts on a witch atop a maligned church.

Mary Sibley is centered holding a severed noose as her rival witches unnervingly float behind her.

A noose secures the lips of a witch and is lowered to form the ‘A’ in the Salem title.

IN THEATERS: ‘Little Boy,’ ‘Focus,’ ‘The Lazarus Effect,’ ‘Maps To The Stars’

Little Boy

A little boy uses faith and determination to bring his father home from WWII. Kevin James and Michael Rapaport star in this inspiring war drama. Rated PG-13.

Focus

Shot in New Orleans, I Love You Phillip Morris directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa helm this film starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie. 104 min. Rated R.

The Lazarus Effect

Metairie native Mark Duplass stars with Olivia Wilde in this terrifying thriller. Duplass, Wilde and other medical students attempt to bring life back into their dead patients. 83 min. Rated R.

Maps To The Stars

David Cronenberg returns. A tour into the heart of a Hollywood family chasing celebrity, one another and the relentless ghosts of their pasts. 111 min. Rated R.

All films will be released Friday, February 27 in a theater near you.

PHOTOS: ‘Fantastic Four’

The new Fantastic Four reboot will stray far away from the cartoonish films that precedes it. Chronicle director Josh Trank says that his new film will own the tone of a “dark Amblin movie.” Both Trank and writer/ producer Simon Kinberg say that they want to take the silliness out of the narrative and contextualize everything in a real world.

Trank and his team have done a good job of slowly but surely releasing small tidbits of the new film. We have learned about the cast a while ago. We saw their matching uniforms. We saw the trailer. And now, Empire has provided us with four new awesome stills.

These four stills don’t reveal too much, which is exactly what we want. The new four are young, seemingly naive, attractive and have so much to prove. Let’s see if they can succeed in a world where their powers aren’t necessarily overwhelming and completely dominant. No photos of the villain Victor Domachev yet, but I sense there are some on the horizon. Fantastic Four opens August 7, 2015.

Source: /Film

Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm (The Human Torch)

Miles Teller as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic)

Kate Mara as Sue Storm (The Invisible Woman)

Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm (The Thing)

7th New Orleans Entrepreneur Week Plans Unveiled

New Orleans Entrepreneur Week returns to New Orleans March 20-27. Here’s the press release:

Local leaders revealed plans for the 7th New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW), presented by Iberia Bank, to the New Orleans entrepreneurial community at Il Mercato. Scheduled to take place March 20-27, 2015, on Fulton Street in downtown New Orleans, NOEW is produced by The Idea Village.

NOEW is the annual festival celebrating entrepreneurship, innovation, and advanced thinking. This year, 10,000+ attendees, consisting of entrepreneurs, investors, corporations, nonprofits, students, and professionals, are expected to engage through over seventy unique events designed to foster discussion, debate, education, competition, and celebration to support new ideas and elevate entrepreneurial thinking in New Orleans. Launched in 2009, NOEW has evolved into one of the most authentic entrepreneurship festivals in the country.

“New Orleans Entrepreneur Week is becoming part of New Orleans’ annual rhythms and rituals alongside Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, and Saints Season,” said Tim Williamson, Co-founder and CEO of The Idea Village. “NOEW is the platform for the entrepreneurial community to connect, as over thirty partners will have their own “stage” to showcase over seventy-five new ventures across strategic initiatives in water, energy, arts, healthcare, education, food, women in business, and youth entrepreneurship. This year, we are also excited to invite other communities to join us at NOEW to learn how we do things differently in New Orleans.”

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu added, “New Orleans has become a leading entrepreneurial city and we are only going to maintain that status by continuing to scale locally, by continuing to support local entrepreneurs and innovators, and by making New Orleans Entrepreneur Week something we attend each year.”

“Iberia Bank sees great value in New Orleans Entrepreneur Week because it has become a powerful platform for the larger entrepreneurial community,” said Daryl G. Byrd, President and CEO of Iberia Bank Corporation. “We are proud to be the title sponsor of this impactful event and look forward to working together to nurture our thriving business community over the next three years leading up to 2018, New Orleans’ tri-centennial.”

“The NOEW platform has something for everyone,” said Victoria Adams, Director of New Orleans Entrepreneur Week. “The 2015 schedule was created for the expanding entrepreneurial community and incorporates local assets alongside national trends so that the entire community can participate in the entrepreneurial movement.”

Additional information, including the 2015 event headliners, will be released on an ongoing basis via @helloNOEW leading up to NOEW. The full schedule will be released on Monday, February 23rd, when registration opens via www.NOEW.org.

ABOUT NEW ORLEANS ENTREPRENEUR WEEK: 
New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW), presented by IBERIABANK, is the annual festival celebrating business, innovation, and advanced thinking in New Orleans. Produced by The Idea Village, NOEW engages a dynamic global to support growing companies and elevate entrepreneurial successes through eight days of discussion, debate, education, competition, and celebration. This year, NOEW 2015 will take place March 20-27, 2015 and 10,000+ are expected to engage through over 70 events. www.NOEW.org.

ABOUT THE IDEA VILLAGE: 
In 2000, The Idea Village was formed by a group of New Orleans citizens who believed entrepreneurship is a catalyst for positive change. The Idea Village formalized in 2002 as an independent 501(c) 3 non-profit organization with a mission to identify, support, and retain entrepreneurial talent
in New Orleans by providing direct service to high impact entrepreneurs, educating the broader community, and supporting initiatives that strengthen our entrepreneurial infrastructure. From 2009-2014, The Idea Village has provided direct support to over 3,411 New Orleans entrepreneurs by engaging over 2,600 professionals to allocate 68,543 consulting hours and $2.5 million in seed capital. In addition, The Idea Village hosts New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, a business festival that has become the platform for the New Orleans entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Idea Village Gold Excellence award from the International Economic Development Council for our Entrepreneur Season model in 2012 and were recognized as a top-three entrepreneurship ecosystem developer in 2014 by the Global Innovation Summit. www.ideavillage.org.

NOEW 2015 Highlights by Day:

Friday, March 20: Opening Celebration
NOEW 2015 will kick off with an innovative, New Orleans-style launch event that is free and open to the public.

Saturday, March 21: The NOLA Next Young Innovators Experience, hosted by Junior Achievement and The Idea Village, sponsored by the Brees Dream Foundation
For local students, the NOLA Next Young Innovators Experience will feature engaging workshops, speakers and demos. It will culminate with the Trust Your Crazy Ideas high school pitch competition.

Sunday, March 22:  The Food MiniCon, a collaboration between the New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute and the Idea Village, sponsored by French Market Coffee, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation and Rouses Markets 
This MiniCon will feature the latest food innovations to the public.

Monday, March 23: Pitch Local, brought to you by JP Morgan
Pitch Local will highlight eight different entrepreneur showcase events hosted by local ecosystem partners. They include:
1. The 5th annual Water Challenge hosted by Propeller and sponsored by the Greater New Orleans Foundation
2. The 4.0 Schools Education Pitch
3. The Downtown NOLA Arts Based Business Pitch hosted by the Downtown Development District, Creative Alliance of New Orleans, and Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation
4. Tulane’s Business Model Competition hosted by Tulane Entrepreneurs Association (TEA)
5. The Women in Business Challenge hosted by the Urban League of Greater New Orleans
6. The VetLaunch Challenge hosted by VetLaunch
7. The JEDCO Entrepreneur Challenge hosted by JEDCO
8. The Startup St. Bernard Challenge hosted by the Meraux Foundation

Tuesday, March 24 – Thursday, March 26: NOEW Interactive
For those looking to learn and connect, NOEW Interactive is the 3-day track of keynotes, seminars, networking events, and open pitch opportunities to be connected, engaged and inspired. Themes are Marketing & Branding, Technology and Raising Capital/Scaling.

Wednesday, March 25 – Friday, March 27: NOEW Investor Track
For investors, the NOEW Investor Track will highlight fifty companies in fifty hours. The NOEW VIP Investor Track is for national accredited investors. For more information, contact alex@ideavillage.org.

Thursday, March 26: Energy and Healthcare Innovation Summits
New to the NOEW calendar, an Energy Innovation Summit, hosted by Southeast Louisiana Energy Initiative. Also new to NOEW calendar, a Healthcare Innovation Summit, hosted by Ochsner Health Systems in partnership with GE Healthcare.

Friday, March 27: The Big Idea
The Big Idea, the culmination of NOEW, is a crowd-sourced pitch extravaganza that will feature twelve of New Orleans’ most promising startup ventures and a celebrity-judging panel. The entire community is invited to attend.