MUFF: Medusa Underground Film Festival

Celebrating the art of the female filmmaker, the “Medusa Underground Film Festival” will honor legendary cult cinema actress (more than 250 film credits), writer, producer, and director of the 2016 feature Model Hunger... Ms. Debbie Rochon as part of the inaugural film festival! MUFF will showcase two features, and over 50 short films selected from 11 countries that honor the vision of underground filmmaking art NOW January 11th to 13th 2019!

The first annual “Medusa Underground Film Festival” brings together more than 50 short films to showcase women who are changing the filmmaking landscape around the world! Taking place at the Artisan Hotel Boutique (Artisanhotel.com) in Las Vegas, NV, the “Medusa Underground Film Festival” will feature such events as a huge filmmakers panels, Q&A, workshops, a “Lifetime Achievement” Award, a variety of after parties, networking, an awards ceremony, two feature films, and multiple blocks of short films showcasing the different sides of underground filmmaking.

1/11-13/2019

ARTISAN HOTEL BOUTIQUE

1501 W Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV, 89102

TICKETS ****** The “Medusa Underground Film Festival” is excited to add another evening to the incredible festivities with a special “Opening Night” charity party happening at the Backstage Bar & Billiards (Backstagebarlv.com) on Friday, January 11th. Kicking off at 8 PM, with all donations from the opening night event going to the charity Street Teens (Streetteens.org). This opening night party will feature vendors, networking, and more! The “Medusa Underground Film Festival” is proud to announce that the incredible, Los Angeles based, non-profit organization “Women in Media” will be hosting a special networking brunch on Sunday, January 13th at the Thunderbird Boutique Hotel (Thunderbirdhotellasvegas.com). Tickets are $20.00 and include a buffet style meal. “Women in Media” is an advocate for gender balance in the film and entertainment industry; find out more at WomenNmedia.com. “I am beyond excited to have Women in Media hosting our brunch. They have great networking opportunities that every woman in this industry needs to be a part of.” MUFF Festival Founder and Director Heidi Moore The “Medusa Underground Film Festival” will be honoring legendary cult actress and filmmaker Debbie Rochon during the festival ceremonies. Creating a memorable career in drama, science fiction, comedy, cult, horror, and underground cinema for over 35 years, Rochon has been a driving force and a role model for women in the genre. With over 250 credits total, Rochon has shown an underground spirit and drive that has matched her with creators like Lloyd Kaufman, James Gunn, John Russo, Gunnar Hansen, Ron Bonk, James Balsamo, Brian K. Williams, Ryan M. Andrews, Gregory Lamberson, and more. Debbie Rochon will be honored during the weekend with her appearance TBA. “I have been a fan of Debbie Rochon ever since I saw her in Terror Firmer. Her film Model Hunger really spoke to me, and I feel her contribution to the art of underground film has been an inspiration to so many.” - MUFF Festival Founder and Director Heidi Moore

Email Jay Kay to request interviews with Heidi Moore or for any questions at medusauff@gmail.com.

#film #vegasfilm #EatMoreArt #LasVegasArtsandCulture #vegasculture

EMAV Review: NBT's pristine 'Nutcracker' is one of their best yet ★★★★★

Snow featuring Jaime DeRocker as The Winter Fairy.

★★★★★ - Irresistible

There was a clarity of artistic vision this year to Nevada Ballet Theatre's holiday presentation of "The Nutcracker" at the Smith Center. Guided by choreographer James Canfield with répétiteur Tara Foy, the company hit the sweet spot in its seventh year of staging Canfield's own unique version of the 1892 ballet, set to the original score by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky and based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's 1816 novella "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King." The collaborative elements inherent to the always beautiful, art-nouveau-look show--including sets by Patricia Ruel, costumes by Sandra Woodall and Christopher Larson, and lights by Peter Jakubowski--coalesced seamlessly and overflowed with a generous spirit and a remarkable sense of immediacy. The mood was one of carefree exuberance both onstage and off during the second Friday performance. The Christmas Eve 'Party' scene with its soft lighting and splendid Victorian dollhouse feels like it is filtered through the memory of young heroine Clara, danced by Emma Mcgirr with head-to-toe, adolescent awakening. The vignettes featuring parents and children are focused and festive, and include social dances and boys and girls doing boyish and girlish things. Even the bewildered grandfather, played by Enrico DeMarco, hams it up with his "flossing" moves. Caroline MacDonald as Clara's jealous sister Louise flirts with Clara's love interest the Nephew, played with amusing befuddlement by Benjamin Tucker (who later dances the Nutcracker and the Prince). His uncle and Clara's godfather is the clockmaker Drosselmeyer, and Steven Goforth reprises the role with a distinguished and tenderhearted presence. Drosselmeyer brings gifts to wow the crowd, like the stuffed bear danced by Oslaniel Castillo with acrobatic glee, and mechanical dolls Harlequin and Columbine, danced by Michael Caye and Betsy Lucas. The clock peals and Clara dreams she is miniature like her nutcracker, brought to life by Drosselmeyer. With her porcelain dolls and toy soldiers escaped from their cabinet, she and the Nutcracker battle the Rat Queen, danced with panache by Christina Ghiardi, and her Rat army underneath the towering Christmas tree. The scene feels abbreviated, but remains eerie as McGirr moves with frightened stiffness and duets with Goforth in hypnotic slow-motion under stark streams of light.

Mirella Costa Neto as Winter Fairy and Sergio Alvarez as The Snow Prince.

The most awe-inspiring moment occurs when the curtain abruptly drops to reveal a wondrous, wintery land with snowflake stars and full moon floating in an inky sky. Under blue moonlight and gently falling snow that builds to a flurry, the corps de ballet in translucent tutus swirl like snowflakes with sweeping, sequential movements and pretty patterns. Mirella Costa Neto is a luminous yet feisty Winter Fairy, and her clean lines and sassy style add warmth to the chill. She and the tranquil Sergio Alvarez as the Snow Prince make a complementary pair, and he does elegant grand jetés and multiple tours en l'air in his solo work. The "Enchanted Fairyland" features gnarled ropes for trees with lights that beam like sunlight through leaves. Cheerful sprites and the corps as watercolored, dragonfly flowers waltz about, and each fairy has her own distinct personality and bug-like movement. Ghiardi is joyful with her fluid fouettés as the Spring Fairy, MacDonald is bright and fluttery as the Summer Fairy, and Lucas is earthy and energetic as the Autumn Fairy. As the Sugar Plum Fairy, Jaime DeRocker exudes kindness and grace and plays up the fairy movements with clipped pointe work and crisp piqués. Having Clara and the Prince present the "Divertissement" reinforces the idea that these dances are gifts. The "Spanish" pops with Rachel Thomson, Katherine Zimmerman, Caye, and Robert Mulvey as spicy Toreadors. The "Arabian" features an assertive Brooke Lyness with Alvarez as the peacock who descends in his cage for a duet of gliding splits and sensuous lifts. He opens his dazzling plume, and the audience swoons. In the "Chinese," gone are the stereotypical movements, but it's an endearing piece featuring Krista Baker, Isabella Kowalski, and Ryan McNally. The charismatic Jun Tanabe is a showstopper in the "Russian" with his virtuoso leaps and multiple tours, along with Rachel Ackerman, Jordan Mcintosh, and Danielle Maas. And David Hochberg as the flamboyant "Mother Ginger" with dancers from NBT's Academy as her children bring down the house with their acrobatics and high-caliber dance technique.

Students of Nevada Ballet's school put their training to work.

The "Grand Pas de Deux" puts focus back on Clara and her handsome Prince. McGirr and Tucker enjoy each other and their mutual affinity is palpable. They embrace each pretty lift and difficult lateral twist as a moment that marks a growing emotional intensity, and when McGirr does an arabesque penché into a kiss from her kneeling Prince, their devotion feels complete. The grand "Finale" and "Apotheosis" feature bits from each dance with performers in curtain call and brings the show full circle. With Christmas only days away, the children in the audience filled the air with "Oohs" and "Aahs" and a collective feeling of anticipation. That's what it's all about.

#LasVegasArtsandCulture #SmithCenter #NevadaBallet #NBT #Review #Dance #Theatre #vegasculture #EatMoreArt

NCT/UNLV students offer help from their heARTS for one of their own, Isabella Rooks

By Lisa Story

Arianna Mercy, Lauren Tauber, and Keaton Johns and peers join the chorus of voices asking for help for Isabella.

When UNLV theatre alumna Isabella Rooks was stuck down on Oct. 2, 2018 by a mysterious neurological disease that rendered her paralyzed and unable to breathe on her own, her Friends Ruliko Cronin and Sydney Story wanted to do something – anything – to help their friend.

The two were conversing in the Judy Bailey Theatre (JBT) green room about what two poor college students could do to help. Almost as a joke, Noah Keeling, a fellow UNLV theatre major, suggested they “put on a show” in typical Glee fashion.

The suggestion led to multiple meetings with UNLV theatre department leadership and faculty to create the UNLV All Stars: A Benefit for Isabella Rooks on Dec. 2 – exactly two months after Isabella was admitted to the hospital.

“The benefit developed from an off-hand comment, but led to a night to honor Bella, our friend and fighter,” said Story, a senior in UNLV’s stage and screen acting program.

Professor and Actor Nate Bynum

Cronin and Story met with Norma Saldivar, UNLV Theatre Department Chairwoman, and Performing Arts Center (PAC) staff to secure a venue, a date, and handle details they never knew were required of such as event.

“We first thought about this from the performance perspective, but soon learned there were numerous logistics required,” Story said. She assumed because it was a benefit, there would be no charge for the venue, staffing and other hard costs that needed to be covered. While the UNLV PAC did what it could to provide services at no charge, there were still equipment and labor costs totaling a little more than $555.

“It was a learning experience for sure,” Story admitted.

“There seemed to be one curve ball after another,” Story added. “I wasn’t sure the benefit would actually happen until we stepped on stage.”

In addition to the logistical challenges, both Story and Cronin were juggling their student and personal commitments. Story was coordinating the benefit while taking 19 credits (seven classes) and opening in Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost” at UNLV.

Meeting with faculty to plan the show and settle PAC business was fit in between classes, rehearsals, part-time jobs and life.

“It was so lovely to see the outpouring of energy for Isabella. The power and faith that Sydney and Ruliko demonstrated was awe inspiring,” Saldivar said. “Like true Rebels, they imagined they could make an impact, and sent a message to Isabella that her community was rooting for her recovery. In addition, they were able to raise funds that will, I am sure, be appreciated by the Rooks family at this time,” Saldivar said. “We hope that those who can see the benefit online will take a moment and visit the GoFundMe page to make a contribution to this good cause.”

Cronin and Story wanted to create an event that mirrored Isabella’s personality and character. The show included skits and songs from performers Bella worked with at the university and in the community, including professionals such as Christopher Lash from “Million Dollar Quartet” and Brandon Burke from the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

Despite having only one rehearsal, the benefit ran smoothly and demonstrated the participants’ love, enthusiasm and joy at celebrating a fellow actor and beautiful friend. Cronin made sure that Isabella saw a video of the benefit, and Isabella’s family told both Cronin and Story how touched they were by the outpouring of love and support. Some of the benefit performances may be viewed online.

Sydney Story offers a song for Isabella

In total, the benefit raised $1,271.51 after expenses. Cronin deposited $375 in cash donations into the GoFundMe account, while the university deposited the remaining $896.51 in a bank account for the family.

While Isabella is making small improvements, she still is in the ICU and is fighting to regain control of her body. Doctors have not yet identified what is causing her illness, and her parents are researching resources to help diagnose their daughter and find a cure.

Donations may be made directly to “Isabella’s Road to Recovery” GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/isabella039s-road-to-recovery.

#Theatre #UNLV #NCT #LasVegasArtsandCulture #vegasculture #EatMoreArt