Worm Unveils the Dark Majesty of Necropalace

Worm announces new album Necropalace. Photo: Andreas Marschall, used with permission.

Worm Walks Backwards Into the Future with Necropalace

Worm has incessantly built upon their sonic palette of “Necromantic Black Doom” with roots in nearly every worthy corner of extreme metal’s history, from the grandiose heights of ’90s symphonic black metal to the emotional technicality of ’80s shred metal. (another side, 2025)

Four years after their acclaimed full-length Foreverglade, Worm emerges with their next studio album and first release with Century Media Records, Necropalace. The Floridian band has only grown more powerful, showcasing a level of grandiose songcraft that is beyond modern compare. On Necropalace, Worm has managed to do what many others in this day and age can only attempt: they walk backwards into the future.


A World Untouched by Time

Necropalace lives in a world of its own.

A world of lush velvet and ostentatious gold, covered in the dust of time.
A world where shadows seem to move in your peripheral vision, yet the loneliness never ceases.
A world where wounds of the flesh may heal, but those of the heart never do.


The Gates Open: “Necropalace”

The nightmarish omnipotence of album opener and title track “Necropalace” ushers the listener into a journey through obsessive bloodlust. Spellbinding, powerful vocals from Phantom Slaughter guide the descent, while guitarist Wroth Septentrion flaunts his stunningly masterful songwriting throughout.

“Necropalace” feels like an endless maze of subterranean, candle-lit corridors, each riff constantly shifting and evolving. With multiple listens, however, one discovers that the maze contains many paths that ultimately converge into one another.


Into the Crypt: “Blackheart”

Worm’s latest single, “Blackheart,” is a descent into the nether vaults of the Necropalace. As you make your way through the crypts and catacombs beneath the castle, you find Nightfang’s resting place. Beside his black coffin sits the Blackheart, encased in ice and glowing blood red.

This occult artifact pumps life into the ancient palace walls and keeps the vampire lord immortal.

“Blackheart” serves as part two of Worm’s official Necropalace short-film series, heavily inspired by their obsession with horror from the ’80s and ’90s. Director Norman Cabrera, Producer Maya Kay, and Colorist Alex Nicolaou, under the direction of Ted Nicolaou, continue to bring Worm’s dark fantasy into reality following “Necropalace,” now deepening the vision with “Blackheart.”


The Infernal Masquerade

Enter if you dare, but know the consequences of your choice.

Through the opulent finality of album closer “Witchmoon: The Infernal Masquerade,” featuring guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman, Necropalace reveals itself as the true sonic representation of unbridled, night-bound maleficence.

The album manifests as the soundscape to a star-laden winter sky reflecting off the Everglades’ darkest slough, where death meets the deathless. This is a vociferous call to action for anyone who still possesses ancient vampiric blood in their veins.

Prepare yourself for a full-force attack of zealous guitar agility and heretic spellcraft.

The gates are now open.


Release Information

Necropalace will be released February 13, 2026 via Century Media Records. Pre-order/Pre-Save here.

Necropalace tracklist:
1 – Gates to the Shadowzone (Intro)
2 – Necropalace
3 – Halls of Weeping
4 – The Night Has Fangs
5 – Dragon Dreams
6 – Blackheart
7 – Witchmoon – The Infernal Masquerade (Feat. Marty Friedman)



Photo courtesy of artist, used with permission.

DWF New York 2026 Spotlights GLENDORA, a Feature Documentary Rooted in Community and Resilience

The documentary GLENDORA premieres at Dances With Films NY 2026, offering a powerful, community-made portrait of a Mississippi Delta town. Photo: EG PR, used with permission.

Dances With Films (DWF): NY 2026

World Premiere of GLENDORA

Dances With Films (DWF) is an annual independent film festival based in Los Angeles and New York. Founded by Leslee Scallon and Michael Trent, the festival is dedicated to showcasing true independent cinema, requiring that all films in competition have no known directors, writers, or producers attached. (Dances With Films, 2025)

DWF programs feature-length films, shorts, documentaries, and animations that highlight bold, original voices.

The 2026 New York edition of Dances With Films will take place January 15–18 at Regal Union Square in Manhattan. The feature documentary GLENDORA will have its world premiere at the festival. (EG PR, 2025)


GLENDORA

Feature Documentary | World Premiere
Runtime: 74 minutes

A film by:
Isabelle Armand & Glendora Collaborative


Official DWF: NY 2026 Screening

Friday, January 16 at 4:45 p.m.
Location: Regal Union Square
850 Broadway, New York, NY 10003


About the Film

In the heart of the Mississippi Delta, the village of Glendora may seem quiet and remote. Beneath its stillness, however, lies a vibrant, tightly knit African-American community whose strength, resilience, and creativity thrive despite chronic scarcity.

GLENDORA is the result of five years of close collaboration between filmmaker and townspeople, offering an intimate portrait of life where economic fragility meets profound cultural wealth. Told through the voices of multiple generations, the film weaves personal testimonies with daily rituals, birthdays, graduations, weddings, and funerals, capturing the rhythm of a town that continually rises above its circumstances.

As the Mississippi landscape shifts, so do the stories, revealing both the universality of human experience and the distinct textures of rural Southern life. More than a portrait of place, GLENDORA reflects a larger American history shaped by racial injustice, economic neglect, and structural inequality, while underscoring the community’s determination to remain connected and shape its future.

Made with and by the people who live there, GLENDORA amplifies voices too often unheard, offering a powerful story of culture, resilience, creativity, and collective memory from a town long overlooked, but not easily forgotten.


About the Filmmaker

Isabelle Armand

(Filmmaker, Cinematographer, Writer)

Isabelle Armand is a New York–based documentary photographer and filmmaker whose work interweaves photography, film, and oral testimony to explore the complex layers of people whose histories, lives, and potential have long been undervalued.

Her acclaimed book Levon and Kennedy: Mississippi Innocence Project (powerHouse Books, 2018), which documents the wrongful convictions of two men, has received wide recognition. Her work is held in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum, Akron Art Museum, and Portland Museum of Art, and has been featured in The New York Times, Art in America, The Economist, The Daily Beast, and more.

GLENDORA is her first feature documentary. She is currently editing a photo book of the same title.


USA | Feature Documentary | 74 Minutes | Not Rated | 2025

Jason Derulo Brings Holiday Magic With New Christmas Single ‘Miracle’

Jason Derulo’s new holiday song “Miracle” blends pop-R&B warmth, gratitude, and seasonal magic. Photo: Miller PR, used with permission.

Jason Derulo Releases New Holiday Song “Miracle”: A Feel-Good Christmas Anthem

Los Angeles, CA — Multi-Platinum global superstar Jason Derulo has surprised fans with a festive new release just in time for the holidays. His new Christmas single, “Miracle,” released via Create Music Group, is now available on all major streaming platforms. (Miller PR, 2025)

The holiday track blends classic Christmas warmth with Derulo’s signature pop-R&B sound, delivering an uplifting anthem that celebrates gratitude, love, and togetherness.

Jason Derulo’s “Miracle” Captures the Meaning of Christmas

Miracle” is a feel-good Christmas song that highlights Jason Derulo’s unmistakable vocals while embracing the emotional heart of the holiday season. Through its reflective lyrics, the song explores how life’s simplest moments, family connections, unexpected kindness, and everyday love, are often the real miracles.

Rather than focusing on grand gestures, Derulo reminds listeners that the true magic of Christmas lives in quiet, ordinary joys that bring people together.

Photo: Miller PR

A Successful Year for Jason Derulo

The release of “Miracle” follows a standout year for the global hitmaker. Earlier this year, Jason Derulo released the pop anthem “Who Hurt You,” which quickly gained viral momentum, reaching 316 million streams in just eight weeks.

His previous single, “Snake,” featuring Nora Fatehi, has also made a major impact, accumulating over 124 million views online and reinforcing Derulo’s ability to create globally resonant hits.

Jason Derulo’s Social Media Influence

Jason Derulo remains one of the most influential musicians in the digital space. With nearly 250 million followers across social media platforms, including over 66 million followers on TikTok, he is currently the fourth most-followed male artist on TikTok.

His massive online presence continues to amplify his reach, making him one of the most visible and influential pop artists in today’s music landscape.

“The Last Dance World Tour” Kicks Off in 2026

On January 30, Jason Derulo will launch “The Last Dance World Tour,” featuring 25+ arena dates across the UK and Europe scheduled for early 2026. Additional tour dates are expected to be announced. Fans can view the complete tour schedule on his official website.


About Jason Derulo

With nearly 250 million followers worldwide, Jason Derulo is a true multi-platform powerhouse and one of the most successful pop and urban artists of his generation.

Originally known as the “kid from a Haitian family in Miami,” Derulo’s rise to global stardom has been built on consistency and creative evolution. He has sold over 250 million singles and generated tens of billions of streams, with a catalog that includes chart-topping hits like “Talk Dirty” (feat. 2 Chainz), “Wiggle,” “Swalla,” and “Savage Love.” “Savage Love” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts in 16 countries.

Known for genre-blending collaborations with artists such as BTS, Nicki Minaj, Luke Bryan, and Michael Bublé, Jason Derulo continues to shape global pop culture through both music and social media.


Gran Moreno Ignites with New Single ‘Temple of Fire’ Ahead of Debut Album El Sol

Gran Moreno is Ricardo (guitarist and vocals) and Christian (drums). Photo: Tico Mendoza, used with permission.

Gran Moreno Unleashes New Single “Temple of Fire” Ahead of Debut Album El Sol

This week, Austin duo Gran Moreno released their newest single, “Temple of Fire,” now available on all major streaming platforms. The track originally premiered via The Obelisk, offering an early glimpse into the band’s evolving sonic universe. (US/THEM Group, 2025)


A New Force in Psychedelic Rock

Gran Moreno is quickly emerging as one of the most compelling voices in the new wave of psychedelic rock. Their sound, rooted in analog warmth, expansive textures, and hypnotic grooves, creates an immersive experience that blurs the line between distortion and introspection. With heavy rhythms, emotionally charged melodies, and atmospheric layers, their music feels like a sonic mirage: shifting, evocative, and deeply felt.


A Conceptual Debut: El Sol and La Luna

At the heart of Gran Moreno’s artistry is a dedication to storytelling through sound. Their upcoming debut album is a conceptual, two-part experience:

  • Side A: El Sol — urgency, energy, and clarity
  • Side B: La Luna — shadow, mystery, and reflection

The first release, El Sol, captures the band at full intensity, offering a vivid and unfiltered introduction to their creative identity.


A Live Experience That Transcends the Stage

Gran Moreno’s live performances elevate their music into a full-body encounter. Blending sonic power with rich visual elements, their shows draw audiences into a shared trance, one that feels both deeply personal and profoundly communal. Their fierce independence and bold creativity continue to shape a musical world entirely their own.


Release Info

El Sol will be available on LP and digital download on January 17, 2026.
Pre-orders are available HERE.


El Sol tracklist:

  1. Las Montañas
  2. Aztlan
  3. Huracan
  4. Temple of Fire
  5. La Mentira
  6. Oaxaca – Please Don’t Cry
  7. Hikuri
  8. California Blues

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Magik Theatre Brings A Charlie Brown Christmas to Life

Magik Theatre’s A Charlie Brown Christmas opens with its Party in the Park. Photo: Magik Theatre, used with permission.

Magik Theatre Presents A Charlie Brown Christmas — A Heartwarming Holiday Tradition

San Antonio, TXMagik Theatre is kicking off the holiday season with a festive family favorite: a charming stage adaptation of the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas. Sponsored by Whataburger and Valero, the production runs November 22–December 24 and invites audiences of all ages to rediscover the joy, simplicity, and spirit of the holidays. (Magik Theatre, 2025)

This faithful retelling follows Charlie Brown as he searches for the true meaning of Christmas. Surrounded by decorations and seasonal cheer, he still senses something missing. With help from Lucy, Linus, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang, he takes on directing the school Christmas play hoping it will bring clarity and connection. Featuring Vince Guaraldi’s iconic score and Charles M. Schulz’s gentle humor, the production is perfect for both longtime fans and children experiencing the Peanuts magic for the first time.


Special Events & Add-On Experiences

Story Time at Hemisfair – Nov. 18 at 10 a.m.

Join Magik Theatre staff for a special outdoor story time featuring A Charlie Brown Christmas. The first 20 children receive a free book, plus enjoy a themed craft and playtime at Yanaguana Garden.

Opening Night Party in the Park – Saturday, Nov. 22

Party: 3:30–4:30 p.m.
Show: 5 p.m.
Celebrate opening night with a free holiday party at Hemisfair Park featuring a live DJ, themed craft, hot chocolate from Paleteria SA, Peanuts photo ops, and pictures with Santa inside the theatre (BYOC). The party is open to all; the performance is ticketed.

Singalong Performance – Saturday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m.

Sing along to holiday favorites including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “O Christmas Tree,” and “Christmas Time Is Here.” Guests receive lyric booklets, and Bird Bakery is providing complimentary cupcakes.

Backstage Experience Add-On (After Every Show Except Special Events)

For $20 per person, enjoy an onstage meet-and-greet, photo opportunities with the cast, a guided 15-minute tour, and a special treat.
Note: Not accessible for mobility devices. Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.


Field Trips & Mini Camps

Student Matinees

Magik’s beloved field trips include a weekday performance plus TEKS-aligned learning. A December 5 performance includes live audio description for vision-impaired students. Educators can reserve field trips online.

Fall & Winter Mini Camps

Perfect for 1st–5th graders during school breaks.

  • Fall Camp: Nov. 24–26, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. – $145
  • Winter Camp: Dec. 23–24, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. – $50/day

Each camp features storytelling, puppetry, games, and a live performance.


Special Performances

Pay What You Wish + Live Audio Description – Saturday, Nov. 29 at 2 p.m.

A donation-based, accessible performance sponsored by H-E-B. Live audio description (via headset) is provided by Vibrant Works. Tickets available only at the door on the day of the performance.

Educator Appreciation Day – Sunday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m.

Educators and school staff receive one free ticket with ID. Additional tickets are 20% off.

ASL Interpreted Performance – Sunday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m.

Featuring interpretation by Robert Cardoza, the San Antonio theatre community’s leading ASL interpreter.

Sensory-Friendly Performance – Saturday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m.

Ideal for guests on the autism spectrum or with sensory sensitivities, offering a relaxed, judgment-free environment.

Military & First Responders Day – Saturday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m.

Service members with valid military ID can purchase $5 discounted tickets.


Ticket Information

Single Tickets

  • $30 – Adults
  • $25 – Children (2–17), Military, Seniors, Educators & Students
  • Free – Children under 2 (unless using a seat)

Purchase online, by phone at (210) 227-2751, or in person at Magik Theatre’s Box Office (420 S. Alamo). Group rates are available for parties of 10+.


A Charlie Brown Christmas cast. Photo: Mewborne Photography, used with permission.

Ink & Dagger’s Complete Works Rise Again

Pivotal 90s hardcore/punks Ink & Dagger announces catalog reissue. Photo: Chris P., used with permission.

Ink & Dagger: The Complete Works — The Vampiric Legends of Philadelphia Rise Again

Philadelphia, PA — From 1996 to 1999, Philadelphia’s Ink & Dagger burned like a Roman candle, blurring the lines between punk, hardcore, and psychedelia. They were an enigma wrapped in rumors, vampire lore, and blood-spattered theatrics. Equal parts chaos and prank, their ever-shifting lineup fed on energy and spat it back as something entirely their own. (another side, 2025)

Controversial, influential, and long out of print, the band’s complete legacy has finally risen from the grave. Trust Records has announced a full reissue of Ink & Dagger’s discography across three standalone LPs:

  • Drive This Seven Inch Wooden Stake Through My Philadelphia Heart
  • The Fine Art of Original Sin
  • Ink & Dagger

All audio has been remastered by David Cooley (M83, Tame Impala, Jimmy Eat World). Each album will be available in stores and on digital platforms for the first time ever on October 31.


The Deluxe Box Set: Ink & Dagger — The Complete Works

A deluxe edition box set, Ink & Dagger: The Complete Works, has also been announced. This limited release (only 500 copies) includes:

  • All three remastered LPs
  • A fourth LP titled Experiments in Nocturnal Sound and Energy: Singles 96–99
  • A book/insert titled “The Almighty” by writer Erik Bader
  • Box design by visual artist Jeremy Dean

Ink & Dagger: The Complete Works ships March 2026.


The Albums

LP 1 — Drive This Seven Inch Wooden Stake Through My Philadelphia Heart

Includes the band’s first two EPs and a bonus track. This marks the first time the collection is available on vinyl, it was originally CD-only in the ’90s.
Featuring blistering early cuts like:

  • “The Changeling”
  • “Frigid Shortcomings”
  • “The Road to Hell”
  • “Full Circle”

LP 2 — The Fine Art of Original Sin

Originally released in 1998, this was Ink & Dagger’s first full-length album, an unholy collision of punk, hardcore, electronica, and rock & roll. Fine Art captured the band at their creative and chaotic peak.

LP 3 — Ink & Dagger

Released posthumously in 2000 by Buddyhead, this album was the band’s final statement, a swirling, psychedelic soundscape that defied category. It offered a haunting glimpse of a future that never came.

LP 4 — Experiments in Nocturnal Sound and Energy: Singles 96–99

Exclusive to the box set, this LP compiles B-sides, singles, and split releases, a sinister showcase of the band’s boundary-pushing sound experiments.


The Legacy

In 1996, Philadelphia hardcore veterans Sean McCabe (Crud Is a Cult, Mandela Strike Force) and Don Devore (Frail, The Icarus Line, The Lilys) set out to create a new kind of band, a century-ending statement that would explode underground music’s boundaries.

Their vision fused punk aggression with occult mystique and a heavy dose of theatrical mischief. They presented rock & roll as a psychic vampire, feeding on energy to achieve immortality.

Tragically, during what was meant to be a short hiatus, frontman Sean McCabe died in 2000 at the age of 27. His death, like much of Ink & Dagger’s story, remains wrapped in mystery, leaving behind a blazing but brief legacy that refused to die.

For decades, their long out-of-print recordings circulated only among collectors and diehards. Stories of blood-soaked performances and chaotic tours became modern myth.


The Resurrection

Now, decades later, Ink & Dagger’s shock and awe return in full force.
A caustic keystone of hardcore history, these reissues don’t just preserve the past, they resurrect it, fangs bared, to inspire a new generation of the wild and the fearless.


Ink & Dagger: The Complete Works
Available October 31 (LPs)
Deluxe Box Set Ships March 2026

Pre-order/Pre-save here.


San Antonio’s Dazzling Día de los Muertos Celebrations

Monumental Botanical Fridas. Photo: Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa, used with permission.

Celebrate Día de los Muertos in San Antonio: Luxury, Culture, and Flavor

San Antonio is known for honoring its rich Mexican heritage in spectacular ways, and this year, two of the city’s most iconic hotels are taking Día de los Muertos celebrations to new heights. From stunning art installations to tequila-paired dinners and runway shows, here’s what awaits you at Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa and Omni La Mansión del Rio. (Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa/Omni La Mansión del Rio, 2025)


🌹 La Reina de La Vida at Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa

Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
Location: Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa

On Saturday, November 1, 2025, Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa will transform into a one-night-only “La Reina de La Vida” (The Queen of Life) experience, an immersive celebration of Día de Los Muertos that honors Mexican culture through art, fashion, cuisine, and music. Guests are encouraged to dress for the occasion and fully embrace the vibrant spirit of the holiday.

Evening Highlights

  • 5:30 p.m. — Cocktail Reception & Runway Showcase
    The evening begins in the resort’s lobby with craft cocktails featuring Volcan de Mi Tierra Tequila, followed by a Runway Showcase by iLaCatrina at Plaza San Saba.
  • 6:30 p.m. — La Catrina Glamour Experience
    Guests can indulge in professional Catrina makeup styling and enjoy a private photoshoot, leaving with five high-resolution keepsake images.
  • 8:00 p.m. — Five-Course Dinner at Primero Terrace
    Hosted by Volcan de Mi Tierra Tequila and presented by Chef Abraham Proa of Primero Cantina, this exquisite meal includes a tequila cocktail paired with each course.

Additional Offerings

Throughout the weekend, Volcan Tequila will feature limited-time specialty drinks at the resort’s restaurants, including Sire Bar, SweetFire Kitchen, Club Se7en, and Primero Cantina, available through Sunday, November 2, 2025.

Art & Culture

Don’t miss the Monumental Botanical Fridas, a series of Frida Kahlo-inspired sculptures crafted from fiberglass, resin, and acrylic paint, vibrant, bold, and free to the public through Sunday, November 2.

The resort will also feature an honorary ofrenda curated by Gabriela Gamez, showcasing the stunning Day of the Dead on My Mind painting by artist Kathy Sosa, a 5-foot-tall masterpiece depicting a powerful female figure wearing a traditional hand-embroidered huipil, symbolizing resilience, unity, and strength.


💀 Omni La Mansión del Rio: Dos Calaveras & Día de los Muertos Delights

Location: 112 College St, San Antonio, TX

Right along the iconic River Walk, Omni La Mansión del Rio is embracing the spirit of Día de los Muertos with cultural displays, handcrafted cocktails, and festive food offerings.

Ofrenda to Lydia Mendoza

The hotel’s lobby now features a beautifully adorned Día de Los Muertos altar (ofrenda) honoring Lydia Mendoza, the legendary San Antonio singer-guitarist known as “La Alondra de la Frontera.” Her legacy of giving voice, hope, and dignity to the Mexican community is celebrated in this heartfelt tribute.

Dos Calaveras Pop-Up Bar

A must-visit this season, the hotel’s signature El Colegio Bar has been transformed into “Dos Calaveras,” a lively pop-up running through Sunday, November 2, 2025.

Sip on limited-time cocktails created in partnership with Maestro Dobel Tequila, including the Pan de Muerto Flip ($16), a creamy blend of cinnamon, vanilla, orange bitters, and nutmeg that nods to the traditional sweet bread of the season.

Festive Food Offerings

The themed menu at Dos Calaveras includes:

  • 🍔 The Ofrenda Burger: Pan De Muerto bun, chorizo-beef patty, Oaxaca cheese, mole negro aioli, candied pepitas, and pickled onions, served with chili-dusted fries.
  • 🌮 La Calavera Brisket Tacos
  • 🍖 Elote “Catrina” Ribs

Perfect for those exploring downtown’s Día de los Muertos festivities, these dishes combine bold flavors and cultural creativity.

Family-Friendly Dining

For a more relaxed dining experience, visit Four Brothers, Omni’s in-house South Texan restaurant, where a newly refreshed menu includes highlights like:

  • Smoked Dino Rib
  • Bexar Cornbread
  • Chicken Osso Buco with butternut squash and cheese-filled agnolotti pasta

🌼 Celebrate Life, Culture, and Community

From the luxury hills of La Cantera to the historic charm of the River Walk, San Antonio’s Día de los Muertos celebrations offer a perfect blend of art, cuisine, and cultural connection. Whether you’re dressing as La Catrina, savoring tequila pairings, or simply admiring the ofrendas, this weekend promises to be a feast for the senses and the soul.

Pasqual Gutierrez’ Serious People Explores Work, Identity, and Fatherhood

Miguel Huerta and Pasqual Gutierrez in Pasqual Gutierrez’ Serious People. Photo: Tribeca Films/Memory, used with permission.

🎬 Serious People

“Life’s a Movie”

Written and Directed by: Pasqual Gutierrez & Ben Mullinkosson
Produced by: Ryan Hahn, Laurel Thomson, Teddy Lee
Starring: Pasqual Gutierrez, Christine Yuan, RJ Sanchez, Miguel Huerta

Official Selection: Sundance Film Festival 2025
In Theaters: November 14, 2025
On Demand: December 16, 2025 (all major platforms)


Tribeca Films x Memory Present Serious People

About the Film

Serious People follows successful music video director Pasqual Gutierrez, who faces a life-altering dilemma on the due date of his first child: accept the biggest music video project of his career or finally step back and focus on his family. (Emma Griffiths PR, 2025)

Frustrated by his lack of balance, Pasqual makes a bold decision, he casts a doppelgänger named Miguel to fill his shoes in his directing duo, Cliqua, while he takes paternity leave. But as he spends more time teaching Miguel how to inhabit his life, the line between real and replacement begins to blur.

The result is a sharp, funny, and emotionally charged look at ambition, identity, and the replaceability of people in clout-driven Los Angeles. The film ultimately asks: What does it mean to be a director, a parent, and, most of all, a real person?

Running Time: 86 minutes (USA, Feature Film)


Behind the Camera

Pasqual Gutierrez

An award-winning American filmmaker, Gutierrez is best known as one half of Cliqua, the powerhouse directing duo behind some of the biggest music videos of the past decade. Together with RJ Sanchez, he’s collaborated with Bad Bunny, Rosalia, J Balvin, Madonna, Travis Scott, and The Weeknd, among many others.

Gutierrez’ work has earned multiple nominations and an MTV VMA, and his debut short film Shut Up & Fish, now Oscar-qualified, has been making waves on the festival circuit. Serious People marks his first narrative feature film, which made its world premiere at Sundance 2025.


Ben Mullinkosson

Co-writer and co-director Ben Mullinkosson brings his documentary sensibility to Serious People, blending realism with dark humor. His 2023 documentary The Last Year of Darkness won the Special Jury Mention at CPH:DOX and was released by MUBI.

Mullinkosson’s earlier work includes Gnarly in Pink (Tribeca Film Festival, 2013), distributed by The New York Times Op-Docs, and a series of acclaimed shorts that have earned Vimeo Staff Picks and millions of online views.


Why Serious People Matters

Serious People is a reflection on modern creativity, work, and self-worth. It’s a satire of hustle culture wrapped in a heartfelt story about fatherhood and identity. The film captures what it feels like to be torn between personal meaning and professional validation, a tension many of us know all too well.

Opening in theaters on November 14, with a Video On Demand release on December 16, this debut feature promises to be one of the most talked-about indie films of the year.


Serious People poster. Photo: Tribeca Films/Memory, used with permission.

Everyday Justice Made Simple with ‘Your Lovable Lawyer’s Guide to Legal Wellness’

Danny Karon is making legal wellness the next self-help revolution. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Your Lovable Lawyer’s Guide to Legal Wellness

A new book that makes legal literacy accessible—and even fun

Just as self-help books offer guidance to improve your physical or mental wellness, attorney Danny Karon’s new book does the same for your legal wellness. (Newsroom PR, 2025)

That’s Karon’s term for cultivating a healthy working knowledge of your legal rights when confronted with scams and cheaters both large and small.


A “Lovable” Approach to Everyday Legal Problems

Karon, a consumer law expert, gives readers “an ounce of prevention” by teaching practical problem-solving skills to handle the kinds of everyday legal hassles we all face:

  • Airlines that bump you
  • Telemarketers that try to swindle you
  • Fine print that corporations hope you’ll never read

Known as the “Lovable Lawyer” for his approachable style and advocacy for everyday people who might not have a lawyer on retainer, Karon has spent more than 30 years empowering individuals to access justice and protect themselves.


What You’ll Learn

Covering everything from social media defamation to how to fight a traffic ticket, this book delivers useful, entertaining legal advice in clear, straightforward language that’s peppered with real-life anecdotes and humor.

Your Lovable Lawyer’s Guide to Legal Wellness is available in paperback and Kindle editions beginning October 21, 2025.

Here’s a peek at some of the chapters:

  • How big business is out to screw you
  • Putting the airlines in their place
  • How to detect and avoid travel scams
  • How to protect yourself when you’re in an auto accident
  • Keeping your auto insurer honest
  • Fighting back against online offenses: defamation, doxing, and invasion of privacy
  • How to keep an unreasonable landlord honest
  • Identity theft and how to respond to it
  • How to fight a traffic ticket
  • How legal wellness can make our lives happier

Advance Praise

“They say laughter is the best medicine, and Karon uses humor to ease the challenge of conveying practical legal information that will help people through many common and serious situations to the benefit of themselves and their families. Easy and informative, Your Lovable Lawyer’s Guide to Legal Wellness is a highly worthwhile read!”
Richard A. Cordray, former Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of the United States


About the Author

Danny Karon, based in Cleveland, is a professor, consumer advocate, and the creator of Your Lovable Lawyer. With over 30 years of experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in class-action and individual cases, Karon is passionate about making the law understandable and approachable for everyone.

He teaches class-action litigation at the University of Michigan Law School and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, and previously taught complex litigation at Columbia Law School.

In addition to writing a civil justice column for Law360, Karon has published widely on legal access and consumer rights. Observing how many people struggle to find or afford legal help, he founded the Your Lovable Lawyer platform to share clear, useful insights on common legal problems—helping everyone achieve a little more legal wellness.


Author Danny Karon. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Dead Giveaway: The Hilarious Horror Premiere Lighting Up the Philadelphia Film Festival

Mikaela Hoover and Ruby Modine in Dead Giveaway. Photo: VP Independent, used with permission.

🎬 Philadelphia Film Festival 2025: Celebrating the Best in Global Cinema

Every October, the Philadelphia Film Festival transforms the city into a global stage for cinematic storytelling — welcoming tens of thousands of film lovers, emerging talents, and celebrated filmmakers for an electrifying 11-day experience. (Philadelphia Film Society, 2025)

Curated by the Philadelphia Film Society’s expert programming team, who travel the world from Sundance to Cannes, Berlin to Toronto, the Festival delivers a handpicked lineup of the year’s most talked-about, award-winning, and visionary films. From bold debuts to international sensations, every screening is a chance to discover the next big thing in film.

This year’s Festival runs October 16–26, 2025, featuring 11 days of world-class cinema, exclusive events, and celebrations that bring the city’s film community together.


🌟 Spotlight Feature: Dead Giveaway

World Premiere | Section: Filmadelphia

One of the most anticipated screenings of the Festival is Ian Kimble’s Dead Giveaway, a wickedly funny horror-comedy making its world premiere right here in Philadelphia. (Emma Griffiths PR, 2025)

Film Details

Feature Film (USA)
Genre: Horror Comedy
Runtime: 87 minutes
Year: 2025

Written and Directed by: Ian Kimble
Producers: Suzann Toni, Andrew Vogel, Ian Kimble
Executive Producer: Hallee Adelman
Co-Producer: Amanda Frederick

Starring:

  • Ruby Modine (Silent Night, Deadly Night, Shameless)
  • Mikaela Hoover (Superman [2025])
  • Scout Taylor-Compton (Rob Zombie’s Halloween)

🩸 Synopsis

Jill (Ruby Modine) wakes up from a blackout night of drinking and partying to find herself covered in blood — and sharing her bed with a dead man. Hungry, hungover, horrified, and possibly a murderer, she scrambles to clean up before her roommate Sarah (Suzann Toni) notices.

When her best friend Lia (Mikaela Hoover) shows up, half-concerned, half-annoyed, she reluctantly agrees to help Jill figure out what happened, but only under one condition: they have to make it to brunch before 3 p.m.

What follows is a blood-soaked comedy of errors involving mistaken identities, suspicious visitors, and a very inconvenient corpse. Between hiding bodies, dodging questions, and keeping their mimosas on schedule, Jill and Lia stumble through a hangover-fueled nightmare where every fix only makes things worse.

With an endlessly creative script by Ian Kimble, Dead Giveaway delivers a sharp mix of horror and humor — and the irresistible chemistry between Ruby Modine and Mikaela Hoover keeps audiences laughing (and screaming) until the very end.


🎥 About the Filmmaker

Ian Kimble is a writer, producer, and director with a background in award-winning short films and independent features. Dead Giveaway marks his feature debut as writer, director, and producer — expanding on one of his original short films. With this project, Kimble cements his place as one of Philadelphia’s most exciting emerging filmmakers.


📅 Screening Schedule

Philadelphia Film Festival 2025 Official Screenings

World Premiere
📍 Friday, October 17 at 9:45 p.m.
Location: Film Society Center
1412 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Encore Screening
📍 Sunday, October 26 at 8:00 p.m.
Location: Film Society East
125 S. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19106


Whether you’re a die-hard horror fan or just love a clever dark comedy, Dead Giveaway is a must-see at this year’s Philadelphia Film Festival, proof that the city’s film scene is as bold, fresh, and fearless as ever.



Courtesy photo, used with permission.