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The Society of Illustrators Opens the Gates of Hell with The Art of Mike Mignola

The Amazing Screw-On Head

Filled to the brim with creepy cobwebs, dilapidated castles, and bizarre creatures, the comics of Mike Mignola have redefined how readers look at the world of the supernatural thanks to his seminal Hellboy series. The Society of Illustrators (128 E 63rd St, New York, NY) will be celebrating several decades of Mignola’s illustrious career with The Art of Mike Mignola and Other Curious Objects, running from March 6 to April 21.

Getting his start at Marvel comics in the 1980s, Mignola drew the first Rocket Raccoon mini-series written by Bill Mantlo. 1989’s Triumph and Torment, written by Roger Stern was a prelude to the gothic horrors Mignola would go on to create in Hellboy, as the "Sorcerer Supreme", Dr. Strange, teams up with Dr. Doom to rescue the soul of Doom’s mother from the pits of Hell. In 1994 Hellboy: The Seed of Destruction, written with John Byrne, premiered setting off the long and storied history of Hellboy, the gruff but lovable paranormal investigator who may also be the beast of the apocalypse.

The exhibit will feature highlights from Hellboy series, as well as other spin-off titles including work from B.P.R.D., Abe Sapien, and Witchfinder alongside samples from his award-winning comic books including the Eisner Award winner The Amazing Screw-On Head (Dark Horse Comics) as well as Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire (Bantam Spectra), co-written by best-selling author Christopher Golden.

The exhibit will have an opening reception on March 6, and Mike Mignola will also be appearing at the Society's annual MoCCA Fest comic convention on April 7 - 8.

To learn more, go to: https://www.societyillustrators.org/exhibits/mike-mignola

The Art of Mike Mignola and Other Curious Objects
March 6 - April 21, 2018

The Society of Illustrators
128 E 63rd St.
New York, NY 10065

The Best of 2017 Vie for the Gold at the Very Diverse 90th Academy Awards

 

The 90th Academy Awards will telecast live by ABC from L.A.’s Dolby Theatre Sunday, again hosted by late night’s Jimmy Kimmel and presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, at 6:30 P.M. [Red Carpet] with a gala start at 8 P.M. The Awards will be seen or streamed live or via tape delay in more than 225 countries. This being the 90th annual awards, there’ll surely be a lot of movie history. Undoubtedly, filled as ever with glitz and bejeweled and high coutured glamour, it will run until close to midnight.

The long-absent diversity began to spike last year. This year it exploded. It’s a big year for indies – building upon last year’s winner Moonlight, the first film with an all-black cast and the first LGBT-themed film to win [after the sloppy accounting firm’s reps located the correct envelope – and such astute stars as Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway somehow failed to read what was printed on it].

Be warned, says Jimmy Kimmel, “If you think we screwed up the ending this year, wait until you see what we have planned for this year.” He shares that he’s labored long and hard on the comic elements, “writing OscarsJKimmelthousands of jokes and choosing 30 for the big night.” Kimmel added that he believes “it’s almost necessary to address the current state of politics,” as the late show hosts have been doing for well over a year, “and other serious matters.”

Still, with the Golden Globes presented only a week into the new year, followed by the SAG Awards, the People’s Choice Awards, New York Film [and every major city’s] Critics Awards, and the You-Name-It-Movie Awards, the Oscars are anti-climatic. The Globes productions, even without huge production numbers, get better with each airing.

Last year with the blistering speech by [then] 30-time nominee/eight wins “mediocre” Meryl Streep on accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award [little known today is that in addition to his racy spectacles, the director was an ultra-conservative and rabid anti-Communist rebel rouser] and this year with Oprah’s “pre-presidential run” acceptance speech on receiving the same honor, there are more WOW! moments. Granted the Globes is a far smaller organization compared with the Academy’s various guilds pushing nominations, but for the Oscars to remain relevant they should not only air earlier in the year but also, in spite of union pressures not to, move many of the creative awards to a pre-show segment as the Tony Awards do. There would also be time for more and longer clips.  

OscarsSomeNominees2017 was a banner year for indies – several of which are among the top contenders in the Top Nine. Over 341 films were eligible for nomination honors; 70 eligible original songs [with audiences rushing to exit as the end credits endlessly crawl, most probably never heard even last year’s five nominees. There are 24 categories, and prior-to-telecast technical and honorary awards – some 200 nominees in all.

With ever-rising ticket prices and entertainment-hungry huddled masses, not being able to get enough programming at home, arriving to be infused with “buttered” popcorn, salsa and chips, Milk Duds, Sno-caps, and iced-cold Coke, box office records were broken nearly every summer and holiday weekend.

Presenters will include past Oscar winners and nominees Mahershala Ali (Supporting Actor, Moonlight), Emily Blunt, Sandra Bullock, Dave Chappelle, Viola Davis, Laura Dern, Jane Fonda, Jodie Foster, Ashley Judd, Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, Helen Mirren, Rita Moreno, Lupita Nyong’o, Eva Marie Saint, Emma Stone and Christopher Walken.

Also on hand will be: Chadwick Boseman, Gal Gadot, Jennifer Garner, Greta Gerwig, Tiffany Haddish, Mark Hamill, Armie Hammer, Tom Holland, Oscar Isaac, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kumail Nanjiani, Margot Robbie, Gina Rodriguez, Wes Studi, Daniela Vega, and Zendaya.

There are five planned production numbers. The original singers of the year's five Oscar-nominated songs will reprise their performances, with Oscar-nominated tunes performed by Mary J. Blige (Mudbound): Gael García Bernal, Miguel, and Natalia Lafourcade (Coco); rapper Common and powerhouse belter Andra Day (Marshall); Keala Settle (from The Greatest Showman); and Sufjan Stevens (Call Me by Your Name).

The Shape of Water leads the pack with 13 nominations, Dunkirk follows with eight nods, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri has seven.

 

OscarsBestFilms12018 Nomination Highlights:

Best Picture

  • Call Me by Your Name
  • 
Darkest Hour

  • Dunkirk

  • Get Out

  • Lady Bird

  • Phantom Thread
  • 
The Post

  • The Shape of Water
  • 
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Actor:

  • Timothée Chalamet - Call Me by Your Name
  • Daniel Day-Lewis - Phantom Thread
  • Daniel Kaluuya - Get Out
  • Gary Oldman - Darkest Hour
  • Denzel Washington - Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Actress:

  • Sally Hawkins - The Shape of Water
  • Frances McDormand -
  • Margot Robbie - I, Tonya
  • Saoirse Ronan - Lady Bird
  • Meryl Streep - The Post

 

OscarsBestFilms3

Supporting Actor:

  • Willem Dafoe - The Florida Project
  • Woody Harrelso - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
  • Richard Jenkins - The Shape of Water
  • Christopher Plummer - All the Money in the World
  • Sam Rockwell - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Supporting Actress:

  • Mary J. Blige - Mudbound
  • Allison Janney - I, Tonya
  • Lesley Manville - Phantom Thread
  • Laurie Metcalf - Lady Bird
  • Octavia Spencer - The Shape of Water

Director:

  • Paul Thomas Anderson - Phantom Thread
  • Guillermo del Toro - The Shape of Water
  • Greta Gerwig - Lady Bird
  • Christopher Nolan - Dunkirk
  • Jordan Peele - Get Out

Animated Feature:

  • The Boss Baby
  • The Breadwinner
  • Coco
  • Ferdinand
  • Loving Vincent

OscarsBestFilms2Screenplay:

  • The Big Sick - Emily V. Gordon & Kumail Nanjiani
  • Get Out - Jordan Peele
  • Lady Bird - Greta Gerwig
  • The Shape of Water - Guillermo del Toro, Vanessa Taylor
  • Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - Martin McDonagh

 

Adapted Screenplay:

  • Call Me by Your Name - James Ivory
  • The Disaster Artist - Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber
  • Logan - Scott Frank, James Mangold, and Michael Green
  • Molly’s Game - Aaron Sorkin
  • Mudbound - Virgil Williams and Dee Rees

 

Original Score:

  • Dunkirk - Hans Zimmer
  • Phantom Thread - Jonny Greenwood
  • The Shape of Water - Alexandre Desplat
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi - John Williams
  • Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - Carter Burwell

Original Song:

  • Mighty River,” Mudbound by Mary J. Blige
  • Mystery of Love,” Call Me by Your Name by Sufjan Stevens
  • Remember Me,” Coco by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
  • Stand Up for Something,” Marshall by Diane Warren and Common
  • This Is Me,” The Greatest Showman by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Honorary Awards, for “extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy,” have been presented to actor, cinematographer, director, editor, producer, and writer Charles Burnett; five-time Oscar nominated cinematographer Owen Roizman (Tootsie, Network, and among many others), The French Connection, Donald Sutherland; and French director Agnès Varda.

At www.oscars.org, check out the numerous special features, which include video clips and photos, a full list of nominees, and a ballot.

The 2018 Academy Awards will be produced again by Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd and directed by Glenn Weiss (Tony Awards). Says De Luca (Captain Phillips, Moneyball, The Social Network), “We always thought the idea that anything can happen on the Oscars was a cliché until we lived it. So, it’s great to get two chances to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience -- and handed the keys to a party 90 years in the making. Tune in!”

 

Animal Planet's "The Vet Life" Returns

 Texas-based veterinarians Dr. Diarra Blue, Dr. Aubrey Ross and Dr. Michael Lavigne have a flourishing practice and because of their shared passion and love of animals —big and small—they are eager to continue serving their loyal clientele including loving family cats and dogs as well as farm animals and rare exotics. In between offering the best medical treatment to their patients, the Doctors must simultaneously balance their personal lives with wives and kids– all while supporting one another along the way. The third season of “The Vet Life” continues to give a glimpse into these very special doctors lives. Highlights from this season include Cy-Fair Animal Hospital reopening after being closed for multiple days due to Hurricane Harvey.  Dr. Blue trip to a Vegan cattle ranch to stop an unexpected cow baby boom.  Dr. Ross solution to dealing with mischievous ferrets with a skin condition, and Dr. Lavigne knee surgery on an old English bulldog that was rescued from a puppy mill.
 

When asked the busy doctors to give some needed advice on how to better care for pets in our own family Dr. Diarra Blue, Dr. Aubrey Ross and Dr. Michael Lavigne
offered this:

  •  Preventative medicine is paramount to longer, healthier lives. Bring your pets in for regular exams bi-annually in order to prevent or catch disease processes early.
  • Obesity and dental disease are the 2 most common diseases overlooked in dogs and cat. Develop a great relationship with your vet to discuss how to prevent these relatively easy conditions.
  • Yearly blood work to evaluate the internal organs and other conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease etc.  Just because a patient appears to be healthy externally it could be a storm brewing internally.

“The Vet Life” is produced for Animal Planet by Glass Entertainment Group with Argle Bargle Films. For Glass Entertainment Group, Nancy Glass is the executive producer. For Argle Bargle Films, Shannon Biggs and Jairus Cobb are executive producers. For Animal Planet, Keith Hoffman is executive producer and Sarah Russell is the producer.
 

 

"Hamilton's" Daniel J. Watts rocking it at Joe’s Pub with The Jam: Only Child

 

 Photo courtesy of Simply Greg

Daniel J. Watts is quick-witted, so very quick-witted reminding me of our conversation that no two shows of The Jam: Only Child are alike. Watts likes to “flow” and see where the material takes him.  To feel the audience and let that energy guide him through the process.

When he left Hamilton, a lot of people pondered and asked why followed by what’s next?  A man who stands on creative spontaneity, I can imagine how quickly the gears of Watts' brain were churning.  For the record, in addition to the February 19th performance of The Jam: Only Child, he will be seen in TBS’ upcoming “The Last O.G.,” and Signature Theatre’s The Death of The Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World.

But back to Joe’s Pub at the Public, under his production company—WattsWords Productions—his next venture is Watts' aforementioned The Jam: Only Child which is an evening of music, dance and spoken word ( Monday, February 19) at Joe’s Pub at The Public at New York’s famed Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street). The doors open at 9 pm and the show begins at 9.30pm.

The dynamic performer will be sharing the stage with DJ Duggz, aka Preston Dugger III (Motown the Musical, Memphis) who will keep the crowd hyped, spinning through the evening.

Watts is a sentimental man and although The Jam: Only Child is a play-on-words, this play pays homage to Watts’ great-grandmother who, after making jam from scratch, would share with others what she was unable to consume herself. A stunning memory and one, I suspect, that many of us share in our collective cultures. Brown, Black and Native people from a historical point-of-view have always shared their bounty.  That’s why, in part, the Native population got into trouble with trying to “share” with the starving pilgrims.

The Jam: Only Child is Watts’ continuation of that legacy featuring his original spoken word, often set to music and dance. This is Watts’ second installation of The Jam: Only Child after premiering it last summer as one of historic Webster Hall’s final acts before closing its doors forever in August.

In 2016, the stage blazed galvanizing cast members from Hamilton, On Your Feet, and Shuffle Along and there Watts played to a packed house in Webster Hall’s Marlin Room with The Jam: Love Terrorists - A Benefit for Orlando. The event raised $7500 for the LGBT community in Orlando after the horrific attack at Pulse Night Club.

Forever a curious artist Watts is all about shaking it up and his WattsWords Productions is dedicated to developing original programming including live performances, web content, and demonstrations written by Daniel J. Watts in an effort to urge communities to actively engage in focusing on their social similarities opposed to their differences.

“Each time I put together a new edition of The Jam, it is inspired by what is happening in the world, in my world, or in my life,” said the artist and activist. “This Jam has a coming of age feel. It involves journeying through the experiences that have shaped my perceptions and influenced my decision-making, allowing me to take stock of what I need to hold on to and what I can afford to let go.”

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