Joe O'Donnell, Jr.

Queen of the Damned is based on upon Anne Rice’s books The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned.  The movie was very good with its characters, dramatic story, dark settings, and special effects. My thought is that this movie is far better than the Twilight Saga. The comparisons between the two are quiet evident. The Twilight Saga deals more with a love relationship between two young people of different backgrounds, whereas Queen of the Damned deals with power struggles between two generations within the same cult. Queen of the Damned heralds in a new beginning for those interested in the myths of vampires, whereas the Twilight Saga feeds off this film’s momentum to focus on theirs for a love story. To explain the argument in favor of this movie, the following explains the theme, characters, and setting of the movie based on the story created by Anne Rice.

The main protagonist of Queen of the Damned is Lestat de Lioncourt, who was once a French noble, but has turned into a vampire by another vampire, Marius de Romanus. Lestat doesn’t want to spend his eternal life unknown and alone. He seeks power and wants to be idolized by the human race. Even though he drinks blood out of necessity to sustain his life, his victims haunt him. (more…)

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine is proud to present a multi-talented actress to all of our readers. Jorjeana Marie is a long standing comedienne with many credits to her name. Now reaching out into the Indie film circuit she has built up quite a following. Jorjeana, tell us about your early career as a comic and how it adds to your acting abilities.

JM- What I believe is one of the most singularly important factors, aside from imagination, is observation.  The ability to see what’s in front of you and utilize that in some artistic way.  And that’s something that I took from my years of writing and performing stand-up comedy and smushed it into the acting craft.  I didn’t realize I was smushing, but I think that skill of looking at life and seeing EVERYTHING contributes to the creative experience.  That’s also why I believe some of our most commended actors started as comics.  Jamie Fox, Hugh Laurie, Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, etc.  They were able to brilliantly make that transition from sketch or stand-up to leading dramatic actors, I hypothesize, because of their ability to see, when they were looking for fodder for comedy, the pain and joy of life and bring it into their characterizations.  Although that list is all men, I do want to add that I think we’re going to see in the future some incredible dramatic performances from Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Kristin Wiig.  These women are brilliant.  We’ve already seen some great stuff form Maya Rudolph (Away We Go). I seek to do something similar (God, are you listening, it’s me, a comic) and have spent a lot of time focused on funny roles, but do enjoy occasionally showing the darker sides of a personality.  Although, I must admit, if I had to choose a project to work on for many years, I think I would prefer something fun and light and filled with humor, joy and insight.  And the current project I am working on does a nice job thanks to writer Jason Venokur of blending bitchy with funny/sweet.  And yes, I have observed those qualities in life, so it was a lot of fun to work on that!

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TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine would like to introduce the multi-talented entertainer FC “Steel” Anderson to all of our readers. Steel, as you are so often referred to, have been around for a long time, with music being your primary calling. You also go by the name of Cisco Castille, so for the meantime we will call you ‘Steel’. How did you originally start in your music career?

S- Thanks Joseph!  I guess I started out as a child, singing back-up harmonies for church and family groups, and taking beginner piano lessons, before I eventually got into playing trombone in high school in various bands, while still singing background vocals in various groups around the DC area.

TAEM- Tell us about your training at George Washington University and how it had helped you.

S- Oh, the 6 months of vocal/operatic baritone voice training at GWU helped me big time, until then, I was rapping, and producing a little, but had never thought of myself as having a possible lead voice, until my maestro at the time gave me a great compliment, saying I was his best student, and should continue opera singing, but since I’m more into urban music and my articulation was improved, I nicely turned down that opportunity and went back into urban music.  Not only did it help me find my voice, or voices that I sing lead with, but also to truly appreciate the full range and power of the voice as an instrument, whether you are just singing, rapping, talking, or whistling.  I truly appreciate everyone’s voice, even annoying, and sometimes just like to listen to a new group’s interaction and interchange of voices, I’m also a big karaoke fan too, when I was stationed in Tokyo in 98’ with the Navy, but that’s another story . . . (more…)

Joseph O'Donnell

As we send out our 32nd issue of The Arts and Entertainment Magazine I’d like to extend my thanks to all of our friends and family that we have come to know over the past few years. I had originally set out to list the interviews from 2011, and all the writers that have contributed their great stories for our publication this year. Then the memories of all those that I have met through the magazine over the years gave me a new inspiration.

What started out as a blog soon took the shape of ‘The Eerie Digest Magazine’. The blog was originally intended to promote my own writing, but soon began to embrace the literature of many other writers. The importance of promoting writers and their work took on a whole new meaning for me, and the magazine concept was born. I have never stopped hoping to see my own writing on a bookstore shelf, and perhaps that dream will happen some day. (more…)

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine is proud to present Producer Michael Haney to all of our readers. Michael, you have spanned the field of movie making , from your origins in acting, to your present accomplishments in filmmaking. What was your training for this career and what inspired you to take up filmmaking?

MH- I was always interested in filmmaking! My very first stage performance was in 1978. However, I never really took any acting classes until 1983. My serious training was in 1993 in Los Angeles, CA at Playhouse West.
For many years I trained under the direction of film star, Jeff Goldblum, Robert Carnegie, Tony Savant and J. D. Coburn, at one of the largest, most respected and highly recommended acting schools in Los Angeles, California, “PLAYHOUSE WEST”.
For nearly a decade, I performed as a principal cast member in Hollywood’s longest running play; “WELCOME HOME SOLDIER”.

TAEM- Who were your earliest inspirations in your beginnings as an actor?

MH- I must say that my earliest inspirations were James Dean and Marlon Brando! They were the very first great actors who took film acting to a new level!  Today, Al Pacino and James Woods are the best out there! They can really do anything! (more…)

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine has grown and we have branched out and encompassed many fields of Entertainment and Literature. Our interviews have ranged from well known authors and actors, producers and directors, and rock stars and entertainers. We now have the pleasure of introducing poet Jackie Summers to all of our readers. Jackie, I understand that you have taken your pen name in memory of your sister. Can you tell us something about her and why you felt compelled to do so?

JS- First, may I express my sincere gratitude to your publication for having me as your guest. It has been a very  exciting year for me. I have lot’s of people to be thankful for in their continuing support of my work. The reason I have dedicated my work using my sister’s name was because when I first started writing, I wanted to tell her story. I have always felt there was a mystery surrounding her death. Jackie was a very spirited young women. She left Massachusetts with two very young children to escape an abusive relationship that almost cost them their lives. In the few times she came home, she drove cross country alone, to see family. During her years in Washington, she was an assistant fly fishing river guide, and a rock hound. She collected rocks and polished them by hand. She also was the first woman I know of in my family to mine gold in Alaska. (more…)

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine is highly honored to be able to present actor William B. Davis to all of our readers. William has had a long and outstanding career in television, theater and film, and is best known as ‘The Cigarette Man’ in the popular television series, ‘X-Files.

TAEM- William, your latest endeavor involves the memoirs that you have written. Please tell us about the book, it’s publisher, and where our readership can find it.

WBD-The book is called ‘Where There’s Smoke …. The Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man’, and frankly, it’s the story of my life. It’s a pretty unusual life which I tell with candor and humor – from radio drama in the early fifties to The X-Files. I have been delighted with the response to the book. People will have different interests – whether it’s the history or the life on the set – but it is a compelling story and of special interest to people in the arts. There are a lot of sidebars about acting but of special interest may be the stories of early Canadian theatre and British theatre in its John Osborne, Harold Pinter heyday. (more…)

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine is excited to present model/ actress Gia Skova to all of our readers. Gia has made herself a huge name in modeling circuits throughout Europe and is now taking Los Angeles by storm. Gia, you originally came from Russia and started modeling as a teenager. Please tell us about these early years and the influence that you had to take up this highly competitive career.

GS- I never picked this path. It picked me. I really love to draw and as a child I drew a lot. Once, I read an ad in a newspaper that they were looking for caricature artists and I went there for them to hire me. I was only 12 years old. The secretary looked at my picture and said, “This is great, but you are so young, that we can’t hire you”. I sat there and waited in reception, as she told me the director will come soon and I would talk to him. He came with the owner of Kodak Movie World. When he saw me, he said we want to take this girl and make her the face of our company. (more…)

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine has the distinct pleasure of introducing author Amanda Kyle Williams to all of our readers. Mysteries are the mainstay of our magazine, and Amanda has struck gold in the release of her first book in her Keye Street series through Random House/ Bantam Books.

TAEM- Amanda, before becoming a writer tell us about some of the unrelated positions that you held in the past before seeking your career in writing.

AKW-  Thank you for that kind introduction.  I’ve watched your magazine grow with a great deal of pleasure. I love the stories and interviews. So thanks for having me. Okay, jobs. Hmm. So many jobs over the years (laughing). Might be easier to think of a job I didn’t have, like flying commercial airliners or something. Though, I did spend a summer learning about ultralights and traveling to air shows with an old guy who built them when I was in my twenties. I did a lot of things to keep the lights on while I was figuring out where I wanted to be as a writer and what I wanted to write. I think this is true of a lot of writers or artists who need to earn a living while they’re waiting for their dream.  We’re not looking for a career.  We just want to pay the rent. Writing, being a full-time writer – that was my dream. Some jobs ended up informing my writing in unexpected ways. I worked as a courier and learned Atlanta inside-out. It allowed me to bring this city to life in my writing. And it gave me an excuse to talk about a region I’m passionate about.  The American South is about the prettiest place in the world, by my way of thinking.  There’s something gentle about the south, about the soft air here, the sensibility. It makes it seem all the more cruel when it turns on you.  And it will turn on you. But I love it here, and I wanted readers to get a sense of the real south, warts and all.  I worked as a process server, which gave me an opportunity to spend time in the courthouses, use creative ways to get a subpoena in the hands of someone that doesn’t want to be served.  The company that employed me had a private investigating branch which was enormously helpful when I developed this character, Keye Street, a former FBI criminal investigative analyst turned private detective. I’m writing fiction around a lot of my own experience, which is fun and, I think, lends some authenticity. (more…)

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine is honored to present Director Nicole Kian Sadighi to all of our readership. Nicole has written and directed the politically explosive film ‘I AM NEDA’. This film is on the fast track to the Oscars, and it is one that has not only caught our attention, but our full support as well.

You can follow the film’s successes by watching for updates here and take action by sharing with friends:

 IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2011052/

Official Website: http://www.IAmNeda.com

‘I Am Neda’ News: http://www.nedathemovie.com/contact.html

Official Twitter: @IAmNedaTheMovie

Email: info@nedathemovie.com

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Headshot by Michael Maples

TAEM- Our magazine is currently running an exciting new comedy Web Series titled ‘Pink Slip’, produced by Muriel Campbell. Muriel is the wife of famed producer Robert F. Campbell, who produced many of the ‘Law & Order: SVU’ programs that we have watched on television. We have also interviewed Robert in one of our past issues.

We would like to present a multi-talented actress who stars in the web series and can be seen regularly in the Web Series section of our magazine. Emma Zerner is not only a budding actress, but is also a well known model. Emma, when did you first begin your modeling career?

EZ- I first started my modeling career in 2009! I had always wanted to do fashion shows, and had dreams of walking the catwalk, showcasing designers’ creations, but I just didn’t know how to get started. A few years before that, I had done some smaller shoots from LA based beauty schools, modeling the students hair and makeup creations. It wasn’t until 2009, I did my first fashion show, which was for Bright Lights LA, and I got the chance to model brands Finn Apparel and Dawning of Our Lives Denim. I was so excited, it was like a dream come true! From there,  I got my first fashion show shots, and started to get numerous fashion shows back to back. I ended up doing Official LA Fashion Week in 2010 for the Millinery Guild (couture hats), both in March and October. (more…)

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine is proud to present actor and filmmaker Nik Vikkers to all of our readers. Originally born Nikolay Velikanov in Russia, Nik traveled to the United States to realize his dream of filmmaking. Nik, please tell our readers about your youth, and your decision to come to America.

NV-   From as long as I can remember I dreamed of becoming an actor. When I was a kid my dreams, hopes and wishes were different from the other kids. One of my teachers told me that I should be an actor when I grow up. However, my parents wanted me to attend the Russian New University in Moscow, and major in Socio-cultural Services and Tourism. During five years of my studies there, I still thought about what it was I really wanted which was acting and making films. Upon completing my studies, I decided to pursue my real dream. Because the American film industry is so powerful, I made my decision to come to America to pursue my dream.

TAEM- What inspired you to take of filmmaking as a career?

NV- While growing up, I watched American movies and was fascinated by Hollywood. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Johnny Depp, Val Kilmer, Jim Carrey were my heroes.

I wanted to make films that are entertaining, educational and ultimately change people’s way of thinking. (more…)

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine has a strong background in the horror genre theme of movies and an extreme interest in that segment of the motion picture industry. One of the more active players in that area is actress Sarah Nicklin. In the first five years of her career she has starred in more than seventy projects based out of New England. Now living in Los Angeles, she is pursuing her career with earnest.

Sarah, tell us about your childhood start in theater and how it set in motion your desire to pursue this professionally.

SN- I’ve always had a very active imagination. Even when I was younger one of my favorite things to do was to play “make believe” games with my sister in the woods behind our house. I guess theater and acting was just the next logical step. All though, I was terribly shy when I was little, so I really had to work at getting over that in order to pursue this, even though I think it still shows at times. The main reason I stuck with it when I was little even though I was terrified was that I was that I was completely in love with the child star Jonathan Taylor Thomas and was convinced that if I could become a big actress that we would meet and immediately fall in love and all that stuff. Of course my motives have changed a bit since then, but that’s really what pushed me into it. (more…)

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine loves to do interviews with actors in all stages of their careers. Often we reveal actors in their early stages, but more important to those actors we interview those with more experience. Our next celebrity is very important to us as he has had years of experience to share with those new to the craft. Actor Mark Christopher Lawrence has been plying his trade since the 1980′s, and the lessons he can share with those just starting out is invaluable. Mark, please tell us about your earliest acting experience, and the training that you received to pursue your career.

MCL – My first acting experience was in high school as the learned professor in the play Bus Stop. Like most actors, it was during this first experience that the “Acting Bug” bit me. Once bitten the passion for the craft was ignited in me and I found myself seeking out opportunities to learn and play on the stage.

Theater brings with it a unique opportunity for actors, in that, there are variables that are beyond our control that must be accounted for and overcome in order to be successful on any given night. For example, the audience is a very different beast for every performance and it often times brings into the theater with them a very different set of realities, pressures, fatigues, and mindsets. Other actors on stage with you have very complicated lives outside of the theater and sometimes those complications find themselves onstage in the form of energies that affect the set performance of an actor and ultimately the set performance of the play. An actor’s daily life outside of the theater affects one’s strength, stamina, beliefs, and sensibilities and in turn lends itself as a variable agent to your performance.  I recognized these variables very early on in my career and sought out intensive training. (more…)

Actor Byron Habinsky

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine has an around-the-world following with those interested in the Entertainment and Literary fields. For that reason we reach out around the globe in search of actors and writers who will fill the interest of our readers. One such actor is Byron Habinsky who immigrated from Riga with his family and learned his trade here in America. Byron, tell our readers about your early youth and your family’s decision to come to the United States.

BH – I was a regular kid growing up.  I’m an only child so I always relied on myself for entertainment, therefore active imagination was a must.  It’s amazing of the things you think of when there’s no one else around all the time.  In major Russian cities there were these small communities of several buildings with a common playing ground in the middle.  So all your friends usually came from that same community.   And just like most boys, sport was a huge part of my growing up.  My father was an amateur boxer when he was young, so he made sure to get me involved in sports early.  His good friend was a well-known trainer in Russia, so he took me under his wing for a while. I still remember being seven, eight years old and being thrown into training with the older kids, going through all the same paces, it was insane but definitely served a good purpose.  Then at eight I discovered hockey and everything else instantly took a backseat to it.  We’d play day and night, right out in the street during winters.  When it got warm we’d sneak into the arena where the local hockey team played and play until someone noticed us and kicked us out.  We did that every day, we’d cut school to go and play.  Until they finally realized they wouldn’t stop us, so they allowed us to use the ice before practices.  Then suddenly at ten years old, you’re told that you’re moving away.  You don’t have a choice in the matter, nor do you really care why or would even understand if you knew.  So you do what your parents decide.  It was bittersweet but it was the best thing that we could have done for ourselves.  I’m forever grateful to my parents for making that decision.  We were actually one of the last to leave, soon after the immigration window closed and two years later Soviet Union no longer existed.  We spent the next half a year being vagabonds in Europe.  We lived in Austria for a bit.  I celebrated my eleventh birthday in Italy.  Then in fall of 1989 arrived in New York City.   (more…)

Producer / Writer / Director - Jason Figgis - COPYRIGHT: FARRIS GERARD

Jason, we understand that your film company is based in Ireland, and deals in filmmaking world-wide. Many of our readers are Students of the Arts. Please tell them how you first became interested in the motion picture industry and of your early start there.

JF- I have always had an interest in film. It probably goes back to my father’s collection of ‘Photoplay’ magazines that he had piled beside his bed, all of which I would devour to feed my ever growing interest in all things cinema. My parents Anne and Peter (avid film-goers) always encouraged this love of movies and the theatrical arts in general (my brother Daniel was a well known child actor, having starred in productions with Peter O’Toole, Jenny Agutter and Donal McCann, amongst others).

TAEM- Please tell us a little about your company, October Eleven Pictures.

JF- My younger brother Jonathan and I started our television and film production company in 2000 thanks to the advent of broadcast forms of digital technology (in our case the Sony PD150p DvCam) as we wanted to explore the capabilities of this technology and see if we could get on the professional ladder in a very competitive Industry. We were lucky in that our first production, in collaboration with the internationally acclaimed photographer, Sir Simon Marsden and Oscar-nominated Actor John Hurt was nominated for two IFTAs (the Irish equivalent of the United State’s Oscars) in 2003. This helped to propel us seriously onto the British and Irish scene and allowed us to develop other productions; the first of which was an examination of the life and work of the late theatrical legend Dan Crawford of London’s King’s Head Theatre in Islington. This also gave me the opportunity to work closely with such greats as the late Oscar-nominated Susannah York, Joanna Lumley, Alan Rickman, the late great Corin Redgrave and Richard E. Grant, amongst many others. This film ‘A Maverick in London’ was subsequently acquired by BSKYB and played for three years on Sky Arts One to critical acclaim.

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Photo by Jerald Council

TAEM- All films start somewhere and The Arts and Entertainment would like to introduce to our readers, who are Students of The Arts, the beginning and making of all films. Anthony Faust is a director of the film ‘A Rock and a Hard Place’ and we would like to probe this film with him to show everyone how this process works. Anthony, we met you recently at the World Music and Independent Film Festival in Washington, D.C. where your film appeared. Tell us how you first started in making films and what drew your interest in this career.

AF- My first foray into making films came in 2002 when I joined a 48 hour film project team in Washington, D.C and served as a Grip on set. I built on this experience by making a film called “Hunter’s Quandary” on a shoestring budget later that year.

TAEM- What is the theme behind this film, and what genre is it in ?

AF- The genre of this film is drama, but it is a unique film because it is ten minutes long and contains no dialogue. The story centers around a jailed man who hatches a clever (and sinister) plan to rid the massive rock in his father’s backyard.

The theme of the film is power. We see a man behind bars, powerless, alone, and bloodied by powerful prison guards. When he sets his plan in motion, he gets his revenge. In the closing moments of the film, we realize the ones who are really behind the bars are the outwitted prison guards. (more…)

 TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine delves into many venues of entertainment. These include Movies, Television, Literature, Stage, Music, and Radio. With radio we recently became aware of ‘The Bradshaw Chronicles’ and its host, Christy Bradshaw. Christy, tell us of your educational background and how it gave you the foundation for your program.

CB-Through the courses within my graduate degree in education which was based in instructional technology, I learned how to reach people at a distance as well as in person. This brought me to video/audio design and presentation by planning learning videos throughout the degree program.  All people whom portray their talents to the world have excited me from when I was a child. Being a host of my own show in a way is still in the educational field of work. It is educating the people of the world about different choices available for them in the entertainment business.  The guests that I bring on my show tell of their talents and what it took them to get to the place where they are now.  This gives new ideas and thoughts to the audience whom may need to plan a strategy in fulfilling their own goals in the entertainment field.

TAEM- ‘The Bradshaw Chronicles’ is an internet radio show for those readers who have not heard of it, yet. Christy, when did the program first air and where can it be located ?

CB-The Bradshaw Chronicles was broadcast first in January of 2011. The show grew very fast and now has over half a million viewers per month in the video versions of the show alone. My home base for the show and the upcoming new show that I have planned Behind The Scenes With Christy Bradshaw is www.christybradshaw.blogspot.com but the show can be found in many sites throughout the internet.  There are three main broadcast stations for the show now and people from all over have shared it with many other internet venues.  In video internet television you can find it on my blog as well as here www.worldtv.com/thebradshawchronicles, Ghost Tales TV www.worldtv.com/ghosttalestv, and in audio with WROM radio www.realmsofmusic.com. (more…)

Photo is courtesy of Brandin Rackley, photographer.

TAEM- Acting has many venues, and many actors forge their careers in assorted film genres. One such actor is Mark Weiler who has appeared in various films and television shows. Mark, we have many Students of the Arts who follow our magazine for inspiration. Please tell us what inspired you to take up acting as a career.

MW-  I grew up in the woods of northern Wisconsin.  There wasn’t a whole lot of stimulating opportunities beyond those that I created in my mind.  My only outlet to the rest of the world was television and I was fascinated by it.  It seemed so much more interesting than the deer, trees and cows I was surrounded by.  Even in kindergarten I took to the stage and fell in love with the creative process.  So I’ve always drawn to acting, even though it was not encouraged as a career.  It took a lot of courage to quit my day job and say, “I’m an actor now, and that’s all I do.”  I guess ultimately what inspired me to take up acting as a career was the realization that absolutely nothing else could make me as happy.

TAEM- Who was your greatest influence to do so?

MW-  That’s a tough question.  I was living in San Francisco at the time and was taking a good hard look at who I was, and going through a deeply spiritual process.  So my friends of spirit influenced me quite a bit.  I’ve been a long time fan of Sean Penn and Gary Oldman, so unbeknownst to them, they’ve been an influence on me.  Beyond that it was just a voice or a drive inside of me that said, “I can do this.  I have to do this.  And I at least have to try.” (more…)

Author Brian Moreland

TAEM- Writers are one of the mainstays for The Arts and Entertainment Magazine, and their work is also a great inspiration to film and television alike. One of the newest writers is Brian Moreland whose creations are right up our alley. Brian, we learned that in your youth you loved scary movies, and they were the basis of your desire to write. Who among the writers that you followed inspired you the most?

BM-Like most horror writers I’ve met, I was first influenced by Stephen King, because his books dominated the horror market when I was growing up and they were popularized even more by the movies based on King’s fiction. One of the first fiction books I read just for fun was Stephen King’s Night Shift. I devoured every one of those short stories and discovered that reading fiction can be even more fun than watching movies. Stephen King taught me how to create a sense of dread in a scene. He would focus on the details of something that spooked him until he had you spooked too. That’s important in horror fiction. Sometimes you need to slow the tempo down and focus on the darkness until the reader is so curious about what’s lurking beyond that curtain of blackness that they can’t stand it any longer. The two other authors who had the greatest impact were Dean Koontz and Robert McCammon. I discovered their books while in college and learning to write my own fiction. Both were masters at creating loveable characters, scary monsters, complex plots, and high-octane action that propelled you to keep turning the pages. I badly wanted to write like them. I wanted readers of my novels to feel the same adrenaline that you feel when you read Dean Koontz or Robert McCammon. I studied their novels like they were textbooks on how to write fiction. I dissected their books chapter by chapter, paragraph by paragraph, analyzing exactly how they structured a scene to give me the rush of feelings I was feeling. I also studied their prose, the words they used and added to my arsenal of descriptive words. I emulated both their styles in my early writing until I finally developed my own writing voice. Other notable influences were H.P. Lovecraft, Richard Laymon, and Clive Barker. Now, I study every horror author I write. I’m always learning and honing my craft. (more…)

Child Actor Michael Thomas

TAEM- One of the great things that The Arts and Entertainment Magazine does, is to introduce new talent to our readership. Actors get their start in various ways. Some by accident, others by desire, and some from a very early age. Actor Michael S. Thomas is one such personality who fits in the later category. Michael at what age did you first begin your acting career, and how old are you now.

MST- Hi! I started acting shortly after I turned 4 years old. I am 8 and ½ years old now.

TAEM- We learned that your first step in your career was in the film shorts: ‘TheNew World’ and ‘Chekhov’s Children’. How exciting was this for you. 

MST- Well, actually my very first film and my first speaking role was in the movie Holey Balls. But due to some technical difficulties during editing it has not been released yet. But the director said she hopes to have it out before I turn 18.

The New World (my second film) and Chekhov’s Children were both fun sets to work on. I made a lot of new friends on both sets and have worked with some of the actors again on other film projects. (more…)

TAEM- History has a lot to say in writing a story and it is a big part in every author’s work. Deirdre Marie Capone is one such author, and the history around her novel is not only well known, but personal. It is about Al Capone.

Deidre, tell us about your early life and about your family relationship to this historic figure.

DMC-I am a Capone. My grandfather was Ralph Capone, listed in 1930 as Public Enemy #3 by the Chicago Crime Commission. That makes me the grand niece of his partner and younger brother, Public Enemy #1: Al Capone.

For much of my life, this was not information that I readily volunteered. In fact, I made every effort to hide the fact that I was a Capone, a name that had brought endless heartache to so many members of my family. In 1972, when I was in my early thirties, I leftChicagoand my family history far behind me, reinventing myself inMinnesotaand making sure that no one in my life other than my husband Bob knew my ancestry. I succeeded—even with our four children.

But the truth about who I was hovered at the edges of the reality I had created, and I was terrified of it—terrified of revisiting the shy, wounded girl who grew up friendless, shunned by classmates, forbidden to play with a mobster’s child; terrified of once again hearing those dreaded words, “You’re fired,” and seeing another employer’s doors close to me because of my name; terrified of reawakening the grief of losing both my father and brother to suicide, collateral damage of the Capone legacy; and, above all, terrified that if my children learned they had “gangster blood” running through their veins, they’d be exposed to the same pain I had experienced. (more…)

Joe O'Donnell, Jr.

People go to see motion pictures for different reasons. Some people love the movie trailers that are shown on television or the internet. Others go because they had read the novel, or graphic novel. Still some want to compare the original movie to the remake. I’m going to be talking about both the 1959 and 1999 versions of House on Haunted hill.

In the introduction of the original film, the screen is black, and then you hear moans of man and the rattling of chains; all of a sudden, blood curdling screams from a woman.  A floating head appears on the screen, he introduces himself as Watson Pritchard, the caretaker of the House on Haunted Hill. He tells the audience that the house is haunted because of murders taking place inside the house, including the murder of his brother and sister-in-law. Watson then vanishes. Another floating head of a different man appears. He announces his name as Frederick Loren; he tells the audience that he has rented the house for a haunted theme party for his wife.Frederick has invited five guests to stay at the house for one night and each guest will get $10,000 if they stay the entire time. (more…)

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine is very excited to introduce actor Anthony DeLongis to all of our readers. Anthony, you have been in many popular movies and television shows for quite a few years. Please tell us about your training for this profession and what influenced you the most to take up acting as a career.

AD- I began as an actor performing Shakespeare in the 1970’s at one of the finest repertory companies in the country, the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. I continue to do theater as my schedule permits because I love the challenge, rewards and instant feedback from the audience that only theater can offer. Performing live theater is a bit like the old Hollywood studio system, the broader your training and the more varied your skills, the more often you’ll work. My favorite role has been playing Iago in Shakespeare’s OTHELLO, a wonderfully complex and layered role.

I love acting and I also love action. My favorite roles are ones where I get to combine both. To me IT’S ALL ACTING, whether I’m telling my character’s story with words or with deeds. Action is a dialogue of movement instead of words and can be subtle as a whisper or as dynamic as a shout. Such opportunities dramatically define character and invigorate the story, providing the actor commands the skills to deliver a safe, exciting, believable performance and the director can bring those images to the screen. Good action articulates character, anything less is just eye candy. (more…)

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine has gained quite an interest in Canadian acting and actors. Most Americans assume that all actors come from the States, but we are finding a great treasure trove of talented actors come from across our northern border. One such actor is Michael A. Miranda, who is a familiar face on the silver screen as well as television. Michael, tell us of your early training and the recognitions you gained at the time.

MAM- My earliest training was in high school back in the 1970’s. My teacher, who I still consider my mentor in many ways, instilled in me a sense of magic that surrounds the theatre and performance; to perform for someone was an honour and a privilege. I went on to train at two universities in Toronto- York and Ryerson. It was at Ryerson that I was bestowed with the Best Actor Award upon graduation

TAEM- Who was your greatest inspiration that led to your decision to pursue acting as a career?

MAM-It may sound cliché, but after watching both Godfather movies, I was fascinated  by watching the likes of Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Marlon Brando, Robert DeNiro and John Cazale. They seemed to be doing nothing yet their performances to this day stand the test of time. Such powerful performances that were intriguing. I was inspired to try and reach those heights. So there wasn’t a single inspiration, but a collective one. (more…)

TAEM – The Arts and Entertainment Magazine has the pleasure of introducing one of the most versatile producers in the movie industry.  Producer June Daguiso has performed many of the tasks that strengthened his abilities behind the camera, including acting.  He also has arranged many of the top Independent Musical and Film festivals in the U.S. and Canada , and we introduced June to our readership in the article about the Washington , DC WMIFF event in our September 1st issue.  June, tell us about your earliest performance before the camera in “Deadlands:  The Rising”.

JD – I played one of the survivors at a rescue center that is slow to respond to people’s needs for food and security and, eventually, they take matters into their own hands.  The outcome is dismal, as the shelter soon becomes overrun by the walking dead.

TAEM – Please give us some of the details about the movie, and the theme behind it.

JD – “Deadlands: The Rising” (2006)
Budget:  $10,800.00
Writer, Director and Editor:  Gary Ugarek
Producers:  Herb Mollman, Darlene Barbour, Brian Wright, Lisa Brandt, Gary Ugarek and Paul Volpe
Composers:  Brian Wright and Gary Ugarek
(more…)