Upcoming book release: ‘Breaking the Insidious Silence’ by Raye Mitchell

Olympic gold medalist Cindy Brown teams up with Harvard lawyer Raye Mitchell to release ‘Breaking the Insidious Silence: The Cindy Brown/Bank of New York Mellon Whistleblower Report.’ Release date is March 15, 2022. Photo: amazon

Cindy Brown, the Olympic Gold Medalist and former Women’s National Basketball (WNBA) player, teams up with Harvard Lawyer Raye Mitchell to release “Breaking the Insidious Silence: The Cindy Brown / Bank of New York Mellon Whistleblower Report.” Available on Amazon for pre-order, the report chronicles Brown’s fight to be heard and seeks the truth in finding the responsible party in a S.W.A.T.-like event in which Brown was evicted from her home at gunpoint. It has a release date of March 15, 2022. (Black Château, 2021)

Raye Mitchell is a University of Southern California MBA, and Harvard Law School graduate, civil rights lawyer, investigative writer, producer, and expert on helping people be heard and tell their story publicly. She explains, “’Through Breaking the Insidious Silence’ Ms. Brown wants to find the truth about whether Bank of New York Mellon is the corporation that ordered the S.W.A.T.-like attack on her and caused her to be evicted at gun point. Cindy, like so many Americans, has had to go it alone as a self-represented litigant in the growing national crisis of the civil justice gap and the inequalities in navigating the civil justice system. We aim to break that insidious silence.” 

Almost fifteen years ago, Cindy Brown became the victim of identity theft, which lead to financial institution misconduct and the loss of her home in what is considered an unlawful foreclosure. Seeking justice, she went to court mostly as a self-represented litigant. Brown was blocked from having her day in court, and like many Americans, was forced to navigate an uncivil civil justice system alone. 

Brown says, “In November 2020, I was evicted at gun point and living in my car. No person should have to endure that experience, so I am fighting for our collective restoration of dignity.” 

Brown’s story has been captured by the media and has received over 200,000 views on YouTube. The court documents that are at the center of the March 2022 hearing are also available.

“We will not retreat. Especially in this moment – as a global pandemic has widened inequities – our collective dignity and humanity requires that people like Cindy share their stories as tools on how to help others speak up, be heard, and find justice. Brown’s quest for justice has gained oxygen, shifted conversations, and is inspiring people to take action to ensure we all have fairness and equal access to justice. ‘The Breaking the Insidious Silence: The Cindy Brown / Bank of New York Mellon Whistleblower Report’ and the mission served is about so much more than one person, one group, or one organization,” Mitchell adds.

Raye Mitchell, also known as “Boss Girl Raye Mitchell,” is an award-winning entrepreneur, investigative writer, lawyer, diversity inclusion, and dignity expert. As a lawyer, Raye remains committed to helping everyday Americans be heard and gain access to justice in the era of a crumbling civil justice system that is anything but civil. Talking about the justice gap is devoid of discussion about Americans’ dignity gap when they go to court with or without a lawyer.

Cynthia L. Brown is an author, motivational speaker, a leadership expert on dignity in the dispute resolution process, Access to Justice for In Pro Se Litigants, and an A.D.A. Dignity Expert. Ms. Brown is a devoted advocate for fairness, respect for all, dedication to living the dream of dignity and access to justice. Cynthia L. Brown is an accomplished civil justice professional and proud member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Gold Medal Woman’s Basketball Team. Ms. Brown has earned credentials and certifications from the United States Department of Justice, FBI.

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Movie adaptation: ‘Nightmare Alley’ by William Lindsay Gresham

The movie adaptation of ‘Nightmare Alley’ is now in theaters. Photo: amazon

William Lindsay Gresham was a novelist and nonfiction writer. Gresham’s was a tortured mind and a tormented life, and he sought to banish his demons through a maze of dead-end ways, from Marxism to psychoanalysis to Christianity to Alcoholics Anonymous to Rinzai Zen Buddhism. From these demons came his novel “Nightmare Alley” (1946), one of the underground classics of American literature. It is a study of the lowest depths of showbiz and its sleazy inhabitants – the dark, shadowy world of a second rate carnival filled with hustlers, scheming grifters, and Machiavellian femme fatales. Guillermo del Toro directed the 2021 movie adaptation from a screenplay by del Toro and Kim Morgan. It stars Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette and Willem Dafoe and focuses on Stan Carlisle, an ambitious carny who hooks up with corrupt psychiatrist Dr. Lilith Ritter, who proves to be as dangerous as he is. (amazon, Wikipedia, 2021)

“Nightmare Alley” – It all begins with an extraordinary description of a carnival-show geek—alcoholic and abject and the object of the voyeuristic crowd’s gleeful disgust and derision—going about his work at a county fair. Young Stan Carlisle is working as a carny, and he wonders how a man could fall so low. There is no way in hell, he vows, that anything like that will ever happen to him. Since Stan is clever and ambitious and not without a useful streak of ruthlessness, soon enough he is going places. Onstage he plays the mentalist with a cute assistant, then he graduates to full-blown spiritualist, catering to the needs of the rich and gullible in their well-upholstered homes. It looks like the world is Stan’s for the taking. At least for now.

Action-thriller Confession to be released in January

Stephen Moyer and Colm Meaney star in Confession, coming in January 2022. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Uncork’d Entertainment has acquired North American rights to writer-director David Beton’s action-thriller, Confession. The film, starring Stephen Moyer (“True Blood,” “Fortunate Son”) and Colm Meany (Seberg, “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”), had its market premiere at EFM earlier this year. Uncork’d will be releasing the film in theaters January 21, 2022 followed by a VOD release Jan 25. (Uncork’d Entertainment, 2021)

An intense-thriller played in real time during one fateful night, Confession fixes on a wounded man (Moyer) who takes a priest (Meany) hostage, determined to confess to a past misdemeanor before it is too late.

Written and directed by David Beton (One Last Heist), Confession also stars Clare-Hope Ashitey (Children of Men). Producers are Picture Perfect’s Lucinda Rhodes Thakrar and Jeet Thakrar. Signature’s Elizabeth Williams is an executive producer. Andrew Nerger of Signature Entertainment negotiated the deal on behalf of the film team with Keith Leopard of Uncork’d Entertainment.

“Confession is a very suspenseful, thrilling ride with terrific performances from two always-dependable performers, Moyer and Meany. It’s an incredible film to kick off our exciting 2022 slate.” – Keith Leopard, President Uncork’d Entertainment.

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Acclaimed drama HipBeat to be released on digital platforms

HipBeat will be released on digital platforms this Thursday December 23, 2021. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Writer/director Samuel Kay Forrest’s acclaimed drama HipBeat, described by the critical community as Easy Rider with dresses instead of motorcycles, has been acquired by Indie Rights. (Indie Rights, 2021)

The film, produced by Mother Earth Films, FC Films, and Castle Matrix Productions, tells of a political activist fighting against the system while searching for love in the Berlin queer community. Forrest also stars in the film alongside Marie Céline Yildirim, Judy LaDivina, Helmut Wößner, Filip Süt Rutkowski, and Andriana Manfredi.

“We’re excited to be distributing and are looking forward to finding an audience for the film.” – Linda Nelson, CEO Indie Rights

“The love revolution taking place in Berlin inspired me to start a conversation about love, gender, and politics.” – Samuel Kay Forrest

Indie Rights, who have acquired global rights, will release HipBeat on Digital platforms beginning December 23, 2021.

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Majestic Theatre announces lottery for ‘Hamilton’ tickets

Elijah Malcomb, Joseph Morales, Kyle Scatliffe, Fergie L. Philippe, and Company. Photo: Joan Marcus, used with permission.

Producer Jeffrey Seller and North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio announce a digital lottery for ‘Hamilton’ tickets will begin in conjunction with the show’s first performance January 5 in San Antonio at the Majestic Theatre. Only forty tickets will be available for every performance for $10 each. The lottery will open at 10a.m. Friday, December 24, 2021 and will close at 12p.m. Thursday, December 30, 2021 for tickets to performances January 5-9, 2022.  Subsequent digital lotteries will begin on each Friday and close the following Thursday for the upcoming week’s performances. (Majestic Theatre, 2021)

How to enter:

  • Use the official ‘Hamilton’ app, now available for all iOS and Android devices in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
  • The lottery will open at 10a.m. every Friday and will close for entry at 12p.m. the next Thursday prior to the following week’s performances.
  • Winner and non-winner notifications will be sent between 1p.m. and 4p.m. every Thursday for the upcoming week’s performances via email and mobile push notification.  Winners will have two hours to claim and pay for their ticket(s). 
  • No purchase or payment necessary to enter or participate.
  • Each winning entrant may purchase up to two (2) tickets. 
  • Only one entry per person. Repeat entries and disposable email addresses will be discarded.
  • Lottery tickets may be picked up at will call beginning two hours prior to the performance with a valid photo ID.
  • Lottery tickets void if resold.
  • All times listed are in the local time zone. 

Additional rules:

Patrons must be eighteen years or older and have a valid, non-expired photo ID that matches the name used to enter. Tickets are non-transferable. Ticket limits and prices displayed are at the sole discretion of the show and are subject to change without notice.

Lottery prices are not valid on prior purchases. Lottery ticket offer cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. All sales final – no refunds or exchanges.  Lottery may be revoked or modified at any time without notice. A purchase will not improve the chances of winning.

Tickets for ‘Hamilton’ are currently on sale.  Patrons are advised to check the official ‘Hamilton’ channels and BroadwayInSanAntonio.com for late release seats which may become available at short notice.

‘Hamilton’ is the story of America then, told by America now.  Featuring​ a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, ‘Hamilton’ has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre—a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. 

With book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, ‘Hamilton’ is based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography. It has won Tony​®​, Grammy​®​, and Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.

Multi-award winning psychological thriller Help

Help will be available on digital formats starting February 15, 2022. Photo: google

Ridder Films, in association with Executive Producer Lucas A. Ferrara, are delighted to share the new trailer and poster for their award-winning psychological thriller Help, which will be available on digital download in the USA and Canada starting February 15, 2022. Help was filmed over just twelve days. Due to UK lockdown restrictions, only twenty cast and crew members were involved. Help is a testament to producing high-quality films during such a turbulent time. (Ridder Films, 2021)

A young woman’s life turns chaotic when she uncovers a deadly secret about her friend. A painful break up prompts Grace to visit her friend Liv who is living in the idyllic English countryside with her boyfriend Edward and his dog Polly. The trio start the weekend in high spirits but soon turns into chaos, as well-kept secrets are exposed and the friends come to see each other in a whole new light. Everyone has a secret.

Help boasts an impressive cast of promising actors of Louis James (The English Teacher, A Simple Robbery), Emily Redpath (Romeo and Juliet, Casualty), Sarah Alexandra Marks (Glamour, Psychosis), and including a cameo performance from iconic boyband Blue’s very own Duncan James.

With a plot as dark as Help’s, you might not expect to see former boyband member Duncan James’ cameo, but the unlikely pairing came about organically. “I met Louis whilst filming in Liverpool, a mutual friend introduced us, and we immediately struck up a friendship,” explains James. “His passion was palpable and there was a lot of mutual respect. I watched his performance in a few of Ridder’s short films, such as ‘The English Teacher’ and ‘A Simple Robbery’ and thought he was great, so I wanted to support him and be involved in his next project.”

“No matter how hard we try, no one is perfect. We all have our own issues and help that we seek for. Especially in our personal relationships, much like the characters in this film. During the UK’s first lockdown in March 2020, it pushed me to create even more short films than I ever did before. Of course, with each film you make, it teaches you something, you learn from your mistakes and understand what really captures the audience through my storytelling. Which ultimately made me decide it was time to make my debut feature film.” – Director Blake Ridder

“As the script was developed I could sense from the early stages he was crafting something unique. Coming onboard as Producer I knew I would I have to match Blake’s machine like work ethic. I got to work immediately assembling a strong cast and crew to lift his story off of the page. We worked closely together to make sure our visions for the production were kept aligned each step of the way.” – Producer Louis James

Distributor: Ridder Films
Digital Download Date: February 15, 2022
Digital Platforms: iTunes, Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play & Microsoft
Writer and Director: Blake Ridder
Producer: Louis James
Executive Producer: Lucas A. Ferrara
Cast: Louis James, Emily Redpath, Sarah Alexandra Marks, Duncan James, Blake Ridder, Amy Jim, Stuart Wolfe-Murray
Run Time: 96 minutes
Rating: TBC

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Terror Films launches AVOD channel in January with two new movies

Isaac Rodriguez’ Last Radio Call is one of the movies that will premiere on AVOD in January. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Genre distributor Terror Films will officially launch their YouTube AVOD channel in 2022 with 2 new releases. The first film out of the gate will be Isaac Rodriguez’ found footage horror film, Last Radio Call on January 14, followed by Kipp Tribble’s home invasion horror film, Evil at the Door on January 21. The films will premiere exclusively on the Terror Films channel featuring a live chat event with the filmmakers, cast and fans during the premiere. The films will be released wide, across Digital and VOD platforms one week later after their premieres. (Terror Films, 2021)

In addition to new releases, the channel will also feature the distributor’s entire library of diverse, indie horror films, which will eventually expand to an international audience.

“This is such an exciting time for us as a company. This was a necessary, next step in our ongoing efforts to grow our brand while increasing the reach and revenue streams of our amazing library of horror films.”- Joe Dain, Terror Films President

Written and Directed by Isaac Rodriguez, who also produced alongside Cynthia Bergen, Last Radio Call centers around Officer David Serling, who went missing inside the abandoned Yorktown Memorial Hospital. One year later, his wife has hired a film crew to help bring light on what really happened that night. Using recovered body cam footage, she discovers a dark secret that sends her spiraling down a horrific path of ancient evil. She must now face an unknown terror to find the answers she desperately seeks. Starring Sarah Froelich, Jason Scarbough, June Griffin Garcia, Ali Alkhafaji, KeeKee Takatsuki, Bert Lopez, and Makayla Rodriguez, the film will be available across digital and VOD platforms January 21, one week after it debuts on the Terror Films Channel.

Written and Directed by Kipp Tribble, who also produced alongside Patrick Rivera, Kenny Yates and Executive Producer Richard Siegelman, Evil at the Door centers around a secret guild that has operated for nearly a century, known as The Locusts. Once a year this guild treats its members to a night of curated home invasions (aka, “runs”), known underground as “The Night of The Locusts.” With 180 minutes to do as they please with the occupants of the selected home, four masked men enter the home of Daniel and Jessica and begin to engage in sick, twisted games with them. Unbeknownst to the intruders, Liz, Jessica’s younger sister, is hiding under the bed. While the run time winds down, Liz plots her escape as The Locusts realize there is a traitor in their group. But will the division amongst the intruders be enough distraction for Liz to survive before The Locusts’ clock runs out? Starring Bruce Davison, Andrea Sweeney Blanco, Robert Allen Mukes, Kipp Tribble, Kenny Yates, Sunny Doench, and Richard Siegelman, the film will be available across digital and VOD platforms January 28, one week after it debuts on the Terror Films Channel.

Legendary Nashville guitarist Adam Shoenfeld’s new solo album All the Birds Sing

Adam Shoenfeld’s new solo album All the Birds Sing will be out in January. Photo: LYRIC Magazine

In 1994, at 20 years old, Adam Shoenfeld moved to Nashville and soon integrated himself into the music community. He formed a band with “Big Kenny” Alphin called LuvjOi, which became one of the most popular draws on Nashville’s rock scene in that era. When Big Kenny then formed country duo Big & Rich with John Rich, they enlisted Shoenfeld to play guitar on their 2004 breakout hit, “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy.” Around this same time, Shoenfeld and Rich teamed up to write a hit for Faith Hill, resulting in her 2005 No. 1 single, “Mississippi Girl.” He will release his first solo album, All the Birds Sing, in January 2022. (Adam Shoenfeld, 2021)

From the first notes of Shoenfeld’s new record – out January 28 via Lozen Entertainment Group/Copperline–the musicianship and wealth of drawn influences are readily apparent. Spending the last two decades bringing his rock-leaning sound to Nashville’s premier country music scene and his last nine years in Tim McGraw’s touring band, Shoenfeld has channeled all of these words and melodies of his own for something brand new; something apart from his country “day-job.” “I love getting to play guitar for people and making a living doing that,” he says. “It’s the best job in the world, but I’ve always been an artist at heart.” The Boot premiered the first single from All the Birds Sing, “The Sky is Falling Down” paired with an exclusive interview with Shoenfeld. Although the ELO-string section-influenced song alludes to the chaos in the world, there is a silver lining in its message. Fans can hear “The Sky is Falling Down” now at this link and pre-order or pre-save All the Birds Sing ahead of its January 28 release right here.

Although he opted out of becoming known as a country artist, Shoenfeld’s playing has shaped the genre for decades now. He believes that being around the industry for this long, watching what artists go through, gave him the confidence to step out as a solo performer. “It’s all built up to this point where I’m like, ‘You know what? I need to do this. I need to put it out there to see if I can touch some people with this music,’” he says. From the rock anthem “Getting to Me” to the poetic songwriting of “Say a Word,” Shoenfeld is doing exactly that. The cornerstone of All the Birds Sing is the poignant title track, which he wrote in ten minutes in a hotel room, in tears, for someone close to him who was going through a tough time. However, its tender lyrics resonate in his own life too.

All the Birds Sing Track list:
The Sky is Falling Down
Gettin’ to Me
All the Birds Sing
Eleven
Son
Pave Those Highways
Lose to Win
Her Song
Norwegian Wood
Say a Word

Photo: google
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Agarita celebrates San Antonio Museum of Art’s anniversary

Agarita celebrates San Antonio Museum of Art’s 40th anniversary with free community concert. Photo: Agarita

An innovative chamber ensemble dedicated to producing bold, collaborative musical events, Agarita offers a new way to experience classical and contemporary music. Rooted in San Antonio and founded by Daniel Anastasio (piano), Marisa Bushman (viola), Ignacio Gallego (cello), and Sarah Silver Manzke (violin), Agarita nourishes the local community through artistic collaborations, community engagement, and free, adventurous programming. (Agarita, 2021)

Agarita was recently named San Antonio Magazine’s Best of the City 2021: Culture winner for its collaboration with area partners. It works intimately with local artists of various genres to weave cross-artistic narratives for each concert. Agarita’s past collaborations have included the McNay Art Museum’s Pop América exhibit, lighting artist Chuck Drew, Cameron Beauchamp from the Grammy Award-winning vocal group Roomful of Teeth, chef Elizabeth Johnson and Pharm Table restaurant, poet Laura Van Prooyen, sculptor Danville Chadbourne, educational arts institution SAY Sí, and the Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival for a concert inside San Antonio’s historic Mission San José.

As a nonprofit organization, Agarita believes that the arts should be accessible to everyone in its community. Agarita presents free public concerts, performs at local schools, and offers opportunities for other artists through its collaborations. The next event will take place on Sunday, December 12 at the San Antonio Museum of Art.

Agarita Celebrates SAMA’s 40th!
Date: Sunday, December 12, 2021
Time: 11a.m. – 12:15p.m.
Location: San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 West Jones Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215
Collaborator: Highlights of SAMA’s permanent collection
Description: Agarita returns to the San Antonio Museum of Art for a concert celebrating the museum’s 40th anniversary. Musical selections will reflect artworks on display in the special exhibit. This concert is FREE and open to the public.

Television adaptation: The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

The Wheel of Time is a fantasy series by Robert Jordan. The television adaptation is now available on Amazon Prime Video. Photo: amazon

Robert Jordan was an American author of epic fantasy. He is known best for his series the Wheel of Time (finished by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan’s death) which comprises 14 books and a prequel novel. He is one of several writers to have written original Conan the Barbarian novels. The Wheel of Time was adapted into a television series and released through Amazon Prime Video last month. The series follows Moiraine, a member of the Aes Sedai, a powerful organization of women who can use magic. She takes a group of four young people on a journey around the world, believing one of them might be the reincarnation of the Dragon, a powerful individual prophesied to either save the world or destroy it. It stars Rosamund Pike as Moiraine. (amazon, 2021)

The Wheel of Time is a series of high fantasy novels set in an unnamed world that, due to the cyclical nature of time as depicted in the series, is simultaneously the distant past and the distant future Earth. It draws on numerous elements of both European and Asian mythology, most notably the cyclical nature of time found in Buddhism and Hinduism, the metaphysical concepts of balance and duality, and a respect for nature found in Taoism. Its story of creation has similarities to the Abrahamic religions’ “Creator” (Light) and Shai’tan, “The Dark One.” It was also partly inspired by Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace (1869). The Wheel of Time is notable for its length, detailed imaginary world and magic system, and large cast of characters. (Wikipedia, 2021)