A Conversation With, Art, Interview, Movies and TV

Jessica Gahring Is Making Her Mark

Jessica Gahring has unleashed her full potential.

From the moment I first met her, I knew it was only a matter of time before the artist, actress, model and Mom put down the moniker of “Shop Manager” of NY INK, pick up her own tattoo machine and open Ms. Dixie’s Tattoo & Pin Up Parlour in Troy, New York.

With the unique shop layout that reflects the 1950′s and her love of pin-ups, Jessica is about to make her own mark on the business.

Her love of art began at a very young age and was nurtured by family and through education. On the television show, she may have been portrayed as a person with limited experience in the art of tattooing. In reality, quite the opposite is true. Jessica is already gaining notoriety for her work from people all over.

I had the chance to speak with Jessica as she prepares to open the doors to her shop for the very first time. She may have butted heads with Ami James for entertainment purposes, but in “real life” Jessica Gahring is making her dreams come true.

goJimmygo (gJg): Jessica, it’s so great speaking with you. Congratulations!

Jessica Gahring (JG): Thank you! This was definitely a long time coming.

gJg: How are you doing?

JG: I’m doing great. I’m tattooing full-time now, which was a given. I have people who want to travel and come see me!

gJg: Did you always have the dream of opening your own shop?

JG: That was always the plan. Even when I worked with my friend Lydia years ago we almost bought a studio together. It didn’t end up happening at the time, so we decided to wait. I went into banking to get more into the business side of things. I knew I wasn’t going to be there long.

gJg: Why did NY Ink choose not to showcase your talent?

JG:  The producers didn’t think it would make much of story. Even though I was already working with Lydia, they didn’t want to reveal that I had any sort of real background in the industry.

The truth is, we play characters in a “reality-type” show. The public wants confrontation and that’s what sells. But the person they showed in the first season is not who I really am as an individual.

gJg: What makes Ms. Dixie’s different from your typical tattoo shop?

JG: I’ve got a pin-up modeling theme; with a 1950′s, vintage feel to it. It looks like it belongs way back when.  It’s classy and something completely different from all other tattoo parlors. I’ll be tattooing full-time at one of three stations. I never wanted to have a huge studio. I wanted something that felt like home when people walk in and I think I’ve accomplished that. It’s very true to what I imagined it to be. 

gJg: Do you have anyone else helping you in this endeavor?

JG: Yes, my boyfriend Christian is my business partner and he’ll be scheduling and managing appointments for the shop. He’s the one that holds it all together.

gJg: Do you have any other artists lined up to work with you?

JG: I have an amazing artist, Jon Abbott, who will be working with me. He’s a traditional style artist. The third slot I’m going to leave open for guest artists until someone else comes along. I’m not sure what will happen down the road but I am really excited about where I am at right now!

gJg: Where did your love of art begin?

JG: I’ve always loved art even as a child. My Dad painted and drew pictures and even from a young age I was amazed that you could actually look at something and put what you saw down on paper.

I have art awards from elementary school and graduated high-school with a fine arts degree. Even when I went to college; I studied sociology but still took art classes. Art has always been a huge part of my life.

gJg: Where did your interest in tattooing begin?

I grew up in a very conservative family where tattoos were sort of taboo and something that was untouchable. I think because of that, it made me want to understand it more.

During high school and college, I would often design tattoos for other people. To me, tattooing is art on the ultimate canvas: the skin. I think that’s very cool!

gJg: What’s one thing everyone needs to know about getting tattoos?

JG: Be knowledgeable. My first tattoo was a butterfly on my upper back that I got right after high school. Unfortunately, it was done poorly and I ended up covering it up.

Most people between the ages of 18-21 usually either hate their first tattoo or end up covering it, so it’s really important to understand what makes a good tattoo and the health and safety aspects of getting one.

gJg: Which of your tattoos is your favorite?

JG: I really don’t have a personal favorite; all of them mean something to me. I have some that represent my daughter that are very special and the very first tattoo I ever did was on myself, so that has importance as well.

gJg: When is your official grand opening?

JG: We are open for business right now but we’re having our huge grand opening the week of Aug 11th. That’s where we’ll have the ribbon-cutting, balloons and prizes. I will be tattooing two radio DJs live on-air during the Grand Opening week: one from Jamz 96.3 and the other from our local country radio station, 104.9 The Cat.

I also happen to turn thirty on August 12th, so it’s perfect timing.

I figure, if I’m going to do thirty, what better way than by opening a tattoo shop?

For information on Ms Dixies Tattoo Pin-Up Parlour  Click Here

Article first published as Jessica Gahring Is Making Her Mark on Technorati.

1980's, Childhood Memories, Life

Yesterday
Easton Area High School Class of 1987 Yearbook

Sitting down at my computer early in the morning and drinking a cup of coffee is a ritual that I follow religiously. Browsing my habitual news and entertainment websites each morning not only gives me the chance to catch up on what’s currently going on in the world, but this “alone time” also allows me to reflect on what today’s agenda holds for me.

Today, that agenda includes mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, paying bills and maybe, just maybe if time permits, fixing a loose faucet. You know, grown-up stuff.

But this morning, I can’t seem to get myself focused. The news websites and celebrity gossip just doesn’t interest me at all. Rather, I find myself looking at the dozens of Facebook posts and pictures from yesterday’s 25th high school reunion picnic that I attended.

Yesterday. Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were all sitting in class together? Each of us spending as much time as possible in our own little clicks: the jocks, the cheerleaders, the geniuses, the geeks, the stoners, the in-betweens. (I’ll leave you to figure out which of these clicks fit me)

As I watched the attendees (my classmates) arriving one by one, it was as if time stopped. People I haven’t seen since the days of Pac Man and Members Only jackets seemed to appear out of no where. Although we are all now long since grown, I found myself feeling more youthful than ever just being around them.

Handshakes and hugs weren’t just a means of saying “Hello”. For me, the feeling behind each was much more than that. Imagine losing something that you valued for a quarter of a century and then suddenly finding it again. That’s what each reunion felt like.

“Do you remember the time….” seemed to be the five words that started many conversations.

I could write a novel on all of the wonderful reunions I made personally (and who knows, maybe some day I will), but for now, let’s just say that we talked a lot about yesterday, where our journeys in life have taken us and what our hopes and dreams are for the future. Each of us had something different and interesting to say and the hours quickly flew by.

At one point during the day, the heaven’s opened up and it began to rain steadily; forcing us all under a pavilion. In retrospect, it was probably the best thing that could have happened, because it drew us all closer together. It literally was the perfect day.

Truth be told though, I was a bit worried only about one thing: I figured at some point during a discussion with a classmate, sooner or later, someone was going to say something to me that would hit a nerve and the joyful emotions inside would make me have to walk away somewhere lest I become a quivering mess right in front of them. Not cool. I came pretty close a few times but was able to hold it together and was beginning to think I’d make it through unscathed.

But as daylight turned into dusk, I noticed a girl, well now a woman, sitting at a picnic bench making small talk with her friends. A person who graduated with me and someone I remember mostly not from high school, but rather from attending third grade elementary school together. A school that was subsequently torn down in 1979 and caused many of us to separate and transfer to other schools for a year.

Her name is Beth and we both took clarinet lessons after school thirty-five years ago. She and I had both spent many an afternoon in the school’s basement together with an ornery teacher who berated us every time we played a note incorrectly. It’s funny how all of these years later, that one particular memory still sticks out in my head.

Beth and I were never “friends” in high school. We were more like two people who might have just said “Hey” to each other in passing on our way to biology class; on a good day. I haven’t seen her at all since graduation and, quite honestly was a bit apprehensive about going up to her. (Someday, I swear I will outgrow this shyness). But, the thought of this being my only chance to ask her about clarinet class was all the incentive I needed. I went over, sat down next to her and we immediately reunited. She remembered me and we quickly caught up on what we’ve been up to.

And then it happened…

“Do you remember when we used to have clarinet class together in elementary school?”, I asked.

“Porter School!!”, she replied. “Yes, I do remember being in clarinet class with you! I loved Porter School.”

Now, I don’t know if it was the emotion of the high school reunion finally hitting me, Beth saying the words “Porter School” or the way she talked about the school we both attended and loved when we were 8 years old that triggered it, but something inside of me at that very moment said: “Prepare for waterworks!” and I soon found myself having to tell her that I’d be right back.

I spent the next few minutes alone in the bathroom composing myself.  Of all things, talking about a silly clarinet class at a high school reunion triggered it.

I shouldn’t say “silly” because I was actually glad that it happened. I think we all need to feel emotion like that in our lives to remind us that we’re human.

Uncategorized

Guitar World Interview

Check out my Guitar World interview with John Parr, the man who wrote the #1 song Man in Motion from the St. Elmo’s Fire soundtrack. John has a new album out now called “The Mission”.

Trivia: His video for the song “Naughty Naughty” featured a young actress in her very first acting role. Check it out and see if you can figure out who it is.

Click Here To Read Article:

A Conversation With, Album Reviews, Interview, Music

Daniel Powter Turns On The Lights
Daniel Powter – Turn On The Lights

Daniel Powter’s best days are ahead.

The man whose signature song, “Bad Day” became a #1 worldwide smash and was named Billboard song of the year in 2006; took an extended hiatus while dealing with his own personal struggles. With the weight finally lifted off his shoulders Daniel is now back, with a vengeance.

On August 14th, Daniel will unleash “Turn on the Lights”, a refreshing set of radio-ready songs that express universal feelings of life, love and the human emotion.

From the infectious grooves of  “Cupid” and “Crazy All My Life” to the emotional messages in songs like “Come Back Home”, “Except the Blue” and “Tell Them Who You Are“; Turn On The Lights showcases Daniel at his best!

I had the chance to speak with Daniel and get his thoughts on the new album as well as the genesis of his #1 hit, “Bad Day”.  As I quickly discovered, the optimism Daniel expresses when discussing “Turn On The Lights” is as infectious as the melodies themselves.

goJimmygo (gJg): Welcome back Daniel!

Daniel Powter (DP): Thanks so much!  It’s been a while hasn’t it? I’m so glad to be back.

gJg: Why did you take such a long break in between albums?

DP: After 2 1/2 years of touring the “Bad Day” record, I was really starting to get burnt out. Around the same time, I was also dealing with a divorce, substance abuse and a few other issues as well. I was becoming a bit discouraged. It wasn’t until a year or so ago that something changed for me.

I was sitting with my 9 year old daughter at the piano working out some melodies when she told me that she really wanted me to come back.  So, with her inspiration and some others encouraging me, I started writing a new record and am really glad that I did. I’m also extremely grateful to all of the fans, both here and internationally, who have welcomed me back. I’m looking forward to getting back on the road.

gJg: Why the title, “Turn On The Lights”?

DP: I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I was in a pretty dark place. I got addicted to substances and alcohol when I got off the road; which really threw me into a spiral. I also became a bit secluded and the divorce was hard on me as well.

Then, one morning I woke up and said: “I’ve got to change my lifestyle!”  It was almost as if someone had just turned the lights on for me and I realized that my life didn’t have to look like this. So I got sober, went through the divorce and wrote this new album.

gJg: The songs on this album seem to reflect universal feelings.

DP:  I’ve always been about making sure that the songs I write aren’t just about me. With the time I had off, I was able to experience so many different things; things that carried through into my songwriting. I really wanted to write songs that other people can relate to. This record is for everyone.

Cupid:

DP: Cupid was the first song I wrote for the album and a song that I wrote to cheer myself up. Everyone wants to find someone to have fun and spend time with and after everything I had been through, I wanted to experience those feelings again too.

Come Back Home:

I wrote that song after I came back from a ten-hour training mission with the Navy on the USS Ashcroft; a nuclear submarine stationed in San Diego. I was amazed with just the attitude these young men have who were going away to be at sea for such a long time. It inspired me, and really put things into perspective. The song was written for them, and for them to come home safely. 

gJg: You know, I have to ask you about  “Bad Day”; a song I really love.

DP: Thank you! Some people might think that I get tired of performing that song, but the truth is, I still love it. Whenever I play it live, there’s a new audience participating in it with me and keeping it fresh!

gJg: How did you write it?

DP: I had written the melody for the song and was getting ready to drive to the studio to record. As I was walking downtown towards my car, I noticed a sign hanging outside of a travel agency. There was a picture of a huge cruise liner ship on it and a caption that read: “Having a Bad Day?” with the emphasis being on taking a cruise. I thought that was cool and that’s actually where the idea came from.

So, I wasn’t having a bad day or anything like that. I was just walking along, fit what I saw into the chorus, and the rest is history! <laughs>

gJg: Congrats again on the record and hope to catch you on the road.

DP: Thanks for your time!

Article first published as Daniel Powter Turns On The Lights on Technorati.

A Conversation With, Interview, Movies and TV

A Conversation With Actress Sarah Zurell
Sarah Zurell

Louis Pasteur once said, “Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity”. You can find no better example of this than in Sarah Zurell.

The young actress, who once broke down during her first audition, quickly overcame her own fear and is now forging her own path in Hollywood.

How ironic that fear would be the subject of Sarah’s first feature film “Pelt”, a Richard Swindell film that pays homage to the classic horror slasher films of the 1980’s.

Sarah plays the role of Debbie, one of seven young friends who take a backpacking excursion deep into the woods and come face to face with ultimate evil.

I had the chance to speak with Sarah and get her thoughts on “Pelt” as well as why there’s no limit to how far she’ll go!

goJimmygo (gJg): What are your first thoughts when you think of Pelt?

Sarah Zurell (SZ): It was a fantastic experience. “Pelt” was actually the first feature film that I had ever worked on. I didn’t even actually live in LA when I was cast for it, but was so excited just to be a part of it.

We filmed for close to a month and stayed in a great cabin while we were filming. Everyone got to really bond closely with each other. It was awesome!

gJg: What attracted you most to the movie?

SZ: The thing that really attracted me was just how warm and awesome Richard and everyone else was in the audition room. It really made the whole experience amazing for me. “Pelt” is also an interesting story and Debbie was such a fun character to play for my first role.

What’s funny is that the story of “Pelt” is about a group of people who have been friends forever and I think over the course of filming, that’s what we all became. It’s one of the best projects I’ve ever worked on!

gJg: Were you always a big fan of horror movies?

SZ: Truth be told, I grew up in a very religious family and wasn’t allowed to watch many horror movies. They always gave me nightmares. It wasn’t until I watched this one all the way through and actually saw how they’re made that I discovered they weren’t really quite as scary as I thought. <laughs>

gJg: Did you always know you wanted to be an actress?

SZ: Entertaining is the only thing I’ve really ever wanted to do. I love performing and acting. I danced from the ages of  3-15 and also performed in school plays. When I was 14, I suffered a dance related injury which gave me the opportunity to audition for a spot in a local theater’s version of “Anne Frank and Me”.

I remember it was my first, really big time audition, but when they called my name I completely freaked out. I just started bawling my eyes out while doing the read; it was horrible. Needless to say, I didn’t get the role. <laughs> But, I didn’t give up.

The next show they had in the spring was “Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs”. I went back in, did a great job and was cast as part of the backup ensemble. From there, I began doing show after show and just working my way up.

Eventually, I won best actress of the year at the theater and shortly after college made the move here to LA to make this dream come true. I’m trying to change the world, one movie at a time. <laughs>

gJg: Are there any projects you’re working on right now?

SZ: I’m pitching a superhero show that I’ve been developing. It’s about a girl who grew up with privilege and decides that she wants to share her wealth and fix problems. So, she goes around town as a superhero trying to solve them. It’s a really cute script.

I’m also in the process of starting a fashion media/marketing company as well with a couple of friends. We’ve been helping our first designer get her dresses in stores and on celebrities for the red carpet. I love to design clothes so that will also be a great outlet for me once we begin to develop a rapport with outlets and designers.

gJg: It sounds like you’re really beginning to live the dream!

SZ: I am. I’m of the mindset of, if you don’t like what you’re doing, you should do something else!

gJg: Is there anything else you like to do outside of acting?

SZ: I love to bake. So much so, that as a child I was actually able to send myself to summer camp by selling cupcakes. My parents didn’t have the money to send us, so my sister and I baked cupcakes and made over $2000 that summer selling them.

I think if you want something you just have to work hard and you can get it. Dreams don’t come true by sitting around and waiting for your fairy godmother to come along. Perseverance and putting in hard work is what it takes!

You can keep up with Sarah Zurell by following her on Twitter: Click Here!

Article first published as A Conversation With Actress Sarah Zurell on Technorati.

1980's, Childhood Memories, Life

What If?
EAHS Class of 1987

This week will be interesting. In just a few short days, I’ll be attending my 25th high school reunion.

The last time I was in the company of many of these people, the world was a much different place. Back then, it was all about sneaking out of restricted study hall at lunch to head over to the nearby Burger King.

It was a time when the only thing that really mattered was getting through the week so we could all go hang out at the mall on Friday night, drink Orange Julius and play Dragon’s Lair.

For me, it also included choir trips, endless hours of practice on my black Gibson Explorer guitar, the longing for unattainable love and of course, a heavy dose of hair metal. I’m actually tearing up right now just thinking about it; the hair metal part that is.

But, I’m looking back now, a quarter century later and am feeling pretty good about how I turned out. Especially when you consider what my original goal was.

Back then, my dream was almost laughable: In a “lather, rinse, repeat” cycle all I wanted to do was write music, record and tour. Pretty much in that order. If I had to sleep on the floor in some stinky tour bus on the way to Small Town, USA or pan handle on the streets for money to buy guitar strings I didn’t care. Music was going to be my life. I wanted to be the opening act for Bon Jovi; at least just long enough until he became the opening act for me.

It wasn’t until the day I woke up in my college dorm room; a twenty year old man with literally nothing but the black guitar and $1.37 to my name that I had an epiphany. And thus began my entry into the work force.

Don’t get me wrong, over the years I was still able to live the dream: I was part of several bands that achieved great things; even playing in front of crowds of 6,000 people. But, there are times that I still think about what might have happened if I had stuck to my original vision.

If things had worked out as planned well, you all would have seen me on the cover of Rolling Stone at least a few times by now. I probably would have also “guest starred” on Adele’s Grammy winning album and who knows; it might have been me in the judges panel on American Idol instead of that guy from Aerosmith…what’s his name again?

Anyway, as I’m typing this entry, over to my right; still hanging on the wall is that very guitar. The same one I put all those endless hours on. The one that contains all my feelings and the one constant that reminds me continually of those days and that dream. It’s still as great as ever 25 years later. I think we all are too!

 

I believe things happen for a reason. And I’m looking forward to hearing how everyone else’s dreams turned out at the reunion.

Album Reviews, Music

Metal Band Virgin Steele Remasters Life Among The Ruins
Virgin Steele – Life Among The Ruins

Originally released in 1993, “Life Among the Ruins” was the fifth full-length studio album by US heavy metal band
Virgin Steele. But, as any fan of the genre will tell you, sometimes its good to revisit a great album.

Virgin Steele’s “Life Among The Ruins” album has been digitally remastered and is part of a newly released compilation that is a fan’s ultimate dream. This 2012 version, released by SPV / Steamhammer contains not one…but TWO discs including a large amount of extras.

The first disc contains the original album along with five rare & unvarnished acoustic recordings, plus a full band bonus track. Disc #2 contains twenty newly recorded songs as well as alternate mixes of some of the album’s original tracks.

All of the material has been digitally re-mastered, and the CD package also features copious liner notes along with rare photos.

The music from “Life Among The Ruins” is bluesy, hard rock and melodic metal; more similar to early Whitesnake recordings than the epic power metal of albums like “Noble Savage” and “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell” releases the band is known for.

Line-Up on “Life Among The Ruins”: David DeFeis (vocals) , Edward Pursino (guitars), Rob DeMartino (bass) and  Joey Ayvazian  (drums).

Current Virgin Steele Lineup: David DeFeis – (vocals), Edward Pursino – (guitars), Josh Block – (bass, guitars) and Frank Gilchriest (drums).

For more information on Virgin Steele: www.virgin-steele.com

Article first published as Metal Band Virgin Steele Remasters Life Among The Ruins on Technorati.

A Conversation With, Interview, Movies and TV

A Conversation With Actress Ashley Watkins
Ashley Watkins

Ashley Watkins has arrived. The Hollywood newcomer has already made her mark in the horror genre by playing the lead role in the Richard Swindell film, “Pelt“; her first feature film.

Ashley plays the role of Jenny, a level-headed girl whose instincts are put to the ultimate test when a camping adventure goes horribly wrong.

From the film’s website: Sudden, gory, death, hides behind every bush. When beautiful Jennifer and her friends embark on a backpacking excursion deep into the woods, they come chest to chest with an evil as old as the trees. Listen…above the crackling of the campfire…is that the sound of a twig snapping or your best girlfriend’s neck? The interlopers discover that when the locals warn you not to trespass, it’s a warning you should heed.

I recently spoke with Ashley and discussed her character as well as what she enjoyed the most about her experiences filming “Pelt”.

goJimmygo (gJg): I love your role in this movie. Your character is so dramatic and level-headed.

Ashley Watkins (AW): Thank you! Jenny was the smart one. If they would have listened to her, they would have survived. <laughs>

gJg: How did the role come about for you?

AW: The casting director gave me a call and told me about the audition. She didn’t have much information and the audition was that very night. I almost didn’t go because it was so last minute. But I went in, auditioned and got a call back. To this day, it’s still one of the best shoots I’ve ever been on.

gJg: Did you originally audition for the role of Jenny?

AW: I originally auditioned for the role of Debbie and actually got a call back for that role. Sarah (Zurell) was the original choice for Jenny. During the table read, the two of us along with Richard (Swindell) decided that something just didn’t seem right. So, Sarah and I wound up switching roles and it worked out awesome for both of us.

gJg: What did you like most about playing the role of Jenny?

AW: It was a fantastic role to start off my feature film career with. I am a huge Wes Craven fan and “Scream” is one of my all-time favorite movies. Neve Campbell is one of my inspirations.

This was kind of like that role for me; the lead in a horror film. Jenny is smart and intelligent but she’s not being a superhero; she’s normal.

As a female actress starting out in Hollywood, it’s very rare to find good, strong female roles. Jenny was not only the latter, but intelligent as well. One thing that Richard did great was create all of Pelt’s characters as fighters, including the women.

Nobody just “accidentally” tripped over a log or instantly got killed. Every character went down with a fight!  So, it was great to experience that level of empowerment for the entire cast, and especially as a female. They didn’t just give up or give in!

gJg: What did you like most about making the movie?

AW: I remember how excited I was during pre-production when Richard was explaining his vision of Pelt to me.

Richard is a fan of Judd Apatow and I’m a big Wes Craven fan, so when he said he envisioned it to be a “Scream meets Superbad!” I smiled REALLY big! I knew right off the bat; this was going to be great! It’s a horror cake frosted with comedy!

I’m also a nature freak so for me, getting out of the city was a lot of fun. Then of course, we had such a great cast and crew. We were out in a remote area where there was limited cell phone service and contact with the outside world. 

The location scouting was also amazing. I remember the tower scene, it took us 45 minutes just to get there and pretty much everything you see inside was already there.

gJg: What’s the story of Pelt?

AW: Pelt is the story about seven young friends who go out exploring the uncharted territory of the woods and unfortunately, begin to get knocked off one by one. It quickly becomes the process of survival. For me, it was more of a mind game. It’s a horror story with over the top goriness but also has some funny moments mixed in as well.

gJg: Were you always involved in the arts while growing up?

AW: I figure skated competitively & danced here and there for many years during my childhood. I then transitioned fairly easily into dance during college because of my skating background. When I moved to LA, I started with a few small dancing gigs, which eventually lead into a full professional dance career. 

I have been blessed to make a living as a dancer for the past three years, while pursuing acting. I get paid to work out and enjoy losing myself in the moment to music!

gJg: You’ve also done some TV work as well. What would you say are the differences between filming a feature like “Pelt” as opposed to “Entourage”?

AW: It’s cool to be on set for television, but unless you’ve got a specific role, it’s only a one day taping. For Entourage, I was a featured dancer. As far as films go, you become more like a family when you make them. You develop as a character, as an actress and a person.  But most of all, as is the case with Pelt, you also make great friends for life!

Article first published as A Conversation With Actress Ashley Watkins on Technorati.


A Conversation With, Interview, Movies and TV

CUT! : A Conversation With Filmmaker David Banks
David Banks – Actor, Writer, Producer

David Banks is forging his own path. The actor, known mostly for his comedic side, isn’t one to sit idle and let opportunity pass by.

Instead of just waiting for roles and auditions to come along David, together with longtime friend David Rountree, decided to take a more “aggressive” approach. The team wrote and developed “CUT!”, an upcoming horror film with a unique storyline.

While indirectly paying homage to the original “The Hills Have Eyes” movie by casting Suze Lanier-Bramlett and Gabrielle Stone (the daughter of legendary actress Dee Wallace); Banks and Rountree have also created a horror film within a horror film.

With a release date of Halloween 2012, it seems likely that the stars are aligned for a new horror classic!

I had the chance to speak with David Banks and get his thoughts on the movie and why it’s so unique.

gJg: Is CUT! the first collaboration for you and David Rountree (Actor/Director)?

DB: David and I have actually been friends for a long time and we’ve written quite a lot of comedy based stories together. CUT! is the first time we’ve collaborated on a genre outside of comedy.

gJg: What’s the current status of the film?

DB: With the film near complete, we are beginning to shift our focus toward getting a trailer for the fans to see. Our film is tentatively scheduled for a Halloween release and we’re really excited about it!

We were looking for the ideal person to “cut” a trailer for us that would really convey our film best, and put it to life, and we found gold with Ryan Thompson from Britain! We were searching YouTube late one night for hours and came across this guy, wrote him and told him we were instantly a fan and could he work his magic. It was a real blessing to find him.

gJg: What made you decide to write a horror movie like CUT!?

It always sparks my interest to see that something is “based upon true events.” That adds an immediate element of realism and credibility to a story. One of our biggest complaints; however, is that with traditional horror movies, they don’t quite grasp that natural element of being as raw as what the real thing may be. We’ve all seen those moments where we stop and say “Aww come on, that would never happen!”

For CUT!, we decided to play on that fact by having a horror movie within a horror movie. Two people actually decide to kill people for real and capture it on film, yet market it as a film with just great raw acting.

gJg: You and David both wear multiple hats in this movie (acting, producing, writing, directing). Why did you decide to go that route?

DB: A casting director once told me something very interesting. She said, actors can always wait around for the right role and audition to come along, but what better way to shine then to do your own thing. Write your own project that’s catered to you and do it as only you can do. For us, CUT! is the end result of that.

gJg: What was the casting process like?:

DB: The whole casting process wasn’t your typical one where we held auditions. We didn’t want to do that. What we did was find really great talent who can deliver. People like Sam Scarber, William McNamara and Dahlia Salem.

Gabrielle Stone & David Banks

We also found out about this “new” girl: Gabrielle Stone. We already knew about her Mom from “The Hills Have Eyes” and “ET” but when she sent her reel over we were completely blown away.

She was so good and I remember telling David right then and there: “We need to get her, RIGHT NOW!” She’s going to be huge someday!



gJg: You also have another “Hills Have Eyes” connection with Suze Lanier-Bramlett!

DB: Suze is amazing. We were always a big fan of hers and the original film. It just so happens that David and I both share the same manager (Eileen O’Farrell) as she does so it really worked out for us!

gJg: Tell me about you character, Lane Hayes and the CUT! story:

My character, Lane Hayes, is an ex con with an addiction to drugs and violent tendencies towards women. Rountree plays Travis Simon, a guy who spent years in film school trying to become a director, but has only managed to find work renting out equipment to other filmmakers.

With access to everything we need to make a movie, the idea is born to just scare people and capture the footage. However, something goes horribly wrong and the first person in this attempt is killed for real.

After reviewing the video to help cover our tracks, it is decided that we have such shock value in the real kill, that maybe that is what we need to do. The story takes off from that point as every gut wrenching authentic death “scene” is captured on film and I do all the dirty work.

gJg: What’s next for you?

DB: David and I have another project we wrote called “Mr. Reality”. That’s going to be a lot of fun and we’ve already got people in mind for casting.

When David and I get together and write, good things happen.

 

Article first published as CUT!: A Conversation With Filmmaker David Banks on Technorati.

A Conversation With, Interview

Inspirational People: Lisa Jey Davis

Every so often, fate has a funny way of introducing you to some really amazing people. Such was the case for me when I met Lisa Jey Davis.

Lisa is role model for people who want to live their dreams. After going through a rough divorce, she made the decision to travel to Los Angeles and start a career in the production end of the entertainment industry. Through hard work and perseverance she became talent coordinator on the production crew of The Billboard Bash, a pre-show for the Billboard Music Awards. She hasn’t looked back since.

Today, Lisa owns her own successful public relations firm, Jey Associates Marketing and PR. She’s also an award-winning writer, a fitness instructor and a regular blogger/vlogger, both as herself and as her “alter-ego”, Ms. Cheevious.

As a blogger, she regularly documents and videos the adventures of her life. From the satisfaction of trying out for the Lingerie Football League with girls half her age to having to make a difficult decision when diagnosed with the BRCA 2 genetic mutation; Lisa is truly an inspiration.

Her latest project, a book entitled: Ms. Cheevious In Hollywood – Adventures & Mishaps of an Accidental Hot Mamma promises to be a guilty pleasure for anyone interested in learning what really goes on behind the scenes in Hollywood. It’s also a must-read for women who’ve recently experienced life trauma, such as divorce, and want to regain the confidence and courage to change their lives for the better.

I had the pleasure of speaking with this amazing woman and find out what makes her tick.

goJimmygo (gJg): You are one busy lady. How do you find time to do all this?

LJD: Not sleeping.

Actually, it’s because I love what I do. But I must admit, as I get older I more often find myself thinking, “Hmm, that couch over there is looking kind of nice to sit on”. <laughs>

Lisa and the cast from her “show” and blog: Bear, M.C. Nugget, Fred the Wonder Chicken and Bear.

gJg: Tell me a little bit about your book.

LJD:  It’s the story about my post-divorce enlightenment. About jumping into the world with both feet and saying, “It’s my turn to do what I’ve always wanted to do”. For me, it was pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. It’s the story of the whole process from divorce to pursuing the dream and all of the funny things that happened along the way. There will also be some stories about the celebrities I’ve met. It will be fun.

gJg: Tell me a good Ms. Cheevious Story from the book:

LJD: In 2002, I was working for MTV on a show called ICON.  Aerosmith was picked as that year’s ICON. What MTV would do was bring other popular artists and bands in to perform the “ICON’s” songs.  I remember we had Train performing “Dream On” and Pink did “Janie’s Got A Gun”.  The members of Aerosmith were all part of the audience. It was similar to an awards show and my job was to work with the band’s wives and kids  – as the kids were participating in one of the numbers.  

I remember at one point where there were two guys I had to take somewhere. So I was taking them back to their seats via the front row when all of a sudden everyone stopped. I suddenly realized that I was standing right next to Pink. What I didn’t know was there was also film crew there filming her while she was dancing. So I literally just stood a foot away from Pink and stared at her while all of this was going on.

All of sudden, she realizes that I’m standing there staring at her and she looks at me a little nervously like ‘Who is this crazy girl and why is she staring at me?’

But I swear to you, I am not a Pink stalker. Honest! <laughs>

gJg: Another dream you followed was trying out for The Lingerie Football League. How did that come about?

LJD: When the Saints went to the Superbowl a few years ago, my boyfriend (who is a huge Saints fan) and I bought tickets to Miami. At the time, we didn’t know if we would even be able to get into the game (we didn’t) but we went for the experience and had a great time. While we were there, I was able to get us into the Lingerie Football League’s Superbowl (the eve of Superbowl), as well as the after-party.

Initially, I thought it might have just been girls running around in g-strings but they were actually playing in bra tops, workout shorts and pads, and I loved it! It inspired me. I felt I was in pretty good shape so I thought I would try it. When I found out that they were holding tryouts here in LA the following year,  I signed up and it was so much fun.

Ms. Cheevious Does Lingerie…. Football, That Is

In 2011, Lisa had to make a very difficult decision when diagnosed with the BRCA 2 genetic mutation.

From her blog: In 2010, my beloved, beautiful sister Mimi lost her battle with Ovarian Cancer. Her illness prompted my gynecologist to begin a personal campaign to get me to the genetic specialists at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. And when she passed away, my doc turned up the heat. She REALLY wanted me to be screened for Ovarian / Breast Cancer (they are related) gene mutations. So I succumbed. I went in for the screening, and more to the shock of the genetics counselors than to myself, I tested positive for the BRCA2 Gene Mutation.

There were a few choices available but having already had children and seen what my sister had gone through, I opted for the most aggressive approach to eradicating my elevated risks. I underwent a double prophylactic mastectomy (with breast reconstruction and implants) and at the same time, had them remove my ovaries and tubes.  

Click Here For The Full Story * Click Here For Video

I am so glad that I connected with Lisa and her “multiple personalities”. She is one of the most fun and inspirational people I’ve ever met. Someday I hope I get to tell her that in person. In the meantime though, here are some of Lisa’s / Ms. Cheevious’s Greatest Hits:

Fun Ms. Cheevious Blog Posts:

Ms. Cheevious Videos
Goofy Ms. Cheevious * Delve into Twelve * Pretty Folded Thongs * Mammoth Mountain Moments I

Lisa Jey Davis Vlog videos:

Thoughts for the Day:
Never Give Up * Be Magnificent
Article first published as Inspirational People: Lisa Jey Davis on Technorati