Long Out-Of-Print Collection "All Day Thumbsucker Revisited", Documenting The History Of Blue Thumb Records, Revived On Eve Of Legendary Label's 50th Anniversary Next Year

Long out-of-print collection "All Day Thumbsucker Revisited," documenting the history of Tommy LiPuma and Bob Krasnow's legendary Blue Thumb Records, is now available as a 2CD set

From 1968 to 1978, Blue Thumb Records was one of music's most adventurous and imaginative record labels, with a far-ranging roster of cutting-edge acts and an unconventional visual sensibility. Nurturing an eclectic assortment of artists from a wide variety of genres, Blue Thumb embodied the restless creative spirit of the era in which it was born, reflecting the emerging attitude that albums were worthy of being taken seriously as artistic statements.

Blue Thumb's expansive musical vision was anthologized on the 1995 label retrospective All Day Thumbsucker Revisited. Today, October 27, Verve Records/UMe is releasing the long-out-of-print collection, originally compiled by Gary Katz, known for his work with Steely Dan, in an updated two-CD edition on the eve of next year's 50th anniversary of Blue Thumb's founding. The first in a projected series of releases to celebrate the revered label, the CD set offers 32 vintage tracks spread across two discs, while the digital edition, due November 10, marks the first time this collection will be available as a digital download and for streaming. In showcasing Blue Thumb's influential artist roster, the album also honors the iconoclastic musical vision of late label founders Bob Krasnow, who died on December 11, 2016, and Tommy LiPuma, who passed away on March 13, 2017. 

• The album is available for purchase here

Danny Bennett, President & CEO of Verve Label Group comments, "With the release of All Day Thumbsucker Revisited, we are so proud to honor Tommy LiPuma and Bob Krasnow by celebrating their Blue Thumb Records legacy and the incredible music they curated, all of which is well represented on this must-have collection."

Blue Thumb Records' diverse artist roster included avant-garde hero Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band (whose rejected band name provided Blue Thumb's handle), Marc Bolan's Tyrannosaurus Rex, soul icons Ike and Tina Turner, hitmakers the Pointer Sisters, retro-swing hipsters Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, venerable rockers Dave Mason and Leon Russell, psychedelic savants Love, boundary-pushing future star Sylvester, avant-jazz icon Sun Ra, rap progenitors the Last Poets, Gypsy jazz guitarist Gábor Szabó, spoken-word innovator Ken Nordine, British imports Mark-Almond and the Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, jazz greats the Crusaders, Luis Gasca and Philip Upchurch, and blues legends Albert Collins, John Mayall, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells and Junior Mance—all of whom are featured on All Day Thumbsucker Revisited.

Along with 30 tracks from the original album, the 2017 edition of All Day Thumbsucker Revisited features two additional tracks by Buddy Guy and the Pointer Sisters. In addition to the above-mentioned artists, the album also includes a track by veteran pianist-journalist Ben Sidran, who also provided the original album's liner notes, which are reproduced here in their entirety.

The first Blue Thumb label was black with white print. The Blue Thumb logo was in blue inside an arched window above the center hole. (Via bsnpubs.com)

Bob Krasnow had already been president of the King and Buddah/Kama Sutra labels when he formed Blue Thumb Records in 1968. Recruiting like-minded A&M Records producer Tommy LiPuma and A&M marketing executive Don Graham, Krasnow set out to build a record label that would reflect his own freewheeling sensibility as well as the increasing influence of album-oriented radio.

As Joe Sample of the Crusaders observed, "LiPuma and Krasnow were young and vibrant men with a tremendous love of music. And they also had the expertise to back up that love. And they started signing all kinds of bands. It was the new image in music, and I think it was the best kind of image that we ever had in the music business.

There was a sense in the air of a lot of adventure," Sample notes. "The music business was making big, major changes; the newfound FM airwaves meant there was suddenly a whole new branch of radio stations that played music that would never be played on an AM station. Blue Thumb was one of the first companies that realized this new set of airwaves was important for music."

Commenting on Blue Thumb's early days, Sidran recalled, "They were running it, literally, out of three rooms. And they were making records that were consciously counter to what was going on. And nobody had done that... Krasnow was going out of his way to do something different."

That "something different" can be heard throughout All Day Thumbsucker Revisited, whose vintage grooves affirm the timeless brilliance of Blue Thumb's enduring musical vision.

Blue Thumb Records Logo

ALL DAY THUMBSUCKER REVISITED TRACK LISTING
Disc One
1. Only You Know and I Know - Dave Mason
2. The City - Mark-Almond
3. Put It Where You Want It - The Crusaders
4. A Song For You - Leon Russell
5. Stimela (Coaltrain) - Hugh Masekela
6. By The Light Of Magical Moon - Tyrannosaurus Rex
7. Yes We Can Can - The Pointer Sisters
8. Darkness Darkness - Philip Upchurch
9. Son Of Mirror Man – Mere Man - Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
10. Sugar on the Line - The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation
11. Little Mama - Luis Gasca
12. Canned Music - Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks
13. Riffin' (A.K.A. A Motif Is Just A Riff) – Buddy Guy, Junior Wells and Junior Mance
14. I've Been Loving You Too Long - Ike & Tina Turner
15. Fat Jam - Ben Sidran
16. Southern Man - Sylvester and the Hot Band

Disc Two
1. Delta Lady - Leon Russell
2. Shiver 'n Shake - Albert Collins
3. Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave - Dave Mason
4. Blackbird - Bossa Rio
5. Ride A White Swan - Tyrannosaurus Rex
6. I Scare Myself - Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks
7. The Everlasting First - Love
8. The Frog - Joao Donato
9. Safe As Milk - Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
10. Breezin' - Gabor Szabo
11. Sitting on the Outside - John Mayall
12. Images - Sun Ra
13. Bird's Word - The Last Poets
14. Roger - Ken Nordine
15. How Long (Betcha' Got A Chick On The Side) – The Pointer Sisters
16. So Far Away - The Crusaders

SOURCE: Verve/UMe

NewPCgadgets Introduces The 2017 Trump Tweety Bird Christmas Tree Ornament

Trump Tweety Bird Christmas Ornament 2017

NewPCgadgets introduces the 2017 Trump Tweety Bird Christmas Tree Ornament, just in time for the Holidays.

With the combined silhouettes of a Bluebird and the current President, NewPCgadgets has created a one-of-a-kind Christmas tree ornament sure to be a conversation starter this Holiday season.

The new Trump Tweety Bird Ornament is designed to appeal to the disgruntled Democrats, demoralized Republicans and frustrated Liberals. Or, as NewPCgadgets says "About 85% of the population."

Priced at $7.95 each, the laser cut acrylic shape is made from 3/16" clear acrylic and stands 4 ½" high. NewPCgadgets also includes a red, white and blue ribbon to prominently hang the new ornament on the Christmas tree.

As an impulse, under $10 Holiday gift item, the Trump Tweety Bird Ornament provides a little levity in a highly charged political climate. 

• In addition to the Trump Christmas Tree Ornament, NewPCgadgets also offers the Trump Mousepad and the Trump Commander-in-Tweet Smartphone Stand, all for under $10.

Political statement and convenience stand all-in-one

• For ordering details and additional information visit NewPCgadgets today.

SOURCE: NewPCgadgets

Bonus Pictures:
(via NewPCgadgets)

Make America Great Again - Impeach Trump smartphone stand

Donald Trump Mousepad

Bonus Videos:

Life Among the Anishinabek of Northern Ontario

Mile Post 104 and Beyond (CNW Group/Robert Wells)

In this heartwarming memoir, retired non-Indigenous hunter, trapper and provincial conservation officer Bob Wells relives his early years learning about nature, hunting, fishing and life from his Anishinabek neighbours. 

Bob spent his youth at his parents' fishing lodge. At the age of eleven he successfully hunted an eleven-point buck. As instructed, by his dear friend Moochum Joe, he Honoured the deer with a traditional tobacco offering. Moochum presented 'Bobby' his first Honour Feather for the achievement and for community sharing. 

• He pursued hunting and fishing until just last year at the tender age of 80.

Through the staff who worked at the lodge, and throughout Bob's life, he saw first-hand how his Indigenous friends were treated differently by the church, schools, government and society at large. 

His father protected his Indigenous friends from the travelling priest who was charged with ensuring all Indigenous children were taken from their families and sent to Indian Residential Schools.

Moochum Joe told Bob to, when old, "draw words on paper to tell his kind about the mistreatment of 'Indians.'" Over six decades later, Wawahte was published and is one of only two books on the Assembly of First Nations' online "It's Our Time" curriculum package.

The book and a professional film documentary tell the stories of three Elders and their experience of residential schools. The book was endorsed by Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, Ambassador, Reconciliation Canada who travelled to Kingston to speak at the Documentary's launch.

Mile Post 104 and Beyond is Bob's first non-fiction title. This second edition has been revised and updated in light of the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 

It also includes a new final chapter written by the author's grandson about the impact of a suicide within their family. It sends a message to all young people to seek help and support to deal with their mental health issues and life challenges.

Bob Wells

Bob Wells was recently awarded the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers by the Mayor of Kingston on behalf of the Governor General. The medal – one of Canada's highest civilian awards – honours a lifetime of civic involvement and dedication to the advancement of Canadian society. Mile Post 104 and Beyond is a special part of that legacy.

• For more information, visit wawahte.com.

SOURCE: Robert Wells

More Residential Schools Related Videos:

Indigenous-Produced Docu-Drama Series "1491" Reveals Untold History Of The Americas Before Columbus

1491: The Untold Story of the Americas Before Columbus

The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) will present the world premiere of the docu-drama series 1491: The Untold Story of the Americas Before Columbus starting November 8th on APTN East and HD at 7:00 p.m. ET, APTN West at 7:00 p.m. MT and APTN North at 7:00 p.m. CT. The series is also slated to air on ZDFE (Germany) and SBS (Australia).

Based on Charles C. Mann's best selling book, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, the eight hour miniseries, produced by Animiki See Digital Production of Winnipeg and Aarrow Productions of Victoria, takes its audience on a journey dating as far back as 20,000 years ago through to 1491. 

The series focuses on the origins and history of ancient civilizations and groundbreaking achievements in North and South America in the areas of agriculture, astronomy, architecture, environment, governance, medicine, technology, science, trade and art.

The series is produced, directed and written by Indigenous Canadians and most of the 35 historians, archaeologists and cultural experts interviewed have Indigenous ancestry. The series features 20 drama scenes and an Indigenous cast of actors that provide context on Indigenous history in the Americas.

Mann's critically acclaimed book dispels long-held theories that prior to European contact, Indigenous Peoples were largely nomadic, did not alter the natural landscape, and were not as advanced as other civilizations in the world at the time.

1491: The Untold Story of the Americas Before Columbus

• Award-winning filmmakers, Barbara Hager (Cree/Métis) and Lisa Jackson (Anishinaabe), directed the series in locations throughout North and South America. 

• The series was written by Barbara Hager and Marie Clements (Métis). 

1491: The Untold Story of the Americas Before Columbus docu-drama series logo
(CNW Group/1491 Productions Inc.)

• Other key creatives include composer Russell Wallace (Lil'wat), production designer Teresa Weston, costume designer Carmen Thompson (Nuu-chah-nulth), director of photography Bob Aschmann and narrator Dr. Evan Adams (Tla'amin).

SOURCE: 1491 Productions Inc.

The Trailers:

Rules For Booking Live Entertainment

Audience

You would think that booking live entertainment, a magician or clown for example, should be a simple and straight forward process but it is common for mishaps to occur. We will discuss a few general guidelines you need to follow in order to make the process smooth and frustration-free for you and the entertainer.

When to book

First, you should figure out exactly what kind of live show you are looking for. There will be numerous options to look into so having a general idea of what you want will help cut the search down, and save you time! Take into consideration your budget range as well. Many professional or well-known performers won’t be nice to your wallet. Of course, if it’s a big once-in-a-lifetime moment, any cost could be worth it in order to make the event memorable and beautiful.

Try to picture the image that you desire the guests to leave with and decide what you are willing to spend in order to attain that. So be upfront and honest about your budget, the worst that will happen is for the entertainer to politely decline your offer. Be aware that you should give at least 3-4 weeks of notice to any performer before your big event. Some entertainers will charge more for short notices because they will be under pressure to create custom routines, prepare for your unique event, and/or obtain permits.

Know your venue

It is very important to know certain details of your venue, which will make the booking process simple and fast. Have these written down when calling performers for cost estimations and schedule availability; exact date of the event; time you require the performer to arrive & begin performing, as well as expected duration; type of event; any special requests you want from the entertainer down to the very last detail; your budget; number of guests estimated; description of the location where the event will take place; appearance of other entertainment; and finally, have all your contact information available.

Selecting a performer

As you search for the perfect entertainment, you will find that prices will differ greatly. Even when the acts are similar (as in the same area, not the same performance) prices can go from the hundreds to the thousands. Do not use the mindset that expensive is best. Take your time to select perhaps two or three performers and review them carefully before making your last choice. Ask for samples of performances, read through testimonials, look at their websites, and contact them with any doubts. Good performers will have teasers of their show available to potential customers, will answer all questions, and will have referrals from trustworthy sources.

Expect a contract

No matter how “little” your event is, it is important to the performer for a legal contract to be a part of the booking process. Contracts help him or her keep track of all gigs, expenses, and income for tax purposes so don’t be offended if they want to establish a contract even when the event is small. Contracts will also help you feel reassured about the whole booking process. Make sure to abide by your agreements (payment agreements as well, whether it means paying before or immediately after performance) so that both you and the performer can have a tranquil and pleasant business transaction. 

About Today's Contributor:
Florin is known as a freelance publisher and foodie whose work has been highlighted in personal blogs, websites, publications, and TV advertisements.


Featured Picture: 

License: Image author owned

Stranger Things: Inventiveness In The Age Of The Netflix Original

Stranger Things. Netflix

By Arin Keeble, Edinburgh Napier University

The Netflix series Stranger Things, which shortly returns for a second season, was the surprise TV hit of summer 2016. Fans and critics revelled in its allusions to Hollywood hits from the American 1980s in which it is set. Every haircut, every rippling synth pattern, BMX chase and adolescent gesture of friendship seemed to come from an 80s movie. Its young protagonists communicated through references to Star Wars and Dungeons and Dragons and the first trailer for season 2 shows them trick-or-treating as the Ghostbusters.

So what made Stranger Things feel fresh and new? Was it somehow innovative in its referencing? It certainly wasn’t because of a new kind of aesthetic recycling, as JJ Abrams had already done an 80s Steven Spielberg pastiche with Super 8, and borrowing or referencing has long been prevalent in American cinema. From Film Noir’s adoption of German expressionist techniques in films like The Maltese Falcon or Touch of Evil to the postmodern genre-mashing of Pulp Fiction, Hollywood storytelling has a rich history of pastiche, allusion and homage.

But what happens when serial TV does this? Stranger Things featured eight hour-long episodes developing characters who inevitably cannot exist solely in the stylistic shoes of Spielberg or Stephen King. And though the referencing is there, the immediate pleasures of its clever nods to E.T. or The Goonies evolve into a more sophisticated meditation on the processes of allusion.

Nostalgia and trauma
The achievement of Stranger Things is twofold. It is not just highly referential – it is actually about referencing. The series explores the way people – especially young people – communicate through patterns of reference or allusion. The programme’s retro register is also paired with an ongoing discussion of what we can see as the opposite of nostalgia – traumatic memory.

The casting of Winona Ryder is integral to this convergence of nostalgia and trauma. Ryder’s star power was born in the 1980s, when she was a teenager, through films like Heathers and Beetlejuice. In the 1990s her screen successes were accompanied by extreme tabloid scrutiny of her personal life. This included high-profile coverage of her struggles with drugs and anxiety. Because of this public history, the casting of Ryder was itself referential, as is the casting of any “star”.

As Keith Reader argued in Intertextualty: Theories and Practice: “The concept of the film star is an intertextual one, relying as it does on correspondences of similarity and difference from one film to the next and on supposed resemblances between on and off-screen personae.” So while Stranger Things’ teen drama story, centring on Nancy Wheeler, evokes the high school world of Heathers, Ryder’s performance as Joyce Byers, draws on her real life experiences. Joyce is a loving, thoughtful, single mother and a sufferer of anxiety. This is exacerbated by the disappearance of her youngest son and for much of the first series she is upset and hysterical.

Stranger Things Season 2. Netflix

Ryder’s performance was widely acclaimed – including by Rolling Stone journalist, Noel Murray, who suggested Stranger Things “brought her back”. Murray notes that the performance is powerful because the show takes advantage of what we already know about Ryder: that she is a “likeable celebrity who’s fallen on hard times”. Joyce’s hysteria certainly carries the power and authenticity of experience and it sharply juxtaposes the nostalgic innocence of Eggo waffles and BMX chases.

Joyce’s experiences are also echoed by other strands of the story. We learn that Chief Hopper is still struggling with the traumatic loss of his daughter and it is inferred that mystery child Eleven, who is the subject of sinister experiments, was taken as an infant from her now-institutionalised mother. Ultimately, Stranger Things’ nostalgic frame magnifies the intensity of its traumatic realism and stories of loss and psychosis.

Navigating an ‘upside down’ world
But Stranger Things is also invested in how its characters communicate through allusion. The boys, Dustin Henderson, Mike Wheeler, Lucas Sinclair and the missing Will Byers use these references to map out and understand their world – and that of The Upside Down (a dark alternate dimension existing in parallel to the human world). In the first episode we learn that they have renamed the streets of their small Indiana town using references to The Hobbit and in episode three, puzzling over the mysterious Eleven, Dustin asks his friends: “I wonder if she was born with her powers like the X-Men or if she acquired them like Green Lantern?”

Eleven by Aelini

Sometimes references serve as a code that adults and other kids won’t know – which is important as the boys are outsiders (geeks before geeks were cool). Sometimes references are charged with imaginative and emotional meaning. For example, Mike cites his missing friend’s boldness and bravery in a Dungeon’s and Dragons “campaign” as a reason for him and his friends to be brave in trying to find him in real life.

Literature academic and blogger Aaron Bady has pointed out that what makes Stranger Things’ allusions unique is that it has no “anxiety” over its gratuitous borrowing. This subverts the need “to play authenticity detective.” This is undoubtedly the case and it is striking in the world of “Netflix originals” where everything seems to be an adaptation or re-imagining, like House of Cards or Daredevil. But I believe what sets the show apart is its clever use of allusion to amplify the impact of its depictions of anxiety, trauma and loss and its exploration of allusion as a mode of communication.

About Today's Contributor:
Arin Keeble, Lecturer in Contemporary Literature and Culture, Edinburgh Napier University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. 

Bonus Pictures:
(via DeviantArt.com)

Stranger Things - Nancy and Jonathan (via JCLF88)

Upside Down, Downside Up (via NuclearLoop)

The Chinese Massacre Of 1871 Comes To The Big Screen

The Jade Pendant - Poster

Oct. 24th marks the anniversary of the Chinese Massacre of 1871 where a mob of around 500 white rioters entered Los Angeles, Chinatown to attack, rob, and murder Chinese residents of the city. An estimated 20 Chinese immigrants were tortured and then hanged by the racially motivated riot mob. The initial conviction was unlawfully overturned and no one has ever been held accountable for the murders.

"The Jade Pendant," a novel by L.P. Leung, is based on these true events and will open in limited theaters Nov. 3rd. The film stars Asian talents such as South Korean star Clara Lee (Some Like it Hot),Taiwanese heartthrob Godfrey Gao (The Mortal Instruments), Russel Wong (Romeo must Die), screen legends Tsai Chin (Now you See Me 2, The Joy Luck Club) and Tzi Ma (Arrival, Pali Road). 

"The story of the Jade Pendant is a part of American history that has been untold and we are very excited to bring diversity and quality story-telling to audiences in North America," said Jonathan Lim of Crimson Forest Films.

The Jade Pendant is directed by Hong Kong veteran Po-Chih Leong (The Detonator, Out of Reach) and follows the journey of a young girl, Peony, who flees an arranged marriage in China and finds herself on the shores of America.

The Jade Pendant was produced by Thomas Leong, Scott M. Rosenfelt, LP Leung and Bruce Feirsteinfor Lotus Entertainment and will open at the 4 Star Theatre in San Francisco, AMC Atlantic Times Square 14 in Los Angeles and AMC Empire 25 in New York City on Nov. 3rd. 

• For more information please visit bit.ly/2yL0HHk

SOURCE: Crimson Forest Films

The Trailers:

#MeToo Campaign Not Slowing Down Anytime Soon, But Now What?

S.H.E. Speak.Heal.Empower (via sharikarney.com)

After the recent Harvey Weinstein sexual allegations have come to light, the floodgates have opened with celebrities using the hashtag #MeToo creating a social-media viral sensation. Many of us have seen and are shocked to hear of female family members, friends and co-workers coming forward publicly on-line with personal sexual abuse and harassment stories. Karney believes, "If men stand with us too, we can stop the sexual assault of women."

"An NBC movie, 'Shattered Trust: The Shari Karney Story' starring Melissa Gilbert, was written based on the abuse that happened when I was a child. People in my inner circle who never confided in me are using social media now to find their voice but we can't do it alone," said Shari Karney, attorney and legal pundit.

Shari Karney led the charge of changing the laws in California in 1991 and didn't stop there. Karney worked with 40 other states so that survivors across the nation now have legal rights as well. Karney successfully lobbied and testified in Washington D.C. for a Children's Bill of Rights.

"Now what? Men stand with us too! If you are sickened and shocked at what you are reading and hearing about through the #MeToo campaign, be the voice of honor and reason. You can be the ones to hold bosses, co-workers, family members, coaches and churches' feet to the fire. Men listen to other men. Please, be the good man you are and stand with us #MenWithYouToo," said Shari Karney. 

"Basic civil rights laws must be enacted to hold perpetrators accountable and give victims justice. We need to remove statutes of limitations for criminal and civil actions so survivors of sexual violence can have their day in court," said Karney.

Shari Karney (via sharikarney.com)

About Shari Karney :
Shari Karney is an attorney, on-air legal pundit, author, speaker, entrepreneur and activist for victims' rights. A widely respected legal expert, analyst and commentator on breaking news cases, she has appeared on hundreds of television and radio news programs. 

• Visit sharikarney.com. 
• Follow Shari on Facebook facebook.com/Shari Karney or Twitter @sharikarney .

SOURCE: Shari Karney

Bonus Videos:

The Asian World Film Festival Announces the World Premiere of Finding Julia Starring Vietnamese Actor/Singer, Ha Phuong, October 28

Actress Ha Phuong

The Third Annual Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) announced the world premiere of Vietnamese superstar Ha Phuong's film Finding Julia. The film is scheduled to screen at the Arclight in Culver City on October 28 at 7:00 PM.

Finding Julia stars Ha Phuong, Andrew McCarthy (Dir: Orange is the New Black, The Blacklist, Pretty In Pink, Mannequin), Richard Chamberlain (Twin Peaks, Thorn Birds, Shogun) and Kieu Chinh (The Joy Luck Club). The film was conceived by Ha Phuong, based upon her experience of immigrating to the US and trying to live the American way of life during her younger years.

The red-carpet event will be attended by Ha Phuong, co-star Richard Chamberlain, actress and screenwriter Kieu Chinh, director Igor Sunara, actresses Minh Ngoc Nguyen and Lauren Pham (young Julia), Susan Batson (co-producer and acting coach), Leyna Nguyen (CBS anchor), producer Alan VoFord, costume design Bao Tran Chi, make-up artist Gordon Banh, editors Gil Choi and David Van and film attorney George Rush.

Asian Film Festival

Film Synopsis [Short Version]: 

In Manhattan, Eurasian acting student Julia Chamonix (Ha Phuong) is unable to enjoy the privileged life she shares with her doting father (Andrew McCarthy). Haunted by the tragic early death of her mother-a former star actress and singer in Vietnam-and likewise haunted by a secret desire she must hide from the world, her only confidante is her Vietnamese grandmother (Kieu Chinh). 

Caught between two very different cultures, East and West, Julia questions if she will ever fit in anywhere. As she attempts to understand who she is, Julia begins to forge a more confident identity from both parts of her birthright.

Film Synopsis [Longer Version]: 

(Via Ha Phuong World)

Beautiful, rich and sad. In Manhattan, Eurasian acting student Julia Chamonix (Ha Phuong) is unable to enjoy the privileged life she shares with her doting father (Andrew McCarthy). Haunted by the tragic early death of her mother–a former star actress and singer in Vietnam–and likewise haunted by a secret desire she has to hide from the world, Julia struggles in her acting studies under renowned coach Igor (Richard Chamberlain).

However, her ambitions to emulate her mother’s success are thwarted by her severe difficulties with the English language. Her only confidante is her wise Vietnamese grandmother (Kieu Chinh), but even with her she limits what she confides. Meanwhile she begins to experience recurrent nightmares in which she relives the car accident that killed her mother.

Caught between two very different cultures, East and West, Julia questions if she will ever fit in anywhere. As she attempts to understand who she is and how to forge a more confident identity from both parts of her birthright, her father falls in love with an American woman, Jennifer (Paula Devicq). Fearing abandonment, Julia’s secret obsession spirals out of control as she hears voices berating her and playing into her darkest fears.

When her grandmother suddenly dies, and an accident causes another unexpected death, Julia is brought to the edge of madness. Will her life also end tragically, or will she be able to overcome her terrible duality? Where will she go and how will she finally find peace?

The surprising conclusion to the heart-pounding drama makes it not only an unforgettable story, but also, on the deepest subconscious levels, speaks to the plight of millions of men, women, young adults and teens who are caught between cultures, who likewise feel “different,” and who are struggling to find a place in the world.

• All films at the Festival will be screened at the Arclight Cinemas in Downtown Culver City (9500 Culver Blvd.) Sponsors include Presenting Partner Ha Phuong Foundation, as well as the city of Culver City, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Variety, East West Bank, RK Media (Radio & TV Korea), the Arclight Theatres, Emporium Thai Restaurant (Los Angeles) and AWFF host venue, the historic Culver Hotel.

SOURCE: Asian World Film Festival   

The Trailers:

Bonus Video:

"Dog Park" Director Jade Jenise Dixon Says #MeToo

Director Jade Jenise Dixon

As Director Jade Jenise Dixon's feature film, Dog Park, enjoys a limited theatrical run and is released to high praise on both Amazon Video and Google Play, Jade has been closely watching the news about the sexual abuse of power in Hollywood with her eyes wide open.

Director, Jade Jenise Dixon

"I've been watching all of this unfold with tears in my eyes because I never thought Hollywood's 'dirty little secret' would come to light," says Jade. Like countless other women in Hollywood, Jade can finally speak freely about the subject. "You just couldn't speak about this stuff openly before. Now I can stand with countless other women and say, 'Me Too.'"

Now that the dirt is coming out from under the rug, Jade is hopeful that things will continue to get better, and is thankful for the people who work with her based on her talent. "There are also the 'good guys' who just want to make great movies or TV shows and truly value everyone equally for what they bring to the table. And for those people, I am truly grateful."

Jade Jenise Dixon on set with cinematographer

The Los Angeles Times says that in Jade's latest feature film, Dog Park, "Dixon displays a solid point of view with a refreshing perspective centered around women's success and choices."

A Romantic Comedy about a man who uses his ex-girlfriends dog to pick up women at the dog park, Dog Park, also won "Best Ensemble Cast" at the 2017 Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival. 

Dog Park movie poster

Dog Park, is now available on Amazon Video and Google Play. More video platforms will be added in the coming months via distributor, Indie Rights and sales agent, California Pictures.

• Dog Park on Amazon Video
• Dog Park on Google Play 
• IMDB

SOURCE: Parker Street Productions

The Trailer:

National Press Club Examines 2016 Russian Election Hacking at a Headliners Book Rap Featuring Donna Brazile on December 12th

Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House

As investigations in Congress and by Special Counsel Robert Mueller continue, one of the targets of the hacking into the Democratic National Committee's computer network, Donna Brazile, is telling her story. The former DNC chair and longtime Democratic Party strategist shares her personal account of the 2016 Presidential election.

Brazile will appear at a National Press Club Headliners Book Rap on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. in the Club's Conference Rooms to discuss

Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House, which will be published next month on the one-year anniversary of the 2016 election.

Publisher, Hachette Books, calls the book "equal parts campaign thriller, memoir and roadmap for the future." And Brazile adds, "At a moment when our democracy is in crisis, it's time to tell the truth about what went wrong in 2016. Our nation is under unprecedented assault, and if we don't get the facts out, it will happen again."

Donna Brazile

This event will feature a discussion with the author, an audience question-and-answer session, and a book signing. Tickets are $5 for National Press Club members and $10 for the general public. 

• To purchase tickets and copies of the book, please click here. Books will also be available for purchase at the event, no outside books or memorabilia are permitted.

Proceeds from this event benefit the non-profit affiliate of the Club, the National Press Club Journalism Institute, which offers innovative, practical training to journalists and communications professionals working in a rapidly-changing media environment.

NATIONAL PRESS CLUB LOGO.  (PRNewsfoto/National Press Club)

SOURCE: National Press Club

Book Cover Created by 99designs Designer Honored at Prestigious 31st Annual New York Book Show

"Havenwood"

99designs, the world's largest online graphic design marketplace, today announced that a book cover created by a designer from its global design community was named a winner in the prestigious 31st Annual New York Book Show Awards.

"Havenwood," a self-published novel by Eric Slade whose cover was created by 99designs designer Andrei Bat, received first place honors in the "Self-Published Cover" category in the "Young Adult" genre of the awards, which were presented at a ceremony in New York City last week.

According to Slade, who commissioned designer Andrei Bat to work on the cover design through the 99designs online graphic design platform, "Havenwood's cover included 19th century decorative elements to convey a sense of history to prospective readers. Andrei Bat's digital painting style is both luminous and moody."

Hosted by the Book Industry Guild of New York (BIGNY), the New York Book Show is an annual event that offers publishing and printing professionals an opportunity to mingle while honoring the best examples of quality book design and production from the previous year. The show's aim is to showcase the best books as judged by a panel of industry professionals who evaluate manufacturing, production, and design qualities of entries in six main and a myriad of subcategories. The winners (which are featured in an online gallery here) are selected from hundreds of entries sent in by publishers and suppliers from around the country.

"This award is further validation of the creativity and high quality of our designer community," said 99designs CEO Patrick Llewellyn. "99designs has from its earliest origins been a champion for great design from talented individuals around the world. In recent years, we've dedicated even greater resources in tools and processes to further help our community to produce their best work. We commend Andrei on this award and for his contributions to 99designs." 

• For more information on the winning design and winning designer, Andrei Bat, visit here.

SOURCE: 99designs

Eric Slade (Image via eric-slade.com)

More About Havenwood:

(via Eric Slade's Site)

Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1914 — Tanna Cravens boards an airship bound for a colony in Fairyland… But a magical frontier ruled like the Old South isn’t the best home for a woman ahead of her time.

Abandoned by her husband on a failing farm atop an ancient fairy hill, Tanna finds herself in the middle of a war between the human plantation owners and the indigenous elven tribes who want them gone.

With her farm in flames and a dark fairy hoard descending on the colony, Tanna must secure a safe place for those she loves before the paths between the worlds are closed forever.

In an alternate history where Shades of Milk & Honey and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell might have taken place in England, Havenwood is found just beyond the door between Fairyland and the American South.

Bonus Video: