Category: Pop culture

New documentary release: Living With Chucky

The documentary Living With Chucky is now available on streaming and Collector’s Edition Blu-ray. Photo: Cinedigm, used with permission.

This month, Cinedigm and Bloody Disgusting premiered the horror documentary Living With Chucky on its horror streaming service SCREAMBOX and on all major digital platforms in the US and Canada. (EG-PR, 2023)

Living with Chucky takes an in depth look at the groundbreaking Child’s Play franchise from the perspective of a filmmaker who grew up within it. Featuring interviews with cast and crew such as Brad Dourif, Jennifer Tilly, Alex Vincent, creator Don Mancini, and much more, this personal film recounts the dedication, creativity and sacrifice that went into making the franchise and its long-lasting impact on the horror community.

Storming into pop culture in the late 1980s, the three-foot menace known as Chucky, proved that Child’s Play was anything but. The horror film went on to spawn six sequels, a television series, a reboot, comic books, a video game, and merchandise.

Written and directed by Kyra Elise Gardner, daughter of legendary special effects artist Tony Gardner, Living With Chucky looks back at the groundbreaking horror franchise by those there from the beginning. The documentary details the history of the Child’s Play films by the cast and crew, in addition to Gardner’s own relationship with the series and the impact it had on her family. Gardner, who grew up alongside Chucky the killer doll, seeks out other families involved with the Child’s Play films as they recount their experiences working on the franchise and what it means to be a part of the “Chucky” family.

Cast: Abigail Breslin, Adam Hurtig, Alex Vincent, Billy Boyd, Brad Dourif, Christine Elise McCarthy, Dan Povenmire, David Kirschner, Don Mancini, Elle Lorraine, Fiona Dourif, James A. Janisse, Jennifer Tilly, John Waters, Kyra Gardner, Lin Shaye, Marlon Wayans, Tony Gardner, Tony Timpone, and many more.

Official Selection: Popcorn Frights Film Festival 2022, Fantastic Fest 2022, and Screamfest Horror Film Festival 2022.

US VOD PLATFORMS
Amazon, Apple, Google Play, VUDU, Hoopla, Xbox, SCREAMBOX, and more.
(SCREAMBOX is available to stream on iOS, Android, Prime Video, YouTube TV, Comcast, Cox, and screambox.com)

CANADA VOD PLATFORMS
Apple, Google Play, Xbox, and more.

The Living With Chucky Collector’s Edition Blu-ray is also available in the US & Canada. Special features include: Exclusive artwork by Creepy Duck, Candid Conversations, Favorite Death Scenes, Strange Families and Director’s Commentary.

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Emo-Pop rocker Secondhand Serenade set to release new album next year

Secondhand Serenade is currently on tour in support of the upcoming new album Just Because You Sing Loud. Photo: google

Emo-Pop Rocker Secondhand Serenade (AKA John Vesely) is set to release new album Just Because You Sing Loud in 2022 with his first single ONE setting things off in November. The release of this new album will kick off with a tour of the same name across 32 US cities. He will be releasing singles regularly through the tour building up to the release of the new album, his first full project since 2017. The name of his album/tour stems from a unique confrontation Vesely recently had. He and his wife recently moved into a temporary apartment while awaiting construction to finish on their new Nashville home. Following a few months of a not-so-happy neighbor complaining about his songwriting sessions and banging on walls, Vesely woke up to an aggressive letter on his door complaining about the noise that was summed up with the statement “Just Because You Sing Loud Doesn’t Mean Its Good.” At first, the note was hurtful to Vesely as he had never experienced this kind of pushback from neighbors in the past. However, he quickly turned the letter into a form of inspiration for his forthcoming album. Now, the letter remains framed on a wall in his studio serving as a reminder that any of life’s negativity can be turned into something positive. (Secondhand Serenade, 2021)

Regarding his upcoming tour/album Just Because You Sing Loud, Secondhand Serenade said, “To say that I’m excited to get back on the road again is an understatement. I’ve also been working hard to finish this next album, which is a total throwback to my roots. So it should be really fun to add some of these new songs into the set and see some first listen reactions in real time. We’re definitely ending 2021 on a strong note!”

In the early days of social networking, there were no classes, no courses, no gurus to assist musicians in building a fan base. Yet in the mid-2000s, Secondhand Serenade used his hard work and determination to connect with fans online and build a community of followers which resulted in the then Bay Area resident reaching the number 1 unsigned artist spot on MySpace after the release of his debut album, Awake. He would later re-release the acoustic project as the first ever artist signed to the now famed Glassnote Records. Vesely followed that up with his 2008 Danny Lohner-produced album, A Twist In My Story, which would catapult the emo-pop songwriter to the top of the charts. The lead single, a part piano ballad, part pop-rock tune called “Fall For You” would solidify the first major hit for both the artist and the young label, securing its spot in the top 5 at US radio, eventually going 3-times platinum. International touring, late night shows and award show appearances became the new norm for the singer-songwriter who was quickly becoming the voice of the emo generation. Fast forward to a post pandemic life and Secondhand Serenade is now priming yet another full album along with a nationwide, headlining tour. The timing could not be better with a resurgence in the emo scene and a new project worth of material rolling out over the coming months.

Just Because You Sing Loud Tour Dates:
Wednesday, December 8 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
Thursday, December 9 – Anaheim, CA – The Parish At House Of Blues
Friday, December 10 – Fresno, CA – Strummer
Saturday, December 11 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues
Monday, December 13 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
Wednesday, December 15 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Grand @ The Complex
Thursday, December 16 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
Friday, December 17 – Omaha, NE – Barnato
Saturday, December 18 – Joliet, IL – The Forge

Key West Film Festival news

Netflix’s The Power of the Dog will screen at the Key West Film Festival. Photo: Netflix, used with permission.

On Friday, the Key West Film Festival announced the recipient of its annual Golden Key Awards, including two new awards honoring Emerging Talent and Breakthrough Florida director. Honoring creativity, diversity, sustainability and beauty, the Key West Film Festival is an annual celebration of film and filmmakers set to take place November 17-21, 2021. A diverse, entertaining, and artistically rigorous selection of films will be represented through a broad array of categories that offer opportunities for filmmakers, both aspiring and established, to commune and exchange ideas while showing their work to audiences in a historic and artistically vibrant tropical paradise. Visit the Key West Film Festival online for complete program information. (Key West Film Festival, 2021)

This year’s Golden Key Award for Excellence in Filmmaking goes to Sean Baker, director of Red Rocket, opening nationwide in December via A24. Baker will attend in person and participate in a discussion with Carlos Aguilar, film critic for the Los Angeles Times, The Wrap and RogerEbert.com, following the film’s screening. Baker’s film Starlet was featured in the first edition of the Key West Film Festival in 2012.

The inaugural Golden Key for Emerging Talent, given to actors who will be destined to grace our screens for years to come, will be presented to Kodi Smit-McPhee for his breakout role in the Netflix release of Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog, which will screen at the festival just as it begins its national theatrical release. Aguilar will host a pre-recorded discussion with Smit-McPhee following the screening, which will serve as the Closing Night film. Smit-McPhee stars alongside Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, and Kirsten Dunst in the film. 

Another inaugural award- the Golden Key for Breakthrough Florida director, recognizing a Florida bred director whose films will be seen widely in the future – will be given to Clint Bentley. A Florida native, Bentley’s Jockey, starring Clifton Collins Jr, will be released by Sony Pictures Classics later this year. Former ESPN anchor Bob Ley will present the award following a screening of the film.

The Key West Film Festival also recently announced the recipient of its sixth annual Golden Key for Excellence in Costume Design, honoring Emmy and Tony Award-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell. Tazewell’s most recent work includes the upcoming Steven Spielberg film West Side Story as well as Hamilton and Harriet. As part of the honor, Tazewell will also participate in a discussion of his work, to be moderated by Dr. Deborah Nadoolman Landis. 

Ariana De Bose as Anita and David Alvarez as Bernardo in 20th Century Studio’s WEST SIDE STORY. Photo by Niko Tavernise, used with permission.

“We are elated to present these two new awards to Kodi and Clint, whose work will continue to astound, amaze and inspire audiences for decades to come. Kodi’s performance in “Power” is one that immediately places him among the finest actors of his generation. Clint’s steady and intimate portrait of an aging jockey shows the work of director years beyond his directorial debut. Sean continues his mastery of telling the story of American lives, literally on the other side of the tracks, in Red Rocket as he has been doing since his award-winning “Take Out” first graced the screens.” – Michael Tuckman, Director of Programming for the Key West Film Festival

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Star-Base Collectors Con in Brownsville

Brownsville’s inaugural collector’s con is happening August 7 and 8 at the Brownsville Event Center. Photo: google

Star-Base Collectors Con is Brownsville’s first ever Collectors Con and is taking place Saturday August 7 and Sunday August 8, 2021. It will combine the sports and pop culture world with guests from both sides of the spectrum – actors and voice actors for the pop culture fans, and sports stars for the sports fans who collect cards and memorabilia. There will also be special meet and greets scheduled. Vendors from all genres will be selling collectibles like Funko Pops, Star Wars figures and vehicles, Marvel Figures and Statues, DC figures and Statues, Anime Statues and figures, Pokémon Cards, Sports Cards, and more. Cosplay is permitted and encouraged. Hope to see everyone at this inaugural event hosted by Kulture Shock Collectibles in Brownsville. (Kulture Shock Collectibles, 2021)

It will be a weekend filled with artists, vendors, cosplayers, celebrities, gaming, contests, and fun for the entire family. Tickets are available online and range from $3 for children for one day to special two day pricing and VIP meet and greet packages. Children 6 years and under get in for free.

August 7 from 10a.m. to 7p.m.
August 8 from 10a.m. to 5p.m.

Brownsville Event Center
1 Event Center Blvd
Brownsville, TX 78526

2021-08-07T09:40:00

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Star-Base Collectors Con

Tropical music star Emir Pabón releases Rigo Tovar tribute album

‘Rigo Puro Amor’ is a tribute album to Mexican pop culture cumbia icon Rigo Tovar. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Tropical music star Emir Pabón presents the tribute album ‘Rigo Puro Amor’ in honor of his godfather, the Mexican Cumbia icon Rigo Tovar. While recreating the greatest hits that made Rigo Tovar a legend, the percussionist, producer, and composer Emir Pabón remembers the impact that this idol had on Mexican culture while also recalling his personal connection to the artist as his godson. Pabón, who also serves as the percussionist for Grupo Cañaveral, is proud to now present ‘Rigo Puro Amor.’ (Vesper Public Relations, 2021)

As a celebration of both the anniversary of Rigo Tovar’s birth (March 29) and his death (March 27), Pabón has reimagined Tovar’s greatest hits. This new tribute album, which also happens to be Pabón’s debut full length release, features collaborations with esteemed artists such as Mariana Seoane, Percance, Jorge Medina, Grupo Cañaveral, Los Rojos, Fátima Campo, and PeeWee. Listeners will be able to enjoy cumbia classics such as “La Múcura,” “Amor Sincero,” “¿Quién Será la Mujer?,” and “Quítate La Mascara.” Emir Pabón is known as an artist who likes to reinvent himself and be at the vanguard. Adapting different sounds is part of his artistic essence, which he continues to do with ‘Rigo Puro Amor.’

‘Rigo Puro Amor’ is now available on all digital formats.

‘Rigo Puro Amor’ – Track list
“Oh Qué Gusto De Volverte A Ver” ft. Jose Adán Esparza Y René Esparza
“El Sirenito” ft. Pedro Fernández
“Mi Matamoros Querido” ft. Lemongrass
“Cómo Será La Mujer” ft. Jorge Medina
“El Testamento” ft. PeeWee
“Quítate La Máscara” ft. Los Rojos
“No Que No”
“Carita De Angel”
“Mi Tinajita” ft. W Corona
“Perdóname, Mi Amor Por Ser Tan Guapo” ft. Chico Che Chico
“Cuando Tu Cariño”
“Amor Sincero” ft. Grupo Cañaveral
“Lamento De Amor” ft. Carolina Ross
“Dos Tardes De Mi Vida” ft. Sandoval
“Me Quiero Casar” ft. Fátima Campo
“Así Soy Yo” ft. Percance
“Mi Amiga, Mi Esposa, Mi Amante” ft. Claudio Alcaraz
“La Calandria Canta” ft. Jonaz
“La Múcura” ft. Mariana Seoane
“Carta De Recuerdo” ft. Buyuchek

Mexican by birth and Colombian at heart, Emir Pabón was born in Mexico City and began his musical career by attending his father’s concerts. He eventually joined his father’s legendary band Grupo Cañaveral as a percussionist and has served an integral role in the ensemble for the past 23 years. In addition to a percussionist, Pabón is also a producer, businessman, actor and composer.

Pabón began a new phase of his career in 2019, releasing several singles as a soloist including “Echa pa’lante,” which invites listeners to overcome their problems with a positive attitude, as well as “Swing,” a collaboration with the acclaimed reggaeton artists Nacho and Joey Montana. In 2020, Grupo Cañaveral celebrated their 25th anniversary and Emir finished up recording his debut solo album – a tribute to his godfather, the Mexican icon Rigo Tovar.

Emir Pabon. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Texas Book Festival announces 2020 Lit Crawl schedule

This year’s Lit Crawl will take place from November 7 through November 15. Photo: Texas Book Festival, used with permission.

Texas Book Festival will be hosting their annual Lit Crawl events virtually this year during the Festival, with several evening times between November 7 to November 15 along with two Sunday brunches. The events include storytelling sessions, spoken-word performances and themed discussions, ranging from topics including moments of pivoting, celebrating Black creativity and more. Featured authors include Kathy Valentine, Natalie Diaz, Kelly J. Baptist, and more. (Texas Book Festival, 2020)

For the evening event “Literary Death Match” and brunch event “Tarot Town Hall with Typewriter Tarot,” the first 100 registrants per event will receive a special Camp Mocha cocktail kit from Desert Door Texas Sotol. Cocktail pickup will take place on Saturday, November 7 from 12p.m. to 5p.m. outside the Texas Book Festival office (1023 Springdale Road, Building 14, Suite B, Austin, Texas 78721). All recipients must be 21 years of age or older, with proper ID, and must wear a mask to pick up the cocktail kit.  Sparkling water from Rambler will also be available. 

Lit Crawl Austin 2020 schedule (all times CST)

The 2020 Virtual Texas Book Festival will take place from October 31 through November 15. As always, all Lit Crawl events are free and open to the public thanks to the generosity of the Texas Book Festival community. To support the Texas Book Festival, Lit Crawl Austin and participating authors, donations can be made online. For the first time ever, Texas Book Festival is offering an exclusive Lit Crawl armadillo enamel pin. Donations of $25 or more to Lit Crawl will receive the one-inch pin, perfect to embellish denim jackets, backpacks, tote bags and more. 

With a vision to inspire Texans of all ages to love reading, the Texas Book Festival connects authors and readers through experiences that celebrate the culture of literacy, ideas, and imagination. Founded in 1995 by former First Lady Laura Bush, Mary Margaret Farabee and a group of volunteers, the nonprofit Texas Book Festival promotes the joys of reading and writing through its annual Festival, the Texas Teen Book Festival, the Reading Rock Stars Title I elementary school program, the Real Reads Title I middle and high school program, grants to Texas libraries and year-round literary programming.

Pearl announces April online programming

typewriterrodeo
April online events at Pearl include Typewriter Rodeo Poems for National Poetry Month. Photo: Pearl, used with permission.

Prompted by COVID-19,Pearl has launched several online program offerings for the month of April. April programming includes a celebration for National Poetry Month, online story time brought by the Twig Book Shop and a new Interfaith Project with messages of hope and resilience from some of San Antonio’s spiritual leaders. (Pearl, 2020)

The April line-up is as follows:
Miss Anastasia Storytime
Miss Anastasia brings her popular story time adventures online. Join Miss A on her Instagram page every Friday at 10:30a.m. to catch her fun and spirited readings of popular children’s books, brought to you by the Twig Book Shop at Pearl. This event is free and open to all ages.

  • Every Friday in April (10, 17, 24) | 10:30a.m. | Online on Instagram

Typewriter Rodeo Poems for National Poetry Month
In honor of National Poetry Month, Pearl has commissioned Typewriter Rodeo to create four custom poems to share on Pearl’s social media channels every Tuesday in April. The poems touch on themes of resilience, innovation and the importance of staying emotionally connected yet physically distant—all of which are important now more than ever. This program is in partnership with the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture. This event is free and open to all ages.

2020 Interfaith Project
While this time of year usually brings many opportunities for gathering, we must now find ways to stay connected amidst physical separation. Given all the uncertainty, we can turn to each other and members of our San Antonio interfaith community for words of comfort and faith. Throughout the month of April, Pearl will share messages of hope and resilience on its social media channels from some of San Antonio’s spiritual leaders in honor of Easter and Passover. Dates include 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14 on Facebook.

Partners for this program include:

Reverend Michael Newman – President, Texas District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Rev. Michael Newman is the president of the Texas District LCMS.  He has served as the MMF for Area C since July of 2008. Before serving the Texas District he served in pastoral ministry since 1987 in congregations in Texas, Illinois, and Minnesota. He has been blessed to be involved in the leadership, development and growth of a mission congregation and has served congregations both large and small. His ministry journey has included participation in multi-ethnic ministry, international mission trips, the planting of new ministries, radio and television ministry.

Rabbi Levi Teldon – Assistant Rabbi, Chabad Center for Jewish Life & Learning. Rabbi Levi Teldon was born and raised in a loving Chabad family on Long Island. At 14 years old he was shipped off to study at Yeshivas on two continents and Detroit and wisely chose to become a rabbi at the age of 23. A true born-again Texan, he teaches and co-directs programming at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life & Learning in S. Antonio with his wife Rochel, and is the co-founder of Young & Jewish San Antonio

Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller – Archbishop of San Antonio. Born in Mexico, Gustavo García-Siller was named Archbishop of San Antonio by Pope Benedict XVI on October 14, 2010. Previously, he was appointed an auxiliary bishop of the Chicago Archdiocese on January 24, 2003 by Pope John Paul II, where he served as Cardinal Francis George’s liaison to the Hispanic community. On a national level, Archbishop García-Siller currently serves on a number of committees for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB): The Cultural Diversity Committee on Hispanic Affairs, African American Affairs, Committee on Hispanics and the Liturgy, the Committee on Migration, and the Committee on Consecrated Life and he served as Chair of Region 7 of the USCCB.

Dr. Carey Latimore – Associate Minister, Mount Zion First Baptist Church. Dr. Carey Latimore is an associate professor of history at Trinity University who has a passion and love for God’s word. An ordained minister, Carey is excited about connecting his faith to his scholarly interests and community concerns. Among his many projects, he has worked with Urban Ministries (UMI) on their Vacation Bible School curriculum and wrote their Building a City on a Hill adult student book.

“Now more than ever we want to acknowledge the powerful human connections that make up our community. Because we cannot physically gather, we want to use our social media channels to bring a little bit of the energy and human connectedness we all experience at Pearl into everyone’s home during this time as well as a message of hope and staying emotionally connected with each other.”  – Pearl’s CMO Elizabeth Fauerso

BoxLunch opens San Antonio location at North Star Mall

boxlunch
BoxLunch will open its North Star Mall location on Wednesday August 21. Photo: BoxLunch, used with permission.

BoxLunch a pop culture gift store with a cause, announces that it will open its newest location in San Antonio on Wednesday, August 21 at the North Star Mall. BoxLunch offers a thoughtfully curated selection of officially licensed apparel, accessories, collectibles, beauty, home goods and gift and novelty merchandise for everyone from the most dedicated fan to the more casual pop culture enthusiast. The new store will celebrate its grand opening weekend, Saturday, August 24 to Sunday, August 25 from 12p.m. to 4p.m. with DJs spinning live music, in-store giveaways and trivia games. (BoxLunch, 2019)

To fulfill its civic mission of “Get Some. Give Back”, BoxLunch will donate one meal to Feeding America® for every $10 spent in-store or online. BoxLunch is proud to support national hunger-relief efforts as well as local efforts through Feeding America’s nationwide network of food banks, including San Antonio Food Bank, which will directly receive a percentage of the donations raised at the North Star Mall BoxLunch store.

  • In-store campaigns will highlight BoxLunch’s exclusive Back-to-School assortment inspired by The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and merchandise from the Japanese animation film studio, Studio Ghibli.
  • BoxLunch’s store design features a bright, organic design that encourages the customer to journey through its collection of licensed pop culture product offerings by providing a tactile and exploratory shopping experience

“We are thrilled to bring BoxLunch back to San Antonio. Our mission is simple, sell the best product and use our business to inspire and implement solutions to help fight the hunger crisis on both a local and national level,” – Robert Thomsen, senior vice president, general manager of merchandising and marketing, BoxLunch.

BoxLunch at North Star Mall
7400 San Pedro Ave.
San Antonio, TX 78216