Entertainment Archives - Page 8 of 16

6 Films Movie Lovers Can Expect to Watch in April 2023

San Francisco Post Staff on April 3, 2023

As the first quarter of 2023 comes to an end, the film industry is gearing up to release some of its most anticipated movies in the month of April. From action-packed blockbusters to heartwarming animated features, there’s something for everyone in this exciting lineup.

Here’s a detailed look at the must-watch movies coming to theaters in April 2023:

1. Paint

In the playful movie Paint, Owen Wilson rocks a curly hairstyle reminiscent of the 1970s. The film is loosely inspired by the life of famous TV painter Bob Ross. Carl Nargle, a respected and adored member of his community, secures his own art show on a regional TV station, which results in him gaining the affection of numerous women. However, his reputation as an artist and public figure is soon in jeopardy.

2. Air

The documentary Air focuses on Phil Knight and Sonny Vaccaro’s pursuit of acquiring a talented young Michael Jordan in the 1980s. Their aim was to entice him with the idea of corporate synergy, which would transform sports, culture, and fashion through the introduction of Air Jordan.

3. The Super Mario Bros. Movie

The popular Nintendo game, Super Mario Bros., has been turned into a movie with a talented cast of actors, including Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Pratt, Jack Black, and Seth Rogen. The movie is set to be released during the Easter holidays and is expected to attract both fans of the game and kids. The plot follows Mario, played by Pratt, as he teams up with Princess Peach, played by Taylor-Joy, to fight against the villainous Bowser, played by Black.

4. Renfield

After the Super Mario Bros. Movie was released, another director, Chris McKay, who had success adapting a children’s game for the big screen with The Lego Batman Movie, is releasing a horror comedy called Renfield. The movie features Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult as the lead characters, and it follows the story of Dracula’s assistant, Renfield, who wants to explore the world after centuries of serving Dracula.

5. Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant

Guy Ritchie is having a successful year with people talking about his latest film, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, and a new TV adaptation of his film The Gentlemen coming out in 2023. However, his most anticipated project is Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant, which is an action-packed film set in Afghanistan. The story follows a brave interpreter who helps an injured sergeant through dangerous terrain while facing threats from al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

6. Evil Dead Rise

The upcoming movie “Evil Dead Rise” was originally planned to be released on HBO Max, but now it will only be shown in theaters. It is the fifth installment in the horror franchise and tells the story of Ellie, who fights against supernatural forces that have taken over her apartment building. The previous reboot of the franchise in 2013 gained popularity for its dark and unsettling horror, and with the original trilogy’s director, Sam Raimi, gaining more recognition, fans are eagerly anticipating this new movie.

Conclusion

There are many exciting and highly anticipated movies coming out in the near future. From superhero blockbuster films to comedy films, there is something for everyone. Horror fans can look forward to Evil Dead Rise, while those who enjoy comedy action movies can check out Renfield. With so much to look forward to, it’s a great time to be a movie lover!

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Twitter Sued By Six Companies For Failing to Pay Bills

San Francisco Post Staff on March 20, 2023

Elon Musk-led social media company Twitter faces yet another lawsuit concerning unpaid bills from six companies. The California-filed case comes after the alleged failure to pay a vendor named Writer, Inc.—a startup business that becomes the sixth company to sue Twitter.

Musk took over Twitter four months ago. Since then, the company has started dwindling after the $44 billion deal was enacted. Currently, Twitter continues to function as an entity with fewer employees than when it first started.

Six Lawsuits and a Bird

Like the latest lawsuit filed against the social media company, Twitter failed to pay bills from five other companies, including Columbia REIT, Private Jet Services Group, Blueprint Studios Trends, Innisfree M&A, and an analysis group that provided service to the company before Musk took over.

The first problem leads to Columbia REIT defaulting on building loans, including where Musk holds office at 650 California St., in San Francisco. Meanwhile, Twitter also faces other behind payments inside the company itself, cutting off employees from the workplace chat application Slack, owned by Salesforce.

Is an AI Company Suing Twitter?

Writer, Inc., previously known as Qordoba, is an AI company dedicated to helping businesses create content, meeting client standards for brand, copy, and other style guidelines. The company sued Twitter for failing to settle dues amounting to $113,856.

However, Twitter’s Vice President of Product, Trust, & Safety, Ella Irwin, states, “We do not comment on pending litigation or various speculation surrounding Twitter’s financial health,” to CNBC via email.

Are Lawsuits a Red Flag to Companies?

Edith Hotchkiss, Boston College Finance Professor, weighs in on the disputes. Hotchkiss states that non-payment disputes are common after a buyout, similar to how Musk acquired the billion-dollar company. “More typical of companies that are within a very short window of filing for bankruptcy,” she adds.

Meanwhile, John T. White, a Vanderbilt University Finance Professor, agreed that the moves were unusual. The litigation over non-payment to vendors can result from “incorrect and aggressive capital structure,” he says.

“Using more debt and less equity reduces the amount of liquid cash Musk and his equity co-investors had to contribute at closing, which can potentially generate a higher internal rate of return if the company turns out to be profitable,” White said.

The Future of Twitter

Meanwhile, Twitter continues to suffer despite the numerous cost-cutting measures, including layoffs and cutbacks on perks and infrastructure. It struggles to work on generating positive cash flow to pay its obligations. If the situation continues, White claims it will become a red flag as the company will likely end up financially distressed.

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The New Age of TikTok: How Brendan Ruh Grew Santa Cruz Paleo Using Social Media

San Francisco Post Staff on March 14, 2023

It’s a cold windy night in Santa Cruz. Brendan Ruh, founder of Santa Cruz Paleo sits with his film crew analyzing footage and edits from their latest shoot.

What they are looking at is not for a commercial, a movie, or anything of the sort. Instead they look at about 50 pieces of 9-15 second content for TikTok and Instagram reels.

Brendan is one of the many founders who have delved deep into the world of social media to grow their brand.

“I started using TikTok and reels during the pandemic and it simply performed better than any other content we posted.”

Brendan has surged from a few thousand followers to now over 400,000 across multiple platforms.

The effect on his business he says has been substantial…

“I realized I genuinely use my products and live the lifestyle I promote so instead of paying influencers to promote our products I decided to become the influencer.”

As large brands struggle to navigate the new waters of social media, founder led younger brands seem to be taking hold. The users on social media can sense when something is genuine and engaging with a post from most creators is just is not as cool as engaging with a piece of content from Brendan (@santacruzmedicinals).

Brendan is the founder of two companies, Santa Cruz Medicinals and Santa Cruz Paleo. They sell health and wellness products such as protein powders, deep sleep capsules, magnesium, vitamin D, creatine, and more. They do all their own manufacturing and operate with a lean direct to consumer approach. This has allowed Brendan to stay competitive price wise while maintaining margins to allow growth.

“It has been a journey. We started Santa Cruz Medicinals 6 years ago, so we aren’t new to the health and wellness world. Santa Cruz Paleo is 2 years old but we think it will surpass Santa Cruz Medicinals in size in the next year or so.”

Spending time with Brendan, he seems busy. Always taking a call, on his phone sending an email, or filming content. On his TikTok and Instagram he posts multiple times per day. The key, he says, is that not all the posts are promoting products at all. They are just simply providing free, useful information.

“If you actually want to grow on social media you cannot just push your product. I provide tons of free info, recipes, and fun posts that I genuinely believe help people. Occasionally, we will do a product focused post but that is probably only 15% of the content.”

Overall the growth on TikTok and Instagram, he says, have positively affected his businesses and he plans to continue the social media push to fuel the growth.

If you want to see what Brendan Ruh is up to, checkout @santacruzmedicinals on Instagram and TikTok and if you want to try some of their products search Santa Cruz Paleo on Amazon.

The Americans Stand True and Stand Tall in 2023

San Francisco Post Staff on February 20, 2023

Contemporary artists have introduced audiences to new genres and ways of creating music, infusing it with new sounds while incorporating elements of other conventional genres. Many artists reflect their own essence of what contemporary music means to them and introduce their sounds to new audiences. The Americans’ latest and sophomore LP, Stand True, did just this; mesmerizing listeners with waves of romanticism and heartbreak layered into their bluesy rock aesthetics. The album was released by Loose Music and produced by renowned music producer T Bone Burnett.

Through Stand True, The Americans showcase an undeniably fresh approach to a tried-and-true genre. The band’s unparalleled proficiency is evident in each song on this studio LP. It has 11 songs, with a few of them being about heartbreak, something millions can relate to. Frontman Patrick Ferris shares of the tracks on the release “There are a few heartbreak songs on the record, which I guess there always are. We lost people close to us during COVID, so there are some funeral songs as well. Real uplifting, I know. Musically the album is more contemporary sounding than I’ll Be Yours, our previous release. Of course, most things sound contemporary to us. It’s hard to know what someone else might think.”

The Americans are a Los Angeles-based music band that first came into the spotlight with their debut album, I’ll Be Yours, in 2017. The album, also released on Loose Music, was listed in the top #15 in the UK Americana Top 40 chart, and ranked at #19 on the Indie Breaker’s Chart. Following the success of the band’s debut album, their sophomore project, released on May 6, 2022, also made the top 25 on the Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40.

The band has been together for a number of years, as they first came together in high school. Diving deeper into their history as a band, Ferris reveals, “When we met in high school we were all deeply entrenched in blues and folk music from the 1920s and ’30s. That’s still our biggest influence, but ’50s rock & roll plays a big part too. As far as lyrics, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, and Joanna Newsom. That music doesn’t exactly influence us literally, in that we’re not trying to sound like anyone in particular. It has taught us how good a song can be, and some ways to go about that. I grew up in San Francisco, in North Beach. Jake was born there too, but moved to LA as a kid, where he met Zac. Jake and I used to go see The White Stripes at The Fillmore. We saw Toots and The Maytals there on my 20th birthday. I’ve always wanted to play there.”

Despite their love for the classics, the band has never tried to sound like an imitation of these artists. They’ve worked hard to preserve the essence of conventional genres and blend it with contemporary sounds—no wonder The Americans have hit so many milestones just a few years into their careers in the music industry. The band has appeared on The Late Show (CBS) and the TV series “American Epic” (PBS/BBC). The band’s music has been featured in films like Texas Killing Fields, A Country Called Home, Little Glory, and the TV series “No Tomorrow.”

Stand True has a more contemporary sound than I’ll Be Yours. As Ferris talks more in depth about the songs on the release, he shares, “I wrote a song called “Romeo” that I felt sure was the best thing I’d ever written. But then I played it for Jake and Zac, and they weren’t so sure about it. Even my mom said she didn’t like it, so who knows. The song is about a troubling romance I had as a teenager, floating on the metaphor of the story of Romeo and Juliet.”

In 2015, The Americans backed up Nick Cave, Lucinda Williams, and Courtney Love at the 60th-anniversary celebration of Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl.” Other artists they have backed include Ashley Monroe and Devendra Banhart. The Americans have joined Ryan Bingham on his national tours twice. They have also had the opportunity to work closely with Jack White and T Bone Burnett. Regarding playing live in the post-pandemic world, Ferris gives some personal insight sharing, “We’ve heard other artists complain that attendance is down following the pandemic. A lot of bands are touring all at once, since everyone wants to get back on the road. We’re really just relieved to be playing shows again.”

With all those accomplishments, what The Americans have cherished most is playing in front of a live audience. To see people enthralled by their music has been the greatest satisfaction for the band so far. The Americans want to continue creating more music while performing live and setting stages on fire at music events around the world. “Playing live is the best part of being in a band, so we’re looking forward to more of that. And we have more music coming out this year. Stay tuned,” shares Ferris.

Local Zoning Agent Accidentally Sells Horses for Slaughter

San Francisco Post Staff on February 16, 2023

Image commercially licensed from Unsplash

Local Town removes horses from property due to alleged zoning violations. While in transport from property for holding until zoning violations were fixed, contracted horse haulers stole the horses, selling four horses to be slaughtered across country lines. The Town Zoning Agent failed to check the transportation company’s business credentials.

In this tragic misunderstanding, local farm looses four horses. One horse of 9-year-old, Alana who bought the horse with her own money from mucking stalls. One horse of 12-year-old Melissa who was given her horse for her 10th birthday. Judy’s horse she has owned for 10 years and Isabella’s horse which has won a handful of Grand Prix events on.

Quote from Alana’s mother: “I can’t believe that this is even happening. Alana hasn’t come out of her room in a week now, and I am very worried for her. Her horse meant the world to her, ever since she could walk and start talking, she was obsessed with horses. I told her that I would never let her have a horse, but I couldn’t keep her away from the barn. By the age of 5, she made her way into a barn position mucking for $2 a stall. She saved up and bought her own horse. She won’t stop crying, that horse means the entire world to her. It is so sad this is happening. No town has the authority to even trespass on the private property let alone remove someone’s property without a hearing, this isn’t over we are suing.”

A lawsuit by families, horse boarding facilities, and local civil rights activist groups has been filed against the Inland Wetlands Zoning agency and the local police department.

Comment from the Town Attorney: “I have worked for this town for the last 15 years of my career. The town has been reasonable, and this is out of line for them. This will be the last case; I represent them in. We admit and are not trying to hide what happened here as it is the saddest thing I have seen in my life. We are hoping for a quick speedy trial and have arranged to offer a settlement to the property business owner and the families affected in this event. We apologize once again.”

As to the alleged zoning violations of the horse boarding facility, the individual that initiated the complaints to the town was an employee of the town and owner of adjacent property of the horse farm. Still under investigation as to why there was not a warning or formal hearing before the local town zoning agency and police department acted. We were unable to reach the individual who initiated complaints, their residence looked vacant and town staff confirmed that she was no longer employed by the town.

The local town sends families and the horse boarding facility owners their sincere apologies. Local town and police department have not found any leads on the horse transportation company where abouts.

The Local Zoning Agent has resigned due to unknown reasons, but assumptions that resigned because of the protest that came to his residence that was led by neighboring fire and police departments.

This is a fictional story taken out of the book called Saddlebrook written by Kasdyn Click. These scenarios are not too far-fetched. Go to casetext.com and search farming.

Seattle-Based Global Business and Sales Leader Launches Her Groundbreaking Book, ‘The Storyteller’s Mind Movie : Become an Emotionally Connected Leader Through Your Storytelling Skills’

San Francisco Post Staff on February 10, 2023

Melissa Reaves is a Seattle-based Executive Storytelling Mentor and the Founder and CEO of Story Fruition. Reaves has decades of experience in the marketing and sales of start-up companies. She has helped countless C-Suite executives and business professionals learn to become storytellers in their presentations, Town Halls, media podcasts and signature talks.

You’ve just added the title of author to your list of accomplishments in life with your new book, The Storyteller’s Mind Movie. Did you learn anything new during the writing process of this book?

Writing this book was pure joy because I let it write itself at times. My clients are taught to open their “Creative Flow” by allowing a story to come out freely, not hindered by overthinking. And I did the same thing when writing the book. The outline of the book was really what we teach in our Mind Movie Workshops, and more. There are elements that just flowed out that I found entertaining, like the Life Chapters section that is packed with story prompts. The improviser in me really had fun playing on the keyboard.

Being a major contributor to so many various work industries, do you ever find it difficult to remain so motivated?

When you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work. I find such joy in the projects that come forth and now that Story Fruition is growing coaches, it feels even more invigorating to watch them revel in the stories of our clients and pull out the art to balance the data and science. But, if I have a day that feels “slower” –I give myself grace. I’ll go work out, or even take a cat nap to recharge my battery. That’s the fun of being an entrepreneur—you call your own shots.

You have a wealth of knowledge in the sales, marketing, acting and writing worlds. How did this knowledge shape you to want to create Story Fruition?

My combined skills are exactly what Story Fruition represents. I finally figured out how to utilize and monetize my acting skills—because I didn’t want to go down the traditional “cattle call “road that actors believe they are supposed to do. I tried LA and didn’t feel it was a fit for me. But, I always found ways to use my acting in my sales and tech jobs. My quick humor made meetings fun—and productive—and improv teaches fearlessness. It takes a LOT to shake me in a business meeting because the clients are just going to throw an objection, that I can likely handle. But can they create a Hip H’Opera based on a one-word suggestion from the audience on the fly? This is when acting in a scene, and then randomly a beat boxer starts up—and you must start rapping the rest of the scene with other actors– is invigorating (and a bit unnerving)! But, when you and the cast walk off the stage having entertained a couple hundred people, it is absolutely confidence building. I recommend every business professional study improv at some point in their careers.

Sales is a coachable skill. Marketing is a learned skill. Acting is also coachable. This is what Story Fruition brings to executives—because every presentation they deliver is sales and marketing and requires a little bit of acting to deliver it beautifully.

What are some challenges someone learning about storytelling might encounter and how might they overcome them to be successful storytellers themselves?

First, they need to believe that their stories matter. At the beginning, many clients doubt they are going to share anything interesting and feel wilted—which could not be further from the truth. Storytelling is innate, but most of us were not taught how to TELL a story in school, unless you were in the theater department. But, once they start to see how fun it is to create vivid Mind Movies using my method—they begin to blossom. And some might say, “I’m not an actor, there’s no way I can do that!” But I’ve seen transformation from some nervous and resistant executives. When they start to play in dialogue, for example, and hear for themselves how much more entertaining that makes their story—the light bulb goes on. It’s a delight to witness.

Do you have any hobbies outside of the work world that you enjoy in your spare time?

I love to exercise. I go on hilly walks in my neighborhood with 10 lb weights in both hands and basically get both my much-needed steps in and a ½ hour non-stop upper body workout at the same time! Exercise and weightlifting have been a part of my life since I was 16. I also love to cook and maneuver the kitchen well. My mother loved to cook and so do I. I also love to cook with my kids and friends. Food gathering is a rich human experience and I just love it.

Pick Up a Copy of ‘The Storyteller’s Mind Movie : Become an Emotionally Connected Leader Through Your Storytelling Skills’ Today!
https://www.amazon.com/Storytellers-Mind-Movie-Emotionally-Storytelling-ebook/dp/B0BSVLHVQZ/

Magpie: A Musical Odyssey Through the World of Spirits, Senses, and Symbolism

San Francisco Post Staff on January 23, 2023

The Magpie bird is a creature of mystery and intrigue, often associated with the spirit world and primal energies. In a similar way, the band Magpie creates music that connects listeners to a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. Since 2010, the group has been touring across the United States, blending elements of folk rock to create an unforgettable musical experience.

Lead singer Zach Dunn brings a soulful intimacy to his performances, whether playing solo on an acoustic guitar or fronting the full electric ensemble. He says, “Magpie, the man or the band, is one of those rare musical forces that needs to be experienced.”

Zach uses the symbol of the Magpie bird as a consistent image so people can quickly identify and associate an entire body of work with which they already have an intimate experience. He believes it’s a recognizable symbol that intrigues someone to dig deeper. “That bird holds a certain significance to me as kind of a spirit animal; it’s literally guided me over the years. It also represents an entire landscape, culture, and people that I’m familiar with,” Zach shared.

A lot of Zach’s songs are written on the road, deep in nature. In fact, he was living out of his vehicle traveling around the central coast of California in 2021 and met another kindred musician friend while surfing in Santa Cruz. They found fast musical chemistry, drove their rigs down to some of those sacred coastal places where the mountains meet the ocean, and just started writing songs together. A little more than a week later, they are sleeping next to a park in the mission district of San Francisco, recording the songs they just wrote inside of legendary Hyde Street Studio. The travels continued throughout the summer, and the two kept writing songs in different nature spots. Just as they would finish writing new songs in a new location, new opportunities to record the songs would immediately unfold for them. “I believe that good things happen if you put in the effort. You might as well put effort into the things you like doing,” he said.

But music is not the only art form that Zach delves into. During the Flu craze, Zach spent most of his time painting, expressing his thoughts and emotions on a canvas. He started bringing an art gallery of his paintings to concerts to enhance the overall experience. Also, he just finished writing a book, soon to be released, about some of his traveling and music touring experiences.

Zach’s lifestyle is also unconventional. He has spent much of his adult life living out of a vehicle. He created his first album in 2013 while living in an old shag-carpeted RV parked in front of different friends’ houses in East Nashville, believing that, in some ways, living an unconventional life on the road brings a certain simplicity, freedom, adventure, and connection to nature that can be worthy of creating something from. “These days, it seems you have to be a slave to afford the common creature comforts, and it makes me sad the way things have become unbalanced,” he insightfully shared. “We are all on the same team in this game we call life. I’ve just been persistently creating longer than many and found several effective ways to express the experience. We all have our special gifts and nuanced ways of giving them,” he added.

In conclusion, Magpie is a band that creates a unique blend of folk-rock that speaks to the deeper aspects of life. Through their music and their unorthodox lifestyle, they strive to connect listeners to the otherworldly realm of spirits, senses, and symbolism. Their lyrics are not just words but a window into the soul. Zach Dunn paints an image of a band that is not just about making music but about living a life that is full of adventure, beauty and freedom. They are not only a band to listen to but an experience to be had.

Britain Under the Microscope: Author’s Latest Work Shines Light on Britain’s Actions in Bengal

San Francisco Post Staff on January 20, 2023

Image commercially licensed from Unsplash

Britain colonized India in the 18th century, but the effects and results of the two-century rule of subjugation are still evident more than seventy-five years later. Author Fazle Chowdhury’s new upcoming book, With Blood and Flame: How the British Empire changed Bengal, is a fantastic piece of history that dissects the British empire’s period of ascendence and the degradation of a wealthy province.

The book, which will be released on August 17, 2023, joins a list of many other books that the author has released in the past, with his most notable work, “Why Ukraine Matters.” Chowdhury’s new book explores the many questions that have come to the fore after the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 2022.

Chowdhury is the author of eight books and, in his previous writings, has addressed the effects of the colonial era, both in fiction in his critically acclaimed novels The Other Side of Eden and Never Among Equals and now in non-fiction. With Blood and Flame, he has produced a gem where he has consistently maintained his objectivity, focusing on the realities of today and bridging that with the past actions of the British empire.

Chowdhury explains that the British empire saw Bengal as a key supplier of its own economic resources that it badly needed, and through its British East India Company (EIC), exported the best of cotton and silk straight to the United States. It was so profitable that the British empire instituted the “1767 Townshend Acts”, one of a series of incidents that sparked the American Independence war against Britain.

Having competing powers such as the Austrians, Dutch, French, and Portuguese, the British empire began to take drastic measures and, from 1757, at the Battle of Plassey, overthrew the last Bengal emperor. As the EIC would control Bengal in the next decades and after its end, London would rule Bengal directly from 1858. Their reigns would be a combination of mismanagement of the province altogether, turning a prosperous economic hub into the utmost and abject poverty within two hundred years while it extracted as much wealth as possible to its own cities in Glasgow and London.

By 1947, British colonial rule ended and two new countries, India and Pakistan, split Bengal between them. West Bengal went to India, and East Bengal formed the eastern wing of Pakistan. In 1971, the eastern wing of Pakistan (East Pakistan) became independent Bangladesh.

Chowdhury assesses that while the Crown represented stability upon Queen Elizabeth’s ascendence in February 1952, in sharp contrast, the British elected government did not share the same characteristics. The Tory establishment was chiefly responsible for the actions of British forces in places like Aden, Cyprus, Kenya, Malaya, Nyasaland, Suez and Northern Ireland well after the era of British imperialism. As Chowdhury demonstrates, such episodes even after the end of the British empire, the imperialism mindset had not left. The British “ungentlemanly” actions, even after what looked like the days of the empire had been behind them, was still present.

As Chowdhury says in his Preface, “The odd reality is that the monarch was a mere symbolic face of a declining empire and some would even say a decline of democracy in Britain. Yet, some of the most brutal horrors of the British empire, such as the April 1919 Amritsar massacre, a butchery of British General Reginald Dyer that killed 379 unarmed men, women, and children in a single incident and injured more than a thousand. Similar episodes followed in Gujarat in November 1913 in the Mangarh massacre and then in 1922 the Pal-Dadhvav massacre.”

Finally, Chowdhury points out and with evidence that those reiterating that the “British had civilized India” is simply incorrect. Britain’s position as “extortionists” changed when they had few options but to grant India independence. He says, “Britain left India as close of a Gentleman as a bankrupt colonial power could be,” but it also left behind a treacherous subcontinent with preventable divisions, with one war looming, followed by three more wars, a genocide and a series of famines rooted from its own measure of governance. Something Britain should take responsibility for but never have.

Chowdhury’s precise analysis is ultimately a decisive rebuttal and a firm narrative that above all else and even the negative aspects of the British empire while still plaguing the political dynamics, could not stop the inevitable. In the 21st century and more than 75 years after colonial rule, Bangladesh and West Bengal are far from Steve Coll’s description of “the epitome of pathetic South Asian wretchedness.”

Is Haitian Artist Clinton Benoit on a Musical Diplomacy Mission by Mixing Heavy Metal Guitar with Merengue The Dominican Music?

San Francisco Post Staff on January 19, 2023

Background to the border dispute

At the very beginning, the Haitians and Dominican Republic were seen as one entity occupying Hispanola Island. But not until 1844, when the Dominican republic forcefully gained their independence from Haitian Rule, in what is referred to in history as the Dominican War of independence. Following this, there were a series of attempted invasions by the Haitian soldiers to regain control which led to fights between the two republics. These invasions were, however, unsuccessful as the Dominicans were victorious in every battle. Since then, Dominican-Haitian relations have been rather shaky.

Nevertheless, there is some cross-border collaboration in sectors like infrastructure, business, and health. Many Haitians relocate to the Dominican Republic in search of seasonal or permanent employment so they may send money home to their families. Even while it provides economic advantages, this alone has heightened friction between the two nations.

Therefore, there is a recognized border dispute between the two nations that call Hispaniola Island home.

Clinton Benoit, however, via his music, is repairing broken ties and fostering cross-border encounters between the two nations. It has long been recognized that music is a language shared by all races and ethnicities that unites people from different nations, erasing barriers and urging them to learn about one another’s cultures. With the release of his new single, “La Vida No Es Complicada,” which translates to “Life is not difficult,” Benoit is preaching the language of togetherness via his music. He preaches the fleeting aspect of life as an incentive to keep things simple in his most recent song.

The 49-year-old Haitian artist was born in the city of Jacmel, which serves as a border town between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. In a tangential way, it could be argued that Clinton’s history as a native of Jacmel, Haiti, predestined him to serve in this capacity as a peace advocate. His experience with the rich and varied Caribbean music cultures that have influenced him to become the musician that he is, as well as his ancestry, served as the inspiration for his songs. When faced with a challenge to learn something new or to explore new musical collaborations, Clinton loves to explore and never backs down. This is reflected in his latest single, La Vida No Es Complicada, a brilliant fusion of heavy metal guitar and the indigenous merengue music of the Dominican Republic. Merengue music of the Dominican Republic is a lively, upbeat and fast-tempo musical genre, while heavy metal guitar takes its roots in the early 70s in Great Britain.

Together, the Haitian singer and an oddball group of Dominican musicians gave Dominican music some flavor. The new song has been favorably received in both the Dominican and Haitian communities since its debut.

By working with Dominican musicians to create a new merengue sound for his new track, which has the potential to alleviate tensions between the two countries, Clinton did a remarkable job with his new song and made the right decision. Clinton Benoit claims that the atmosphere between the two collaborators in the studio is usually enjoyable. In his words, “We play beautiful music, not shady politics, as musicians.”

As regards activism, this is not Clinton Benoit’s first rodeo. It is gathered that Clinton Benoit is lending a hand by being an ambassador for Association Fanm Kore Fanm (AFKF), a non-profit organization in Haiti and in the US that provides social services to women. During the epidemic, it was said that Clinton had gathered a group of prominent artists, actresses, radio hosts, activists, designers, and vocalists to create a public service announcement encouraging people to protect themselves and others from the coronavirus.

About Clinton

Clinton Benoit was born on July 20, 1973. He is a musician, producer, singer, police officer, and social worker known for his innovative and boundary-pushing approach to music. He first gained recognition with his 2010 album Funky Konpa, a blend of rock and Kompas direct. Now, he is pushing heavy metal guitar on Dominican music to calm down the rhetoric and animosity between the two nations of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

www.clintonbenoit.com

Sideline Prep Makes 2023 the Year to Go Pro for Aspiring Cheerleaders

San Francisco Post Staff on January 13, 2023

There’s never been a better time for amateur cheerleaders to go pro. According to GeNienne Samuels, Co-Founder and President of Sideline Prep, recent trends in the industry make 2023 an exciting time for those who aspire to join a professional cheerleading team.

Samuels should know; in her former career, she was a cheerleader in the NFL for eight years and in the NBA for 3 seasons. Her company, Sideline Prep, gives high school, college, and other aspiring dancers and cheerleaders all the tools they need to become professionals, and has already successfully placed performers on 19 NFL and 15 NBA performance teams.

Demand for professional cheerleaders is returning

Samuels noted that, over the past few years, some NFL and NBA teams disbanded their professional and semi-professional dance teams.

“Because of the allegations and negative publicity a few years ago, some teams felt like having dance entertainment teams was too controversial or too much of a strain on their organization since new requirements necessitated paying the entertainers better,” she explained. “There was so much uncertainty at that time. Some of our clients who wanted to go pro felt scared or worried that they might make a team, but it would be disbanded the next year.”

However, the industry is currently less volatile and unpredictable. “What we’re seeing now is that the industry is stabilizing,” Samuels added. “Teams that were disbanded are now coming back. Professional and semi-professional cheerleading teams are being revamped and reintroduced, and the teams that were bold enough to keep their entertainment programs are remaining strong and true to their original identity.”

This means professional entertainment teams have regained their status as a viable long-term “next level” opportunity for dancers, cheerleaders, and other entertainers.

Professional cheerleading squads are diversifying

In other good news, Samuels says that professional cheerleading squads are becoming more diverse.

“Teams are becoming more open and accepting of a diversity of skin tones, hair textures, body images, and body weight,” Samuels said. “For example, women aren’t held to such strict requirements for their weight, and more women of color are able to wear their natural hair.” Men, she noted, have also been added to rosters in increasing numbers.

Samuels also observed that professional cheerleaders’ uniforms have changed. Gone are the revealing attire of the past.

“A lot of teams are going more hip-hop, with full-coverage shirts for tops and leggings or pants for bottoms,” she said. “That opens the door more for people who don’t have six-pack abs!”

Cheerleaders who don’t have a technical dance background should also take heart. While teams used to require complex technical moves like double or triple pirouettes, Samuels says these expectations still remain. The more advanced skills are a “nice to have” and not always required, especially for the NFL.

“Some teams are opening up to people who haven’t trained from the time they were little girls,” she said. “They’ve started to consider women and men who are self-taught — including people who join programs like Sideline Prep and learn the technical skills and dance abilities on their own.”

These changes have made choreography more innovative and dynamic. “Maybe one-third of their team can execute a certain skill, so in the center of the lineup, that third is doing that skill while the thirds on the right and left are doing something different,” Samuels explained. “Teams are getting creative with their choreography based on the skill set of the people that they have.”

While dance ability, stage presence, showmanship, appearance, and stamina remain important, Samuels says teams have begun to prioritize additional skills and assets.

“Teams are looking for someone who has interview skills and public-speaking ability,” she said. “They want people who can interact on a human level with fans. We’re also seeing teams being impressed with performers from different professions and backgrounds. They’re hiring beyond just the dance skills by paying more attention to each applicant’s resume, as well.”

Instead of focusing exclusively on dancing prowess and physical appearance, today’s teams “really look at the person for who they are and take all aspects into consideration,” Samuels said.

Auditions are more accessible than ever

According to Samuels, the Covid-19 pandemic changed the audition process for professional cheerleading teams for the better. Previously, aspiring members of these squads needed to travel in person to every round of auditions from the beginning, but teams are now more open to virtual auditions.

“Many teams are still allowing people to submit virtually, at least for the first round of auditions,” Samuels said. “Instead of having to spend money to travel to the first round, you can do it in the comfort of your home or a local dance studio — you just record your video and submit it. When you make it to the second round, then you can spend the money to go in-person with everyone else to participate in those auditions.”

Without needing to pay for costly airfare and hotels, more people can afford to participate, and the number of teams within reach expands. No matter where amateur cheerleaders are located, they can experiment with this career path by submitting first-round videos online and attending virtual prep classes to test the waters.

Seize the day

2023 is the right year to go pro, Samuels suggested, because the competition is going to become fiercer in future years. “Professional cheerleading is becoming more popular,” she said. “People are learning more about how to go pro and figuring out it’s not necessarily out of their grasp.”

For these reasons, Samuels encourages all aspiring professional cheerleaders to take their shot. “With anything in life, if you have a desire, goal, or aspiration — if there’s something that has been tugging at you, but you keep putting it off — ‘why not now’ is the better question to ask,” she said.

For some, making professional cheerleading dreams a reality simply requires getting out of their own way. “Unfortunately, whenever you have something you want to achieve that’s out of your comfort zone, naysayers, people in your life, and your own negative self-talk might try to keep you safe and comfortable because of the fear of rejection,” she said. “But now is the best time to go after your goals and dreams.”

Category: Entertainment