Lady Gaga to Star in ‘American Horror Story’

One of the major bright spots of the 87th Oscars was the impressive “Sound of Music” performance by the one-and-only Lady Gaga. Many thought this would catapult Gaga onto Broadway. They were wrong. The weirdly sensational pop star will have a role on FX’s hit television anthology series, American Horror Story: Hotel.

FX announced Wednesday that Lady Gaga would star in the fifth installment of American Horror Story. This role is certainly fitting as she refers to her fans as little monsters, and being the baddest of them all, calls herself Mother Monster.

The timing of this announcement couldn’t have been better as Gaga is coming off of one of her best live performances of her career. She has taken a break from the pop spotlight and worked on a Grammy-winning album with legend Tony Bennett. Gaga needed Bennett more than Bennett needed her on the album, Cheek to Cheek, but the album has flung the unlikely duo back into relevance. They’ll be performing in New Orleans at Jazz Fest in only a few months.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Murphy nab a pop sensation for his horrific hit show. In the second season of American Horror Story, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine landed a recurring role. Murphy has shown his true appreciation for Gaga in a tribute episode in the first season of Glee. Murphy also rekindled his love affair in the fifth season of Glee with a Katy Perry vs. Lady Gaga episode.

Lady Gaga’s role on the show is expected to be as big as Jessica Lange’s roles, which have anchored the show for the first four season. We don’t know much about the fifth season, other than the show’s title and Gaga’s commitment. It’s a great move on FX’s part to usher in viewers from all of the Little Monsters out there.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Says He’ll Be Back For ‘Terminator: Genisys’ Sequel

The summer blockbuster Terminator: Genisys hasn’t even come out yet and Arnold Schwarzenegger has already said “I’ll be back” for the film’s sequel in 2016. This will also be the eleven millionth time that phrase has been used regarding the Terminator franchise.

Since the release of the first trailer, the idea of a new trilogy has been an afterthought for fans, who are just generally excited to watch this year’s film. The star studded cast has gotten some gravitas since the 87th Oscars. JK Simmons won an Oscar for his performance in Whiplash. In Genisys, he’ll be joined by Jai Courtney, Emilia Clarke and Jason Clarke.

/Film has made observations regarding Schwarzenegger’s possible death in the new film. If he dies, and is to return for a sequel, the sixty-seven year old must’ve dodged death again. That, or the sequel will again go back in time. We learned the news of Arnold’s return while the Governor of California was in Budapest. TheArnoldFans asked Schwarzenegger if he would return for the sixth Terminator movie, Arnold answered, “Yes, of course. Next year.”

Terminator: Genisys part two and three are already scheduled to be released in May 2017 and June 2018 respectively. Visit the official website and watch the trailer below.

Source: /Film

Clue Carré Wants to Lock You Up

The Scene team took a mid-day field trip to 337 Barrone St. to participate in the addictively fun Clue Carré Escape Game. After little instruction, we entered into the “Voodoo Room” and were immediately locked in. It was our job to hunt down clues inside of the room, and to eventually find the key that would essentially set us free. Of course, the Scene team worked together, conquered the room with only a few ticks of the clock left, and walked away with the swagger of champions. This escape game is centrally focused towards team building, revealing leadership qualities and, ultimately, the thrill of escaping cleverly crafted rooms.

Clue Carré has seen promising success within the first month. Because of their growing popularity, they are already in the process of adding a third room to their facility. We got the chance to sit down with Clue Carré owner, Megan Mouton, to ask her some questions about her imaginative escape game.

Where did you experience similar businesses that inspired you to open Clue Carre?
My husband and I were planning a family vacation to London and found that one of the top things to do in all of London was an escape game. I was intrigued by the concept and started to really research how many there were in the world and how many had opened in the United States. At that point there were under five in the US, but almost every other major city in the world had some type of escape game. Being in Special Events, I knew there was a need in New Orleans for a new and different type of activity. It’s nice to have something in Nola that is not focused around drinking as well. At its heart, escape games are a teambuilding exercise that allow friends, family, students, or coworkers the opportunity to work together and communicate to achieve the common of goal of a successful escape.

How did you develop the puzzle rooms? Did you come up with the themes and puzzles yourselves? Or did you employ experts who do this professionally?
We worked with a fabulous team of Hungarian game designers to create the initial puzzles and games. We then built and themed each game to fit our New Orleans market. We had about a month of testing prior to opening. During that time, we added and tweaked each room on our own as we saw how different teams reacted to different elements. Some areas we made easier and others we stepped up the difficulty level.

You’ve been open a month and it’s turning into a sensation. What funny stories have you got from the first four weeks?
Well, we can’t really reveal too much of the hilarity that ensues when teams are locked up for an hour, but it is interesting to hear and see what people come up with little to no instruction. What sets our escape game apart from others that we have experienced, is that our Game Masters are playing right there along with the teams. They will interact and mess with the teams to make sure they aren’t just using their brains, but laughing and having a great time along the way.

You and your game masters observe guests during their hour in the puzzle rooms. What have you learned about human behavior?
We have learned that no two teams do the rooms exactly the same. There is a psychology behind the development of the games. It is interesting to see what people gravitate towards and what people may over look. People tend to fall into roles very quickly. For example: leader, follower, quiet thinker, outspoken, director, etc.

What percentage of your clients to date have been local? What percentage have been tourists?
At this point I would say it has been about 90% Nola and the surrounding areas and 10% tourists in this first month.

What is your favorite movie and why is it the 1985 film CLUE?
I am huge movie fan, so I don’t think I could possibly pick one all time favorite. Although, I do love Clue and used to watch it constantly when I was growing up. I was always a fan of Tim Curry’s Wadsworth character.

You can visit Clue Carré’s official website here www.cluecarre.com.

Hollywood Trucks and Second Line Stages Announce Exclusive Eco-Friendly Transportation Partnership

HOLLYWOOD SOUTH GOES GREEN: The Nation’s First Green Independent Film Studio Partners with Hollywood Trucks for Eco-Friendly Transportation Services

Hollywood Trucks to provide state-of-the-art fleet to New Orleans’ Second Line Stages

FEBRUARY 23, 2015, NEW ORLEANS—Hollywood Trucks, the nation’s fastest growing entertainment transportation provider, has signed an exclusive five-year deal to provide production transportation vehicles at Second Line Stages, a world-class full service film and entertainment complex in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Through the leadership of CEO Andre Champagne and his team, Hollywood Trucks has flourished in Louisiana, serving approximately 90% of film and TV series produced in the state. Hollywood Trucks’ specialized expertise in entertainment transportation, combined with its eco-friendly fleet has led to the company’s rapid expansion into Georgia with Pinewood Atlanta Studios, an industry leader, and Mississippi Film Studios at Canton. Additionally, Hollywood Trucks is currently undertaking a major U.S and international expansion plan to be implemented later this year.

“Hollywood Trucks has worked with Second Line Stages for years and we are excited to embark on an exclusive partnership,” said Andre Champagne, CEO of Hollywood Trucks. “Second Line Stages and Hollywood Trucks synergistic commitment to innovative, sustainable, and eco-friendly practices allows productions to utilize premier transportation and location services while encouraging environmental sustainability.”

Since 2007, Hollywood Trucks has grown from seven vehicles into a 400-unit fleet of more than 40 types of trucks, trailers, and specialty production equipment. In 2014, Hollywood Trucks introduced their state-of-the-art Ecoluxe line of 100% off-the-grid, solar and thermal-powered, technologically advanced talent trailers that quickly became in demand throughout the entertainment industry.

Second Line Stages opened in 2009 as the first state-of-the-art, full-service media production facility in New Orleans and the first, independent green studio facility in the United States. The 220,000 square foot facility was built to comply with the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold Certification standard and includes three soundstages, offices, and a private screening theater. Most recently, Second Line Stages has been the home of the last two seasons of FX’s hit television show American Horror Story.

Susan Brennan, President and CEO of Second Line Stages, says, “Hollywood Trucks is a natural partner for Second Line Stages. We share the same goals of promoting Louisiana as the number one filming location while encouraging sustainability and eco-friendly practices.”

The film and entertainment industries in Louisiana continue to show positive growth, earning the region the title of “Hollywood South.” According to a recent study by Film L.A., Louisiana accounted for the largest share of live-action production in the world with 18 feature films produced last year.

Hollywood Trucks, LLC was founded in Louisiana in 2007 to provide the state’s burgeoning entertainment industry with the most state-of-the-art and eco-friendly transportation services and logistics available anywhere in the world. In 2012 Hollywood Trucks was named to the Inc. 500|5000, Inc. Magazine’s annual list of the nation’s fastest growing private companies. For more information, please visit www.hollywoodtrucksllc.com.

Second Line Stages opened in November of 2009 as the first state-of-the art full-service production facility in New Orleans, and the first LEED Certified independent studio facility in the world. For more information, visit www.secondlinestages.com.

TONIGHT: Tulane Film & Arts Festival Kicks Off

Tulane University’s Film & Arts Festival kicks off tonight, February 20. Admission is free to everyone and the festival will utilize multiple screening locations.

Shameless star William H. Macy’s directorial debut Rudderless will be screened at 7:00pm in the Freeman Auditorium. The beautiful auditorium can seat upwards of 250 people, but to ensure a spot, arrive early because seats will fill up quickly. Following the Rudderless screening, screenwriter Casey Twenter will be on hand for a Q&A with Scene editor-in-chief Micah Haley. Questions will also be taken from the audience.

Tomorrow, Big Bad Art will be screened at Kendall Cram Hall at 1:30pm. It will be followed by a screening of director Richie Adams’ Una Vida. The film’s producer and casting director Brent Caballero will be on hand for a Q&A following the screening. A short film block will begin at 4:30pm.

A filmmaker reception at 6:00pm will be followed by a filmmaker discussion panel at 6:30pm. That panel will include producer Daniel Lewis, entertainment attorney James Napper, Big Bad Art director Ben Cannon and Trey Burvant, the director of operations at New Orleans film studio Second Line Stages.

Dear White People will screen at 8:00pm, followed by a discussion led by S.O.A.R.

The Tulane Film & Arts Festival hopes to demonstrate how good a story can be through film and art alike. Tulane students and New Orleans residents will showcase their projects and tell their stories.

Here are trailers and summaries for the films set to screen this weekend.

Rudderless

William H. Macy makes his directorial debut starring Billy Crudup, Selena Gomez, Felicity Huffman and Lawrence Fishburne. Macy has crafted the story of a grieving father who starts a band to honor his deceased son. Rudderless debuted at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. 105 min. Rated R.

Una Vida

A haunted neurologist and an aged but gifted singer find common ground battling Alzheimer’s. Aunjuane Ellis stars in the heart wrenching drama. Filmed and set in New Orleans. 98 min. Rating TBA.

Big Bad Art

Make a house in fifty days to host Brooklyn’s greatest house party? Seems impossible? This documentary has laughs, arguments and triumphs and is one of the best to come out of the art world. 45 min. Rating TBA.

Dear White People

A strong black college student hits the air waves at her Ivy League School. Controversy and humor follow four black teens and their classmates. 108 min. Rated R.

For more information about the festival visit the official website here at www.tulanefilmfestival.com.

IN THEATERS: ‘Hot Tub Time Machine 2′, ‘The DUFF’, ‘McFarland, USA’

Hot Tub Time Machine 2

With the most joyously ludicrous premise ever, this comedy promises to descend into absolute anarchy. Shot in New Orleans. 93 min. Rated R.

The DUFF

The Designated Ugly Fat Friend. Every high school clique has one, at least according to this new comedy. Runtime TBA. Rated PG-13.

McFarland, USA

Kevin Costner stars in as a cross country coach in a small farm town in California. It’s Costner’s job to motivate his high school athletes into championship contenders. 128 min. Rated PG.

Ryan Murphy Teases New TV Show ‘Scream Queens’

American Horror Story and Glee scribe Ryan Murphy teases Scream Queens for Fox. This new horror comedy appropriately released a teaser on Friday the 13th. In the teaser, a blonde teen chews gum and blows an childishly large bubble. As she pulls her best Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson eyebrow raise, a knife thrashes through the frame exploding her happy-go-lucky bubble and blood fills the screen, unveiling the Scream Queens logo. Although it’s only a quick tease, it makes clear the direction of the show.

The anthology series will star Jamie Lee Curtis, who got her start in the 1978 film, Halloween, and then crafted her trade over the past three decades. Scream Queens will also star American Horror Story: Freak Show actress Emma Roberts, Joe Manganiello (True Blood), Abigail Breslin and Lea Michele (Glee). Ryan Murphy has found chemistry with Emma Roberts and Lea Michele and has fit them into his new series. Abigail Breslin has come along way from playing the adorably quirky beauty pageant-hopeful Olive Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine. Breslin is poised for playing a role in a horror comedy as she starred in the underrated film Zombieland.

The first season of the series revolves around a college campus that is defined by a chain of murders. Nick Jonas and current pop sensation Ariana Grande are set for recurring guest-star roles. Scream Queens is produced by 20th Century Fox Television in association with Ryan Murphy Television. The series will be filmed in New Orleans. Its timely release date will be in October 2015, just in time for spooky Halloween mayhem.

The Cast of ‘Hot Tub Time Machine 2′ at Mardi Gras 2015

Craig Robinson, Clark Duke and Rob Corddry threw down at Bacchus 2015. The funny guys from Hot Tub Time Machine 2 were on float 5, entitled The Chariot, and in the video above you can see they had themselves a grand time.

Craig Robinson manned the front of The Chariot for the duration of the video. Clark Duke and Rob Corddry were set on either flank, tossing beads to drunken and enthused patrons. Their journey in Bacchus begins with sunshine and vibes and finishes with a beautiful shot of Craig’s head in the foreground and the city’s one-of-a-kind nightlife filling the remainder of the frame.

“I threw beads, I saw boobs, and then I threw a bag of beads and I hit somebody in the face. So yeah, it was crazy.” Craig Robinson stated on the Doug Gottlieb Show. “The float must go on. It was the perfect crime, really. I’m not proud of it, but it happened.”

The three were last seen in Mardi Gras in the Krewe of Tucks in 2010. Hot Tub Time Machine was finished filming and the trio hit the streets to promote the film by throwing beads and subtly pleading to see some cleavage.

Keri Russell and Mahershala Ali Join Matthew McConaughey on ‘Free State of Jones’

Matthew McConaughey’s Civil War drama The Free State of Jones adds Keri Russell and House of Cards star Mahershala Ali. Gary Ross, director of The Hunger Games, will produce and direct from the script he wrote.

Free State of Jones is currently in production in Louisiana. Russell will play the wife of Newt Knight (Matthew McConaughey). Mahershala Ali will play an escaped slave who befriends Knight’s rebellion against the Confederacy.

It will be very interesting how McConaughey and Ali play together on screen. McConaughey returns to Louisiana after his brilliant portrayal of Detective Rust Cohle in HBO’s True Detective. 

Ali and Russell have both had stints filming in New Orleans over their careers. Russell starred in the recent Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Ali played alongside Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

There is currently no release date for The Free State of Jones.

IN THEATERS: ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’, ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, ‘Still Alice’

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Director Matthew Vaughn follows up X-Men: First Class with this new spin on the British secret agent flick. 129 min. Rated R.

Fifty Shades of Grey

Jamie Dornan stars as Christian Grey in this adaptation of the popular book that started out as Twilight fan fiction. Not kidding. 125 min.
Rated R.

Still Alice

Julianne Moore stars as Alice Howland, a brilliant linguistics professor who begins to lose her vocabulary. She receives shattering news that will test her and her family to the core. 101 min. Rated PG-13.

BUKU Fest Daily Schedule Announced

The fourth annual BUKU Music + Art Project will begin March 13. It’s a two day event with its biggest lineup yet. BUKU has created a house party atmosphere blended with the New Orleans underground arts community. The artsy electronic festival also brings street performers and local vendors throughout the corridors of Mardi Gras World.

Earlier this month, we got a glimpse at the full lineup. Now, we have the daily schedule for Friday and Saturday.

A$AP Rocky and Die Antwoord will headline Friday night along with some other incredibly popular bands. BUKU has done an amazing job wrangling talent this year with big bands like Portugal. The Man, Boosie Badazz, STS9 and Empire of the Sun. This year’s fest will also feature two local artists in Big Freedia and Pell.

The second and final night of BUKU will showcase Bassnectar and Passion Pit. Ghostface Killah, Zella Day and TV On The Radio, one of the most unique and creative groups, will perform on Saturday.

BUKU Music + Art Project Single day Passes are on sale tomorrow at 11:00 am. Click to buy tickets here. For more information regarding the festival visit their official website thebukuproject.com.

TRAILER: Baton Rouge-Shot ‘Pitch Perfect 2′

The newest trailer for Pitch Perfect 2 is out. They’ve left the small confines of a university and are going global. The Barden Bellas are crushing vocals and will compete in a worldwide a cappella competition. World get your face ready cause you’re about to get pitch slapped.

Workaholics star Adam DeVine returns in this hilarious sequel. DeVine, along with Clay Matthews from the Green Bay Packers, will guide their all-male a cappella groups to stardom. Also, The Filharmonic will be seen in the new film and will test DeVine and his Treblemakers.

Pitch Perfect 2 was shot in Baton Rouge and was directed by Elizabeth Banks. The melodic film stars Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow and Hailee Seinfeld. It will be released May 15.

For more information on the film, visit the official website here www.pitchperfectmovie.com.

Horror Thriller ‘Cold Moon’ Set to Shoot Next Month, Griff Furst Directing

Cold Moon will begin shooting this month in Louisiana. The horror thriller takes place in a small town where murders occur and supernatural revenge is real. Cold Moon stars Interstellar alum Josh Stewart, three-time Emmy winner Christopher Lloyd, Robby Kay (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides), Academy Award nominee Candy Clark (Zodiac), Frank Whaley (Pulp Fiction), Rachel Brooke Smith (A Matter of Time), Laura Cayouette (Django Unchained) and introduces Sarah Catherine.

Cold Moon takes place in Babylon, Florida, a small town with a lingering uneasiness. This hair-raising tale begins as Evelyn Larkin’s (Candy Clark) granddaughter, Margaret Larkin (Sarah Catherine) is brutally murdered by an unknown killer. Her body is dumped into the murky waters of the Styx River – the river that once swallowed Margaret’s parents ten years earlier. Evelyn immediately suspects the two-faced banker, Nathan Redfield (Josh Stewart) as the murderer. Nathan’s father, played by Christopher Lloyd, is a very wealthy man and runs the town out of his back pocket. Nathan tries to hide his dark secrets from Sheriff Ted Hale (Frank Whaley) in attempts to steer him off course in his searches for the real killer. Nathan begins to see ghastly specters determined to avenge their deaths.

Griff Furst will direct and produce the film through his production company, Curmudgeon Films. Furst will direct from a script he co-wrote with Jack Snyder, based on the novel Cold Moon Over Babylon, written by two-time Hugo Award-nominated novelist and screenwriter Michael McDowell. McDowell is a well known screenwriter who penned Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Tales from the Darkside: The Movie. So, you know this story will have the right amount of menace.

Sony and Marvel Strike a Deal: Spider-Man Headed to Marvel Cinematic Universe

Sony Pictures Entertainment and Marvel Studios have struck a deal many thought was impossible. Sony, who controls the film and tv rights to Spider-Man, will partner with Marvel to allow the famous webslinging superhero to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That’s right. The one already inhabited by Robert Downey, Jr’s Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and scores of other superheroes who have leapt from the pages of Marvel’s comic books to the big screen.

With the new deal, Spider-Man will appear in a yet-to-be-named Marvel film as part of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. Sony Pictures will then release its $4 billion Spider-Man on July 28, 2017. Rumors were floating around that Sony might sell Spidey back to Marvel and Disney, but it doesn’t appear like that will happen.

Amy Pascal, who just left the big offices at Sony, will join Kevin Feige as producers on this project. Feige has had his hand in countless superhero bits such as The Avengers, Iron Man and the recent phenomenon, Guardians of the Galaxy.

There has been ongoing speculation of Spidey making an appearance in the next installment of Captain America: Civil War. But until now, much of that talk could be chalked up to the hopes and dreams of fans, who know that Spidey is at the center of a Civil War storyline in the comics. It looks like that’s an actual possibility now.

And, frankly, it’s a pretty sweet move. Spidey needs to show some resurgence because he – and Sony – have lost some steam with the previous two films. On the other hand, Feige has commanded Marvel, creating and bringing the Cinematic Universe to new heights by mingling heroes and building epic franchises. Paul Rudd as Ant-Man is the next hero to make the leap.

The most recent Spider-Man movie from Sony, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, grossed more than $700 million, but left most with no desire to see a sequel. Andrew Garfield has worn the blue and red spandex while the beautiful Emma Stone plays alongside as Gwen Stacy. The film was directed by Marc Webb, who couldn’t have a more fitting surname.

Deadline talked with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. “I am thrilled to team with my friends at Sony Pictures along with Amy Pascal to produce the next Spider-Man movie,” he said. “Amy has been deeply involved in the realization on the film of one of the world’s most beloved characters.”

Impressively, Peter Parker’s masked vigilante has taken in more than $4 billion worldwide. Spider-Man is the most successful franchise in the history of Sony Pictures, so there’s no way they would give it up. Hopefully, this deal brings Sony’s Spider-Man franchise back to life, while providing fans with something they’ve long desired.

The 2015 Grammy Awards – Winners

Sam Smith dominated the Grammy stage, bringing home four awards for best new artist, best pop vocal album, record of the year and song of the year. Beck topped Beyonce for album of the year, which left Kanye West stunned, again. And Madonna threw it down better than any fifty-six-year-old woman ever could.

Here is the full rundown of all the Grammy winners.

Record of the Year
Sam Smith – “Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)”
Steve Fitzmaurice, Rodney Jerkins & Jimmy Napes, producers; Steve Fitzmaurice, Jimmy Napes & Steve Price, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer Label: Capitol Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Songs LLC obo Naughty Worlds Ltd./Universal-Polygram Int. Tunes, Inc. obo Salli Isaak Songs, Ltd./Universal Polygram Int. Tunes, Inc. obo Method Paperwork

Song of the Year
Sam Smith – “Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)”
James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith, songwriters

Album of the Year
Beck – Morning Phase
Beck Hansen, producer; Tom Elmhirst, David Greenbaum, Florian Lagatta, Cole Marsden Greif-Neill, Robbie Nelson, Darrell Thorp, Cassidy Turbin & Joe Visciano, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer

Best New Artist
Sam Smith

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
A Great Big World With Christina Aguilera – “Say Something”

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga – Cheek To Cheek

Best Pop Solo Performance
Pharrell Williams – “Happy”

Best Pop Vocal Album
Sam Smith – In The Lonely Hour

Best Rock Performance
Jack White – “Lazaretto”

Best Rock Album
Beck – Morning Phase

Best Rock Song
Paramore – “Ain’t It Fun”
Hayley Williams & Taylor York, songwriters

Best Alternative Rock Album
St. Vincent – St. Vincent

Best Metal Performance
Tenacious D – “The Last In Line”

Best Rap Performance
Kendrick Lamar – “I”

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Eminem Featuring Rihanna – “The Monster”

Best Rap Song
Kendrick Lamar – “I”
K. Duckworth & C. Smith, songwriters

Best Rap Album
Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP2

Best R&B Performance
Beyoncé Featuring Jay Z – “Drunk In Love”

Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Jesus Children”
Robert Glasper Experiment Featuring Lalah Hathaway & Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Best R&B Song
Beyoncé Featuring Jay Z – “Drunk In Love”
Shawn Carter, Rasool Diaz, Noel Fisher, Jerome Harmon, Beyoncé Knowles, Timothy Mosely, Andre Eric Proctor & Brian Soko, songwriters

Best Urban Contemporary Album
Pharrell Williams – Girl

Best R&B Album
Toni Braxton & Babyface – Love, Marriage & Divorce

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
Chris Thile & Edgar Meyer – Bass & Mandolin

Best Dance/Electronic Album
Aphex Twin – Syro

Best Dance Recording
Clean Bandit Featuring Jess Glynne – “Rather Be”

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Frozen
Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Tom MacDougall & Chris Montan, compilation producers

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alexandre Desplat, composer

Best Song Written for Visual Media
“Let It Go” from Frozen
Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, songwriters (Idina Menzel)

Best Country Album
Miranda Lambert – Platinum

Best Country Solo Performance
Carrie Underwood – “Something In The Water”

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
The Band Perry – “Gentle On My Mind”

Best Country Song
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You”
Glen Campbell & Julian Raymond, songwriters (Glen Campbell)

Best Bluegrass Album
The Earls Of Leicester – The Earls Of Leicester

Best American Roots Performance
Rosanne Cash – “A Feather’s Not A Bird”

Best American Roots Song
Rosanne Cash – “A Feather’s Not A Bird”

Best Americana Album
Rosanne Cash – The River & The Thread

Best Folk Album
Old Crow Medicine Show – Remedy

Best Music Video
Pharrell Williams – “Happy”

Best Music Film
20 Feet From Stardom
Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer & Judith Hill
Morgan Neville, video director; Gil Friesen & Caitrin Rogers, video producers
We Are From LA, video director; Kathleen Heffernan, Solal Micenmacher, Jett Steiger, video producers

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Max Martin
“Bang Bang” (Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj)
“Break Free” (Ariana Grande Featuring Zedd)
“Dark Horse” (Katy Perry Featuring Juicy J)
“Problem” (Ariana Grande Featuring Iggy Azalea)
“Shake It Off” (Taylor Swift)
“Unconditionally” (Katy Perry)

Best Instrumental Composition
John Williams – “The Book Thief”

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
Pentatonix – “Daft Punk”

Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals
Billy Childs – “New York Tendaberry”

Best Recording Package
Jeff Ament, Don Pendleton, Joe Spix & Jerome Turner, art directors
Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
Susan Archie, Dean Blackwood & Jack White, art directors
The Rise & Fall Of Paramount Records, Volume One (1917-27)

Best Album Notes
Ashley Kahn
John Coltrane – Offering: Live At Temple University

Best Historical Album
Colin Escott & Cheryl Pawelski, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer
Hank Williams – The Garden Spot Programs, 1950

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Beck – Morning Phase
Tom Elmhirst, David Greenbaum, Florian Lagatta, Cole Marsden Greif-Neill, Robbie Nelson, Darrell Thorp, Cassidy Turbin & Joe Visciano, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
Tijs Michiel Verwest, remixer
John Legend – “All Of Me (Tiesto’s Birthday Treatment Remix)”

Best Surround Sound Album
Beyoncé – Beyoncé
Elliot Scheiner, surround mix engineer; Bob Ludwig, surround mastering engineer; Beyoncé Knowles, surround producer

Best Regional Roots Music Album
Jo-El Sonnier – The Legacy

Best Reggae Album
Ziggy Marley – Fly Rasta

Best World Music Album
Angelique Kidjo – Eve

Best Children’s Album
Neela Vaswani – I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up For Education And Changed The World (Malala Yousafzai)

Best Musical Theatre Album
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Jessie Mueller, principal soloist; Jason Howland, Steve Sidwell & Billy Jay Stein, producers (Carole King, composer & lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast)

Best Blues Album
Johnny Winter – Step Back

Best Spoken Word Album
Joan Rivers – Diary Of A Mad Diva

Best Comedy Album
“Weird Al” Yankovic – Mandatory Fun

Best New Age Album
Ricky Kej & Wouter Kellerman – Winds Of Samsara

Best Improved Jazz Solo
Chick Corea – “Fingerprints”

Best Jazz Vocal Album
Dianne Reeves – Beautiful Life

Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Chick Corea Trio – Trilogy

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band – Life In The Bubble

Best Latin Jazz Album
Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra – The Offense Of The Drum

Lil Wayne Announces ‘The Free Weezy Album’

In the wake of the famous New Orleans native’s law battles, Lil Wayne announces The Free Weezy Album. Its title is pretty self-explanatory. He announced via Twitter that his album will be gifted to his millions of patrons.

Dwayne Carter has been negatively portrayed in the headlines recently with his ongoing feud with Bryan “Birdman” Williams. The feud surrounds the delayed release of Lil Wayne’s newest album, Tha Carter V. The two seem to show no signs of repairing their once-great relationship at the center of a rap empire. Wayne is suing Cash Money Records, including co-founder Birdman, for $51 million dollars.

In Wayne’s most recent mixtape, Sorry 4 The Wait 2, he shows some of his strongest material in years. This could attest to the fact that he has some grit and determination behind his words. He is showing a sense of urgency to climb his way back to the peak of the rap world. Drake and 2 Chainz are featured on the Sorry 4 The Wait 2 mixtape and it’s obvious that Lil Wayne is showcasing his anger towards Cash Money Records.

It’s good to see Lil Wayne return to real rap, not just rapping for pop radio hits. He sounds like he is rapping with a purpose. This new mixtape comes a long way from his once pop radio hit, “Lollipop.” I do have to say one thing about the Sorry 4 The Wait 2 mixtape: why does the nonsensical blathering of RiFF RAFF have to make an appearance?

As of late, Lil Wayne’s Twitter feed has been the best source to keep up with Weezy news.

5 Reasons to Watch LSU Baseball This Season

After losing thirteen players to the MLB draft in the past two seasons, the LSU Tigers are faced with the problem of rebuilding, hopefully to contend for an SEC Championship and, ultimately, a National Championship. In the realm of Southeastern Conference sports, the only way to survive is to recruit and develop the best talent in the country. After an early and frankly embarrassing exit in the Regional round to Houston, this years’ Bayou Bengals will be quick to avenge their disappointing 2014 season. And here’s five reasons why.

1. New Stars Are Born.

Newcomer Greg Deichmann from Brother Martin High School is a very talented recruit who played shortstop all throughout his high school career. He is currently behind former Freshman of the Year, Alex Bregman, who has been a star since he stepped foot onto LSU’s campus two years ago. He’ll likely be picked up by any pro team that needs a dominant shortstop. Luckily, LSU will have Deichmann locked and loaded.

LSU has also developed quite the recruiting pipeline from Barbe High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. This season, LSU has recruited twins Beau and Bryce Jordan, who play outfield and catcher respectively. LSU has to fill holes in their pitching staff due to the departure of ace Aaron Nola and the highly competitive Nathan Fury. Sean McMullen, who played outfield and swung a consistent bat, will be severely missed and it will be interesting to see who fills that void in the lineup this upcoming season.

2. Pitch Me Something, Mister.

Major League Baseball has a healthy habit of drafting LSU starting pitchers. Aaron Nola was drafted seventh overall. Ryan Eades was drafted early in the second round in 2013 and current Baltimore Oriole Kevin Gausman was taken fourth overall in the 2012 MLB Draft. When it comes to LSU baseball, it’s simply a matter of reloading and relying on the younger guys to step into the massive shoes of former players. Coming off a nine-win season last year, Jared Poché is the likely ace on the new LSU staff. Following the lefty from Lutcher high school will be senior Kyle Bouman. Bouman is another lefty who posted five wins last season and a very impressive 2.12 ERA finishing only second to Aaron Nola for the team lead. The bullpen will hopefully be loaded again, this time led by Zac Person and rising star Parker Bugg.

3. Department of Defense.

Baseball is the only game where the defense has the ball. This season, Coach Paul Mainieri looked to his experienced defense to get his pitching staff out of trouble. Mainieri has figured out a winning recipe, as he is second all-time at LSU in winning percentage, winning 70% of the time. He is second only to the greatest coach in college baseball history, Hall of Famer Skip Bertman, who won 73% of the time. LSU has so much experience coming back to its infield and could possibly have the most athletic outfield in the entire country: one that includes Laird, Foster and Stevenson. Bregman and Connor Hale will helm the middle infield and Mainieri will most likely find a rotation of corner infielders to battle the opposing pitchers. And an experienced LSU defense will greatly help this young pitching staff.

4. More Than Offensive.

Although the exciting days of ‘Gorilla Ball’ at LSU are long gone, Paul Mainieri has created an almost “small ball” culture at LSU that also showcases some power throughout the lineup. Alex Bregman can lead the way hitting for power and average. Other veterans include southpaw outfielders Mark Laird and Jared Foster. Kade Scivicque led the way last year for the Tigers, hitting seven homeruns and also was able to get on base 38% of his at-bats. Two other notable players to watch are Connor Hale and Andrew Stevenson. Hale did a great job of compiling base hits as he had a batting average of .304. Stevenson led the team with an astounding .355 batting average. Sophmore outfielder Jake Fraley will also step in to play a big offensive role as he crushed the baseball time and time again last year hitting .372 in only 121 at bats.

5. It’s The Conference, Stupid.

The SEC is, bar none, the greatest conglomerate of collegiate athletes in the country. For years, the SEC has held 40% of the top ten in baseball and this year will be no different. The pride of Alex Box pays heavy impact to these tough conference games and the endless weekend matchups seemingly grow with importance as the bustling season progresses. The Tigers will host Kansas on February 13 in a three game series at Alex Box Stadium. The Tigers are showing all the signs of making another run at a College World Series appearance. Let’s hope they can get there.

IN THEATERS: ‘Jupiter Ascending’, ‘Seventh Son’, ‘The Voices’

Jupiter Ascending

Channing Tatum, Eddie Redmayne and Mila Kunis star in the latest sci fi epic from the Wachowskis. 125 min. Rated PG-13.

Seventh Son

Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, Kit Harington and Ben Barnes star in this sword and sorcery epic. 102 min. Rated PG-13.

The Voices

Affable Jerry (Ryan Reynolds) stumbles innocently into the role of a killer, guided along the way by his evil talking cat and benevolent talking dog. 103 min. Rated R.

All films will be released February 6.

FIRST LOOK: ‘Elvis & Nixon’

Sky Ferreira has joined the cast of Elvis & Nixon, that we already know. Now we get a first look at Michael Shannon and Kevin Spacey in the Oval Office. The film is written by husband and wife Joey and Hanala Sagal and directed by Liza Johnson. The Sagals not only wrote the script but will also play small roles in their film.

American Horror Story’s Evan Peters will star alongside Spacey and Shannon. This film is the recreation of the infamous meeting between Presley and Nixon at the White House. Judging by the photo, both Shannon and Spacey appear to pull off their looks fairly well.

Many actors have played Elvis Presley on screen. From Don Johnson in Elvis and the Beauty Queen to Jack White in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, every actor takes their run at the King of Rock and Roll. Michael Shannon now has an opportunity to give us his take on the famous singer.

Like Presley, Richard Nixon has been portrayed on the screen countless times. As mentioned before, John Cusack played Nixon in Lee Daniel’s The Butler. The list includes Anthony Hopkins in Nixon, Robert Wisden from Watchmen and Mark Camacho in the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Elvis & Nixon began shooting in January. The cast and crew will travel to Los Angeles and New Orleans to film.

Martin Starr in Vice Short ‘Leonard in Slow Motion’

Martin Starr is in my favorite television series, Freaks and Geeks. He’s also in one of my favorite films, Adventureland. And if I’m a betting man – one who frequently makes obvious bets based on my own behavior – I’d say he’s a big part of why I enjoy them.

Starr has been red hot lately. Currently, he’s crushing it on HBO’s hit comedy Silicon Valley, which is also a favorite of mine. And he scored a leading man gig in Amira & Sam.

Here, we’ve got a short film starring Starr, called Leonard in Slow Motion. It’s an experimental and very unique short film that’s part of a Vice series of short films. Starr plays a man who literally moves in slow motion while the world around him passes by, even though it is only moving at a normal rate.

Directed by Pete Livolsi, the nine-minute short follows the seemingly sedated man on his race to self fulfillment. Martin Starr has come a long way, from Bill Haverchuck to lady-killing leading man roles. Can’t wait to see more from him.

Source: /Film

FULL LINEUP: BUKU Music + Art Project 2015

The eardrum-shattering BUKU Music + Art Project 2015 full lineup has been released. This year’s lineup is massive, including audio artists Bassnectar, A$AP Rocky, Passion Pit, Die Antwoord, Portugal. The Man and the Baton Rouge native Boosie Badazz. For the entire lineup and band profiles, click here: thebukuproject.com.

A new face to the two-day festival is Pell, a New Orleans native and former classmate of mine. Once a student at Country Day, Pell was uprooted to Starkville, Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina. Pell started his musical career while creating beats for his friends using a beat box that his father gave him. The smooth head bobbing rapper will be one of those performances that’ll have people immediately YouTube-ing him. But for the lazy, don’t worry. I’ve already done it for you.

Big Freedia will also grace the stages of BUKU. Known as the Queen of Bounce, Freedia inspires New Orleans with lightening speed rumpshaking dance. Her dancers, The Divas, are sure to make any shindig a spectacle. Big Freedia tours from New York to San Fransisco and plays at all of the major festivals nationwide and also boasts a popular reality show.

A cool show to check out will be DJ Windows 98 aka Win Butler of Arcade Fire. Butler has gone solo for this event and has planned his show to incorporate elements of African and Haitian music. Drums will be highly influential for his “Naïve Melodie.”

Staten Island-son Ghostface Killah will bring his hip hop to New Orleans for BUKU. The former member of the infamous Wu-Tang Clan has been described as a compulsive storyteller and his fiction is “painterly.” Ghostface Killah will be performing with BadBadNotGood.

The awesome festival will take place March 13-14 at Mardi Gras World. Visit their official website here thebukuproject.com. For more information and BUKU’s promotional video click here.

BEFORE THE SCENE with Peter Lenkov

Peter Lenkov is a veteran film and television producer and Emmy-nominated writer from Montreal, Canada. His film work includes Demolition Man, Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever and R.I.P.D. His television work includes La Femme Nikita, 24 and CSI:NY. He is currently the showrunner and executive producer of the hit CBS drama Hawaii Five-0.

What made you want to become a filmmaker?

I’ve wanted to do it since I was a kid. But I didn’t think it was possible where I came from, Montreal, Canada. The closest thing to the entertainment business there was The National Inquirer. The idea of wanting to become a screenwriter was a dream. But I always wanted to write and somehow be involved with TV, which was a big influence on me growing up. When I was younger, I was always listening to Bob Dylan and Springsteen. I loved those guys because they were storytellers. I was very influenced by anybody who was telling a story, whether poetry, plays or short stories. I couldn’t play guitar so I took up screenwriting.

What was your biggest fear?

That I wouldn’t be able to write and I’d have to have a regular job. I left home when I was twenty or twenty-one. I left college before I graduated. So, I think my biggest fear was letting down my parents. That was my fear, because they wanted me to graduate from college and I didn’t. I didn’t want to fail, having to get on an airplane and with a one-way ticket coming home. I didn’t want that to happen so I was determined to make it work.

What was your lowest point?

When I first moved out to L.A., I literally had no money. My dad gave me twenty-five hundred extra bucks and I bought a salvage vehicle, which is a car that should have basically been in a junk pile. I bought spray paint and spray-painted the interior so that it would look somewhat clean. I’d have to ride around with the windows down all the time cause it reeked of spray paint. Very early on, I had no money and was barely able to eat. My transmission busted and I was making $150 a week. I worked fifteen miles from where I was living, so I had to drive home backwards in reverse for fifteen miles. I couldn’t get my car repaired, I needed to get home. So I would drive a block, pretend that I was looking for a parking spot and back up a block. Wait. Back up another block. It took me about three hours to get home. That was a pretty low point.

What kept you from walking away?

I enjoy what I do. How many people get to go to work with a big smile on their face everyday and really like what they’re doing? And look forward to the next day? It’s always a challenge and it never gets easy after twenty-five years of doing it. Literally, it’s almost doing the same thing every day but it’s always challenging and very creative. I think there’s no better job and I’ve wanted to do it since I was a kid.

Who was your closest ally?

My wife. Even though she doesn’t go in with me everyday, and she may not be there next to me in the editing room, she allows me to do what I do. We don’t have any pressure of having to “be present.” When I have to buckle down and get into work mode, she allows me to do that without any sort of pressure. Just being supportive makes her my greatest ally. There are also people that I work with, there are mentors, but she’s just the closest thing I have to a partner.

What were you doing before the meeting that changed your life?

I was getting coffee and just answering phones. Literally, the way this business works is sometimes you can be an overnight sensation. I wrote a script and the next day there was a bidding war. Before, I was worried if I was gonna be able to keep the lights on and then, I was in the middle of a bidding war for a script I had written. My life had drastically changed in a matter of twenty-four hours. I went from getting coffee and holding the elevator for my boss to having sold a screenplay and I had the money and the freedom to continue doing that.

That script turned into a movie called Demolition Man. The funny thing about that movie is that I pitched it to Joel Silver right before the holidays in like 1989, and they passed on it. I was so angry that they passed on it because I thought that it would be a perfect movie for them. So I went off and I took like two weeks and I wrote the movie really quick and they ended up being the producers on it.

What were the words that kept you going?

I decided to move from Montreal to Los Angeles. A couple days before I left, I talked to a bunch of friends of mine and I said I was moving to Los Angeles, I was leaving school and I wanted to be in the entertainment business. And there was this guy. He wasn’t a really close friend but he was a guy I knew who was very snarky and I remember he said to me, “If you want to be in the entertainment business, my uncle is a manager of a movie theater downtown. You can get a job there.” And it made me so angry! After all these years, I still remember that. I think they were fighting words for me. The business was so far away, it seemed like a dream. And somebody tried to extinguish this fire I had inside of me! Saying that I could go work at a movie theater as an usher infuriated me and I became determined to make it work. Those were fighting words that kept me going even in the darkest of days.

What words do you have to inspire others?

Let me give you a long answer to a short question. I really feel that if you’re gonna be in this business, it has to be the only thing that you can see yourself doing. If you cannot be happy in anything else. If you’re willing to tough it out. It’s not easy. It’s about perseverance and it’s the long race: it’s a marathon. I always say go for it. Anybody who thinks it’s gonna be quick and that it’s gonna happen overnight should consider other options. Because it’s a marathon.

The best thing is to find a mentor. There are a few kids that I mentor and I think that the best thing for me is that I always had really good mentors in life. Find a mentor that is patient and has time to give you. That is gonna be huge to wake up and find somebody that you can pick up a phone and ask a question of. To this day, I sill have people like that in my life. That’s really important to have somebody who’s been there and done that. When you have a question, there’s no better resource. There is no search engine for that stuff.

TRAILER: New Orleans-Shot ‘Home Sweet Hell’

Don Champagne (Patrick Wilson) seems to have the perfect life but when his wife, Mona (Katherine Heigl), finds out about Don’s affair, Mona wants blood to salvage her perfectly planned life. Don’s love interest is the beautiful and flirtatious salesgirl, Dusty (Jordana Brewster).

Home Sweet Hell is directed by Anthony Burns. The New Orleans-shot film also stars James Belushi and Scene’s own AJ Buckley. Buckley will play Murphy, a meth-fueled outcast that needs cash fast. Written by Carlo Allen, Ted Elrick and Tom Lavagnino, this dark comedy is set to be released March 13.

For more information on Home Sweet Hell click here trailers.apple.com. Rated R.

Pelicans Snap Hawks’ Nineteen Game Win Streak

Mondays aren’t always dreadful. The Pelicans had six players score in double figures to end the Atlanta Hawks’ franchise best nineteen game winning streak Monday night 115-100. It looked as if Anthony Davis’ left groin was doing just fine as he had another MVP-like performance with 29 points and 13 rebounds with multiple explosive dunks that whipped the crowd into a frenzy time and time again.

Luckily, the Hawks had an off shooting night which allowed the Pelicans to play and shoot with confidence. Eric Gordon did a great job of hitting open jumpers and had a quick ten points before the half. Tyreke Evans has been playing very well as he has helmed the starting point guard position with the absence of Jrue Holiday. Reke had eight points to go along with six assists at the end of the first half. But none were better than the start of Anthony Davis, who was getting some early faint “MVP” chants (they would grow louder towards the end of the game). AD had 19 points and seven rebounds entering the locker room at half time and the Pelicans led the Hawks 55-42.

The Hawks tried to keep within single digits for the remainder of the game but never got closer than seven points. DeMarre Carroll dropped back-to-back threes in the third quarter to almost get within reach 60-53. But there was simply an answer for every Atlanta Hawk basket as the Pelicans entered the fourth quarter up 14 points.

With a large Monday night crowd in attendance at the Smoothie King Arena, it seemed that every dunk or big hustle play ignited both fans and players and victory was never in doubt. Two big plays stand out including a Tyreke Evans three pointer that banked off the glass as the shot clock was running down and the big time hustle play-and-dunk for Omer Asik. The Asik dunk took the wind completely out of Atlanta’s sails as everyone in the arena sensed that their streak was over.

Omer “Chairman of the Boards” Asik grabbed an impressive 17 rebounds. He defended both Horford and Millsap very well. Horford was held to only eight points.

For Atlanta, Jeff Teague scored 21 points and seven assists. Louisiana native Paul Millsap played well in stretches but was held to only 15 points, shooting 5-14 (36%). Both Millsap and Al Horford couldn’t handle the frontcourt of the Pelicans as Davis and Asik both had double-digit rebounds. One of the best shooters in NBA history, Kyle Korver had twelve but was helpless defending swingmen Quincy Pondexter, Ryan Anderson and Dante Cunningham.

Eric Gordon had 20 points on a very efficient 11 shots. Gordon also had seven assists and played one of his best games as a Pelican. Tyreke Evans scored 15 points and had himself 12 assists and truly dominated the game offensively. He created driving lanes and really hurt the Hawks in the fast-break both finishing at the rim or dropping off passes for dunks and layups. Jimmer Fredette scored ten off the bench and Ryan Anderson had 15. Dante Cunningham has found his way on this team. His energy, his defensive prowess, his ability to knock down open jumpers and his high-five game is on point. He scored ten points and defended almost every position on the floor.

This marks two very solid consecutive wins at home for the Pelicans. They were able to outlast the Los Angeles Clippers without the help of Anthony Davis on Friday night and now they beat the hottest team in the NBA. The Hawks had not only won 19 games in a row, they had won 33 of their last 35 games. This is a monstrous win and confidence boost for the young Pelicans from the Crescent City. In order to eek their way into the Western Conference playoffs, they must string together small four-to-five game win streaks and beat up on some Western Conference opponents.

The Pelicans will play host to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, February 4 at 7pm. You can visit the Pelicans official website here www.nba.com/pelicans.

‘Jurassic World’ Actor James DuMont Talks Filming ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ and More

A veteran stage and screen presence, James DuMont has been in the business since he was a child. In the mid-1960s, his cherubic face earned him a gig as the Gerber baby. It was the first of many to come, as DuMont travelled from Chicago to Boston to New York to Los Angeles and now to Louisiana. His storied career includes roles in Seabiscuit, SWAT, War of the Worlds and Ocean’s Thirteen.