Month: September 2022

New movie releases: September

The Alternate is one of the movies that will be available this September on digital platforms. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

A new month means a whole new batch of movies coming up in a variety of genres, from horror, to documentaries, and romance. I prefer science fiction movies dealing with time travel/alternate universes so The Alternate looks good to me, but below is a list of upcoming movies that will be available on digital platforms. (October Coast, 2022)

OUT NOW
We Are Gathered Here Today
Drama | Cinedigm | Digital Platforms (U.S, CANADA)
Director: Danny Boyd, Cast: Danny Huston, Lin Shaye, Phoebe Tonkin, Javicia Leslie
Synopsis: We Are Gathered Here Today is a film about a multi-generational mixed-race family coming together to say their last goodbye to the patriarch of the family, while at the same time dealing with other underlying issues that family gatherings can bring.

SEPTEMBER 2 (limited digital), SEPTEMBER 16 (global national digital release)
Surrogate
Paranormal thriller | Indie Rights | Digital Platforms (U.S, AU, UK, NZ, CANADA)
Director: David Willing, Cast: Kestie Morassi and Jane Badler
Synopsis: Written by Beth King and David Willing, in his feature directorial debut, Surrogate tells of Natalie Paxton (Morassi), a single mother and nurse, who falls mysteriously ill and struggles to stop her family from being destroyed.

Mister Limbo
Sci-fi/Comedy/Horror | Terror Films | Digital Platforms (U.S/CANADA)
Director: Robert G.Putka, Cast: Hugo de Sousa, Vig Norris, Cameron Dye, Hugo Armstrong
Synopsis: A young man in a parachute lands in the middle of a desert. He does not remember who he is or how he got there.

SEPTEMBER 6
Kingdom of the Dinosaurs
Sci-fi/Horror | Uncork’d Entertainment | Digital Platforms/DVD (U.S/CANADA)
Director: Scott Jeffrey, Cast: Mark Haldor, Darcie Rose, Chelsea Greenwood, Chrissie Wunna
Synopsis: In 2030 during World War III a small group of survivors make it into a bunker. Two years later they have to exit to find new supplies, but they are greeted by dinosaur predators.

Something in the Woods
Sci-fi/Horror | Uncork’d Entertainment | Digital Platforms/DVD (U.S/CANADA)
Director: Alex T. Hwang, Cast: Nicole Cinaglia, Robbie Dias
Synopsis: The creature feature tells of two women who battle a frightening monster in the woods and stars Nicole Cinaglia.

This Land
Drama/Documentary | Gravitas Ventures | Digital Platforms/DVD (U.S/CANADA)
Director: Matthew Palmer
Synopsis: From executive producer, Sundance and SXSW winner Jim Cummings (Thunder Road, The Beta Test), This Land is a film exploring six groups of Americans as they experience Election Day across the United States.

SEPTEMBER 13
Gameboy: The Movie
LGBTQ+/Romance | Dark Star Pictures | Digital Platforms/DVD (U.S/CANADA)
Director: Ivan Andrew Payawal, Cast: Kokoy de Santos and Elijah Canlas
Synopsis: Gamers turned lovers Cairo and Gavreel spend time together a few weeks before Cairo returns to his province. Their relationship is tested as they have to deal with distance, the pandemic, fate, and circumstance.

Greywood’s Plot
Horror-comedy | Terror Films | Digital Platforms (U.S, UK, AUSTRALIA, NZ, CANADA)
Director: Josh Stifter, Cast: Josh Stifter, Daniel Degnan
Synopsis: Two friends venture into a forest to see if a monster sighting is real. Has won acclaim on the festival circuit. Stifter’s follow-up to cult favorite The Good Exorcist.

The Alternate
Sci-fi/Thriller | Uncork’ d Entertainment | Digital Platforms/DVD (U.S, CANADA)
Director: Alrik Brussell, Cast: Ed Gonzalez Marino
Synopsis: Upon unlocking a portal to an alternate dimension where all his dreams have come true, struggling filmmaker Jake is forced to confront his idealized self.

SEPTEMBER 15
How Dark They Prey
Horror | Film Valor| Digital Platforms, WatchMoviesNow (U.S, CANADA)
Director: Jamison M. LoCascio and Adam Ambrosio, Cast: Josiah Schneider, Timothy Paul Jobe, and David Johnson.
Synopsis: Four dark tales about the haunting nature of man and the unknown from WWII to Alien investigation, finding the occult, and kidnap with torture, the highly anticipated horror anthology is written by Adam Ambrosio, Anthony LoCascio and Jamison M. LoCascio.

SEPTEMBER 30
The Wild Man
Horror | Terror Films| Digital Platforms (U.S, UK, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, CANADA)
Director: Ryan Justice, Cast: Michael Pare
Synopsis: Young women have been going missing in Ochopee, FL, without a single suspect in custody. A young journalist, Sara, convinces her crew to join her investigation as she travels to Ochopee to document her discoveries, but they soon realize their presence in this town is not welcome. Determined to find her story, Sara convinces her friends to stick with her, because they are onto something big. Upon meeting Dale, the town’s notorious conspiracy theorist, she is convinced he knows more than he is willing to share. The crew humors Dale’s ridiculous theories, even accompanying him into the Florida swamps on his quest to show them “The Wild Man,” hoping he will somehow reveal his guilt. But what the crew discovers is a secret much deeper than fairy tales and legends. What they discover is much darker and more sinister than they bargained for.

 

Book review: ‘Unfear’ by Gaurav Bhatnagar and Mark Minukas

‘Unfear: Transform Your Organization to Create Breakthrough Performance and Employee Well-Being’ by Gaurav Bhatnagar and Mark Minukas of Co-Creation Partners. Photo: Sandra Cruz

Gaurav Bhatnagar is the founder of Co-Creation Partners and has dedicated more than two decades to helping companies thrive and achieve breakthrough performance. Since founding Co-Creation Partners in 2010, he has designed and led programs and workshops for private, public, and social-sector clients across multiple industries, including financial services, basic materials, manufacturing, healthcare, and technology. Mark Minukas has worked across multiple industries, including financial services, high tech, biotech manufacturing, IT services, and governmental offices to deliver both top-and bottom-line improvements and build high-performing operations. As co-authors of “Unfear: Transform Your Organization to Create Breakthrough Performance and Employee Well-Being,” these top experts on high-performing organizations show you how to reframe your, and your employees,’ relationship with fear and anxiety to create a learning culture of engaged workers at the top of their game. (Amazon, 2022)

“Unfear” – Fear and uncertainty have been undermining performance and well-being in the workplace for as long as we have had workplaces. Mismanaged fear is responsible for almost all of the dysfunction that most organizations experience. While fear can drive short-term results, it does so at the cost of high employee burnout and turnover. It also undermines long-term business performance. We can not eradicate it entirely; it is inherent to the human condition. Winning organizations are not fear-free; they know how to reframe fear into opportunities for learning and growth. They create resilient cultures of unfear. This book is divided into two parts: Part I: Fear with chapters such as Biology of Fear and Unfear and Eight Fear Archetypes in the Workplace and Part II: Unfear and includes chapters on Unfear Transformation and The Unfear Organization. In the Introduction, the authors explain how it is divided: the first part explores fear including its impact and the different ways in which it is expressed in an organization and the second part explores unfear and how to bring about an unfear transformation. This timely and essential guide shows leaders the impact of fear, the strategies and actions needed to bring about an unfear organization, and so much more.

Fear is a natural part of life and therefore impossible to avoid. Instead of hiding from it, we should learn to not only live with it, but learn how to use it to our advantage in every day life, including in the business world. In their book ‘Unfear,’ the authors define the different types of fear and offer advice on how to ‘unfear’ – to shift our relationship with fear and use it as a tool to learn and grow. It is an extremely useful and easy to read business guide that uses down to earth language that does not include too much business jargon. Highlights include Chapter 2: Biology of Fear and Unfear that explains the biology of fear and its importance “In order to live as an unfear individual, you need to understand the evolutionary function of fear and how it can cause dysfunction in the modern world,” Chapter 3: Eight Fear Archetypes in the Workplace, and Chapter 7: The Unfear Organization which emphasizes the need to control fear mindset in the workplace “Instead of cohesion and focus, it [fear] leads to second-guessing, indifference, and wasteful internal politics.” This proven approach to workplace anxiety reduces stress, boosts engagement, and overcomes obstacles that get in the way of success. In the long run, it leads to personal rewards, greater profits, and sustainable growth which is only possible with a culture of unfear. ‘Unfear’ is an excellent guide for recognizing and overcoming fear not only in our personal lives but in the workplace. It is recommended for readers who appreciate self help and enrichment books as well as books on workplace culture, business, and human resources.

“Look forward rather than backward. Don’t dwell too much on why something went wrong. Instead, recognize the value in reflection and diagnostics, but keep most of your focus on solutions and the future.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Best Quality Daughter to host fundraiser for reproductive rights

Best Quality Daughter is partnering with New Orleans’ Turkey and the Wolf to host Good Trouble in Little China on September 11, 2022. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Best Quality Daughter is excited to announce that they will be hosting a house party, Good Trouble in Little China, to raise funds for reproductive rights in Texas and Louisiana. Guest Chef Mason Hereford from Turkey and the Wolf in New Orleans joins Chef Jennifer Hwa Dobertin for a special menu at Best Quality Daughter for one night only on Sunday, September 11, 2022 from 7p.m. to 11p.m. The party and fundraising event will benefit Planned Parenthood South Texas and Lift Louisiana with proceeds being split 50/50. This is not a seated dinner, so unfortunately dietary restrictions and food allergies are unable to be accommodated. (Best Quality Daughter, 2022)

Three dishes are being curated by both Chef Hereford, a recent Iron Chef alum, and Chef Dobertin, along with house made cocktails. Chef Hereford’s menu includes collard melts and deviled eggs with crispy chicken skin, while Chef Dobertin’s items include wagyu scallion pancake sandwiches and chorizo and egg dumplings. Drinks served will include house cocktails such as Aide and Abet and Purple Texas, along with a beer from Kunstler Brewing called The Morning After Pils.

Tickets are available for a donation of $150 through Eventbrite and include drinks and food. Guests must be 21+ to attend. 

Good Trouble in Little China is sponsored by Annie’s Petite Treats, Back Bar Project, El Dorado Rum, Farm to Table, Kunstler Brewing, Mezcal Amaras, Peeler Farms, Potluck Hospitality, Rambler Sparkling Water, Jamie Stolarski and Sarah Fox.

Best Quality Daughter
602 Avenue A
San Antonio, TX 78215

Best Quality Daughter is a restaurant by Chef Jennifer Dobbertin that opened at Pearl in November of 2020. Pioneering New Asian-American Cuisine, the restaurant experience is a reflection of Dobbertin’s travels and the comfort food of her youth as a second-generation Chinese American. A warm, fun, and gorgeous environment serves as a culinary beacon to locals and travelers alike.

September events at San Antonio Museum of Art

San Antonio Museum of Art. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

This September, the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) is packed with “can’t miss” events including an Author Talk and book signing, a Japanese Art-inspired lecture, and the highly-anticipated reopening of SAMA’s Latin American Popular Art Gallery. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2022)

On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 from 6p.m. to 7p.m., visitors can head to the John L. Santikos Auditorium at SAMA for an evening with Anne Elise Urrutia, (SOLD OUT) author of ‘Miraflores: San Antonio’s Mexican Garden of Memory.’ This lecture and book signing will explore SAMA’s Urrutia Arch; its relationship to Dr. Aureliano Urrutia’s historic garden, Miraflores; and the arch’s artists, origins, symbolism, and significance to the city. Her book is available at the Museum Shop for attendees hoping to snag a last minute copy. This free admission, or pay as you wish program, will also be live streamed via Zoom.

The second weekend of September kicks off with the long-awaited return of SAMA’s Latin American Popular Art Gallery, reopening on Friday, September 9, 2022. Formerly known as the Folk Art collection, this internationally recognized gallery is an unmatched experience unique to SAMA. Dr. Lucia Abramovich Sanchez, Associate Curator of Latin American Art, will speak on the reimagined collection with special remarks at 11a.m, with coffee and light bites available from 10a.m. to Noon. The gallery is included in general admission to SAMA. 

On Tuesday, September 20, 2022, functionality and sculpture collide at the John L. Santikos Auditorium at SAMA with Listening to Bamboo: An Unrivaled Japanese Art Form. From 6p.m. to 7p.m., Robert T. Coffland, one of the world’s leading experts on Japanese bamboo, will trace the development of this specialized medium and guide guests on a journey to find where practicality became artistry. Admission is free for members and $5 for non-members.