IN THEATERS: Interstellar, Big Hero 6, The Theory of Everything

Interstellar

Matthew McConaughey heads out on an interstellar voyage in Christopher Nolan’s mysterious new film. Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, Casey Affleck, Mackenzie Foy and Topher Grace also star. 169 min. Rated PG-13.

Big Hero 6

Disney and Marvel come together for an animated superhero film that follows a young boy, Hiro Hamada, and his self-created robot Baymax. Ryan Potter leads the cast as the voice of Hiro and Scott Adsit as Baymax. 102 min. Rated PG.

The Theory of Everything

Eddie Redmayne stars as young Stephen Hawking during the time of his life when he first developed his theories about space and time and fell in love with his wife Jane (Felicity Jones). 123 min. Rated PG-13.

“Dead Air” by Lorde and CHVRCHES’ from ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1′

New Zealand prodigy Lorde has released a new song with CHVRCHES entitled, “Dead Air.” The poppy electronica of the three-minute track is a perfect fit for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, which will feature the song. You can watch the trailer for that film here.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 opens wide in theaters on November 21.

On the Lot at Quixote New Orleans

“We have now been here for nearly three years and have loved contributing to the Louisiana film infrastructure,” says Mikel Elliott, CEO of Quixote, the respected Los Angeles brand that now has a fully functioning studio facility in New Orleans. “We first started in New Orleans with our expendables operation then we began developing the film studio. The studio has now been open for fifteen months.”

Quixote first extended their business into Louisiana by opening a Studio Store in New Orleans’ Lower Garden District, offering a wide array of expendables to the local production community. “We have always been known as the number one call for expendables in Hollywood,” says Elliott. “Then we started getting calls from producer friends to open up in New Orleans. That’s when we realized there was a strong need for our services here. We found a small warehouse location in the lower Garden District and we were on our way.”

With a year or so under their belt, Elliott recognized that the demand for studio space in the state was outpacing supply. “We realized there was obviously an opportunity for a studio here,” he says. “We found the right partner and the right property. The whole concept was to build a property that we could develop quickly.”

Elliott hired Haryl L. Deason to be the general manager of Quixote’s new facility. “He’s been a godsend,” says Elliott. “He’s a really great equipment guy. We’ve asked him to be a general manager of the studio and he’s really stepped up. He’s not just a rental agent. Together we built this studio. All the nuances of building in New Orleans were quite a challenge. He’s done a great job expanding here by working tirelessly.”

“I worked at Hollywood Rentals for two years in Baton Rouge and then I opened up TM Equipment Rentals. I then moved on to Paramount, which I also opened,” says Deason, who now owns a home in Louisiana after several years working in the local film industry. “When Quixote was bringing in grip and lighting, I met with them and I liked the company. It’s just so diversified. It has so many offerings. And then they talked about building stages as well. That was something I really wanted to do.”

The Quixote team immediately began work to shape the property into rentable studio space. “It was pretty beat up,” says Elliott. “We tore one building down to its foundation and retrofitted the other two warehouses. The building we tore down is now Stage 1, a 21,000 square foot stage. It’s the largest purpose built stage in New Orleans.”

“The idea was to build it smartly and not overspend. We wanted to create a price point that’s attractive and in line with what producers are looking for when they come to New Orleans,” says Elliott. “We have strong relationships with lots of these producers stemming from our twenty years of doing business in Hollywood. So, this type of studio felt like a natural for us. We are currently the only Hollywood studio operating in Louisiana.”

Quixote’s first goal was to become operational and capable of supporting one film or television show shooting in the New Orleans area. They quickly put the pieces into place and were ready for their first show.

“We don’t micro-manage,” says Elliott of Quixote’s team. “Haryl has an opportunity to do what he needs to do. He runs the studio like it’s his own. We give our managers stretch assignments, allowing them build capacity and character. Haryl’s is a great example of it.”

“I’ve been in grip and lighting for the longest time and that’s been my world,” says Deason. “Quixote gave me this facility and said, ‘You’re not just a general manager of grip and lighting. You’re the general manager of Quixote Studios in New Orleans.’ Which is a huge title. And it became bigger than I had imagined, but the challenges were so welcomed. These guys have given me such an opportunity. We’ve built a great local team and they trust me to run this organization and keep up the Quixote brand.”

After eight months of work, Quixote’s new studio space opened in St. Rose, Louisiana, ready for its first show. “That was Ravenswood. They landed last July and continued through to March of this year.” Right after Ravenswood, Quixote landed another project. “We had Don’t Mess With Texas and then pieces of a couple other small shows. We’ve been open only fifteen months.”

There was still more to learn. “We took a lot of learning lessons from the first big show. We were sort of jammed for office space,” says Elliott. “We just completed a 6,000 square foot expansion of office space, bringing us close to 13,000 square feet of office space. That’s enough to service most shows. The whole idea is ‘one show.’ This is their property. They take it all, so it’s like their own little world. There’s no other production on the lot so it creates its own unique experience.”

Quixote Studios is currently hosting its third big show, ABC’s Astronaut Wives Club. “It’s a ten-episode special that’s based on a best selling novel,” says Elliott. “Those guys were rock stars! They were heroes. You walk out on the streets and everyone says, ‘Hey! Way to go!’ But it’s about the wives: how they cope with their husbands, these heroes. There’s some intrigue around the wives. It’s a period piece like Mad Men.”

“Versus a feature, you get the longer commitment,” he says of the benefits of landing a television show over a film. “We’ve gotten an eight-month commitment. For a feature, you get three or four. And honestly, this space is probably not ideal for a feature because we have one stage that goes to thirty feet and the others are twenty. Features need probably three-to-four of those thirties. We really did build this with television in mind. One television show – all in – with a high quality experience.”

Although Quixote Studios is a welcomed addition to South Louisiana’s production playbook, there is still more demand for additional infrastructure. On the subject of expansion plans, Elliott says, “With the acquisition of Movie Movers well under way, we are going to bring a few more film trailers to Louisiana. We already have several trailers on Astronaut Wives Club. We’re also seriously considering a feature-oriented studio for the market place. We’re looking at two-to-three big stages for features, along with enough office space. Basically it would be big enough to house an entire feature. The same idea: one production occupies the entire boutique campus. They’d have purpose-built stages, their offices on lot, trailers and equipment on site, enough parking and enough warehouse support space. All done with style and superior functionality. That’s next.”

“It’s never been about a particular line item for us,” says Elliott of Quixote’s expansion plans. “It’s about the relationships with the producers and trying to make it really easy for them to get their job done. It’s just not about a truck, a trailer, a piece of equipment or a stage. It’s about servicing those relationships we have with the producers and providing them with a super high quality experience.”

“We call it ‘The Five P’s.’ Purpose, Priority, Preparation, Personalize and Passion,” says Deason. “And that’s what [Elliott] wants us to do. You’ve got to have a purpose. You’ve got to prepare for it and personalize it. You’ve got to know your customers and call them by their names, every time they come in. You want everybody to feel like they’re coming into a place where everybody knows their names like Cheers! We want everybody to be friendly. We want you to be comfortable when you come in here. And you have to have a passion for it, and I do. I have a passion for just making it easier for the guys who are on the line.”

Building one brick-and-mortal facility in an industry that has such a short history in the state seems like a risk, but Elliott and his business partners are thinking bold. “We have confidence in the State and the tax credit,” he says of the Louisiana film incentive. “We’re entirely invested. We’re committed here.”

“We really feel like we’re an important part of the process,” says Elliott. “You’ve got to know the rigging grip likes it this way or the producer likes it that way. If the air conditioning doesn’t work, a chair is screwed up or one of our employees is having a bad day you could ruin the entire shoot day. We feel like we’re there to make sure they have the best day, every day. We create an environment where they can be their creative best. And we’re really, really passionate about it.”

Find out more about Quixote Studios at www.quixote.com.

Pelicans beat Hornets 100 – 91

A much needed third quarter boost pushed the Pelicans to victory. The Anthony Davis-led Pelicans outscored the Charlotte Hornets twenty-six to seventeen in the third quarter. Davis chipped in twelve in the third quarter alone. The big man had four mid-range jumpers in a row to pace the Pelicans to a 100 – 91 triumph against the team that wears their former name.

The unselfish play of Jrue Holiday was greatly appreciated as he dished out nine assists to go along with his sixteen points. Positive play from both Ryan Anderson and Austin Rivers off the bench was a huge key for the Pelicans. Not only did the two help preserve the win down the stretch, but had a hand in the Pelicans’ success from quarter to quarter.

The new Crescent City front court of Asik and Davis turned in double doubles. Asik finished with ten points and eleven rebounds while shooting a perfect four of four from the foul line. AD finished with a game-high twenty-four points, a game-high thirteen rebounds and a game-high three blocked shots. Davis was also perfect from the foul line going four of four.

The Pelicans tied the turnover battle by committing twelve turnovers and forcing twelve turnovers but the birds won the rebounding battle. Pelicans tallied forty-seven rebounds and held the Hornets to a meek thirty-four. Pels snagged eleven offensive rebounds over the course of the game. Added help from the backcourt, Tyreke Evans who dominated the glass-snatching ten rebounds. Tyreke also dominated the fourth quarter with countless efforts of getting into the paint and finishing at the rim.

Foul shots were executed to perfection last night for the Pelicans. The youngsters from New Orleans shot a perfect nineteen for nineteen from the charity stripe. Although the Pelicans only scored eight fast break points, it was nice seeing them flying in the open court looking for quick hitters or easy buckets. This team of young and athletic guards must play fast and stay fast if they want to do some damage in the Western Conference. With Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant out for an elongated period of time, every win counts for this young team from New Orleans.

Monty Williams was faced with a difficult decision late in the fourth quarter: let Eric Gordon play out of his slump or let an energetic Austin Rivers help close out the game. Monty ended up pulling Gordon and allowed Rivers to play impressive defense and play unselfishly down the stretch. Ultimately it was the right move as Gordon missed all of his six shots from the field in twenty-eight minutes of play.

As for the Hornets, Lance Stephenson was held to an abysmal two points and a plus/minus of -16. Al Jefferson and Gary Neal hurt the Pelicans. Jefferson dominated on the low block for a while, finishing with twenty points while Gary Neal buried an array of jumpers to finish with a team-high twenty-one points.

Pelicans will visit the reigning NBA champs, the San Antonio Spurs, this Saturday, November 8 at 8:30pm.

Aaron Williamson on Training James Marsden for ‘The Best of Me’

This article originally ran in the 2014 November/December issue of Scene Magazine.

How did you connect with James Marsden on The Best of Me?
I was introduced to him through Denise Di Novi. I met Denise on The Lucky One when I worked with Zac Efron and we’ve kept in touch since. She knew James’ character had to look a certain way for this film so she connected us. James reached out to Zac Efron to get a reference check on me as well and Zac gave me a great endorsement. James ended up working on D-Train (also shot in New Orleans) so he actually started with me about a month before we filmed The Best of Me. That worked out really well because once he started filming The Best of Me, the filming schedule got a little nutty and they were working long hours.

Who is James Marsden’s character in the film and what kind of look was required?
James plays a character named Dawson, an oil rig worker. The character he played needed to have this rough, burly kind of look. Not someone who’s extremely in shape and ripped up but more of a tough guy. The blue collar worker. The guy who goes out, eats like a man and his weight lifting is manual labor. So we tried to focus the training on mimicking that look.

James is a relatively thin guy. He’s got a fast metabolism and it was all about trying to put some decent size on him. I checked out some online images of different oil rig workers and I’ve got a couple buddies who work on the rigs so I asked them what their days are like. They’ve got little gyms on site and they’ve got decent dining facilities where they can eat fairly healthy so I used those as guidelines.

What were some of the goals you set together to achieve that look?
Normally, the biggest part of a transformation is the nutrition aspect but in James’ case, because of his body type, his metabolism and the schedule we had, training was actually a lot more important than the nutrition. In very few instances do ever I say that. Nutrition was still a big factor though as we had to incorporate different foods around the times we trained and then took a couple of supplements that you can buy from GNC or Vitamin Shoppe that helped with endurance, recovery and performance.

What were some of the nutrition goals you set together?
When we started out, I really had to understand how his body worked in the gym and with nutrition. He can pretty much eat whatever he wants so with a guy who has a metabolism like him, we had to be sure to eat the right foods around the right times. We added some red meat in, added some carbohydrates around his training time and he drank some aminos while we trained. These are just a few things that helped him build muscle and get through the training sessions because the training was pretty tough. I had him drinking a lot of water too. Being on set and sweating all day can take its toll and dehydrate you pretty quickly. His schedule was pretty hectic so we tried to keep it as consistent as possible with the food. Catering helped us with his meals as much as possible.

What were some of the training goals that you set with James?
His schedule was really sporadic. He was filming D-Train, he was having meetings for The Best of Me and he had his press stuff going on for X-Men, which was really hush-hush. He’s also got a family back in L.A. so he was constantly leaving to go from one place to the next. I knew we were going to have to do some out-of-the-box type training, not your traditional weight training. So we used a lot of volume training, super sets and giant sets, things that to really shock the body, shock the muscle and force it to grow in a short amount of time.

We used a lot of different rep ranges on various exercises but all of that was obviously dependent upon his endurance & energy level on that day; I was always watching his form. I may say, “Do ten.” But he can only do five. So we may get five, I may push an extra one out of him but I don’t want his form to get too sloppy if he’s not getting the full benefit of the exercise. There are always variables that come into play with training. He might be stronger one day than he is the next based on whether he got all his meals in and had enough sleep. When he’s been up for fourteen hours and has only had two meals, the training’s going to be different because we can’t push as hard.

What were some of the training obstacles that you ran into with James on this film?
The only training obstacles were his schedule and the amount of days we were able to train. It was great when he was doing D-Train because we were probably the most consistent for those four weeks. But once The Best of Me started and the schedule got a little crazy, we would miss a couple days then train two times a day on the weekend to catch up. We’d train on some days at 6am and then again at 10pm to get everything in we could because he would be leaving for a couple days and then we’d fall behind a bit. But he was dedicated to it. Given the schedule he had and the pain that I was putting him through, he stuck with it pretty good. And, surprisingly, he actually liked it! I like it too, so we had that mutual respect for each other.

What impressed you the most about James?
He’s really down to earth. He’s one of the few guys in the industry who you can really relate to and just talk to and be real with. He’s dedicated to the characters he plays. He gives it everything he’s got. He’s a guy that I would love to work with again. When it comes to training, because it can be so physically demanding, there aren’t many people who I can say would give it a hundred percent every training session. And the ones who do, I’ve got so much respect for them. And he’s one of them.

What do you think of the final product that you put up on the big screen with James?
I loved it. And I’ve had a lot of messages from people who say he looks amazing. I think the producers liked the look. We didn’t overdo it. We didn’t under do it. I think we came in right where he needed to be so the character looked real. He didn’t look like he had been training for a year, eating eight meals a day on this crazy program. We had a limited amount of time and we pulled it off. When you look at his before and after photos of the training, it’s pretty impressive. He put himself through it, I put him through it, and when he takes his shirt off on screen, or he’s in a tank top, you can tell that hard work went into that.

He looks very different. Even considering roles like Cyclops in the X-Men movies, he looks even more like a superhero in this movie. He’s got big arms and big shoulders. He looks like somebody who works for a living.

What you just said is exactly what we wanted him to look like. That’s what we wanted people to think. We didn’t want them to say, “Oh, he must’ve trained or ate like Dwayne Johnson.” It wasn’t about trying to overshadow his character with a crazy physique. It was just making his character look like what he did for a living. We pulled it off. I’m extremely happy with it. And when we finished the film, we pigged out on some chocolate peanut butter pie!

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

Fitness Myth Busted

“Women who lift weights will turn into beefcakes.”

For a woman to put on a massive amount of weight, to look bulky, you have to eat a lot of food. A female’s body doesn’t carry anywhere near the amount of testosterone a male does. The thought of putting a ton of weight on by training: there’s no logic to it. In many cases, women who are relatively thin who are scared to get big, their muscles are really atrophied. A woman who starts to lift weights might feel a little puffiness but that’s really because you tear your muscle down when you train and part of the process is recovery and repair. Muscle tearing can cause a little bit of swelling at the very beginning. I think that’s where people get scared. They feel bigger because they feel swollen and it’s really just the muscle trying to repair itself; there will always be some amount of pain that goes with training. But, lifting weights is going to make a woman tone and help lean their body out. I love this saying: weights won’t make you big but cupcakes will. I encourage women to incorporate cardio and weight training to get the best benefit. Most women who just do cardio have a really flat, stringy look and that’s typically not what they want. Because there’s so much controversial information out there, it sets people up for failure because they read so much of the wrong stuff that it becomes discouraging. In conclusion, women can try to mix things up. Do a cardio day and the next day a weight training day. Or during one training session, do half weights and half cardio. Add in yoga or pilates. In addition to clean eating, this will all help get the best overall shape and look!

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE MEDICAL ADVICE. THE CONTENT IS NOT GUARANTEED TO BE CORRECT, COMPLETE OR UP-TO-DATE. THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED TO CREATE A CLIENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU AND AARON WILLIAMSON, SCENE MAGAZINE, OR ANY ASSOCIATED COMPANIES, AND YOU SHOULD NOT ACT OR RELY ON ANY INFORMATION IN THIS PUBLICATION WITHOUT SEEKING THE ADVICE OF MEDICAL DOCTOR. IN READING THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR CONSULTING WITH AN EXPERIENCED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL AND RECEIVING COUNSEL BASED ON THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF A PARTICULAR TRANSACTION. MANY OF THE PRINCIPLES MENTIONED ARE SUBJECT TO EXCEPTIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS, WHICH MAY NOT BE NOTED. PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE BEGINNING ANY HEALTH AND EXERCISE PROGRAM.

WWE Body Slams Bootleggers in Appellate Ruling

The 5th Circuit: Spotting a counterfeiter near the Superdome in New Orleans isn't hard

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WWE Body Slams Bootleggers in Appellate Ruling

The 5th Circuit: Spotting a counterfeiter near the Superdome in New Orleans isn't hard

read more

WWE Body Slams Bootleggers in Appellate Ruling

The 5th Circuit: Spotting a counterfeiter near the Superdome in New Orleans isn't hard

read more

WWE Body Slams Bootleggers in Appellate Ruling

The 5th Circuit: Spotting a counterfeiter near the Superdome in New Orleans isn't hard

read more

The Foodoo Experience | Voodoo 2014

photo by Kelli Binnings

Foo Fighters played Sunday night and ended a terrific weekend filled with great weather, music, food, artwork and costumes. Dave Grohl and his band of superstars appeared to be having just as much fun as the fans that were worshiping them Sunday night. No question, the Foo Fighters have the best smiles in rock n’ roll.

To make the Foodoo Experience even better, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews came out for his finale and jammed with the Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl and Shorty had excellent chemistry as the two rocked around the stage, praising each other throughout the entire song.

The fearless frontman of the Foo Fighters lavishly complimented New Orleans during the two-and-a-half hour performance. Grohl and his team were down in New Orleans filming for their new documentary series for HBO entitled Sonic Highways. Grohl described the series as, “a love letter to the history of American music.” For their eighth album in twenty years of existence, the Foo Fighters will release Sonic Highways while riding along the titular routes. The rockers have made pitstops in Chicago, Washington DC, Nashville, Austin, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Seattle and New York.

Prior to the Voodoo Experience, while the Foo Fighters were in New Orleans to film  Sonic Highways, they played a surprise concert featuring Trombone Shorty. The two easily rekindled their music magic Sunday night.

Grohl is a musical genius. He is easily one of the most badass musicians of my generation. He was the drummer of the pioneering grunge group, Nirvana. He admits holding his own songs from his former bandmates because he was in awe of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s songwriting ability. When Cobain died, Nirvana disbanded. But Grohl refused to stop playing.

Twenty years, eight albums and four Grammys later, the Foo Fighters are stronger than ever. Grohl is joined by band members Taylor Hawkins (drums), Chris Shiflett (lead guitar), Pat Smear (rhythm guitar) and Nate Mendel slapping the bass. The album Sonic Highways will be released November 10. The HBO series is already available  on HBO and HBOGO.

Hey, Hey, We’re the Arctic Monkeys | Voodoo 2014

Try finding a YouTube video of an Arctic Monkeys song without at least one-million views. The Alex Turner-led Monkeys have a distinct British sound that has DNA stretching over decades. Playing rhythmic rock, the Brits can switch to aggressive punk rock in a matter of chords.

The insanely popular Arctic Monkeys are comprised of bandmates Alex Turner (lead vocals), Jamie Cook (lead and rhythm guitar), Matt Helders (drums and percussion) and Nick O’Malley (bass). On a chilly Saturday night at the Voodoo Experience, the British Indie rock group brought warmth to the audience, a large crowd that hung on every chorus.

The setlist kicked off with the moderately paced lament on love, “Do I Wanna Know?” The Monkeys picked up their step with the similarly themed “Snap Out of It,” a poppy ponderance of unrequited love.

Next was “Arabella,” “Brianstorm,” and the festival appropriate “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair.” The immense crowd went crazy for “Fluorescent Adolescent,” one of the band’s more mainstream tracks immediately reminiscent of The Killers. Another popular number was the uptempo “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor,” which had the cold crowd moving in a mosh-like frenzy.

Bearing a striking resemblance to The Amazing Spiderman himself, Andrew Garfield, Alex Turner ever-so-hiply seduced all of the women (and most of the men) in attendance Saturday night. Listening to the Arctic Monkeys makes you feel good to be bad, wanting to join the cold cult that is Arctic Monkeys.

After bowing with “505,” the Sheffield sons came out for an encore, a courtesy not offered by Outkast to the previous night’s festivalgoers. The three-song finale included “One for the Road,” “I Wanna Be Yours” and the fan favorite “R U Mine?” Great song. Terrible thing to ask a girl via text.

The Arctic Monkeys have various musical inspirations and it truly shows from album to album. With five albums, seven Brit Awards and multiple Grammy Nominations, this rock group is rolling uphill and isn’t looking back anytime soon. They’ve become a band that is very cool to like. The anti-Nickelback. The large crowd was especially impressive due to the fact that Skrillex was playing Le Plur at the same time on the other side of the festival grounds.

If you missed the Arctic Monkeys at the Voodoo Experience, don’t worry. They are bound to be a major headliner again. Here’s “R U Mine?”

Beer and a Movie: Halloween Pairings

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays of the year. The neighborhood I grew up in Northern Virginia was your typical suburban neighborhood and went all out for Halloween. Tons of houses in the neighborhood would  turn their garages and yards into spooky graveyards or witches lairs.  When I got older all I wanted to do was scare kids with my own version.

In addition to scaring the crap out of little kids I also enjoying tucking into a horror movie while sipping on some seasonal suds.  Just like pairing food and beer or cigars and beers  why don’t we pair movies and beer?  I think Halloween is the perfect time to do that!

• Coney Island Freaktoberfest- How could you not start off with this blood red lager from Shmaltz Brewing Companies Coney Island line-up? When a beer comes in at 6.66% abv and is made with 6 malts and 6 hops it IS the perfect Halloween beer. This one will blow your mind from a sensory standpoint. Trust me.

PAIR WITH: Freaks- This classic 1932 horror film that takes place at a circus uses real life carnival sideshow performers that had real physical deformities.

• Shipyard Pumpkinhead- You know I’m going to put a pumpkin beer on this list and I felt this one fit the bill perfectly. Not only does it taste like pumpkin pie but it also has the Headless Horsemen on the bottle. Perfect.

PAIR WITH: Sleepy Hollow- This 1999 Tim Burton film with Johnny Depp is a decent screen adaptation of Kiplings Short Story. And Christopher Walken as the Hessian is awesome.

• Reaper Ale Mortality Stout- I’m not really sure I need to explain this one to you. This foreign stout from Reaper Ale in California pours a dark black and has hints of roasted malt and mocha.

PAIR WITH: Stir of Echos- My wife and I won tickets to see this Kevin bacon film when it first came out and it creeped us both out. We loved it. If you haven’t seen it you’re in luck because it’s a great flick.

• Reaper Ale Deathly Pale Ale- Yeah I have another one from Reaper Ale. Their beers are just too perfect for Halloween not to have at least two. This American Pale Ale comes at you with a nice citrus hoppiness and is well balanced.

PAIR WITH:  Quarantine- This 2008 English remake of the Spanish film REC is awesome. The premise is a group of people get quarantined in a building due to virus outbreak. Ebola anyone? This one is guaranteed to make you jump.

• Brasserie Dieu du Ciel! Rigor Mortis ABT- This Quad style ale from Dieu du Ciel! is great for Halloween for obvious reasons. It is a nice malty beer with hints of chocolate, caramel and dark fruit.

PAIR WITH: 28 Days Later- This zombie-esque style film is another virus/plague outbreak film like Quarantine but the similarities end there. I think this film starring Cillian Murphy is one of the best horror films in a long time and was a refreshing take on the tired zombie genre.

Go grab these beers for tonite!

Cheers!

Jeremy Beer Buddha Labadie

It’s Time: The Voodoo Music + Arts Experience 2014

It’s time for Voodoo. Today, the best fest in New Orleans kicks off at New Orleans City Park. We’ve been talking about why Voodoo is the best fest and taking a look at some of the artists that will take the stage this three day weekend. Here’s some of the music we’ve shared to prepare for Voodoo:

1 Day to Voodoo: The Revivalists
2 Days to Voodoo: Pretty Lights
3 Days to Voodoo: Trombone Shorty
4 Days to Voodoo: Awolnation
7 Days to Voodoo: Foo Fighters
8 Days to Voodoo: Fuel
9 Days to Voodoo: Ms. Lauryn Hill
10 Days to Voodoo: Flux Pavilion
11 Days to Voodoo: Rebirth Brass Band
14 Days to Voodoo: Thirty Seconds to Mars
15 Days to Voodoo: Givers
16 Days to Voodoo: City and Colour
17 Days to Voodoo: Skrillex
18 Days to Voodoo: Arctic Monkeys
21 Days to Voodoo: Royal Teeth
22 Days to Voodoo: Zedd
23 Days to Voodoo: Twenty One Pilots
24 Days to Voodoo: Slayer
25 Days to Voodoo: Outkast

For tickets and more, go to the official website at worshipthemusic.com.

Recap: Pelicans’ Home Opener vs. Orlando Magic

The bandwagon is leaving the station and Anthony Davis is the driver, the wheel, the tires and I’m hopping on for the ride. Pelicans dismantled an Eastern Conference cellar dweller, the Orlando Magic, 101-84 on Tuesday night. All five starters for the Pelicans had a plus/minus of at least +9, and we cannot forget about the potential 2015 Sixth Man of the Year, former member of the Orlando Magic Ryan Anderson. Ryan had a plus/minus of +18 and drained three 3-pointers in as many possessions that whipped the crowd into a frenzy at the end of the third quarter.

The Omer Asik addition is refreshing. Pelicans’ front court could be the most feared rim protectors in the league. Tuesday night’s performance for both Anthony Davis and Omer Asik was historic as it was the first time since 1998 that two teammates grabbed at least fifteen rebounds and blocked five shots each. The last two teammates to accomplish that feat you ask? Future Hall of Famers David Robinson and Timmy Duncan.

Tobias Harris led all scorers with twenty-five points and Nikola Vucevic had a game high twenty-three rebounds but this wasn’t enough to stop the Pelican’s transformative quick-paced offense. Both Jrue and Eric Gordon were held to a below-average eight points. Defensively, the Pelican back court held their own against the inexperienced guards, Elfrid Payton (John Ehret and ULL) and Evan Fournier to a total of fifteen points and a combined five of seventeen from the field (29%).

No one is really sure of Eric Gordon’s future in the Crescent City but he showed defensive prowess and made an effort on both ends of the court. As a fan of Elfrid Payton, I was disappointed in his homecoming performance. Without a serviceable jumper, the former Ragin’ Cajun will have to carve out lanes and finish at the rim to get buckets. Fortunately for the Pelicans, we had The AD to nullify those buckets as he finished with a career high nine blocked shots.

There is much promise for this young Pelican roster yet they have an Everest-like mountain to climb that is the Western Conference. If the core remains healthy throughout most of the year, it wouldn’t be crazy for a jaded Pelicans fan to say that we could creep in as a sixth or seventh seed.

Coach Monty Williams will rely on the twenty-one year old, 6’11, freakishly athletic, and oh yeah, a two-time Gold Medalist, to lead the Pelicans to the promise land that is the exclusive Western Conference Playoffs.

If you want to jump on the bandwagon, check out the Pelicans take on the Dallas Mavericks at the Smoothie King Center Saturday, November 1 at 7pm.

1 DAY TO VOODOO: The Revivalists

Upon hearing The Revivalists for the first time, you wouldn’t be able to tell what era they’re from. They jam. They’re soulful. They’re funky. They rock.

Founded in 2007, the New Orleanians remarkable live performances emerge out of an infectious “team spirit” mentality. The throwback group consists of seven members, including Ed Williams (Pedal Steel Guitar), David Shaw (Vocals), Zack Feinberg (Guitar), Rob Ingraham (Saxophone), George Gekas (Bass), Andrew Campanelli (Drums), and Michael Girardot (Keys/Trumpet). With exceptional talent from each instrument, The Revivalists have created a sound that’s meant to be experienced live.

Dave Shaw screams like Chris Cornell, yet can sometimes resemble Muddy Waters or JJ Grey & Mofro, with elements reminiscent of Dave Matthews. That’s some pretty sweet praise for a seven-year-old band from New Orleans. Dave Shaw’s inner child shines as he jumps around the stage like a kid yearning to throw a tantrum. Shaw sings with veracity that galvanizes every crowd.

The Revivalists travel across many tempos, styles and sounds, producing dark rifts and lyrics, or devising intense melancholy. The group finds a way to blend rock/funk/soul and flirts with electronic sounds. The Revivalists were conceived by fate as Zach Feinberg took an alternative bike route to his house and found Dave Shaw singing and playing guitar on his porch. The group found five new members and has been touring ever since.

In 2008, The Revivalists EP was self-released and was received with promise. DJ Sherwood Collins of WWOZ New Orleans expressed his admiration, naming it one of the best albums of 2008. With the help of Grammy-award-winning engineer, Chris Finney, The Revivalists created Vital Sounds in 2010. Produced by Chris Finney, this album was self-released. It showcased twelve new songs including “Catching Fireflies.” Recent album, City of Sound was released by Wind-Up Records March 4, 2014.

Dave Shaw admits writing at least seventy-five percent of “Masquerade” while walking in a Mardi Gras parade. He alludes to the now-incarcerated Governor Ray Nagin’s float featuring him drinking and “getting all messed up.” City of Sound not only features songs like “Masquerade,” but features their most popular songs to date such as, “Concrete,” “Navigate Below,” and “Criminal.”

Be sure to check The Revivalists out for their third trip in as many years to the Voodoo Experience on Sunday, November 2, 3:30pm.

2 DAYS TO VOODOO: Pretty Lights

Derek Vincent Smith is a musical giant. Really. The man who performs under his stage name Pretty Lights is actually six feet, nine inches tall.

The Grammy-nominated artist sports an electro soul sound that hearkens back to the pulp soundtracks of 1970s grindhouse films. Legendary producer Rick Rubin called Smith “the face and voice of the new American electronic music scene.” That’s high praise from a man who’s worked with Run DMC and Slayer (who, by the by, will also be at Voodoo).

For those who haven’t heard the genre-bending sounds of Smith, you can expect more than just that wub wub. Mature horns make their way in to a tapestry of orchestral strings, all alongside the requisite scratching.

You can see the Pretty Lights at the Voodoo Music Experience this weekend. He’ll be helping to close out the festival at New Orleans City Park on Sunday, November 2 at 7:30pm. Tickets are at worshipthemusic.com.

Southern Design Week 2014

The South’s premier fashion event, Southern Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2015 runs from November 3-9. Expanding out from New Orleans, founder Andi Eaton kicks off a new project to highlight the work of Southern-based designers and those influenced by the South.

To become a member of the Southern Coalition of Fashion & Design and to buy tickets for Southern Design Week, go to southerndesignweek.com. But before attending the shows, here’s a look at the designers.

Annie Etzel
Annie E. Apparel

Annie Etzel has grown up in the South. Her clothes are an expression, incorporating shapes and silhouettes to create eye-catching and unique garments. The inspiration is not from one source but many. The women she designs for are everything but common. Inspired by the Southern woman, the vision is complex, glamorous, and more than meets the eye. Each garment is as intricate and detailed as every woman.

Asa Ziegler
Calle Del Mar

California native, Brooklyn-based designer Aza Ziegler had an early start. At age twelve she was featured in Women’s Wear Daily for her one-of-a-kind skirt line. Ten years later, Ziegler graduated from Pratt Institute and released her first collection. In 2014, she received a fellowship to join the Brooklyn Fashion and Design Accelerator as a Junior Fellow and Zeum Magazine just named her “one to watch.”

Courtney Marse

Graphic designer Courtney Marse blurs the lines between surface designer, apparel designer and textile designer. She explores the illustrated and abstracted narrative and its application to three-dimensional surfaces such as engineered prints for apparel.

Drawing inspiration from people and places, her process begins with developing non-traditional narratives and creating watercolor and pencil illustrations to depict the story. The illustration is cut into an abstraction, which is used as a module to create a larger print. Parts of the original illustration are combined with the print to create designs that express the narratives.

Andi Eaton
Hazel & Florange

Andi Eaton, named one of the most stylish people in the South by Southern Living Magazine, is the designer of Hazel & Florange, a women’s wear clothing line and celebration of Southern charm, inspired by the city of New Orleans. Her blog Oui We chronicles her personal style, travels, and the stories of the LA fashion community. She’s the founder of the Southern Coalition of Fashion & Design, an organization dedicated to building a resource network for independent Southern designers and those working in connected industries.

Noël Martin
Noël Martin Collection

Born and raised in New Orleans, Noël Martin currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, and works as an independent designer running Noël Martin Collection. As a double major in Fashion and Accessory design at Savannah College of Art and Design, Noël transferred to Parsons the New School of Design in Manhattan and graduated in May of 2014.

‘NCIS: New Orleans’ Earns Full Season Order at CBS

After a strong start, NCIS: New Orleans has been awarded a full season by CBS. Fellow freshman shows Scorpion and Madam Secretary were also granted nine more episodes each, bringing their first seasons up to twenty-two episodes in total.

NCIS: New Orleans has boasted an average 18.2 million, which surpasses its sister show set in Los Angeles. Together, the new shows represent a successful fall for CBS. The full season order for NCIS falls in line with the recent announcement that NCIS: New Orleans distribution rights have been sold in over two hundred markets worldwide.

“These four shows have had an immediate impact on our schedule by improving nights, winning time periods and adding more hours of success across our primetime lineup,” says Nina Tassler, Chairman of CBS Entertainment.

NCIS: New Orleans has done a great job to date of showcasing the historic city of New Orleans. Exclusively shot in the Crescent City, the show gives the audience a front row seat. That’s in addition to a cast with real camaraderie, all of whom are able to sport believable Southern comfort on screen.

Scott Bakula, Lucas Black, Zoe McLellan, CCH Pounder and Rob Kerkovich star in the crime drama. Gary Glasberg, Mark Harmon, Jeffrey Lieber and James Hayman are the executive producers.

NCIS: New Orleans airs on CBS tonight, 10/28/14 at 8pm for the latest episode, “Master of Horror.”

Source: Deadline

3 DAYS TO VOODOO: Trombone Shorty

With the smooth vocals of Lionel Richie, Lenny Kravitz and the playful presence of Cab Calloway, this cool twenty-eight year old fronts a truly homegrown band. Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews has the diverse ability to belt out fast-paced jazz/funk/hip-hop to get the party started, or take you to head-bobbing tranquility to rival any techno tent.

Plain and simple, try to remain still while listening to Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.

Horn-driven and melody-rich, Trombone Shorty’s sound is transcendent, a boy who was born to groove. Raised in the Tremé, Andrews participated in brass band parades and was a bandleader by the age of six. Andrews later learned the academic underpinnings to his street sounds as a student at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA).

Over the last half decade, Trombone Shorty has solidified himself as more than a six-year-old savant. He’s a legend in residence. Shorty’s Grammy-nominated group plays the Voodoo Experience on Sunday, November 2nd from 4:45-6:00 pm. Tickets are at worshipthemusic.com.

Here’s Shorty at age thirteen, already swinging his bone with the best of them:

Here he is all grown up:

4 Days to Voodoo: Awolnation

It’s the final stretch and in four short days the 2014 Voodoo Experience will be here. So will Awolnation. So will Scene. And so will you.

The electronic rock band was formed and fronted by Aaron Bruno. They released their first EP Back From Earth on May 18, 2010 on iTunes. The group then released their debut album Megalithic Symphony digitally on March 15, 2011 and psychically March 29, 2011. The album features the well known single “Sail” which went platinum in the US and has been featured on CBS’s The Good Life, Nokia’s commercial for 4G LTE, and also used for a routine on So You Think You Can Dance.

But perhaps Awolnation’s biggest accomplishment to date is expertly crafting a song that would one day be the soundtrack to this cat’s death:

Awolnation performs at the festival Sunday, November 2. Join us at the Voodoo Experience this weekend. And don’t forget to stop by the Scene tent and say hello. Tickets at worshipthemusic.com.

NOFF: Fest Closes With ‘The Big Beat’ and Awards

After a week of workshops, red carpets and films, the 25th Annual New Orleans Film Festival came to a close last night with a screening of The Big Beat. The filmmaking team for the feature include director Joe Lauro,  producers Beth Vest and Rick Coleman, editor Anthea Carr, director of photography David Leonard and associate producers Haydee Ellis and Andrew Conti. The Domino family attended the Red Carpet event at Carver Theater, along with a host of other local luminaries.

The New Orleans Film Society recently held their award ceremony at the Republic New Orleans. The 2014 Jury Award Winners are listed below:

Jury Winner: Narrative Feature
$10,000 camera package from Panavision — presented by James Finn
Proud Citizen
Director: Thom Southerland

Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast: Narrative Feature
Love Land
Director: Joshua Tate
Narrative Features Jury: Effie T. Brown, Matt Grady, and Peter Knegt

Jury Winner: Documentary Feature
$1000 cash prize from the New Orleans Film Society, and two one-on-one 30-minute consultations: one with POV executive director Simon Kilmurry and one session with POV Vice President of Community Engagement & Education Eliza Licht.
When the Bell Rings
Director: Brad Bores

Special Jury Award: Documentary Feature
61 Bullets
Directors: David Modigliani & Lucy Kreutz
Documentary Features Jury: N’Jeri Eaton, David Gelb, and Eugene Hernandez

Jury Winner: Louisiana Feature
$10,000 camera package from Panavision — presented by James Finn
Big Charity
Director: Alex Glustrom

Special Jury Award: Louisiana Feature
Below Dreams
Director: Garrett Bradley
Louisiana Features Jury: Chris Innis, Rebecca Snedeker, and Cameron Yates

Jury Winner: Narrative Short
$2500 in film stock from Kodak — Michael Brown from Kodak is here to present
Afronauts
Director: Frances Bodomo

Special Jury Award: Narrative Short
Skunk
Director: Annie Silverstein
Narrative Shorts Jury: Bryan Buckley, Moira Griffin, and Roberta Munroe

Jury Winner: Documentary Short
$500 from the New Orleans Film Society
White Earth
Director: J. Christian Jensen

Special Jury Award: Documentary Short
Le Taxidermiste
Director: Prisca Bouchet & Nick Mayow
Documentary Shorts Jury: Christopher Campbell, Wendy Cohen, and Sari Gilman

Jury Winner: Louisiana Short
$10,000 post-production package rom Digital FX
Church in Black
Director: Kenna J. Moore
Louisiana Shorts Jury: Angela Catalano, Peter Labuza, and Brian O’Hare

Helen Hill Jury Award for Animation
Prize: Toon Boom Storyboard Pro License, one-year license
Proximity
Director: Joshua Cox

Special Jury Award: Animation
Toon Boom Animate Software Package
The Box
Director: Michael I Schiller
Animation Shorts Jury: Ken Keys, Mallory Martin, Matt Wisdom

Jury Winner: Experimental Short
$250 Prize from the New Orleans Film Society
Escape from Planet Tarr
Director: Luigi Campi

Special Jury Award: Experimental Short
Infinite Now (Infinite Jetzt)
Director: Julie Pfleiderer
Experimental Shorts Jury: Blake Carrington, Mary Kerr, and Lucas Leyva

Programmer’s Award for Artistic Vision
Unmappable
Directors: Diane Hodson & Jasmine Luoma

Apex Post Award for Best Sound in a Louisiana Film
Bury Me
$2500 Service Package from Apex Post

Apex Post Award for Best Sound in a Louisiana Film
Honorable Mention: (Short): The Veil
($500 Service package)

Apex Post Award for Best Sound in a Louisiana Film
Honorable Mention: Una Vida
($1,000 Service package)

Cinematography Award: Louisiana Narrative Feature
Below Dreams
Director: Garrett Bradley Cinematographers: Brian C. Miller Richard, Milena Pastreich

Cinematography Award: Louisiana Narrative Short
Call Me Cappy
Director: Maja Holzinger Cinematographer: Trenton Mynatt

Best Editing Award
Whiplash
Director: Damien Chazelle Editor: Tom Cross

TRAILER: Avengers: Age of Ultron

All of your favorite Marvel characters are back for Avengers: Age of Ultron. Leave it to Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) to stir up a little bit of trouble reuniting our favorite team of heroes. When Stark tries to jumpstart an inactive peacekeeping program, things don’t go exactly as planned, bringing The Avengers back together to stop the villain Ultron.

The trailer doesn’t tell us much, but it is a very serious trailer and fans get a glimpse at a lot of the main characters.

All of the stars return as their characters: Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye. James Spader takes on the voice of Ultron and Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen join the cast as Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch.

Avengers: Age of Ultron is produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The film is the sequel to Marvel’s 2012 film The Avengers and director Joss Whedon returns to direct. Below is the official teaser poster for the film.

Avengers: Age of Ultron hits theaters May 1, 2015 in 2D and IMAX 3D.

Source: /Film

8 Days to Voodoo: Fuel

With only eight days away, it’s hard not to get excited about all the great performers coming to the 2014 Voodoo Experience. And one of those performers is Fuel. The alternative rock band formed back in 1989 by guitarist/songwriter Carl Bell and bassist Jeff Abercrombie. The band is now led by Brett Scallions along with Brad Stewart, Andy Andersson and Shannon Boone.

The band was originally called Small the Joy but eventually changed to Fuel in 1994. The band released their first EP Porclelain in 1996. Fuel is probably best known for their hit songs, “Shimmer”, “Bad Day” and “Falls On Me.” The group recently released their latest album Puppet Strings in March 2014.

Catch Fuel and all the other amazing performers in eight days at Voodoo Experience.

Click here to view the full festival lineup.

Why Voodoo Fest is the Best Fest

This article originally ran in the 2012 October/November issue of Scene Magazine

1.) The Music
The music aficionados who select and schedule the Voodoo Music Experience are unparalleled, full stop. The big names are just the beginning. When I see Ozzy’s name in the lineup, I need to see that old man out-rock his juniors. But it’s the names I don’t know that most excite. Voodoo is the best place to discover the new music you will be listening to for the next twelve months. Or the rest of your life.

2.) City Park
In a city steeped in aged beauty, New Orleans City Park competes with all comers. The sumptuous oaks provide optional shade for festivalgoers who want to enjoy the sunshine without sunburn. And did I mention it’s beautiful?

3.) October Weather
While statewide, Louisiana has a festival literally every weekend, not all of them happen in October, when New Orleans feels like Santa Monica. The low humidity and cool weather that can only be found in the fall make everything better.

4.) Halloween
The people-watching at Voodoo is first rate. There are only so many times I can see a scantily clad, aging-hippy-begging-for-skin-cancer without getting bored. But because Voodoo overlaps with New Orleanian Halloween, a never ending supply of painstakingly constructed costumes is guaranteed. Ninja Turtles. Atreyu. Skrillex. Catwoman. Sloth from The Goonies. The photo ops alone are gold, Jerry. Gold.

5.) The Art
From massive nine meter high art installations to paint-on-canvas, the art portion of the Voodoo Experience serves to enhance every aspect of the festival. The art makes every picture you take interesting, and gives your brain food for thought in between sets. And it makes that picture of you with the guy in the Atreyu costume so much sweeter.

6.) The Aftermath
Voodoo may turn off the lights every night around nine, but don’t think anyone is going straight to bed. There will be special musical guests at the House of Blues, Republic and Eiffel Society. And then, on Saturday night, it starts. Halloween on Frenchmen Street. How much better can it be, you might ask? Ask another stupid question, I’d respond. But, gentleman that I am, I’d follow up the insult with an invite: to the super secret Scene Halloween Party in the French Quarter.

The 2014 Voodoo Experience will be held October 31, November 1 and 2.

Click here to view the full festival lineup.

9 Days to Voodoo: Ms. Lauryn Hill

We’re in the single digits now! Only nine more days until the 2014 Voodoo Experience, which will feature Ms. Lauryn Hill,  singer-songwriter, rapper, producer and actress extraordinaire.

Originally from New Jersey, Ms. Hill’s love for music began at an early age. Her household listened to the world’s most renowned musicians including Motown, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and The Jackson Five. They are sounds Hill’s music incorporates, inspired by jazz, soul, reggae, rock and classical.

After graduating high school, Hill attended Columbia University where she joined Pras Michel and Wyclef Jean to create the influential group The Fugees. Together, they released two studio albums and their second album, the Grammy Award-winning The Score, sold six million copies. The Fugees were the second biggest selling R&B act since Michael Jackson. And although they are not still together, the group has had a lasting impact on the music industry.

Hill released her first solo studio album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1998. The album debuted at number one on Billboard 200 and Hill won five Grammy Awards including Album of the Year and Best New Artist.

Along the way, Hill’s acting career has accompanied her meteoric rise on stage. She began with plays and starring in television commercials while she was still a full time student. She also landed a spot in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit and had a recurring role on the soap opera As the World Turns.

Catch Ms. Lauryn Hill when she takes the stage Saturday, November 1 at the 2014 Voodoo Experience.

Click here to view the full festival lineup.