Georgia Hollywood Review March 2022

Georgia Hollywood Review March 2022

Mila Harris ON THE RISE IN DISNEY’S NEW THRILLER , “NO EXIT” GEORGIA SUPERSTAR

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

Publisher/Founder/Editor-In-Chief: Miles K. Neiman

Tell It Like It Is

Managing Editor: Carol Badaracco Padgett

The movie business in Georgia is poppin’. It’s quite clear that the industry is not only here to stay in the Peach State, but is here to thrive. The pages that follow chronicle that journey. Georgia Hollywood Review tells the stories of the storytellers. The traditionally marginalized. Black, white, or brown. Gay or straight. Male or female. He, she, or they. It’s time to tell the stories of the other side. Time to balance the scales. Not only are these stories interesting and relevant, but they are fresh, new, and exciting per- spectives for the viewer. They give us lift and inspiration. They tickle our empathy while touching our curiosity.

Georgiahollywoodreview.com to learn more. These events, named “Thursday Night Live,” are on fire and are authentic ways to connect with both peers and lead- ers in the entertainment industry. Not to mention, they are a damn good time. With live billboard musical acts and live televised roundtable discussions with actors, direc- tors, producers, and tastemakers of the industry, it’s a great way to educate your- self while enjoying a full bar and good eats, one Thursday a month. In this issue there are many noteworthy stories. From Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directo- rial debut of The Lost Daughter , to the story

Proofreader: Denise James

Magazine Designer: Brenda J. Oliver

Advertising Design: Sharon Jollay

Photography: Bobby Bosston Mia McCorkle Lance Thomas

Distribution: TGS Media LA Print LLC

of a Southern son making A-list whiskey in Colorado, to the cover story on up-and-comer Mila Harris in her new debut, No Exit . Harris is a star to watch. She’s got chops beyond her years and her passion for the craft is already clear. And Academy Award-nominated Gyllenhaal is honing her bril- liance in ways that make us proud, celebrating stories of women that deal with both empowerment and struggle. So read away. And until next time, pop the corn, or whatever you fancy, and keep watching the films and TV series that make you smile, cry, and most importantly, walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.

So kick back, grab your pleasure, and read about these muses in the pages that follow. We expanded Georgia Hol- lywood Review magazine into Los Angeles at the end of 2021 and we are gearing up to expand into Manhattan, as well, at the end of 2022. Our triangle of entertainment will never be complete, however, as the stories never end. They are as infinite as the creative process and as fascinat- ing today as they ever were. We also host monthly entertainment industry net- working parties in Atlanta, and will be doing the same in Los Angeles later in the spring. Go to our website at

Advertising Sales: [email protected]

Sales Support: Cristina Colomer

Georgia Hollywood Review TV Hosts: Angelo Diaz Andry Palacio Jai Santiago

Sincerely,

Videographer: Jason Jones MONUMENTALmedia Contributing Writers: Carol Badaracco Padgett Connor Judson Garrett Echo Montgomery Garrett Tess Farmer Simha Haddad Tracey Hawkins Julie Herron Carson Jessica Holthaus Badour Ellen Howle

Miles Neiman

about the cover

The Georgia Hollywood Review is published every other month by Georgia Hollywood Review, LLC. Repro- ductions in whole or in part, without expressed writ- ten permission of the publisher, are strictly prohibited. The Georgia Hollywood Review is not responsible for the content or claims of any advertising or editorial in this publication. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted. Copyright 2022. Send inquiries to 227 Sandy Springs Place, Suite D-288, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. For more informa- tion, contact [email protected].

Pictured: Mila Harris who stars in Disney's New Thriller, No Exit . Photography: Courtesy of Disney

Jerome Jackson Denise K. James

Jessa Jansen Tierra Jones Chris LeDoux Autumn Murray Michael J. Pallerino Mary Welch

Visit our webpage: www.GeorgiaHollywoodReview.com

Social Media: FB @gahollywoodreview IG @georgiahollywoodreview

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CONTENTS

8 georgia power players GO Media Productions 10 a-list art Danny Simmons 12 a-list security Jan Du Preez of RMA 13 reality tv

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Kenny Kim in Mat Made 14 writer/producer Genevieve LeDoux 16 georgia actor Muretta Moss Anthony J. James 18 non-profits in film The Creatives Project 20 southern studios Tate Taylor's Crooked Letter Picture Company 21 thursday night live 22 lgbtqia+ Kentö 24 actor/model G. Eric Smith 26 young star on the rise Mila Harris

30 atlanta producers Justin Poage of Fifteen Studios 32 producer/director Nadine Velázquez 34 a-list whiskey Distillery 291

30

36 l.a. vibe Deighton Mckoy Edward Finlay Cheryl O. Bedford of Women of Color Unite Playhouse West 41 music phenom International Nova 42 realtor for the stars Pam Hughes of Harry Norman Realtors 43 designer series Nuhaus Knows 44 new releases Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Lost Daughter

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CONTRIBUTORS

Carol Badaracco Padgett

Tracey M. Hawkins has been a contributing editor and writer for various print publications,

Connor Judson Garrett

Echo Montgomery Garrett has written for more than 100 media outlets, including Delta Sky, Parade,

is an Atlanta-based writer and copywrit- er. Over the past 30 years she has written

was the 2017 Edward Readicker-Henderson Travel Classics Award recipient, honed his

Photo by Kevin Garrett

such as The Thirty-A Review, American Contemporary Art, and Frontier Airlines magazines; as well as award-winning websites, galleries and novelists. She has served as a collegiate Professor of Art History, as well as a collections consultant, curator, and artists’ representative. traceymhawkins.com and skrybes.com

for the Atlanta Business Chronicle , Oz Magazine, National Real Estate Inves- tor, Waste Age, Retail Traffic, and other B2B and B2C publications. She also worked as a copywriter crafting copy for Revlon, Georgia-Pacific, Stainmaster, and Publix. She loves to meet people, find their spark, and share their stories. Reach her at [email protected] .

craft as an advertising copywriter in Los Angeles. He is the author of two poetry books, Become The Fool and Life in Lyrics; a novel, Falling Up in The City of Angels; and a co-authored mind-body self-help book, The Longevity Game. His writing has appeared in Private Clubs Magazine, South Magazine, and Hook & Barrel.

ABC.com, AARP, The Atlanta Journal- Constitution, and Business Week . She’s the author of 20 books, including multi-award winning My Orange Duf- fel Bag: A Journey to Radical Change. Up next: a book called Unsung about growing up around Nashville’s Music Row with parents in the industry.

Julie Herron Carson ,

Jessica Holthaus Badour From veteran com- munications specialist to preeminent food safety professional,

Denise K. James

Jessa Jansen is the founder of J Squared Ven- tures and a regular contributor at The Boom Bap

is an independent writer and editor based in Atlanta with clients across the Southeast. When she isn’t working, you can find her exploring the city or dancing around her apartment —or on another road trip.

an Atlanta native, has over 30 years of public relations and feature writ-

Hour Podcast Blog, Sociomix, The Borgen Project and more. Connect about writing projects on Medium @jessajansen.

ing expertise. Her specialties in- clude media relations, newsletters, website writing, and cause-related marketing, as well as feature writing for The Thirty-A Review magazine and Atlanta ShowGuide . Julie is a graduate of the University of Geor- gia and lives in northeast Atlanta with her husband and teenage son.

Jessica Holthaus Badour has built a successful and diversified career de- veloping compelling means of sharing information while engaging the public on essential issues. She is currently working full-time for the Georgia Department of Agriculture while freelancing in her spare time. www. linkedin.com/in/jessicaholthausbadour

Autumn Murray has written for various print and online publications includ-

Michael J. Pallerino is an award- winning writer who has written for a number of national B2C and

Mary Welch is a veteran writer and editor who has worked for a number of publi- cations, including the Atlanta Busi- ness Chronicle,

Chris LeDoux Alaskan born and bred, Chris earned degrees in both psychology and sociology, but his fascination with cinema and filmmak- ing instead led him

ing The Plunge, Divine Lifestyle,

and Simply Amazing Living . Authority Magazine and Thrive Global declared her a “Social Media Impact Hero” for her “Choose Love” campaign to pro- mote acceptance and diversity. She is working on a book about her life and overcoming abuse while inspiring oth- ers to Choose Love in all situations. [email protected]

B2B publications. When he is not lost in his writing, music and binge watching, Michael can be reached at [email protected].

to the world of visual effects. Chris’s impressive résumé includes composit- ing and VFX supervision on numerous films and TV shows, including 12 Years A Slave , Doctor Strange , The Greatest Showman , and Better Call Saul . Chris has also directed major music videos and led visual effects teams. craftyapes.com

Travelgirl Magazine, Atlanta Woman, Business to Business, Car Business Today and biography.com . In her spare time she enjoys travel- ing with her son, Grady, and tries to fix up her 100-year-old home in Virginia-Highland. www.marywelchwriter.com

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GEORGIA POWER PLAYERS The Superpowers Behind GO Media Productions Wayne Overstreet and Len Gibson deliver a strong punch of industry business acumen and keen creative vision By Ca ro l Bada r acco Padge t t

W e look at projects from a few different angles,” says Atlanta-based GO Media Productions’ Co-CEO, Wayne Overstreet, when you ask him what kinds of projects he’s looking for alongside his business partner, Len Gibson. “Does it have wide market appeal, does it have what’s considered a bankable cast, is it a project we can get behind even if it doesn’t fit the boxes?” And he adds, “For us, that’s often faith and family- based projects, which are our passion.” As a production and distribution company, though, GO Media Productions produces all genres of content. And its Co-CEOs are multi-faceted. “We develop projects from a business perspective first,” as Overstreet puts it, “while always trying to maintain the creative vision.” Simply put, they are able to straddle between their love of excellent content and the necessary business maneuvers to bring that content to life—and the results speak for themselves. Most recent case in point, film For the Love of Money , starring Keri Hilson and Katt Williams and directed by Leslie Small, that debuted in theaters across the nation on Thanksgiving 2021 and is slated to be available on VOD in March 2022. The crime drama, produced by Melvin Childs Presents, is about a Brooklyn-raised, street-smart single mother, Gigi (Hilson), who has walked away from a billion dollar enterprise to follow her own path and safely raise her daughter. When an opportunity arises to make a large sum of money, her past is suddenly staring her in the face. Overstreet and Gibson serve as executive producers of the gritty drama, along with Atlanta-based actor Cedric Pendleton who also appears in the film as one of its main characters, Brian. For the Love of Money was one of seven films the GO Media Productions business partners have executive produced and produced since 2019, and they also have three streaming channels—Influencer TV, Good Life Television, and Global View TV—on the cost-conscious cable alternative TikiLIVE, a user content generated IPTV platform that offers access to premium cable and satellite channels from smart devices. Before GO Media Productions, Overstreet and Gibson spent time building up their film and TV industry strengths, learning the business inside and out. Overstreet, for instance, spent 20 years in post-produc- tion work, serving as operations manager at Atlanta’s Wolff Bros. Post for seven years, followed by another seven years there as general manager. “I started Overstreet

“

Wayne Overstreet and Len Gibson

receive quality post-production, which is often the difference between having a viable opportunity for distribution or not,” Overstreet says. “And that’s also how we developed a desire to become a distribution company.” When asked what’s next for the GO Media Productions’ duo, Overstreet says, “We’re developing several projects, in- cluding films First to Orion ; Committed , written by Len Gibson; and He Who Fin- deth , written by my wife and local radio personality Ramona DeBreaux.” In addition, they’re in post-produc- tion on several other projects, including Red Winter, which was produced by At- lanta film companies Smoot Films and Supremacy Films. Still another project in post is Sluttified , a documentary about the Slutty Vegan eateries, directed by Bart Phillips, executive produced and pro- duced by the Slutty Vegan restaurants’ owner, Pinky Cole, and co-produced by GO Media Productions. In all of the superpowers’ endeavors,

Photos courtesy of GO Media Productions

Production and Post in 2014 and then joined forces with Len Gibson in 2019 to form GO (Gibson/Overstreet) Media Productions,” he notes. For his part, Gibson is a 20-year industry veteran and founder of the 16-years-strong Peachtree Village In- ternational Film Festival. “Len and I have worked together on and off for over a decade, with him having a film festival and me having post-production,” Overstreet says. “It was a natural fit.” Both partners have taken their individual love for filmmaking and combined it into a mission, of sorts. “We both have a passion for helping filmmakers, so he would often send filmmakers to me to help them

several themes run strong: Atlanta, filmmaking, growth, and strength. As Overstreet confirms, “The Atlanta mar- ket is primed for continued growth and a place amongst the leaders in the film and television industry, as well as the entertainment industry as a whole. With the ef- forts of many alongside ourselves to finance productions, we’re building a sustainable model—able to support the growth of local filmmakers and actors.” GoMedia.productions | www.tikilive.com/channel/inf luencer-tv www.tikilive.com/channel/good-life-television www.tikilive.com/channel/global-view-tv

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A-LIST ART

Danny Simmons on Art Series Intertwined By Autumn Mur r ay

D anny Simmons is a renowned Neo-African abstract expres- sionist painter, published author, poet, activist, and phi- lanthropist. He has a degree in social work from New York University and a Master’s in public finance from Long Island Univer- sity in Brooklyn. In his 20s, his mother encouraged him to quit the job that he hated at the Bureau of Child Support and become a painter. Simmons founded Rush Arts in 1995 with his brothers, media mo- gul Russell Simmons and Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons of the legendary hip-hop

"Day Break"

"My Big Blue Beauty"

Danny Simmons

group, Run-DMC. Their goal for Rush Arts is to fill the gap that the disenfranchised and people of color faced in both accessing the arts and exhibition opportuni- ties. Danny and Russell also established Def Poetry Jam, which enjoyed long-running success on HBO and won a Peabody Award for the television show and a Tony for the Broadway version of the show. Simmons’ work now appears in prominent institu- tions around the globe, including Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn Museum, Chase Manhattan Bank, Deutsche Bank, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The Smithsonian, and the United Nations. In 2021, he exhibited at the Mariposa Museum (Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts), and the Houston Museum of African American Culture. In 2022, Simmons is Artist in Residence with an ex- hibit at the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning (JCAL), while also exhibiting at the Hudson Guild Gallery (Chel- sea, New York), and August Wilson African American Cultural Center (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). The artist took time out of his busy schedule to tell Georgia Hollywood Review about his upcoming Inter- twined art series on display at Town + Culture Gallery in Atlanta, open to the public from February 19 to March 18, 2022. GHR: HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME “INTERTWINED?” DS: I created the Intertwined series during the start of the global pandemic. The artwork centers on themes of connection and isolation. Most of the paintings are combinations of African fabrics, other textiles, and paints. They are sort of mixed together in a way that they

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR POETRY? Spoken word has been an important part of my life even before starting Def Poetry Jam with Russell. I have written five poetry books and I have

"Red Line District"

a CD with legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter on Blue Note Records—The Brown Beatnik Tomes. It is a live recording from BRIC House in Brooklyn featuring my poetry and paintings, and Carter performing solo accompaniment along with instrumental interludes from his fleet trio. Danny Simmons’ Intertwined series is presented with the support of The Works Upper Westside ATL and Platinum Sponsor FilmHedge, a fintech company that uses >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48

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