Artist of the month: Salome Mulugeta

Ava Duvernay, Shonda Rhimes, Courtney Kemp-Abogh, Gina Prince-Bythewood to Stephanie Allain and Oprah Winfrey; black women in Hollywood have shaped the industry with their amazing talents of filmmaking, storytelling and more, both in TV and films. A new name shall soon be added to that list, and that name is Salome Mulugeta.

This young talented lady is an American storyteller, filmmaker, director, writer, producer, actor, and journalist, a master-of-all-trades. She’s known for her film "WOVEN". which is a 2016 LA Film Festival World Premiere film. Her multitalented portfolio supports a very broad spectrum of film industry experience, internationally. And recently, Salome was awarded the Women’s Journey Foundation Achievement Award.

She’s our first “myNewYorkeye: Artist Of The Month”, for the month of September. She’s a New Yorker, currently based in midtown New York for several years. And before she heads off to LA, to collect her award this month, we had an opportunity to get some exclusive words from her:

Q. What's the most rewarding thing about being a filmmaker and storyteller?

A. I would say the most rewarding thing about being a filmmaker and a storyteller is that films are accessible and are a way to have some kind of voice or platform to say something and while doing that you are able to get the chance to entertain people first and foremost. And if out of that one single person gets touched by your work that is rewarding and also very humbling at the same time!

Q. And what's your message to aspiring storytellers?

A. I would tell an aspiring storytellers to not give up no matter how hard the road gets a head. At times it might feel like you are on a battleground.....but keep on moving and do not give up...before you know it you will be in production.

Q. What role has New York City played in your project and professional life as a actor, writer and filmmaker?

A. NYC played a huge part on the film. We did our first fundraising in NYC. A lot of the NYC neighborhood communities were very sportive....especially LES, (the lower east side neighborhood, the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan) played a great part in the fundraising we held. We also shot the film in NYC which is a great backdrop to have aesthetically.

Q. So what's your least favorite thing about NYC?

A. I would say that the least favorite thing about NYC is that space is very limited in every sense of the word.

Q. And what's your most favorite and least favorite thing about NYC?

A. Wow...........my most favorite thing about NYC?..........too hard to pin down one thing, but my favorite thing I would say is the diversity of its people. People come from all over the world to live in NYC. The culture, the vibrancy, the theaters and the food. NYC is where it's perfectly okay to get up around five-ish in the morning because you're jet-lagged or working through the night, go out and find somewhere to have an early breakfast while your friends are sleeping. I love Central Park, Radio city, Christmas spectacular and the fact that it is a pedestrian town is amazing.

Many congratulations to this very talented storyteller and master-of-all-trades. We shall catch-up with her with a full interview, after her return from the award ceremony. We will find out what other excitement is going on with her (and we can tell you that, there’s a lot more excitement to come wink-wink!). You should also keep an eye for her movie WOVEN. We shall update here, of any screenings and events etc. And we shall also put a review of the film here soon. You can keep yourself updated on the film here:

https://www.facebook.com/WovenFilm
https://twitter.com/WovenMovie

Congratulations again to Salome Mulugeta, “myNewYorkeye: Artist of the Month”!

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More about Salome Mulugeta:

Salome was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. At an early age, she left Ethiopia to attend a boarding school for girls in Bedford, England, where she won many prestigious acting competitions – including receiving Outstanding Performer of the Year. She was hailed as a “forceful talent.”

As an undergraduate at Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, she studied Broadcasting Communication and Journalism, and graduated with honors. Post baccalaureate, Salome was an intern reporter at the local TV station, a temporary position that became permanent very quickly.

Salome moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue her film industry dreams, where she co-wrote her first screenplay "Woven". “Woven”, a narrative feature film, was completed in 2016, and has followers and support from fans around the world.

Salome is busy directing and producing commercials, and several independent short stories. Her Ethiopian Airlines commercial (for the Number 1 airline in Africa) went viral after its release. She contributes content for the US-based Africa Channel. The Africa Channel showcases outstanding travel, lifestyle, and cultural series, specials, bios and documentaries about the modern lives of people of African descent, and developing nations, with western culture. She has produced and directed shows for "The African Restaurant Week”, “Muziki Ni”, and currently directs and hosts a debut show called, “A Day in the Life of”. Current productions with Coke Studios, Coca Cola, extends her multifaceted media and production experience, professionally and internationally, and includes a Coca Cola, Africa, Commercial.

Her travels have provided the opportunities to learn how extraordinary and inspiring the human experience is, through the stories of real people. Whether the stories are serious, funny, live, action, animation, scripted or documentary, she enjoys the challenge, loves what she does, and the intricate connectivity of human beings. This makes working with her as exceptional as the quality of the results.

Salome received a coveted role in the acclaimed film, “Baby of the Family”; a film based on the New York Times bestseller book "Baby of the Family." The film was directed by the award winning Jonee’ Ansa. Other film roles include “He’s Way More Famous Than You”. Salome also serves as an online reporter for an online TV magazine.

WEBSITE: http://www.limaproduction.com/

 

 

A Conversation with Liza Johnson – Elvis & Nixon

On a December morning in 1970, the King of Rock ’n’ Roll showed up on the lawn of the White House to request a meeting with the most powerful man in the world, President Richard Nixon. Starring Academy Award-nominee Michael Shannon as Presley and two-time Academy Award-winner Kevin Spacey as Nixon, Elvis & Nixon tells the untold story behind this revealing yet humorous moment in the Oval Office forever immortalized in the most requested photograph in the National Archives.

Art Shrian talked to the wonderful and talented director of the film, Liza Johnson. Here are the excerpts:

Art Shrian – Congratulations on your wonderful film. It’s hilarious, and also very entertaining and compelling.  You have such a brilliant cast, but these are not exactly obvious choice. So how did you come up with this cast?

Liza Johnson – When I read the script, I immediately decided that this would be with Michael Shannon. Honestly when someone told me about it, I didn’t know how this will work. Just because, I have worked with Mike before, I know he can do anything. But it wasn’t obvious thing to me. But when I read the script, then I was like, hell yeah, that’s a good idea. Because the story had this kind of curious and exciting, and even coocky tonal variation, where it has this real depth of character for Elvis, while he’s on his journey. And at the same time, it has this real absurdist quality, because of the comedy of the situation, or because of the juxtaposition that happens when he’s with Nixon. And I thought, that’s exactly Michael Shannon, because he is the person that is the most comfortable with that entire range. And then, I think, because he’s well known to be a mad talent, that was very helpful in attracting Kevin to the project. Because I think, that when you’re at that level that those guys are at, it’s great to get an opportunity to sort of play against someone, who’s at the same level. Kevin has said to me himself that Mike being Elvis was one of the thing that attracted him to the project.

And once we had them, many other actors took same position. So we were able to get Alex to play Jerry Shilling, who was actually recommended by Jerry himself. Johnny is from Tennessee, knows about Elvis a lot. I think partly he was attracted to Elvis of it all. And he has worked with Mike before. And it was so great that we could get Colin Hanks and Even Peters to be the Nixon boys. And once we had that, this snowball kept coming. Some of Mike’s Chicago people, like Tracey Letts for his entire career. The first time Mike was ever on stage, Tracey Letts played his dad. That was one of the most moving part of our shoot, for me to see them together. To see what it means for to let your work grow together, over really your entire lifetime. So at certain point it kind of snowballed, where all these incredible people Kamal Angela Bolden, who plays the guy with medallion in grocery, Sky Ferrera, Ashley Benson, Annette O’reily. Once we had this snowball going, it kind of avalanched.

A – The cast may not look like characters, but they do an amazing job. As the director, what was your approach to that?

L – Yes, we decided that likeness was not very important thing. And it was quite different with Elvis, with any other figure, because he’s the most known face. 1955 Elvis is most famous Elvis ever. And even Elvis in 1970 doesn’t look like "The Elvis". So how do you do that as an actor, how do you make yourself look like Elvis. Because no one can! I don’t think even Elvis can play Elvis at certain point, because the iconic 1955 Elvis is so stamped at everyone’s brain.

A – And the film also make a wonderful joke of that.

L – That’s Joey, the writer, and his team. They do great job on this. The writers of the film are just wonderful. The entire team is just amazing.

A – This is a historical film. So you must have done your research on subject. What was the most exciting and most challenging aspect of the research?

L – There’s quite a lot that’s known. There’s the picture in National Archive, there’s the letter that Elvis wrote. One thing I like about the screenplay is, it’s almost like an adapted screenplay, adapted from that letter. There are other docs that exist, like the memo that they’re holding. There’s less than it would have been couple months later, when Nixon started taping every conversation. But frankly, it might be more boring. That’s where dramatic interpretation adds something. Historical documentation is compelling because its true, and dramatic interpretation is compelling because it can offer you some emotional truth that may or may not exist in the documents. We also had Jerry Shilling with us to consult, and we agreed that it was important to find emotional truth. If you read his book, there’s lot of details, intimate information both about him and Elvis, I highly recommend it, it’s a great book. The great thing I learnt, he remained great friend with Elvis by maintaining some measures of distance at crucial moments.

Elvis did really send the box of business cards to Jerry, but it was after a little while of this trip. But some of that time frame is little bit compressed. Because if you go by the clock, the story of the friendship isn’t the same. Since that friendship was real, and since it did go this way, is it more true or less true by fitting that into the story? I think it enhances it, and I was ready to stand by that.

The photo you know. The untold story you'll never believe. ELVIS & NIXON, starring Kevin Spacey and Michael Shannon. In Theaters April 22. Official Site: http://www.BleeckerStreetMedia.com LIKE us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BleeckerStFilms FOLLOW us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BleeckerStFilms --

A – You're a New Yorker. What’s your most favorite thing about New York, and what you hate the most?

L – The most important thing about New York is the community of people that I live and work with. It’s really like a very nice world of artists and intellectuals. That’s’ what the core of the city is for me, the access of people of common interest, even when they are very eccentric. I will say, that whole money thing is bumming me out a little bit. There’s a new building right outside my window, blocking my view, and it’s going to be bought by some other people, like Russian business, or maybe a bank or financial institution, and that’s bumming me out. But as long as my community of people hold up, I’m game!

www.ElvisNixonMovie.com

Directed by Liza Johnson

Written by Joey Sagal & Hanala Sagal and Cary Elwes

87 Minutes / USA / 2016 / MPAA Rating: R

Phil Saviano is a story to be told by itself ~ a conversation with Neal Huff

Synopsis: The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core. Genre: Biography, Drama, History Release Dates: January 2016 Director: Tom McCarthy Writers: Tom McCarthy (screenplay), Josh Singer (screenplay) Stars: Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams ★ Subscribe to YouTube Movies Trailers → http://bit.ly/1s3Cxue ★ More Trailers + Reviews!

Neal Huff is a wonderful actor who has been active in Hollywood for years and has played many pivotal and wonderful roles, both on big and small screen. He’s also a personal friend of Art Shrian, from myNewYorkeye. Art and Neal had a chance to have a conversation about his role in the Oscar frontrunner film SPOTLIGHT. He plays the impactful character of Phil Saviano.

Here are the excepts from that conversation…

Art Shrian: Congratulations on this amazing film. I saw the movie and was very excited to see you in the film. It’s a very impactful and moving story, and you play a very important character in this film. It’s a very difficult and complex character, and you do a wonderful job of bringing it alive. So, how did this part come to you?

Neal Huff:  I’ve known Tom (the director) for years, but I auditioned. He was incredibly nice, and luckily it went very well. Most people in the film are based on real life characters, and bear a striking resemblance to their characters. And that’s definitely the case with Phil Saviano, and me, which was a great help in me getting the role. And yes, it was a great experience, being part of the film and knowing who Phil Savaino was. I knew that it was based on something real, but didn’t know who Phil was. So I asked Tom, that it seems like a real guy, and he said yes.  Then I started doing my research on him and there’s tons of footage and information on him. And over time, I got to know Phil personally, and even became really close friends with him.

Art Shrian: How was the audition process?

Neal Huff: It was just that one scene, actually an earlier version of that scene. I hadn’t read the whole script then. I knew about the subject, but didn’t know Phil’s story. But it went great.

Art Shrian: Talking about that scene, it’s an amazing scene. Talk about an actor’s dream. To be in front of such amazing actors such as Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Brian Darcy James and Mark Ruffalo; and it is one of the best scenes of the movie. You bring so much truth and power into the scene.  How was that experience?

Neal Huff: Honestly, that was one thing I knew, I”ll have in my favor, making scene as truthful as possible. I’ll be talking to these 4 wonderful actors. The energy of that event alone is going to reflect lot of what Phil went through when that happened. When spotlight team called Phil, he felt that star-chamber were calling him. He worked in Public relations for year’s prior, and he knew that spotlight team was a big deal. He felt a real sense of importance there. So I knew, that me going in as an actor, in front of these people, would reflect to some extent what Phil was going through that day.

Art Shrian: Wow, so the dynamic was real in some way.

Neal Huff: Yeah, I was like - if I was nervous, it’ll play well!

Art Shrian: How was the rehearsal process for that scene?

Neal Huff: We rehearsed for few days in New York, before the filming started. We went through the scene with actors, Tom and other writers. But when we were actually doing it, I’m not sure if we did rehearse it. I think we pretty much started filming. As an actor, you want to bring a lot to such scenes. Tom gave me a wonderful direction, that I was really blown away by, when I was on set. As an actor, you feel that with so much information there, you want to relive it. But Tom suggested that I want to feel this man is not doing this for the first time. He’s been trying to share this story for a long time, he has been doing it and telling the people this for years. Which was a completely different direction than I expected it to be. I was blown away by it. So, with this direction, the scene took a completely different light than what I expected it to be. And the greatest affirmation of how it went, when we were shooting the scene in Toronto, when these 2 gentlemen came to me after the scene was done, and shook my hand. I didn’t know who they were. And they said, "that is exactly how it went". And they were Michael Rezendes and Walter Robinson (the 2 journalists who were on scene in real life, played by Mark Ruffalo and Michael Keaton). I was utterly floored and moved.

Art Shrian: That’s just amazing. It’s a very complex character, who’s part of an important event. How did you prepare for the character, and work on researching and developing it? Did Phil share a lot of personal information? And how did you absorb it and prepare yourself?

Neal Huff: At first, when I got to meet him, I had gone through an interview that Josh Singer did with him in 2012. Then I went up to Boston to meet him. It was a treasure of really complex details. And I had my own perspective on this important issue, which was very close to my own experiences.  I wanted to advocate for this issue. I was brought up catholic, went to catholic school. So I had my own kind of stake. But the more I got to know Phil, I realized that he’s alive for a very strong specific reason. He’s unlike anybody I have ever met.  It’s not that he got lucky, that he’s around, and be able to do what he did. He’s a remarkable character. So I felt a real responsibility to convey who Phil was.

He’s very open about talking about this abuse he suffered. He’s never repressed it, and been an advocate his entire life. His story is just extraordinary. His priest abused him at age 11. He was diagnosed with HIV positive in 1984. In 1992, he almost wanted to take his own life. But he bounced back. And then he decided to spread his story and be an advocate for this issue. He wasn’t sure how long will he live, but he wanted to use this time at its best. He read this small article in Boston Globe, about this priest, Father Holly, molesting kids in 70s in New Mexico, same priest who molested him in 60s. And no one had talked about this priest or others in a negative way, in his hometown or around in public. Phil got in touch with Globe to connect with these folks who were abused. And he started SNAP. He found a path and destiny, to do what he did. His generosity and spirit was really the furnace for what I was doing.

Art Shrian: Wow, it seems like a story to be told by itself.

Neal Huff: Yes. Who knows what would have happened if spotlight wouldn’t have called him in. They used lot of his help in the beginning to reach out to people. He was key to it all. If you really told Phil Saviano story, that could be a film in itself.

Art Shrian: So what are your thoughts on this important and sensitive subject? It’s unfortunate that it happened, and still happens out there. How has this impacted you and what has been response of your family and friends, and other practicing Catholics, to this film?

Neal Huff: Two examples. My mother goes to church every day. And she’s huge supporter of this film. She was upset that Kim Davis, the court clerk, got an audience with Pope. She was very disappointed. She loves the pope, but her biggest disappointment with him is that why not Phil Saviano get an audience with the Pope. She still goes to church, but also is very hopeful that a story like this will be a good thing for church. It’s the hiding of truth that is the problem. It’s devastating for my mother to see such suffering and pain of people. But still is very hopeful that things will change for good.

I have a close friend, who’s a priest. He married us. I spoke to him last week, and he loved the film. He was concerned how the film will portray the community in certain way. But he liked the film. And he feels that things will move in positive direction. I was really encouraged to hear that he feels that movie is a good thing moving forward.

Art Shrian: Agreed. It’s important that truth is not hidden and right action is taken to fix this kind of corruption. And hopefully things will change for good, and a movie like this definitely helps people understand the issue better and give it more spotlight!

Art Shrian: So, what else are you working on right now?

Neal Huff: There’s another film that came out this fall, Nasty Baby, with Kristen Wiig. I just adore the film. It’s almost a weird look of new definition of family. And cross-reference of gentrification of Brooklyn. Sebastian (the director) is a remarkable genius and does great job with this film. Also working on bunch of things on TV. I have a part in Billions. Also I have an interesting part in Person of Interest, probably airing in summer. Deadbeat is a really fun show, which I’m on. I had a great time on Blacklist. Had great time working with amazing Tim Hunter.

Art Shrian: It’s an amazing time for TV in America with so much good stuff going on. What are your favorite shows right now?

Neal Huff: I’m about to watch River on Netflix, with Stellan Skarsgard. I’m very excited about Portlandia. I loved Master of None.

Art Shrian: There’s so much film and TV stuff going in New York now. How is it to be a working actor in New York City?

Neal Huff: It’s always been my dream. I watched actors like Christopher Walken and William Dafoe, or if you go back in 60s & 50s, like Brando, Dean, DeNiro and many others. The idea of working actor in New York City has always been amazing.  I’m lucky that I have been hanging around here.

Art Shrian: It’s truly a wonderful time to be an actor in New York City. What’s your favorite representation of New York city on screen

Neal Huff: Taxi Driver. I love the film, and I still watch it regularly. It’s like a moving painting of the city. It’s just amazing!

Art Shrian: Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen, definitely do a great job of bringing New York City on screen.  Right now on TV, I relaly like what Louis CK does with his show Louis. It’s very honest representation of the city.

Neal Huff: Yes, I love Louis. I can’t wait until the next season comes back. I watch the same episode many times over. I adore the show.

Art Shrian: So last question, what’s your most favorite thing about New York City?

Neal Huff: My most favorite thing about New York, is that you can see anyone from any part of the world. And you can get authentic food from any part of the world here. You go down Roosevelt Av, every block is a completely different ethnicity, completely different cuisine. And that to me is the most favorite part of New York. It’s amazing to see the diversity and authenticity of food and people from around the world, I love it!

Art Shrian: Cannot agree more. New York City is a little worked in itself. That’s one of the reasons why I love New York City… Thanks a lot for taking time to talk to us, and share all this wonderful information and thoughts. Congratulations again on this wonderful movie and All the best!

A conversation with Jay Dockendorf, from Naz and Maalik #myNewYorkeye

Naz and Maalik is a multiple award winning movie by writer/director Jay Dockendorf, with lead actors Curtiss Cook Jr and Kerwin Johnson Jr. A relevant look at two closeted gay teenage African-American Muslims in Brooklyn who are under surveillance by FBI, this narrative film was inspired by real life stories of LGBT Muslims, as told to Jay.

Art Shrian from myNewYorkeye had a conversation with the wonderful filmmaker. Here are the excerpts.

Art Shrian: How are you doing Jay?

Jay Dockendorf: I’m great Art. How are you?

Art Shrian: I’m great, thanks. So, you’re based in New York?

Jay Dockendorf: I live in Brooklyn. I used to live in Bedstuy, and I moved here. I’m currently staying here, and I think next project will be here.

Art Shrian: So what do you think of the weather here?

Jay Dockendorf: I actually enjoy it more than I Thought. I’ve been here 4 years, I grew up in LA, went to school in CT, and now I’m here.

Art Shrian: So congratulations on wonderful movie. It’s very captivating. The subject of the movie is very interesting, but also the visuals of New York City are great. Like a New Yorker sees it. SO how did you shoot it?

Jay Dockendorf: We shot Guerilla style. We shot on location. I acted as location scout, and most film was shot on real locations, except the mosque scene. The style of the film has a lot to do with camera work, and cinematographer Jake Mickey and Production designer who worked together to create a look, of seeing New York that’s reflected in the shots, but also matches what’s happening with the characters. I have to give them full credit for the look of the film.

We shot with a lightweight camera Canon C300, which let us spend long days hand held. That was good for the guerilla style filmmaking.

Art Shrian: New York City itself plays a character and you guys have done a great job of it. About the story, its very complex. It has various layers, like subject of sexuality, subject of religion, subject of racial profiling. It brings multiple layers of emotions and journey of the characters through this story. So how did you come up with this story?

Jay Dockendorf: This is not a story of myself. It’s a story of many people how I thought deserve their story to be told. The sources are events that I saw on street, on subway, in homes where I have stayed in. Particularly, a gay couple I lived with inspires the main character.  It’s not a documentary, but things gave me lot of inspiration. I started writing this 2012, and I had my experience in Bedstuy with the African American community, which inspired me and became source of some of the story.

Art Shrian: As a filmmaker and writer, what was the most difficult thing or biggest challenge? And what was the most rewarding outcome of this project?

Jay Dockendorf: Most rewarding was creation of this film. We rehearsed the film together, walking through the city, for 3 weeks. The actors were so giving and committed, was great help. It allowed building characters in a way, which would not have been possible otherwise. The various challenging aspects were also very rewarding. Like shooting in subway was hard. To get right angles, right sound, everything was tough. Our sound recorder, Joe, was wonderful. Getting the camera to not shake much. And for actors to perform in front of live audience and strangers, it was all very challenging, but truly rewarding.

Art Shrian: The scenes on the street, with the guys selling things, were very cool. We see these folks in subway or street, selling stuff. But we usually don’t think of there backstory. This was cool to see. Were the others all actors, or real people?

Jay Dockendorf: It was a combination. We cast some people on the street. Some people reached out to us. Or actor’s improvised. People were very supportive.

Art Shrian: I really enjoyed the positivity and optimism of the film. Lot of dramatic stuff could have happened, but movie keeps a positive direction, avoiding the drama.

Jay Dockendorf: Thanks; I’m glad to hear that. It’s controversial aspect of the movie. Some people feel it could have been exploited more with potential conflict and drama, or thriller.

Art Shrian: So what’s your overall message for your audience, from this film and in general from your work?

Jay Dockendorf: I would want the film to speak for itself, and let people decide. It might be limiting, if I blurted it out, in few words. I would like to hear the audience’s interpretation of the film. I think it’s more powerful that way.

Art Shrian: That’s wonderful, I completely agree. The movie does speak for itself and shows your care and concern for the wonderful characters, the subject and everything else around it. Thanks a lot for talking to us, and making this beautiful film. Congratulations!

Naz & Maalik opened in select cinemas on Jan 22, 2016. It’s also be available from Jan 26, 2016 on DVD via Wolfe Video and many major retailers. And also on VOD via www.WolfeOnDemand.com and additional digital platforms.