‘The Spine of Night’ will premiere at this year’s virtual SXSW. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
In SXSW Film Festival 2021 news, Yellow Veil Pictures has acquired the sales rights to the animated fantasy “The Spine of Night.” It will premiere in the SXSW Midnighters section of the festival which will run virtually from Tuesday March 16 through Sunday March 20, 2021. Written and directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, the cast includes Richard E. Grant, Lucy Lawless, Patton Oswalt, Betty Gabriel, Joe Manganiello, Abby Savage, Larry Fessenden, and Rob McClure. (EG-PR, 2021)
From Gorgonaut Pictures, “The Spine of Night” is an ultra-violent, hand-rotoscoped epic fantasy inspired by the cult classic works of animators Ralph Bakshi and Frank Franzetta. The film is set in a fantasy land ripe with magic and intrigue where a dark force is unleashed sending mankind into an age of ruin. It falls on heroes from different eras and cultures to fight back. This epic begins many years ago when an ambitious young man steals forbidden knowledge from a sacred plant and, as he falls to its darker temptations, unleashes ages of suffering onto mankind. As his power grows over the years, there are many who stand against him. Among them are a daring tomb-robber, star-crossed lovers, a maniacal necromancer, winged assassins, and an undying guardian.
There were more than 21,000 account registrations in statewide COVID-19 Rental Relief Program. Photo: Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, used with permission.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) received approximately $1.3 billion in emergency relief funds from the national Coronavirus Relief Bill Rental Assistance Program. TDHCA launched the statewide Texas Rent Relief program to help income-eligible Texans struggling to keep up with rent and utility payments during the pandemic. (Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, 2021)
Low to moderate income tenants who have suffered financial hardship during the pandemic can register and apply for aid by visiting Texas Rent Relief or calling 1-833-989-7368. Landlords can also apply with tenant approval. The application process has two parts: registering your account and requesting payment. Assistance on the website and call center is available in multiple languages.
In the first 24 hours of application opening, Texas Rent Relief saw: • More than 42,000 calls at the call center. • About 90% of those calls were from tenants. • More than 21,000 total account registrations. • 2,921 landlord accounts registered. • 6,556 tenant account registered by landlord invitation • 11,578 tenant accounts registered on their own • More than 5,700 payment requests submitted, totaling more than $20 million; these payment requests have not been reviewed and approved; this is only the number of submitted requests.
Households must have incomes at or below 80% of the Area Median Income and meet several other criteria. Full eligibility details are available online. Per federal guidelines, TDHCA is prioritizing applications for an initial time period for households at or below 50% of the area median income level and households where one or more members are currently unemployed and have been for at least 90 days.
The Texas Rent Relief Program can help renters with costs starting as far back as March 13, 2020: Past due, current, and up to 3 months of expected rent costs Past due, current, and up to 3 months of expected utility and home energy expenses After the initial 3 months of forward assistance, you can apply for 3 additional months of assistance if funds are still available.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is committed to expanding fair housing choice and opportunities for Texans through the administration and funding of affordable housing and homeownership opportunities, weatherization, and community-based services with the help of for-profits, nonprofits, and local governments. For more information about fair housing, funding opportunities, or services in your area, please visit Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs or the Learn about Fair Housing in Texas page.
The San Antonio Food Bank will be hosting mega mobile distributions this weekend. Photo: San Antonio Food Bank, used with permission.
The San Antonio Food Bank is ramping up emergency outreach on the backside of the recent, crippling weather system. Volunteers are in critical need, with more than 500 needed over the weekend alone. Volunteers can register online to support a mobile food distribution. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2021)
For individuals needing to restock their shelves this weekend, the Food Bank is hosting 7 mega mobile distributions (details below). Pre-registration is recommended for all who have access to the internet. Those without the ability to pre-register will not be turned away and can access food while it lasts at each site. Additional information for those seeking help this weekend is available by calling the Food Bank’s helpline: 210-431-8326 on Friday or Saturday during normal business hours.
Upcoming Mobile Food Distributions: Friday -Sunday WHEN: Friday-Sunday (February 19 – 21) TIME: 10a.m.- 4p.m. WHERE: San Antonio Food Bank main facility, with pre-check required beforehand at Camargo Park: 5738 Castroville Rd (78227) WHAT: 1,000 households (more than 5,000 individuals) get 100+ pounds of food, water
WHEN: Friday, February 19 TIME: 11a.m. – 1p.m. WHERE: NISD Gustafson Stadium: 7001 Culebra Rd (78238) WHAT: 2,000 households (more than 5,000 individuals) get 100+ pounds of food, water
WHEN: Friday, February 19 TIME: 2p.m. – 4p.m. WHERE: Rackspace Technology: 1 Fanatical Pl (78218) WHAT: 2,000 households (more than 5,000 individuals) get 100+ pounds of food, water
WHEN: Saturday, February 20 TIME: 1p.m. – 4p.m. WHERE: Harlandale ISD Memorial Stadium: 1109 Apollo St (78214) WHAT: 1,000 households (more than 5,000 individuals) get 100+ pounds of food, water
WHEN: Saturday, February 20 TIME: 9a.m. – 11a.m. WHERE: River City Church: 16765 Lookout Rd (78154) WHAT: 2,000 households (more than 5,000 individuals) get 100+ pounds of food, water
The San Antonio Food Bank is a 501c3 non‐profit organization providing millions of pounds of food to over 530 charitable organizations in Southwest Texas serving those in need. In addition to food distribution, the San Antonio Food Bank provides numerous programs that not only solve the immediate problems of hunger, but help individuals and families gain long‐term food security.
“Our community is hurting. We have been meeting the emergency food needs all week for the homeless and those in shelters across our community. Now it’s time to reach those in homes through our distributions and home deliveries.” – Eric Cooper, President & CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank.
‘A Stranger in Town’ by Kelley Armstrong is the novel in the Rockton series. Photo: amazon
Kelley Armstrong graduated with a degree in psychology and then studied computer programming. Now she is a full-time writer and parent and lives with her husband and three children in rural Ontario, Canada. She is the author of the Rockton mystery series featuring Detective Casey Duncan, which begins with “City of the Lost,” and the novel “Wherever She Goes.” She is the editor of the young adult anthology Life Is Short and Then You Die. In “A Stranger In Town: A Rockton Novel,” the next riveting thriller from #1 The New York Times’ bestselling author Kelley Armstrong, the paranoia increases, along with the stakes, as the town of Rockton tries to solve the latest mystery at their door. (amazon, 2021)
In “A Stranger In Town,” Detective Casey Duncan has noticed fewer and fewer residents coming to the hidden town of Rockton, and no extensions being granted. Her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, presumes it is the natural flux of things, but Casey’s not so sure. It seems like something bigger is happening in the small town they call home. It is all hands on deck when an injured hiker stumbles from the woods, someone who seems to have come to the Yukon for a wilderness vacation but instead is now fighting for her life. What – or who – attacked this woman, and why? With the woman unconscious, and no leads, Casey and Eric do not know where the threat is coming from. Plus, the residents of their deeply secretive town are uneasy with this stranger in their midst. Everyone in Rockton wants this mystery solved – and fast. Excerpt available here.
‘Prodigal Son’ by Gregg Hurwitz is book 6 of 6 in the Orphan X series. Photo: amazon
Gregg Hurwitz is The New York Times’ bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including the #1 international bestseller “Orphan X,” the first in a series of thrillers featuring Evan Smoak. He has also written young adult novels: “The Rains” and its sequel, “The Last Chance.” Hurwitz’s books have been shortlisted for numerous literary awards, graced top ten lists, and have been translated into twenty-eight languages. Hurwitz is also a bestselling comic book writer, having penned stories for Marvel (Wolverine, The Punisher) and DC (Batman). He has written screenplays for many major studios and written, developed, and produced television for various networks. His new book “Prodigal Son” is book 6 of 6 in the Orphan X series. Forced into retirement, Evan Smoak gets an urgent request for help from someone he did not even suspect existed. (amazon, 2021)
As a boy, Evan Smoak was pulled out of a foster home and trained in an off-the-books operation known as the Orphan Program. He was a government assassin, perhaps the best, known to a few insiders as Orphan X. He eventually broke with the Program and adopted a new name, The Nowhere Man, and a new mission, helping the most desperate in their times of trouble. But the highest power in the country has made him a tempting offer. In exchange for an unofficial pardon, he must stop his clandestine activities as The Nowhere Man. Now Evan must do the one thing he is least equipped to do: live a normal life. In “Prodigal Son,” Evan gets a call for help from the one person he never expected. A woman who claims to have given him up for adoption, a woman he never knew. Her unlikely request: help Andrew Duran, a man whose life has gone off the rails, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, bringing him to the deadly attention of powerful figures. Now a brutal brother and sister assassination team are after him and with no one to turn to, and no safe place to hide, Evan is Duran’s only option. When the hidden cabal catches on to what Evan is doing, everything he has fought for is on the line, including his own life.
The movie adaptation of ‘Nomadland’ by Jessica Bruder will be released on Friday, February 19, 2021. Photo: amazon
Jessica Bruder is an award-winning journalist whose work focuses on subcultures and the dark corners of the economy. She has written for Harper’s Magazine, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Bruder teaches at the Columbia School of Journalism. Her book “Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century” is a non-fiction book that explores a phenomenon of older American workers traveling the country like “nomads,” campers in tow, in search of employment, many of whom were adversely affected by the Great Recession. It is the inspiration for the Chloé Zhao’s 2020 Golden Lion award-winning film starring Frances McDormand and is scheduled for release simultaneously in theaters and digitally on Hulu on Friday, February 19, 2021. (amazon, 2021)
“Nomadland” tells a revelatory tale of the dark underbelly of the American economy―one which foreshadows the precarious future that may await many more of us. At the same time, it celebrates the exceptional resilience and creativity of these Americans who have given up ordinary rootedness to survive but have not given up hope. From the beet fields of North Dakota to the campgrounds of California to Amazon’s CamperForce program in Texas, employers have discovered a new, low-cost labor pool, made up largely of transient older adults. These invisible casualties of the Great Recession have taken to the road by the tens of thousands in RVs and modified vans, forming a growing community of nomads.
‘Life Is Beautiful’ by James A. Cusumano. Photo: amazon
James A. Cusumano is an accomplished leader with successful careers as an entertainer, scientist, corporate executive, and entrepreneur. An inspiring speaker and entertainer, he is the author of “Cosmic Consciousness: A Journey to Well-being, Happiness and Success,” “Balance: The Business-Life Connection,” and co-author of “Freedom from Mid-East Oil.” His book “Life is Beautiful: 12 Universal Rules” is a multi-faceted guide to life-long success and personal fulfillment.
In the Preface, James A. Cusumano explains that “Life is Beautiful” centers around the big question of ‘What is the meaning of life’ and the eventual ‘How can I live a happy life?’ His purpose in life is to share what he has learned in the hopes of making a “positive difference in the lives of others and show that Life is Beautiful.” He discovered the parallels between Eastern thought and modern physics but does now want to present his findings as dogma. Instead, he just wants readers to think of what ‘true’ reality means. The book is divided into two parts: The Reason for Your Existence: 12 Universal Rules of Life and Using The 12 Universal Rules to Create the Life You Dream. The first part contains chapters like Consciousness Is Everything, Consciousness And Reality, and The True Nature of Our Universe – they cover the surface of physics and the definition of the soul. He provides references in the bibliography in case the reader wants to pursue the details of the physics presented. The second part covers The Art and Science of Meditation, Creating Your Dreams, and Finding Lifelong Fulfillment – explanations on the arts of relaxation and meditation to be able to uncover a person’s Life Purpose to create personal and professional fulfillments. Appendix B contains The 12 Universal Rules of Life in one section to make it easier to read.
Admittedly, from the title itself, “Life Is Beautiful” at first seems like a self-help book to help readers improve their everyday lives but it is much more than that. James A Cusumano looks at the bigger picture of who and what we are in regards to the universe and he starts off with the definition of the soul, what he calls Cosmic Consciousness, “an energy field that functions by laws of a science that are well beyond our knowledge of quantum physics.” The first six chapters have heavy science content, specifically physics, but at an intermediate level so it is easy to follow. Chapter Seven: Balancing Masculine-Feminine Energies stands out because it addresses Rule #12 “Addressing complex social and cultural challenges requires an appropriate dynamic balance between masculine and feminine energies.” This basically states that for society to work, the masculine and feminine energies should be balanced and that organized religion has “played a key role in elevating masculine energies most often at the demise of feminine energies” in its never-ending quest for power and wealth, which is why the earth is currently hurting. The topics in Part Two are easier to understand because they include tips on how to relax and meditate to create our own reality. Since it is mostly about Eastern philosophy and physics, “Life is Beautiful” may not be for everyone but it opens the readers eyes to the concept of consciousness and the thought that we are all made of energy. It is recommended for readers who appreciate science and Eastern philosophy and are searching for ways to create a more fulfilling life with purpose.
“Time does not exist in the realm of consciousness. It is a man-made fabrication to manage our lives without chaos.”
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
The Wayon Sessions by Shannon McNally will be out Friday May 28, 2021. Photo: amazon
Born and raised on Long Island, Shannon McNally has, at various points, called New Orleans, Nashville, and Holly Springs, Mississippi, home, but it was in Los Angeles that she first came to national attention in the early 2000s with her Capitol Records debut, Jukebox Sparrows. She followed it up in 2005 with Geronimo, a critically acclaimed sophomore effort that prompted The New York Times to call her “irresistible” and the Washington Post to hail her as “a fine lyricist who often calls to mind Lucinda Williams.” With her new album, The Waylon Sessions, the prolific and wide-ranging Shannon McNally sets out to revisit the songs and spirit of Waylon Jennings, a legend with whom she has always had an ongoing fascination. The album will be released on Compass Records on May 28, 2021. (IVPR, 2021)
American Songwriter provided the very first glimpse into The Waylon Sessions with the premiere of “I Ain’t Living Long Like This” featuring Rodney Crowell, which first appeared on What Goes Around Comes Around in 1979. Hear McNally’s take on “I Ain’t Living Long Like This” here and pre-order or pre-save ‘The Waylon Sessions’ at this link ahead of its May 28 release via Compass Records in partnership with Blue Rose.
McNally knew that assembling the right band would be essential to capturing Jennings’ mix of laid-back charm and swaggering bravado, so she called AMA-winning guitarist Kenny Vaughan (Marty Stuart, Lucinda Williams) to help her assemble a team that included drummer Derek Mixon (Chris Stapleton), pedal steel legend and longtime Jennings bandmate Fred Newell, Texas keyboard mainstay Bukka Allen (Robert Earl Keen, Jerry Jeff Walker), and bassist Chris Scruggs (Marty Stuart, Charlie Louvin). Working live and raw, they tracked sixteen songs in just five days, relying on instinct and intuition to guide their decisions at every turn. As brilliant as the band’s performances are, it is McNally who breathes new life into the music here, tackling the tunes with an honesty and a maturity that transcends genre and gender. She does not swap pronouns or couch her delivery with a wink; she simply plays it straight, singing her truth as a divorced single mother in her 40s in all its beauty, pain, and power. The result is a rare covers record that furthers our understanding of the originals; an album of classics that challenges our perceptions and assumptions about just what made them classics in the first place.
The Waylon Sessions Track listing: I’ve Always Been Crazy You Asked Me To – feat. Buddy Miller Out Among The Stars – feat. Jessi Colter You Show Me Yours And I’ll Show You Mine – feat. Lukas Nelson Black Rose – feat. Buddy Miller This Time I Ain’t Living Long Like This – feat. Rodney Crowell I’m A Ramblin’ Man Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys Help Me Make It Through The Night We Had It All
“My goal wasn’t to force anything onto the music that wasn’t there already. There’s a feminine perspective hidden somewhere inside each of these songs. My job was to find a way to tap into that and draw it out.” – Shannon McNally
‘Charlie Chaplin and A Woman of Paris’ by Wes D. Gehring. Photo: google
Wes D. Gehring is a distinguished professor of film at Ball State University and associate media editor for USA Today magazine, for which he also writes the column “Reel World.” He is the author of 40 film books, including biographies of James Dean, Carole Lombard, Steve McQueen, Robert Wise, Red Skelton, and Charlie Chaplin. His new book, “Charlie Chaplin and A Woman of Paris: The Genesis of a Misunderstood Masterpiece” is now available from McFarland Books. (CWPR, 2021)
Charlie Chaplin’s A Woman of Paris (1923) was a groundbreaking film which was neither a simple recycling of Peggy Hopkins Joyce’s story, nor quickly forgotten. Through heavily documented “period research,” this book lands several bombshells, including Paris is deeply rooted in Chaplin’s previous films and his relationship with Edna Purviance; Paris was not rejected by heartland America; Chaplin did “romantic research” (especially with Pola Negri); and Paris’ many ongoing influences have never been fully appreciated. These are just a few of the mistakes about Paris. The Foreword is by Anthony Slide, arguably America’s greatest living film historian.
Statewide COVID-19 Rental Relief Program launches Monday, February 15 at 8a.m. CST. Photo: TDHCA, used with permission.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) received approximately $1.3 billion in emergency relief funds from the national Coronavirus Relief Bill Rental Assistance Program. TDHCA launched the statewide Texas Rent Relief program to help income-eligible Texans struggling to keep up with rend and utility payments during the pandemic. (Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, 2021)
For information and to apply, call 1-833-989-7368 or visit Texas Rent Relief. Assistance is available in multiple languages. Households must have incomes at or below 80% of the Area Median Income and meet several other criteria. Full details available online.
Per federal guidelines, TDHCA will prioritize applications for an initial time for households at or below 50% of the area median income level and households where one or more members are currently unemployed and have been for at least 90 days. Both landlords and tenants can apply even if the landlord has already sued for eviction in their local court.
The Texas Rent Relief Program can help renters with costs starting as far back as March 13, 2020; past due, current, and up to 3 months of expected rent costs; and past due, current, and up to 3 months of expected utility and home energy expenses. After the initial 3 months of forward assistance, you can apply for 3 additional months of assistance if funds are still available
DHCA’s call center is fully staffed and prepared to handle a large volume of calls. Interpreter services are also available in more than 250 languages. Since announcing the program, the call center has received nearly 5,000 calls from landlords and renters.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is committed to expanding fair housing choice and opportunities for Texans through the administration and funding of affordable housing and homeownership opportunities, weatherization, and community-based services with the help of for-profits, nonprofits, and local governments. For more information about fair housing, funding opportunities, or services in your area, please visit Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs or the Learn about Fair Housing in Texas page.
SA Examiner 