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Actress, Film
Actress Francesa De Luca to star in upcoming film 'Café Mnemosyne'
September 28, 2017 ewgpress Leave a comment
Originally from Hammersmith, London, Francesca De Luca knew she was meant to perform at the age of six. At the time she was dancing, but she realized the stage was her home. She knows what it is to connect with her audience, to make them feel something they didn't know was there. She brings everything she has to every performance she does, and this is what makes her such an outstanding actress.
Throughout her career, De Luca has risen to one of England's top actresses. She has worked alongside extraordinary talent like herself, including Producer, Writer, and Director Francis Ford Coppola, known for many award-winning films including The Godfather trilogy. He is also one of De Luca's idols.
"He reminded me of my grandfather with his warmth and he told me I reminded him of his daughter Sophia. I spoke about my Italian heritage and it felt like I had known him for years," she said.
With a busy upcoming couple of years, De Luca will once again appear on the big screen in several new films. One of these is Café Mnemosyne, set to be released in 2019. The film will be directed by a prominent director, who approached De Luca knowing he needed her to make his film a success, and that she would be perfect for the role. This was four years ago, and now, the film is finally coming to fruition. De Luca immediately was on board.
"I've seen this director's previous work and love the script and think he will be a nice guy to work with. I like working with talented, nice people, and it's important to feel relaxed on set," she said.
Scripts are extremely important to De Luca. She wants to read a script and feel compelled by the story, and if she is, that is when she will take on a role. Café Mnemosyne is one of those films. It is set in a strange diner where a young girl shows up with an odd dilemma, throwing the regular café occupants into a panic. The suspense is evident while she finds out what the café really is and what will happen to her next. De Luca will be playing the role of Carrie, who is one of the main characters in the diner. The film is expected to make its way to many of the world's most prestigious film festivals.
"The filming will be in New Jersey so it will be an opportunity to spend time in New York again and spend time with my cousins and friends. I love New York as a city and I love the directness of the people. Also, I love playing Italian America New York characters, so I enjoy people watching while I am there and picking up traits that I can later bring to my characters," said De Luca.
There is no doubt that De Luca will help make the films a success. She is known for working on acclaimed projects, such as the docudrama Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent. De Luca played the role of Margot Fonteyn in the film, a true Prima Ballerina. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last year, and was subsequently selected for the prestigious Hamptons Film Festival and the Key West Film Festival. Earlier this year, it was released in theatres across the United States and Canada, receiving rave reviews from the New York Times, with a score of 82 per cent "Fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes. It was released on iTunes in July of this year, and went straight to number one in the documentary chart and top ten in independent movies.
"I am proud to have been part of such a successful film," said De Luca, speaking of Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent.
De Luca saw similar success with the film Passports. The film follows Tanya who returns after six wild years of travelling. Once home, her mother and grandma make her join an online dating site and go on a date. The date is a visit to a psychic. During the visit, unexpected events occur and the guy hits on the psychic secretively sliding to her a piece of paper reading 'Call Me.' The psychic ignores him and tells Tanya her fortune and after Tanya shows the psychic a 'new' game of magic in which she makes her date's car keys disappear. From then on things get heated between the three. This film is a dramedy with beautiful cinematography and interesting characters. De Luca plays the pivotal role of the psychic. Passports went on to win several awards at many prestigious international film festivals.
"During Francesca's audition for Passports, we decided to cast her immediately because of her commanding stage presence and the many unique details she brought to her acting. What makes her special is her uncanny ability to perform at the drop of a hat, improvisation skills especially with dialogue, and her capacity to do numerous accents from all over the world. We are currently in the development stages of our first feature Midnight Daughter, filming to start early 2018, and are casting Francesca in one of the primary roles of the film. Her vast skill set allows Francesca to fit into different characters. Overall, Francesca's dedication to the craft of acting and her easy-going attitude are two of the many reasons why we like working with her," said Jeremy Pion Berlin, the Director of Passports.
Audiences have a lot to look forward to with De Luca gracing their screen presence so frequently in the coming years. She has recently been working with Mark Myers of CSP Management, who also plans to cast the actress is roles with his production company Citizen Skull over next few years. She is also looking forward to working on various roles in US television programs. She is definitely one to watch out for.
ActingActressBritish ActressBritish TalentFilmfilmmaking
Actress, Television
Actress Michelle Howarth to share important world issues in TV show 'Hummingbird'
Michelle Howarth
Growing up in South Africa, Michelle Howarth started acting as a way to express herself. The country has eleven official languages, and communication barriers often arise. Being on stage, she found she was able to transcend this obstacle and connect with her audience no matter what language they spoke. The arts, she found, can relate to any person. Film and television are enjoyed around the world, in every culture. This reality got her hooked, and her natural talent and creative instincts are what allowed her to rise to the top of her field, making her one of the best actresses to recently come out of South Africa.
"I wanted to be a professional actor because I knew I was obsessed with the craft and wanted to mold it into my career. I wanted to specialize and fine tune my acting and creativity to the point that I am able to create films and performances that resonate globally. I was big into physical theatre growing up, and that medium especially is able to communicate across transnational borders and cultures. I wanted to be able to do this on a global scale through film and television and tell stories that would otherwise go unheard. I wanted to be a professional actor to be a part of an artistic process that initiates conversation, understanding, empathy and insight across the globe," said Howarth.
The twenty-five-year-old actress has done just that. Through her work in several successful projects, she has captivated audiences around the globe. She has had a leading role in films and television series such as Just Animals, Parenthood, Talk Stew, Shameless, King Krule, and Jackson and Randall, as well as stage roles in Angel Academy, Chicago, Ivy, and Hanamichi. Howarth consistently impresses not only audiences, but her colleagues as well. Sonja Smit, the director of the touring play Villian in which Howarth was the star, says the actress' performance greatly contributed to the success of the play.
"Michelle has the rare ability to truly inhabit a character, always merging naturally into the character's personality without losing any of her inherent "star power", an ability that was on full display in her extraordinary lead performance in Villain. It is this exceptional quality that has allowed her to become one of the most exciting new faces in theatre and independent cinema over the past several years, and there is no doubt in my mind that her career will only go from strength to strength," said Smit.
Despite such success, the highlight of Howarth's career comes from her work in the highly-anticipated new television series Hummingbird. The series tells the story of a group of American teenagers that go missing in the United States. Detectives look into the disappearance of these teenagers and see that, although they disappeared independently of one another, there are similarities between the cases. After further investigation, one detective in particular notices a thread between each case. Each one seemed to be very active online and in each case met a member of an extremist group in Syria, and went over to Syria to do their Jihad and join ISIS. The show reveals the psyche of each individual and the process of their decision to now be a part of ISIS.
The story is incredibly timely, given the war against ISIS and terrorism that is taking place around the world, with such divisiveness on how to handle people that make these decisions. Not only is the show based on true events, it will be shot in a realistic way, and each actor knows the responsibility they carry with their portrayal of their characters. Howarth wanted to do her part to enlighten audiences on such an important issue.
"It is an important story that needs to be told, and I am proud to be a part of a show that is didactic as well as entertaining. I believe the show will shed light on socio-religious and economic issues and help initiate conversation and critical thinking around said issues," she said. "I believe it can create a basis for conversation and debate around the subject matter on a global platform. I also believe it will give insight to a world far removed from most people and hopefully offer understanding of that culture and religious practice."
In Hummingbird, Howarth plays the pivotal role of Cassandra, one of the American teenage girls who goes missing. It is later discovered that she met an older man online and after falling in love with him, was flown over to Syria to do her Jihad and join an extremist group. She is one of the girls who they are able to find. However, unlike the other girls, Cassandra refuses to come back to her family and the United States. Cassandra is strong willed and happy in her decision to convert to this new religion and live this extremist life.
Howarth's portrayal of Cassandra will allow the audience to witness such a journey and possibly understand the reasoning behind it. Cassandra reveals the extremities and consequences of social media and online interactions. She shows the journey through the psyche of a young teenage girl who goes to extreme lengths for the man she loves. Through her portrayal of Cassandra, Howarth will allow viewers to witness the practices of the Jihad and life in Syria, as well as what it would be like for a female member of an extremist group such as ISIS. The role of Cassandra is vital to helping reveal why these girls made the decisions they did and how their lives ended up.
The show is expected to be an instant hit, and Howarth's portrayal of Cassandra is a large part of that. The story is something viewers around the world want to know more about, and Howarth will help audiences gain insight into such troubled mindsets.
"In today's world, there is much turmoil regarding this subject matter, and this series dives into these issues. The story is important because it may help one experience and understand a world we are removed from and its practices and realms," she concluded.
Audiences have a lot to look forward to from the South African native. Beyond Hummingbird, be sure to check out Howarth in the upcoming film Madness Descending, which will be released next year.
ActingActressHummingbirdSouth African ActressesSouth African TalentTelevision
Producer, Uncategorized
Aiming For a Dream, Producer Angel Cassani Strikes it Hot in Hollywood with the UFC
September 28, 2017 Lorraine Wilder Leave a comment
Producer Angel Cassani
"While working in financing I dreamt of myself one day working in films in the famous Hollywood, California," says Angel Diego Cassani, a Latin American expert financier who is conquering Hollywood today.
Angel is a veteran financier with more than 15 years in the field of financing and filmmaking. He started Global Capital Markets Group in Chile, Colombia and Peru, a big multi-national client portfolio including BellSouth, Motorola, Avon, and more. He has now brought his expertise in financing to his true passion – film making.
The film business operates in the creative sphere, but first and foremost it is a business. So, in 2008 Angel Cassani, who understands both entertainment and financing, came up with a brilliant idea to capitalize on the tremendous popularity of the UFC at that time. The UFC was and is still today, the highest growing sport in the world, and was featured that year on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Prize fighters and show business have been drawn to each other through history. Jack Dempsey, a heavyweight champion during the movie explosion of the roaring 20's did not defend his title for 3 years, instead he headed to Hollywood with his actress wife Estelle Taylor, and made a dozen films while the leading contenders kicked their heels. In 1952, Sugar Ray Robinson retired from boxing after unsuccessfully challenging for the light heavyweight title, the great fighter put his skills to good use and went on tour as a dancer, earning $15,000 a week at that time. Robinson had parts in movies alongside, Frank Sinatra, and Marlon Brando, and many others.
Angel had the brilliant idea of using the popularity of the UFC and began approaching heavy-hitters, and Hollywood players, as well as the studio Lionsgate, which immediately jumped at Angel's out-of-the box creativity of and signed a six picture deal with him and his partner Hector Echavarria, a famous world martial arts champion, and film and television star from Argentina.
There are clear parallels between the life of an actor and the life of a prize fighter. The structure of the two industries is almost identical at the top of the tree.
"An elite few are well rewarded," says Angel. The titles that Angel was crucial in closing these deals with the famous Hollywood studio. This joint venture led to pictures like "Confessions of a Pit Fighter" with famous movie star Armand Assante, as well as "Death Warrior," "Unrivaled," "Never Surrender," and "Chavez Cage of Glory."
These films not only started the cinematic career of UFC prize fighters Quinton Jackson and Georges St-Pierre, aka GSP, who would both later on be cast in giant Hollywood projects like the remake of "The A-Team," and the "Captain America" series, but also generate millions in profits for Lionsgate who invested a small amount in the pictures that yielded a tenfold return on investment.
That is when Angel Cassani began to dream even bigger. Other Hollywood studios approached him to do the same deal with Lionsgate but Angel turned them down and decided to move on and produce big Hollywood pictures. Angel and his partner, Hector Echavarria, then teamed up with iconic Hollywood legend, Ronald Shusett, whose movies, which include titles such as "Alien," "Total Recall," and other hits grossed over 1.5 billion at the box office.
Over the years of acting as a financial manager, Angel managed a number of due diligence engagements, such as acquisitions, disposals and debt restructuring projects and was often involved in assisting foreign investors in identifying and understanding the differences between Argentine GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), IAS (Internal Accounting Standards) and U.S. GAAP depending on the origination of a target business. Angel also manages acquisitions, merger, sales, debt rescheduling for companies like Super Canal, Grupo Uno and Multimedios in Latin America. All of these companies related to the entertainment industry.
"It was there that I realized that my dreams one day may be a reality," says Angel.
Now Angel is working with other A-list Hollywood directors and actors and is ready to launch his own Hollywood studio. Angel is currently producing three Hollywood films including "Last Tango," "Hit man's Funeral" and "Hunter." "Last Tango" will be directed by Steven Campanelli who was the cameraman for Clint Eastwood for more than 20 years on films like "Million Dollar Baby," "Sully," "Grand Torino," etc. Campanelli also directed "Momentum" with Olga Kurylenko and Morgan Freeman. "Hit Man's Funeral" was written by TJ Mancini who also wrote "Find me Guilty" for Vin Diesel and produced films like "Riddick" and the Sundance Film Festival nominated film, "Stray."
"Hit Man's Funeral" is an Irish gangster story– think "The Usual Suspects" meets "Reservoir Dogs," offering a peek inside the gritty world of dangerous hitmen, where no one can be trusted and everyone's a suspect.
"My goal in film is to work with the best people in the industry and create a piece of work I can truly be honored by, which is incredibly difficult but it's the challenge and risk that makes it so exciting," says Angel.
Producer Angel Cassani has secured himself as a top producer in the international entertainment industry; and the formation of his new Hollywood film studio has brought the attention of the Hollywood elite to him. Angel is one of the few people in the world that can say that he did everything he dreamt of doing in his life and being part of the Hollywood history is one of his biggest accomplishments.
Argentinian ProducerChaves Cage of Gloryhector echavariaHit Man's Film FuneralMartial Arts FilmNever Surrender filmProducer Angel CassaniUFC
Editor, Television
Editor Peter Hein digs into the emotion of 'Britain's Got Talent'
As an editor, Peter Hein does not begin his work until later in the process. He doesn't figure out how it is shot, who will play what part, or what costumes they will where. He doesn't stand behind the camera, looking for the right angles to frame a face. His role is much more nuanced. He does not write the story; he finds its heart and soul. During editing, he sees the emotion in each scene, and tweaks the storyline to truly hit home with its viewers. Whether it's to make people laugh or cry, he gets every frame just right to connect with his audience. As an editor, he is responsible for the story coming together, and he is brilliant at it.
Hein is known in the United Kingdom for his exceptional work on many popular television programs. The Denmark native has worked on shows like X Factor and First Dates, as well as award ceremonies like The BAFTA Awards. He uses his extensive knowledge to glue audiences to their seats, ensuring they watch every moment of a show, feeling connected to the cast they see on screen.
This is perhaps most exemplified with his work on Britain's Got Talent. The editor has been part of the show since its second season, and is consistently asked to come back due to his substantial contributions. Sophie Coen, the Senior Producer of the talent competition, says that Hein's work is incredible, and he plays a large role in the editing team.
"Peter is a real team player and always goes the extra mile. He is a dream in the edit. He is creative, decisive, and hugely experienced. He is always positive and upbeat, even when presented with a very tricky story, and with incredibly tight deadlines he manages to make it work. He is a real joy to work with," said Coen. "On Britain's Got Talent, Peter would often be the editor that the show would depend on to make a story work. His passion drives his talent. He is one of the best editors I have worked with. He understands narrative, humor, and emotion. Peter is able to draw upon his varied experience to make the edit work. He is a lead editor – he can inspire, direct, and lead others. Peter thrives under pressure and always delivers amazing work."
The Got Talent format has been extremely successful in many countries, and the United Kingdom is no different. Hein's work is what makes auditions so captivating, and even those not living in the UK have been privy to his talents. Many of his videos from the show have gone viral, including the iconic Susan Boyle audition, which has tens of millions of views on YouTube alone. The video starts in a comical way, with the audience laughing at the unassuming singer. By the end, viewers are in tears by her talent and the judges' reaction.
This is what Hein does with every scene he works on. During the audition process, he spends weeks sifting through footage for seven minutes of the show, but it is worth it. As the show progresses into live shows, he works to edit videos of the talents' journeys prior to their performances. His work is what makes viewers root for different contestants.
"Britain's Got Talent is one of the two hardest shows I've ever worked on. The days were very long in the earlier series because the show was still finding its feet. But the teams on that show have always been great, and the success and team effort makes it worth working on it. You get given a story and you try and make it the best you can, bring something to it nobody thought of before, whether that be the style or music choices. Anything to make it 'pop'," said Hein.
With Hein's work, the ratings have grown substantially each year, and now it is one of the most successful television formats in the world. Hein brought his own sense of comedy and emotion to the show, resulting in such a feat. The show's third season final was the highest rated television show that year, when Susan Boyle won the show. It even won a BAFTA award.
Despite his accolades, Hein finds working on the show to be a team effort. He loves who he works alongside, and finds everyone pulls together to make the best show they possibly can. The show has been on for eleven years and still entertains audiences with the same format, and that is because of the stories they are sharing with the world; stories that Hein plays a large hand in telling.
In the beginning, Hein wanted to work on Britain's Got Talent because it was a new and growing format that would provide a different editing experience. At the time, he was extremely grateful for the opportunity. He still is today.
"I still find it incredible when people love what I do. It's a real compliment to know that after all the years on the show I can still surprise and entertain people with how I edit. Britain's Got Talent has a special warm feeling about it, it has always had that, and I feel like I done my part to give the show that well-loved feeling," he concluded.
Britain's Got TalentBritish EditorBritish TalentEditingEditorFilm EditorTelevision
Dancers, International Creative Talents
Maria Akpan Scouted by Mark Anthony for Prince Revelation Tribute Show
Maria Akpan
When most parents ask their children what they'd like to be when they grow up, they expect to hear answers like professional "actor" or "dancer" and simply hope that the novelty will wear off with age. This, however, was not the case for Maria Akpan's mother and father. From a very young age, Akpan knew that she had a gift and over the years, she has been determined to share that gift with the world. The talented dancer and choreographer is passionate about not only keeping the art of dance alive, but ensuring that it remains fresh, engaging and entertaining. She has creativity soaring through her veins and is eager to continue shedding her greatness before aspiring dancers everywhere.
Only a small fraction of human beings can confidently say that they get to do what they love for a living, and Akpan is one of those few people. In living out her dreams, Akpan has built a strong career full of invaluable experience. Her exceptional reputation has earned her a vast amount of achievements. For instance, Akpan performed as a lead dancer for the production Thriller Live, where she was tasked with taking the audience on a journey through Michael Jackson's childhood and career. She has also appeared in a number of hit music videos, like Funky Twinz featuring N. Kay's video, Entertain You, where she choreographed each dance number and subsequently acted as the lead dancer in the video. Her exposure to high quality productions and performances has allowed her to showcase her skill set before the eyes of several major production companies and fellow dancers. As a result, she has been recognized for her talents and even won an award in 2014 when Shirlene Quigley, a former dancer for Beyoncé and Rihanna, was looking for a dancer that wowed her enough to donate $500 toward a scholarship for the Broadway Dance Centre in New York. Unsurprisingly, Akpan blew her away and won the competition by a landslide.
One of Akpan's most notable career highlights was when she choreographed and danced in a lead role for Mark Anthony's, Prince Revelation Tribute Show. When Anthony was looking for talent to not only choreograph dances for the show, but also star in the show alongside him, he demanded that Akpan come on board. He was astounded by her natural affinity for choreography and dance when he stumbled upon her website online. Akpan was thrilled to be able to lend her talents to the show, as Prince was one of her favorite artists. The job allowed her to dance in well-known venues all over England and she thoroughly enjoyed all of the various aspects that the job entailed.
"Working on this project was so awesome. Contributing my skills and work to this show made it feel like my own. It was even more fulfilling when crowd members would approach us after the show to let us know that they thought Prince would've been proud watching it. It was surreal doing the festivals because you knew people had travelled miles to be there just to see the show. The energy coming from the audience was addicting and Twitter views were at an all-time high after each show," recalls Akpan.
Akpan is no stranger to the world of choreography and her unique delivery and storytelling are what set her above her competition. She has had to fight for every opportunity she has accomplished thus far in her career and has developed a certain strength through her perseverance, a strength that every dancer sticks around long enough to develop. It is a grueling profession, but it is one that Akpan excels in. Her unprecedented skills as a dancer are the reason that she is a perfectionist, holding herself to the highest standard possible, as she knows what she is capable of. In stressful situations, she thrives and her drive is at an all-time high.
Lucie Camelo, who was fortunate enough to dance alongside Akpan in the Prince Revelation Tribute Show, witnessed first-hand Akpan's profound ability to take a production or performance to the next level. She knows of the quality of work that Akpan is capable of delivering and considers herself lucky to have worked with such unparalleled talent.
"Working with Maria was definitely uplifting and enlightening for me. To be able to work closely with someone of her caliber was intense and just to get a glimpse into what it takes to be successful in this industry was a blessing in itself. She is a true inspiration to many. Her drive, commitment, and discipline for her work is unlike anything I've ever seen. Working with her left me inspired," says Camelo.
So, what is in store for this extremely talented dancer? Akpan created her own dance class called "#LinesNsaucewithmimi" which is taught in heels and has earned her great success so far. She also teaches children's dance classes and continues to audition and perform for productions that interest her. On top of that, she is often called upon to teach private lessons for individuals of all different levels, from beginners and non-dancers to professional artists. In future, she hopes to dance with iconic artists like Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, Madonna, Usher, and Christ Brown. So long as she is teaching, choreographing, and dancing, she will be content and motivated to continue along her successful path.
British DancerBritish TalentDanceDancerPrince Revelation Tribute Show
Meet Jemima Penny, the Costume Designer Behind some of the World's Most Striking Music Videos
Costume Designer Jemima Penny. Photo by Shireen Bahmanizad
Modern music videos are huge productions with many of them having budgets comparable to that of a feature film. From Gwen Stefani's "Make Me Like You" video coming it at $4 million to Madonna's $5 million video for "Express Yourself," and who can forget Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson's "Scream," which cost a whopping $7 million back in 1995, millions of dollars go into creating the visual stories and elaborate worlds we see in popular music videos. From expensive lighting to ornately designed sets, a great deal of effort goes into making these stories as memorable and visually striking as possible, and one of the key elements in all of this is costume design.
UK costume designer Jemima Penny is the one they call in to design the wardrobes for many of the high-dollar music videos. Over the years, Jemima has done it all. From working on the music videos for Sir Paul McCartney's "Dance Tonight" featuring Natalie Portman and Mackenzie Crook, and designing Lily Allen's "LDN," Roots Manuva's "Buff Nuff," Juliette Lewis and the Licks' "Got Love to Kill," and countless others, Jemima has designed for some of the most famous artists in the world.
Compared to film, costume designing for music videos brings with it a unique set of challenges in terms of turnaround time, which require Jemima to work quickly to source the costumes, sometimes even fitting the cast and making alterations on the same day as the shoot.
"Prep periods and the shoot are very quick when working on music promos and commercials, and my team and I need to source and fit costumes within days… As such we need to create an instant vision for the song," explains Jemima. "There is less emphasis on the intricate details and character work and instead I concentrate on designing a look for the video that immediately captures the audience and tells the story."
In the same way that no two videos are alike, the wardrobe Jemima designs for each video she works on is completely different from the next; and with well over a decade of experience in the industry, the costumes she's designed span the gamut. She says, "In some instances, for example the Klaxon's 'Golden Skans' video, these costumes need to be totally fantastical and abstract, and for others, including Calvin Harris' 'Sweet Nothing' it is about creating a complete world in moments."
As the costume designer on the music video for Calvin Harris' hit song "Sweet Nothing" featuring Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine, the wardrobe Jemima designed was essential to creating the video's seedy underworld environment full of strippers, call girls, their pimps and depressing looking clientele.
Directed by Primetime Emmy nominee Vincent Haycock, the "Sweet Nothing" video was a massive success airing on popular music channels all over the world and garnering well over 200 million views on YouTube.
For the costumes in the video, Jemima drew her inspiration from eastern European gangsters, streetwear worn by gangs in London's poorest and roughest neighborhoods and styles from the 80s skinhead movement, which set the dark and grimy tone for the video's overarcing story of a woman (Florence Welsh) dealing with an abusive pimp boyfriend.
She explains, "We shot the video on location at an old, rough working man's club, and the fight scenes over-night in an alleyway in the East End of London, in torrential rain. Often there is not time to fit all the characters in costumes prior to the shoot so I sourced multiple options for the costumes for each character and then my team and I put together looks and decided on what costume feels best for each character on the day."
Coming up with the final costumes for the cast of the caliber of music videos Jemima designs for on the same day as the shoot is as high pressure as it sounds; however, her background as a fashion stylist for magazines such as Vogue, ID and Dazed has endowed her with the unique ability to come up with killer looks on the fly by mixing fashion styling techniques into her work as a costume designer.
Jamie Clark, the producer behind "Sweet Nothings," says, "I love working with Jemima. She has a unique talent for producing super stylish costumes. The cast and crew always respond to her really well, and her costumes are spot-on."
Another area where Jemima's tried and true talent for blending her fashion styling skills into her work as a costume designer is in the world of commercials, where turnaround times can be just as fast paced. A sought after figure in the industry, Jemima has costume designed commercials for leading brands across the globe including Johnnie Walker, Kellogg's, Absolut Vodka, Microsoft, Cadbury's Chocolate, Mastercard, Virgin Media and countless others.
Jemima explains, "My experience pulling together costumes for music videos and commercials together with my fantastic team of makers and buyers, assembled through years of working on different theatre and opera productions, means that I'm able to not only produce creative designs for a brief very quickly and with confidence, but facilitate the entire process from original design, to sourcing of materials and costumes, and oversee full costume makes from scratch."
One commercial where these carefully honed skills were paramount to the success of the production was the ITV promo for the hit BAFTA Award winning series "The X-Factor" featuring series judges Cheryl Tweedy, Simon Cowell, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw. Set in futuristic science laboratory, Jemima designed original costumes for the entire cast featured in the lab from the bespoke lab coats worn by the celebrity presenters, which featured a splash of gemstones shining from the lapel, to Cheryl Tweedy's unforgettable 'Fembot' costume with the angular neckline.
"I wanted to create an outfit for Cheryl that showed off her great figure, and was futuristic and sculptural," She explains, "The whole feel had to be poppy, youthful, fashion forward, stylized and work with the feel and ethos of the TV show itself."
Cressida Ranfield, the producer of the promo, explains, "When I saw the brief for this job, and realized that it was hugely reliant on strong costume aesthetic, I knew that I wanted Jemima to design it. She is a consummate professional, and has that rare combination of being able to deliver excellent costumes and an innate sense of style that means she is able to work with celebrity clients with ease."
Aside from being a sought after designer for music videos and commercials, Jemima has made a prominent mark in the film industry through her work as the costume designer on films such as "20,000 Days on Earth," "Minimus" and "In the Dark Half." She recently wrapped production on the upcoming films "Stella's Last Weekend" directed by Polly Draper, "Slumber" directed by Johnny Hopkins, and the music documentary "The Quiet One," which follows the life of Rolling Stone Bill Wyman.
If all that wasn't enough to keep her busy, Jemima Penny is currently a guest Fashion Editor for the popular fashion-focused publication Luxure Magazine as well.
Calvin Harris Sweet NothingCostume Designer Jemima PennyCostume Designing for CommercialsCostume Designing for Music VideosSlumber filmThe X-FactorUK Costume Designers
Producer, Television
Producer Katie Horbury is essential for Disney channel hit
Katie Horbury
When Katie Horbury decided to pursue a career as a television producer, she knew that she had her work cut out for her. Amidst fierce competition, grueling hours, and unpredictable schedules, she would have to come out on top. The now esteemed television producer knows that if she were to go back in time and share with herself the key to her success, it would be to make her dream her number one priority, and to make sure that she stops at absolutely nothing to make it her reality. Early on in her career, she moved away from family and friends and worked odd hours, oftentimes sacrificing weekends and holidays to gain as much experience and knowledge in her field as possible. Fortunately, it all paid off. In the entertainment industry, reputations are paramount and as a result of her unwavering drive, Horbury's is world-renowned.
As Horbury became more established in her career and took on more prestigious roles, her name became a staple in television production. Having lent her talents to hit television shows like Big Brother, Don't Tell the Bride, and Come Dine with Me, Horbury is well-versed in producing high quality content for reality television. Her job requires her to take an idea from a script or a project outline and bring it to life. She needs to be able to capture the emotional response that her audience is intended to feel and communicate it to them creatively and meaningfully.
"In pre-production, I must be able to visualize the final product, plan how to achieve it, and be able to communicate that to my team to ensure that everyone is working toward the exact same goal. During production and shooting, I have to create a buzzing but professional atmosphere to allow the entire team to function confidently and to the highest standard possible. This usually has to be done under harsh time constraints, so I have to keep the momentum up for the duration of the project. Finally, the edit is where the magic happens. Everything I envisioned in pre-production, and hopefully even more, comes together here when myself and my editor wrap up our work," stated Horbury.
Horbury considers the highlight of her esteemed career to have been in her lead production role for Disney Channel Vlog. The show's tremendous success is a reflection of Horbury's natural affinity for producing. Horbury, who is no stranger to producing for large audiences, was particularly humbled by Disney Channel Vlog's 3.5 million views and 300% increase in viewership since she took over the role of Director and Producer. For the first time in her career, Horbury was working with a very small team and had the opportunity to showcase her ideas and her ideas alone. For a producer used to working with hundreds of team members, she was pleasantly surprised by how much she enjoyed managing a smaller, more intimate group of individuals. To date, she has been the mastermind behind 52 episodes of the hit show, each littered with her ideas, scripts, edits, and more.
Disney Channel Vlog airs weekly, featuring two teenage hosts and targets children between the ages of 8 and 16. The Vlog has three segments and shows all of the latest Disney channel shows, DIYs, spoof music videos, comedy skits, hosts that talk about issues concerning teens today, and more. During pre-production, Horbury generates all of the concepts behind the show's content, ensuring that every segment promotes the Disney Channel in a natural, compelling way. She has the distinct pleasure of creating and pitching a series of ideas to Disney and writing each script from start to finish. During production, she composes and decorates each set to appeal to her audience and appear fun, colorful and engaging. She then produces and directs the talent and camera crew while shooting. Once production concludes, Horbury masterfully edits all material gathered to make sure that only the best footage is kept. She adds her finishing touches in the form of after effects, visual and sound effects, graphics, etc., and the result is profound. Viewers are eager to tune in again on a weekly basis and consume whatever great content Horbury has to offer them that week.
In addition to Horbury's satisfied viewers, she is used to receiving positive feedback from her co-workers. She differentiates herself by her ability to inspire her crew and make them feel at ease when they work with her, keeping them up to speed with her visions and addressing any questions or concerns they have along the way. Heather Nair, who works closely with Horbury on Disney Channel Vlog, witnesses Horbury's remarkable talents on a daily basis for the show and considers herself lucky to work with such an unprecedented producer.
"Working with Katie is an absolute dream. She knows exactly what she wants, is decisive, and very knowledgeable in her field of work. She has such a magnetic personality with a fantastic sense of humor. She is so good at what she does because she is incredibly sharp and on the ball. She is also extremely creative. On this show, not only does she script and direct each shoot, but she comes up with all of the ideas for each segment," said Nair.
For Horbury, working for Disney Channel Vlog has been a dream come true. Not only does she get to do what she loves, she has the satisfaction of knowing that she has been a positive influence in the lives of young viewers. She hopes to continue to inspire children to pursue their dreams as feverishly as she has through the content she creates for them and takes pride in knowing that 10-year old Katie Horbury is living her dreams to their fullest extent.
British ProducerBritish TalentDisneyDisney ChannelProducerProducingTelevision
Event Producer, International Creative Talents, Korean Talent
Design Director Bonnie Park talks working with the world's biggest brands
When Bonnie Park was a child in Seoul, South Korea, she was always interested in making things. She would catch herself looking at an object, or a space, visualizing in her head how she might have created it differently. When she was a teen, Park moved to Switzerland and found her love for creation intensified as she immersed herself into such new and enticing architecture. Even the smallest of details became eye-catching works of art, and her simple sketches molded into intricate drawings. This was where Park's journey in design began.
Now, she is internationally celebrated for her work as a Design Director, collaborating with some of the world's largest brands. Working with CS Global, a worldwide agency delivering strategic brand consulting and integrated production, design, film and lighting services for live event, print, digital, television and travel retail, Park is well-known for bringing the visions of her clients to life, be that through fashion shows, product launch events, gala dinners, private dinners, social activations, press previews, photo shoots, and more.
Park's process begins when her clients share the experience that they hope to generate for their guests. From there, she brainstorms with her design team, producers, and lighting designers to exceed her client's expectations. This requires Park to coordinate many different aspects of design. For instance, she has to communicate her design with the scenic vendors who are responsible for building her drawings and renderings. She also searches for new technologies and materials to use that fit within the client's budget, as well as keeping on top of trends that will satisfy both her clients and her guests. It is an overwhelmingly challenging role, but Park does it with ease.
"As stressful as my job can be, it is extremely satisfying when you see your work come to life. Looking at your finished product makes all of the troubles and obstacles along the way disappear. In my opinion, an effective leader knows not only how to bring people together, but how to help them work together harmoniously. In my line of work, I'm exposed to so many different professionals and as a result of that, I get to learn about areas within the industry that I'm not always as familiar with. I think that is the best part of my job – despite all of my experience, I am continuously learning and there are always new challenges for me to solve," said Park.
The truly remarkable part about Park's career, however, is the rate at which it has grown. When CS Global was exposed to her talents, they offered her a position in the company as a design intern immediately. From there, in just five short years, she has become their Design Director. In this position, she is responsible for managing teams and is given full creative freedom to execute her ideas.
During her time working with CS Global, Park has been involved in several major projects with world renowned brands. In fact, a highlight of her career was working on an event for Tiffany & Co., when they celebrated the 175th anniversary of their Blue Book Collection. Working with her team, they built their iconic Tiffany jewelry box on top of the New York's Rockefeller ice rink. The surrounding building was lit in Tiffany blue, and the result was extremely impressive. Inside, all of the furniture was custom made, as the evening was inspired by 1920s architecture and style. There were cigarette girls, and the band The Rockettes performed with an aerialist in the air. Park had to largely consider the technical side for the project, and learn how to have an event in a public space, something that attendees don't typically have to consider at such an event.
Daniel Gabriel and Bonnie Park at the La Perla event, photo by Dimitrios Kambouris
Such consideration was also required when Park designed an entire life-size, two-story doll house with six different rooms for a La Perla event. She had weeks of limited sleep in her determination to execute the perfect design. Each room had its own theme, such as the study and the foyer with the grand faux marble staircase, the bedroom that was covered in moss and baby's breath, the dining room with custom flower chandelier and swings, the living room with oversized paper flower art work, and the terrace wrapped in ivy and bougainvillea. Despite the fact that her team encountered several obstacles, Park managed to pull the project together with a high degree of efficiency and professionalism.
"Initially, this event was more daunting than doing your taxes alone. Bonnie's intellectual focus, educated background on interior design, professional background of event design, leadership skills and general modest, human and strong disposition turned a nightmare event into a project to be proud of," said Kevin Bova, Production Director at SBI. "My main objective in this industry is to only work with people that I respect on both a professional and emotional level. Work is work, but if I have the opportunity to make work a little more enjoyable, I will take it. Bonnie seems to structure her professional persona with a foundation of strength and respect. She treats those who work with/under her as her equals, while controlling each situation with incredible ease. Her disposition creates an environment where people are eager to collaborate, which in turn yields the best possible result without the 'blood, sweat and tears' that others in her position use to create what she does effortlessly."
Bova and Park have worked together on many projects during her time at CS Global, and Bova knows that no matter what the Design Director works on, it is formidable. When Park worked on the 10th Year Anniversary of the Black Orchid Event with Tom Ford Beauty, she transformed the gallery space at the Christie's. It was a regular gallery space, with white walls and a wooden floor which she turned into an elevated, high end pop up for guests to immerse into Tom Ford's vision of Black Orchid. Park and her team created three different rooms. In the first room, the walls were covered by screens projecting videos and created an infinity box, whereby guests had an immersive experience learning about the birth of the Black Orchid. Park's aim was to transport the guests to the world of Black Orchid. The second room introduced the campaign model for the first time, for which Park created a peekaboo wall which invited the guests to peak through a gap and watch the campaign video. In addition, it prohibited the editors from sharing the content on social media, as it was yet to be revealed to the public. In the last room, a touch screen table revealed the Black Orchid's ten-year evolution, creating an interactive experience. It was an instant success.
Internationally, Park has had the same effect. She travelled to Shanghai for a private internal event for Estée Lauder. As the Design Lead, she created the overall layout and the flow of the evening, the printed graphic collateral, as well as custom designed furniture.
"It was exhilarating studying the existing architectural details that I applied to designing the custom furniture. It was my first time designing furniture and the experience was unlike anything I had ever done in the past," said Park.
Park also has skills in merchandising, showcasing the jewelry line for Jennifer Meyer, the first time this happened at New York's Fashion Week. Park explored different and unique ways to showcase the jewelry, and the feedback from both the press and the client were overwhelmingly positive.
Her skills are becoming legendary in New York City and the rest of the world, and Park has no plans on slowing down. Her designs carry her character, and she constantly exposes herself to different art forms in order to keep growing, and to keep bringing her clients something different every time. She encourages others to follow in her footsteps, and knows the power that creation can have.
"Travel and expose yourself as much as possible to any form of art, whether you choose to cook, to dance, to perform, to write, or whatever else you enjoy. Always allow yourself to be curious and inspired. Most importantly, don't be afraid to fail or change. Search for your strengths and weaknesses because once you know what they are, you'll know exactly what you need to work on. You cannot be good at everything, but you can absolutely be good at something," advised Park.
"Also, confidence is key. Don't doubt your abilities. If things don't work out, find a work-around and run with it. Don't dwell on things that don't go as you planned. You may think you have failed, but you haven't. It simply wasn't meant to be, and that is all part of the learning process," she concluded.
Featured Image by Rosanna Bach
CS GlobalDesignDesign DirectorKorean TalentTiffany's
Editor, Film Editors, International Creative Talents, Television
Behind the Scenes of 24 Hours in A&E with James Ralph
When you think about your favorite television show, what comes to mind? Is it your favorite actor's Emmy-worthy performance? Or is it perhaps set in a part of the world that you've been itching to explore for all of your life. Is it funny, or is it sad? Is it dramatic, or is it scary? No matter what comes to mind, each component that makes it the show you love and cherish is rooted in an editor's ability to tie every element together seamlessly before your eyes. Without the help of a skilled editor, storylines would falter and viewers would lose interest. Films and television shows that dominate the industry require a seasoned editor, one with a keen ability to captivate an audience and ensure that only the best quality content makes a final cut. They require an editor like James Ralph.
Ralph's versatility as an editor makes him difficult to define, but a mere glance at his work will tell you that his talents are profound. His ability to transform his skill set to meet the demands of the project before him allow him to ease into new premises, scripts, and storylines flawlessly. He brings a certain authenticity and creative edge to his work that makes him instrumental to every job he accepts and over a twenty-year career he has accepted many. His unique editorial style can be understood through a variety of different projects he has worked on, from British favorites like X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and The Voice UK, to hit reality television shows like Love Island and First Dates. He differentiates himself as an editor through his natural ability to transition between different genres without weakness. According to Ralph, he doesn't have one specific style or technique that characterizes him, which makes him all the more suitable to work on a diverse array of projects.
"I wouldn't say that I have a definite style as my work spans multiple genres. I think my work is always smooth in that you can watch it without ever being aware that there are edits – unless I've placed them there deliberately. Editorially, I am thoughtful, intelligent, visually creative, and musically dynamic, all of which are crucial to any story you're trying to tell. I think that there is a certain energy in everything I do," tells Ralph.
Over the last three years, Ralph has worked on a number of series for the well-known British television show, 24 Hours in A&E. 24 Hours in A&E is a medical documentary set in a busy hospital in London, England. The unique docuseries offers an inside look at one of Britain's busiest Accident & Emergency departments. For the show, cameras roll for 24-hours straight over the span of a 28-day period.
With a reputation as unparalleled as Ralph's, it is not uncommon for a production company to solicit his talents. When 24 Hours in A&E's production company, The Garden, were looking for an editor to flavor their series with the perfect amount of suspense and truth, they demanded that Ralph come on board. In fact, the show's Executive Producer, Spencer Kelly, had worked with Ralph in the past and knew he was the perfect fit for the job. For Ralph, the opportunity was too great to turn down and knowing The Garden's respected reputation in the factual and documentary making world, he was eager to accept.
Despite Kelly's experience working with Ralph, he never ceases to be amazed by the quality of Ralph's editing skills. Ralph is a rarity in his field and production companies are extremely fortunate when they come across talent as remarkable as his.
"I have worked with James on prime-time series for BBC 1 and for the last three seasons of 24 Hours in A E. Throughout each, he has brought a unique combination of consistency and editorial clarity. His work is beautifully crafted and his editing delivers compelling, thoughtful and entertaining television," states Kelly. He also points out that Ralph's "good humor and hardworking, collaborative attitude make him a pleasure to work with. Most importantly, he is quick at what he does so he can quickly sift through material and implement changes to meet pressured deadlines."
As an editor, speed is crucial; however, the true art of editing shows in an editor's ability to produce content quickly without sacrificing quality. Ralph is well-versed in this skill and it makes him a true asset to the teams he works on. For 24 Hours in A&E, this skill is paramount to the show's success. Due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter, it is important for Ralph to be able to accurately portray each situation with every aspect of authenticity and human nature possible. The show's audience become privy to very intimate parts of people's lives, ranging from birth to death and everything in between and as a result, Ralph has to thoroughly explore all of the footage, identifying any stories or themes that can be developed into an episode. On the surface, the show is about medicine but in reality, it is about people and the often fascinating stories of their lives. It is a challenge unlike any of Ralph's other projects.
"It can be very challenging when you're faced with the reality that people sometimes die or appear on the show with appalling injuries. As an editor, I have to work with this footage and find ways to tell these people's stories without glorifying or reveling in the gruesomeness of the situations. It's all about being sensitive and respectful to the people on the show and to your audience as you tell each story and ensure that you do them justice," notes Ralph.
From an editing standpoint, 24 Hours in A&E was a thrilling job. With full creative reign, Ralph was trusted to make his own decisions in terms of which stories he followed and developed. He thrives in an autonomous environment, allowing his unrestricted creativity to reach the surface. He loves the responsibility that comes with being able to showcase such raw, human stories. There are moments of humor, as well as moments of grief. It can be touching, but also devastating. The show is characterized by a wide spectrum of emotions and Ralph gets to choose how he wishes to present each and every one. He has been instrumental to the show's success and is without a doubt one of the main reasons that his viewers absorb the show in the way that they do.
"I take a great deal of pride knowing that the show is so popular, not only with the public but also amongst my colleagues. The fact that it is repeatedly commissioned, as well as on repeat across many of Channel 4's subsidiary channels, is a tribute to the hard work and dedication that goes into making it. It's one of those shows that a lot of my friends in the industry always say, "I wish I worked on that," concludes Ralph, and he is proud that he does.
British EditorBritish TalentBritish TelevisionEditingEditorTelevisionTV
Behind the Scenes, Costume Designer, International Creative Talents, Production, Uncategorized
GIVING A 50'S LOOK TO SHAKESPEARE WITH RUOXUAN LI
When it comes to revered creative works, there are those who believe that a classic is not to be touched and those who believe that the spirit of creating art is in pushing those boundaries and buttons, to attempt to develop a new piece of art that both pays homage to the original and seeks to place it in a contemporary setting that it might be more accessible to the general public and thereby spur them to revisit said classics. Costume designer Ruoxuan Li has worked with those on both sides of this idea. She feels that her role is not to be the one who is polarized on the topic but to grow through embracing both perspectives. This what me be referred to as a "creatively open mind." It's something that would seem to be inherent in the artistic mindset but is not always so. Luckily for those she works with, Li has the pedigree and the experience to enable both factions. When ISC (Independent Shakespeare Company)was presenting a modernized production of Shakespeare's "The Two Men of Verona", Ruoxuan was an obvious choice as costume designer. Li cut her teeth in Shakespearean theater at the at Wimbledon College of Art, University of The Arts London. Since then she has worked on countless productions including Distant Vision with Francis Ford Coppola. Intensely familiar with both traditional and contemporary approaches to the look of stage, TV, and film, Ruoxuan worked with director David Melville to place the characters in a modern world for crowds of 20,000 in Los Angeles.
Melissa Chalsma is the artistic director of the ICS production of "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" who sought out Ruoxuan and enlisted her into the production team. Melissa describes, "I was first attracted to Ruoxuan's work because of her outstanding portfolio and the breadth of her experience. She is an inter-continental artist who excels in a wide range of styles, has done excellent work in a variety of mediums, and has wonderful inter-personal skills. Without Ruoxuan "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" would not have looked as good as it did, nor would the actors have even as able to do their jobs. She created an entirely unique world with vastly different styles authentically placing the action in the 1950's. Each costume piece supported the actors in their work. Speaking personally, the costumes Ruoxuan created were absolutely perfect!"
Early meeting with the play's director set the tone that the play should be apolitical and be a place of respite for the public to escape the volatile events around them. Melville communicated to Ruoxuan that he was interested in a Rockabilly style that was full of bright and engaging colors. The two primary challenges in this is that Shakespeare is not known for its use of bright colors and, as a native of China, Li does not share the same frame of Americana reference that many might in regards to the 1950's Rockabilly style and era. Research would begin for her at ground zero rather than twenty or seventy-five percent. To fit the classic Shakespearean sensibility into a new concept of 1950's, she started by matching the social group status for characters such as the greasers for the outlaws, teddy boys/girls for the naughty ones etc. Li then tracked each character's change of status and change of their mental/emotional evolution, trying to express the changes cohesively through costuming. She was given some allowance to be not period-dead-on but tried to catch key elements of the 1950's rockabilly look such as white socks, rolled up hems, pointy shirt collars, circle skirts, etc. These helped to sell the period when it's not a full-on authentic period show.
It's the very nature of a mingling of the arts that they affect each other. This also applies to the costume design; add maneuverability to that as well. The Rockabilly application to this classic Shakespeare play was like an actor itself, taking on the visage of a "greaser" from the era. This meant that the music and style of the 1950's was inseparable from the look Li created. Watching the rehearsal is a key part of her process in finalizing the costuming. Ruoxuan relates, "When I saw the rehearsal with the band and all of the dancing, I realized that the research I did was not fully matching the energy on the dance floor. There were actors rapping the Shakespeare lines, the duke being the drummer at the same time, one of the two gentlemen acted like a nerdy teenage facing his lover…all these sparkling moments gave me inspiration. I switched my color palette to a much more vibrant and youthful combination of bright pastels and saturated jewel tones. I shortened all the skirt for dancing, added ruffled collars for crab the dog, and asked the attendant rapper turning his bell boy hat front to the back. These might seem minor but they bring everything into focus."
Broadway World stated, "Ruoxuan Li's black leather jackets for the outlaws, and circle skirts and preppy plaids for the leading players all lend authenticity to the period and its unbridled optimism." This statement communicates the concept that the costuming itself is part of delivering the emotion to an audience, an emotion that must be congruent to that of the intent of the director. With this understanding, Ruoxuan takes great care to plan and maintain an aesthetic consistent with her director's goal. This process begins with a conversation that continues up until the actual showtime. A strong sense of design partnered with an ease of flexibility is what has resulted in so many directors seeking out Ruoxuan to create the look for their productions whether it be stage, TV, or film.


I have Kids with Toys. I have Cars. I have Tools and I have plenty of Gadgets. They ALL need batteries and I was Spending a Fortune replacing batteries (especially for toys that stay ON until the battery is dead). This easy to use guide was a life-saver and I've saved HUNDREDS already in battery costs in less than a year. If you have a lot of battery operated devices you'll save a FORTUNE using this guide.
In todays gadget related world it seems like EVERYTHING needs batteries. In addition to the batteries in car, phone, remotes and a few other items that almost everyone owns I'm also a gadget junkie. This seemed to rub off on my kids who seem to forget that toys have an 'OFF' switch.
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This guide not only shows you how to easily recharge batteries but also how to RECONDITION them and thats whats makes it worth its weight in BATTERIES (I've spent a small fortune). Since I bought this guide I havent bought a single new battery. (and I've even made some nice extra cash reconditioning batteries for local businesses and friends for half the new cost). This is info I wish I knew years ago but I'm glad I know it now. If you want to save money on batteries or just want to stop buying new ones constantly you should get this guide.


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On the Cusp of the Four Cups
Filed under: Christianity - Devotions — paulthinkingoutloud @ 5:23 pm
Tags: Christ, communion, disciples, Eucharist, Jesus, lamb, Last Supper, Messiah, passover, redemption
Okay, I don't know why I chose that title for today's devotional, but there is definitely something afoot in Luke 22: 13-23 about cups. We join the Passover meal (aka The Last Supper) in the middle of the story, where Jesus takes the second of four cups. Then the third. Bread in between. Only Luke offers this sequence.
That there are two cups in this story probably confuses new Christians who are accustomed to the Communion or Eucharist where there is one instance of bread and one instance of cup. The cup-bread-sequence needs to be understood.
I was thinking about this reading Devotions by Chris by Chris Hendrix in a post entitled The Promise of Redemption.
A traditional Passover meal, called a Seder, is a meal to commemorate the Israelites leaving Egypt. They recline to eat instead of sitting in a chair, eat matza (unleavened bread), bitter herbs and four cups of wine. The first cup of wine represents sanctification, which is the process of being made holy. It's to remember that God's people are to be set apart. The second cup represents the joy of Deliverance, a reminder that we are no longer under the yoke of slavery. The third cup is the cup of redemption. It was after eating the lamb as a reminder of the price paid for redemption. The fourth cup is the cup of restoration, a reminder that God would make His people a nation.
Think back to the night Jesus was betrayed (Good Friday). The disciples prepared the Passover meal where Jesus had told them to (Matthew 26:19). There's no recording of the first cup of wine, but in Luke 22:17 we see the second cup where Jesus says He won't drink it again until the Kingdom has come. We then read where Jesus broke the matza and blessed it. In verse 20 it says He lifted up another cup (third – redemption) and told them that He was making a new covenant confirmed with His blood as the Passover lamb. Matthew and Mark then say the went to the garden after this cup. While Jesus was on the cross, John 19 records that Jesus said He was thirsty. They lifted up sour wine to Him (fourth cup). Verse 30 says when He drank it, He said, "It is finished" and died. He finished the Passover meal and the fulfillment of it in that moment to redeem us and to restore us to God.
This drove me deeper into tracking down the cups in a Jewish context which took me to Chabad.org and this article which states,
G‑d uses four expressions of redemption in describing our Exodus from Egypt and our birth as a nation:
1. "I will take you out…"
2. "I will save you…"
3. "I will redeem you…"
4. "I will take you as a nation…"
Our sages instituted that we should drink a cup of wine, a toast if you will, for each one of these expressions. We recite the Kiddush over the first cup, we read the Exodus story from the Haggadah over the second cup, we recite the Grace after Meals over the third cup, and we sing the "big Hallel" (Psalms and hymns of praises to G‑d) over the fourth cup.
There are a number of explanations as to the significance of the various stages of redemption conveyed through each of these expressions. Here is one:
1. Salvation from harsh labor—this began as soon as the plagues were introduced.
2. Salvation from servitude; or the day the Jews left Egypt geographically and arrived at Ramses.
3. The splitting of the sea, after which the Jews felt completely redeemed, without fear of the Egyptians recapturing them.
4. Becoming a nation at Sinai.
During the Seder we can experience these elements of redemption in a spiritual sense.
Another article by a different author at the same website offers various interpretations of the four cups.
We were liberated from Pharaoh's four evil decrees: a) Slavery. b) The ordered murder of all male progeny by the Hebrew midwives. c) The drowning of all Hebrew boys in the Nile by Egyptian thugs. d) The decree ordering the Israelites to collect their own straw for use in their brick production.
The four cups symbolize our freedom from our four exiles: The Egyptian, Babylonian, and Greek exiles, and our current exile which we hope to be rid of very soon with the coming of Moshiach.
The words "cup of wine" are mentioned four times in Pharaoh's butler's dream (Genesis 40:11-13). According to the Midrash, these cups of wine alluded to the Israelites' liberation.
The website of Chosen People Ministries shows each of these fulfilled in Christ:
The ministry of Messiah speaks to each of these four promises:
Messiah sanctifies us – "And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth" (John 17:19).
Messiah delivers us – "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).
Messiah redeems us – "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:4-5).
Messiah is our joy – "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11).
But the view suggested at the top of today`s devotional, that Jesus completes the Passover meal with the wine mixed with vinegar on the cross is occasionally challenged. Religion professor Jonathan Klawans states,
Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples did not take place on the first night of Passover. There is a real difference between John and the synoptics on this question, and John's chronology continues to make much more sense to me: Jesus was tried and killed before the holiday began. By Seder time, he was buried.
Which begs the question, was this truly a 'second cup, bread, third cup' scenario? I would argue that it was a Passover meal. The notes in most Evangelical study Bibles would argue that it was, indeed a Passover meal, but suggest that the completion takes place at The Marriage Supper of the Lamb. (Notice the parallel lamb reference.)
And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And he added, "These are true words that come from God."
– Rev. 19:9 NLT
Back to Luke, I believe this 'third' cup is indeed Jesus of Nazareth saying, "I will redeem you." He redefines both the bread and the wine, and most importantly, becomes our Passover lamb.
But that doesn't dismiss Chris' idea quoted at the outset, because you could accept that the wine/vinegar mix is cup number four if you are still anticipating cup number five. Yes, five.
You see, I didn't give you the entirety of the first quotation from Chabad.org and I'm going to give them the last word, because I think the imagery from a Christian perspective is rather obvious!
There is actually a fifth expression in the above mentioned verses: "And I will bring you to the land which I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you as an inheritance.
While the Exodus from Egypt and the birth of the Jewish nation were permanent, we have yet to be brought to Israel on a permanent basis.
In honor of this verse we have a fifth cup at the Seder: the Cup of Elijah. This cup is set up for Elijah during the second half of the Seder, but we do not drink it. Elijah will announce the arrival of Moshiach1, who will bring all Jews to Israel, for good.
1(lit. "the anointed one") the Messiah. One of the 13 principles of the Jewish faith is that G-d will send the Messiah to return the Jews to the land of Israel, rebuild the Holy Temple and usher in the utopian Messianic Era.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text: Action modules for assigning visual properties such as colors, sizes, and fonts.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Delivery and Takeout
Dining News
Hop City Beer and Wine Begins Home Delivery From Krog Street and West End Shops
Early adopters of the new alcohol home delivery law in Georgia include Hop City Craft Beer and Wine and Perrine's Wine Shop at Westside Provisions District
by Beth McKibben Oct 8, 2020, 2:21pm EDT
Share All sharing options for: Hop City Beer and Wine Begins Home Delivery From Krog Street and West End Shops
Hop City Craft Beer and Wine
Home delivery of wine, beer, and liquor has begun from some shops and stores around Atlanta. Early adopters of the new alcohol home delivery law in Georgia include Hop City Craft Beer and Wine and Perrine's Wine Shop at Westside Provisions District.
Gov. Brian Kemp signed HB879 into law over the summer, which permits beer, wine, and liquor to be delivered directly to people's homes from restaurants, brewpubs, bars, convenience stores, some package and retail shops, and grocery stores. However, the law excludes delivery from Georgia's breweries and distilleries, as well as the delivery of cocktails and mixed drinks, unless packaged in the original sealed can or bottle from the manufacturer.
The decision to allow alcohol home delivery is left up to local municipalities across the state, much like the decisions to permit Sunday alcohol sales and for restaurants and bars to begin serving booze at 11 a.m. on Sundays. Home deliveries can only be accepted by someone 21 years or older and with proper ID.
Before the bill could be enacted, the state's Department of Revenue needed to first draw up compliance regulations for businesses to follow. It appears those regulations have now been finalized, including specific training and certification for delivery drivers and limiting deliveries to within the city or municipality in which a business obtains its alcohol or retail license.
Georgia Governor Signs a Bill Allowing Grocery Stores and Restaurants to Deliver Booze
"I think this is a huge win for the consumer. We live in an instant-gratification world and we are excited our elected officials in Georgia are allowing us to get the best and freshest beer and wine in the market to our guests straight to their doorsteps," Hop City owner Kraig Torres says. "It allows us to stay competitive in this pandemic marketplace, where our customers may not feel comfortable shopping in person. I really don't see this as any sort of huge boost to our bottom line, as much as it helps our small business stay relevant."
Delivery from Hop City's Krog Street Market and West End locations kicks off today to city of Atlanta residents. People can order online for same-day delivery via Zifty. Hop City charges an $8 fee for deliveries within three miles and $10 for deliveries three to five miles from either the Krog Street or West End shops. Delivery is free for orders over $100.
Perrine's Wine Shop owner Perrine Prieur tells Eater she plans to personally deliver wine to customers in Atlanta, but expects to eventually begin using a third party service in the future, as deliveries ramp up over the coming months.
"I'm very excited about being able to deliver. I think it will help our small boutique wine shops to reach out to more customers," Prieur says. "It's a lot more moving parts, and I will most likely need to hire a driver. In the meantime, I will do them."
Perrine's Wine Shop offers online ordering for both curbside pick-up and delivery within the city of Atlanta. The shop charges a $15 fee for deliveries within 48 hours or a $25 fee for deliveries within two hours of ordering. Delivery is free for orders over $500.
Georgia Governor Signs a Bill Allowing Grocery Stores and Restaurants to Deliver Booze [EATL]
Atlantans Can Finally Sip Mimosas on Sunday Mornings [EATL]
Krog Street Market
99 Krog Street Northeast, , GA 30307 Visit Website
Westside Provisions District
1198 Howell Mill Road, , GA 30318 (678) 974-1940 Visit Website


The drug has been approved as a first-line treatment for the disease to be used in combination with the chemotherapy drugs carboplatin and etoposide.
Tecentriq was evaluated in a clinical study involving 403 adults who had received no prior chemotherapy, the FDA said in a news release. Average survival for those who took the Tecentriq combination was 12.3 months compared with 10.3 months among those who took the chemotherapy drugs and a placebo.
The most common side effects among the Tecentriq group were fatigue, nausea, alopecia, constipation, and loss of appetite.


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By KS95 | September 19, 2022
Kelly Clarkson supported by original 'American Idol' judges at Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony
Kelly Clarkson has officially received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and some of the most influential people from her past were front and center for the unveiling.
Entertainment Tonight reports original American Idol judges — Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul — cheered Kelly on.
Cowell paid tribute to the Grammy winner and told the crowd a humorous story about meeting Kelly for the first time.
"We were just talking about the moment when you sang 'Respect,' and we all looked at each other, and it was like, 'Oh. My. God. Thank you,'" he began, adding he went up to Kelly to offer his guidance through the show. "You turned around to me and said, 'Simon, without being rude, I would rather we didn't talk until the end of the series.'"
He said that's when he knew that Kelly knew what she was doing, but the singer clarified she said that because she didn't want any special treatment.
Cowell continued, "I remember that moment when your name was called [as the winner] and I was honestly thinking to myself, 'Thanks to you, we may have another season.'" Idol has since gone on to have 17 more seasons, which he says is all thanks to Kelly.
Added Cowell, "I can honestly say to you, 'Thanks to you, I'm here today.'" He also hailed the singer for having "steel in her eyes" and for always knowing "her lane."
Kelly celebrated the 20th anniversary of her Idol win this month. Since then, she went on to sell millions of records, win a few Grammys and launch her own daytime talk show.
She thanked those who supported her on her journey and teased her "new album," noting her family is going through the songs now and telling her which ones they like.
Update: Beyoncé Renaissance World Tour to start in Europe in May, hits North America in July


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The End of Travel
James Hamilton-Paterson
'The more we flock to view the disappearing glaciers, the faster they will vanish.'
I begin writing this in an Austrian inn while a blizzard swirls noiselessly outside. It is nearly mid-March, and like the Austrians themselves I have been taken completely by surprise by the weather. The locals claim that by rights spring should be in the air, yet most nights the temperature sinks t…
To read this in full, take out a subscription to Granta. Over thirty years of new writing at your fingertips – subscribe now.
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The Online Edition
James Hamilton-Paterson is the author of Gerontius, Seven-Tenths, Three Miles Down and Griefwork, among other books. His work has been translated into many languages. America's Boy and Playing with Water are also available from Granta Books. He lives in Italy and the Philippines.
'My daydreams were full of explosions.'
Essays & Memoir | Issue 83
Do Fish Feel Pain?
'There will always be an unbridgeable conceptual gap between our unique species and the rest.'
Art & Photography | The Online Edition
The Separate World of Seaports
James Hamilton-Paterson & Alex Majoli
'I am aged eight or nine, on a family outing by Thames water bus in London'.
'Having my hair cut one morning in February 1999, I fell foul of one of those barber-shop discussions which are a feature of life here in Italy'.
The Weather Where We Are
'Ice gets into the sea in two ways: it falls in from calving glaciers, or it forms during the winter. Both kinds are spectacular.'
Best Book of 1994: The Land of Green Plums by Herta Müller
Eliza Robertson
'You'd have to have lived through that bleakness. You'd have to know with your body, your hands, your eyes, your mouth, the weight of that fear – how it's not strictly describable.'


Apartment in Cannes, French Riviera, with sea view for rent.
Client Testimonial. M & K J, France: Dear Jackie, thanks very much for helping to make the events of the last few days so successful. For support, persistence and getting things done we award you, cherries, oranges, lemons, figs and aubergines for life. TM, USA: Thank you so much for your assistance during our trip to the South of France. Your insights and ideas were just what we needed and we absolutely loved every single recommendation you gave us for enjoying our vacation too. We just couldn't go wrong with your assistance. Merci a million!
Click on the images below to see a more detailed image.
Beautifully furnished and renovated 2 bedroom apartment in Californie with glorious sea view. Sleeps 5.
Small 1880 residence of 3 floors. This apartment is on the garden level and fully renovated with good quality equipment.
Large covered terrace of 33 square meters with outside space and garden to the side of about 700 square meters. Large barbecue. Possible to walk down to the beach via a private path.
The apartment comprises fully equipped kitchen, with salon/dining room; 2 double bedrooms (one with double bed and 1 with twin beds); 1 bathroom and 1 showerroom each with own WC; guest WC; laudry room with washer and dryer machines. Reversible airconditioning. New floors. Attractive wooden beamed salon ceiling. 2 large TVs and 1 smaller one. The second twin-bedded bedroom has an armchair which converts easily to a comfortable single bed.
Security gates so very safe. Plenty of space for parking. Price includes weekly gardener and weekly cleaning lady. Discount for longer periods.


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Home Manchester PARCC Data Shows Students Are Improving
PARCC Data Shows Students Are Improving
MANCHESTER – Manchester Schools carved some time out of a recent Board of Education meeting to look at data from the most recent PARCC test administration, the district's third, and make sense of what that data means for its students.
PARCC, which stands for Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, is an annual year-end test covering English and Mathematics for students in grades 3-8 and high school. Originally created to align with the more rigorous academic standards adopted by most states in 2010 and 2011, such as common core, New Jersey is only one of eight states that still participates in PARCC testing.
Director of Curriculum Diane Pedroza made the presentation to board members and parents, explaining that students scoring 4s and 5s on the test are seen as "college and career ready," those scoring 3s have approached expectations and are "almost there," and students scoring 2s and 1s have not fully met expectations.
In data charts, Manchester Schools were compared to a state average, as well as an average for participating PARCC states.
When it came to English, students in grades 3-8 overall did very well. For example, 50 percent of 3rd grade students scored 4s and 5s, which was the same percentage as the state, and 10 percent higher than PARCC states.
What was more interesting than just looking at the data from this year's testing, though, was being able to see how the same students progressed year to year. Looking at the 4 and 5 scoring incoming 5th graders, Pedroza said, "In 2016 we were at 38 percent – in 2017 those same kids moved to 51 percent. I think that's just remarkable."
Quantifying testing data from the high school was a bit trickier, said Pedroza, because of the new block scheduling this past year.
"I really have to commend my department. This was not an easy task, taking the fall block and taking the spring block. (Test manufacturer) Pearson does not do this, we have to do this, and we wanted to make sure we could do this to give you an accurate picture," she said.
Again, looking back to the previous year, Pedroza was able to determine that PARCC scores in 11th grade English went up from 19 to 20 percent from the 2016 school year to the 2017 school year.
"For me that's optimistic, we're moving in the right direction."
Math scores painted a slightly different picture.
"As a whole mathematics scores I believe have been on a decrease and there's only one grade in particular, which I believe is third grade, that 50 percent of the students in the state of NJ met proficiency, which is 4s and 5s," said Pedroza.
School officials cited a number of reasons that could account for the slide in math scores, especially in New Jersey, such as changes to the state learning standards, questions on the assessment, and gaps left from Governor Chris Christie dropping common core. Last year the state reconfigured the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and frameworks, allowing teachers to change and restructure their curriculum this year, hopefully filling in those gaps.
Manchester Township High School (Courtesy of the Manchester School District)
"The other thing that's very helpful are the evidence statements that go along with the data that we have. They really isolate mathematical practices and reasoning, so that data becomes really important for us to use with our teachers because we can really isolate and say – where do we need to fill in the gap?"
For the most part, students in grades 3-8 scored more 4s and 5s on the math test than participating PARCC states did, but came out lower than the state average. The most noticeable data was the absence of any 5s in 8th grade math, which does not include students taking Algebra 1 Honors while in middle school. Superintendent David Trethaway commented that the students who would have scored 5s are probably taking Algebra 1 Honors, a sign that the district is placing its honors students very well.
Percentages of students scoring 4s and 5s were lower for Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2, but Pedroza was able to draw patterns from last year's testing data and show that the numbers are at least rising. For example, the percentage of 4s and 5s for Algebra 1 in 2016 was 20 percent, but jumped to 26 percent in 2017. The same was true for Geometry, which moved up from 6 to 12 percent.
Previous articleSchool Supplies Needed In Berkeley
Next articleOrtley Residents Concerned About Paving
Eighth-Graders Say Goodbye To Middle School
Lacey Opens Floating Playground At Lake


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Heatwave in northwest Africa
A large autumn Atlantic storm system has been circulating off the coast of Morocco. It has brought a near constant west-southwesterly wind to the Azores island of Santa Maria. This is a difficult 36 kilometres per hour crosswind for the island's airport.
Such persistence creates a good swell over the ocean which has been a joy to surfers who have been enjoying the gigantic rollers off the Portuguese coast. Fishermen have not been so keen.
Large areas of low pressure bring both wind and rain. Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Algeria have all received both elements and are used to it in October.
Mauritania is not so used to it. In the mining town of Zouérat, the average rainfall for October is 5mm. Water is obtained here from a regular arrival of tankers.
Thunderstorms were recorded in Zouérat for at least 24 hours from Tuesday afternoon. And yet only 1mm of rain was actually recorded!
Another unusually notable effect of this churning depression in the ocean is near record warmth over land. A desert wind has been induced from the western Sahara, across northwest Africa and into southern Spain.
The result was a heatwave in Algeria and Morocco. Oujda, in northern Morocco close to the Algerian border, hit 33C on Monday. Its October record is 37C but average only 25C.
Bejaia, on the coast of Algeria, recorded a tremendous 39.5C on Tuesday which is within half a degree Celsius of the October record. It is a full 15 degrees above average.
In the Tunisian city of Beja, the temperature of 37C measured on Wednesday is within 3 degrees of the October record and 12 degrees above average.
The system is slowly weakening and withdrawing its rain, but the hot breeze continues for another day or two across Morocco
The post Heatwave in northwest Africa appeared first on African Media Agency.
Source:: http://amediaagency.com/heatwave-in-northwest-africa/


text:
title: Netlify Large Media
group: Media
weight: 20
---

[Netlify Large Media](https://www.netlify.com/features/large-media/) is a [Git LFS](https://git-lfs.github.com/) implementation for repositories connected to Netlify sites. This means that you can use Git to work with large asset files like images, audio, and video, without bloating your repository. It does this by replacing the asset files in your repository with text pointer files, then uploading the assets to the Netlify Large Media storage service.

If you have a Netlify site with Large Media enabled, Netlify CMS (version 2.6.0 and above) will handle Large Media asset files seamlessly, in the same way as files stored directly in the repository.

## Requirements

To use Netlify Large Media with Netlify CMS, you will need to do the following:

- [Upgrade Netlify CMS](/docs/update-the-cms-version/) to version 2.6.0 or above.
- Configure Netlify CMS to use the [Git Gateway backend with Netlify Identity](/docs/git-gateway-backend/#git-gateway-with-netlify-identity).
- Configure the Netlify site and connected repository to use Large Media, following the [Large Media docs on Netlify](https://www.netlify.com/docs/large-media/).

When these are complete, you can use Netlify CMS as normal, and the configured asset files will automatically be handled by Netlify Large Media.

## Image transformations

All JPEG, PNG, and GIF files that are handled with Netlify Large Media also have access to Netlify's on-demand image transformation service. This service allows you to request an image to match the dimensions you specify in a query parameter added to the image URL.

You can learn more about this feature in [Netlify's image transformation docs](https://www.netlify.com/docs/image-transformation/).

### Transformation control for media gallery thumbnails

In repositories enabled with Netlify Large Media, Netlify CMS will use the image transformation query parameters to load thumbnail-sized images for the media gallery view. This makes images in the media gallery load significantly faster.

**Note:** When using this option all tracked file types have to be imported into Large Media. For example if you track `*.jpg` but still have jpg-files that are not imported into Large Media the backend will throw an error. Check the [netlify docs](https://docs.netlify.com/large-media/setup/#migrate-files-from-git-history) on how to add previously committed files to Large Media.

You can disable the automatic image transformations with the `use_large_media_transforms_in_media_library` configuration setting, nested under `backend` in the CMS `config.yml` file:

```yaml
backend:
  name: git-gateway
  ## Set to false to prevent transforming images in media gallery view
  use_large_media_transforms_in_media_library: false
```


text:
Items filtered by date: July 2018
Tuesday, 31 July 2018 20:25
NCSSS, the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools, is pleased to announce it is partnering with the Society of American Military Engineers, or SAME. Our partnership with SAME gives NCSSS an additional pipeline of opportunity for the students at member schools.
The Society of American Military Engineers leads collaborative efforts to identify and resolve national security infrastructure-related challenges. Founded in 1920, SAME unites public and private sector individuals and organizations from across the architecture, engineering, construction, environmental and facility management, cyber security, project planning, contracting and acquisition, and related disciplines in support of national security. SAME develops STEM professionals for the nation through STEM outreach activities, Engineering & Construction Camps, scholarships and engagement of College Student Chapters.
"We are very pleased to welcome the Society of American Military Engineers as a partner of the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools," said Todd Mann, executive director of NCSSS. "This partnership will help bring innovative, new and bold STEM curriculum into classrooms across the country."
"We are enthusiastic about working closely with NCSSS to widen STEM opportunities and motivation for America's youth. Our partnership will enable both organizations to contribute to maintaining our nation's place in the world," said Brig. Gen. Joseph Schroedel, P.E., F.SAME, USA (Ret.), executive director, SAME.


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Home Sport Redbacks, Falcons win big
Redbacks, Falcons win big
Hampton Park''s Shannon Henwood (right) celebrates a goal with Zak Hogton recently. 192904 Picture: ROB CAREW
By Hayley Wildes
In Round 5 of the Eastern Football League, Noble Park was no match for Vermont.
The Bulls, who won their first three games of the season, slumped to their second loss in a row as Vermont ran out 15.25 (115) to 9.9 (63) winners.
Bailey Lambert (three goals) was impressive up forward for Noble Park, while Jackson Sketcher and Ariek Lual battled hard all day.
Rowville also suffered its second consecutive loss, falling to Norwood. The Hawks were in the contest at three quarter time, trailing by just 11 points, but a six-goal to one final term saw Norwood storm home, 12.12 (84) to 6.10 (46).
Despite the disappointing fourth quarter fade-out, Mason Crozier and Bailey Morrish were best for the Hawks.
In Division 2 of the Southern Football League, Springvale Districts – despite inaccuracy in front of goal – scored a win over Hampton at home, 8.15 (63) to 7.3 (45).
Leading by one point at the final break, the Dees finished strongly to run out 18-point winners as Matt Wetering (three goals) dominated, while Matthew Thompson and Tom Wilkinson played key roles all day.
In Division 3, it was a barnstorming day for local teams as Endeavour Hills and Hampton Park both recorded massive wins.
Endeavour Hills piled on 12 goals and held Ashwood to just one-point in the first half of their clash to lead by 73 points at the main break.
With Daniel Morrison (seven goals) and Jarrod Marolla (six goals) running riot, the onslaught continued in the second half as the Falcons ran out 120-point winners, 23.5 (143) to 3.5 (23). Daniel Strom and Daniel Cann were dynamic for Endeavour Hills.
Not to be outdone, Hampton Park absolutely obliterated Cerberus.
The Redbacks came out firing in the first half, slamming on 15 goals to one to hold an 84-point lead after the first half of play. Nathan Carver (six goals) was one of 14 individual goal-kickers as Hampton Park won 25.12 (162) to 2.5 (17).
Previous articleCole's offensive masterclass
Next articleForsyth's thirst for runs


The Town of Cary youth sports programs provide a fun learning and growing experience. Youth can benefit from league play in baseball, softball, volleyball and basketball as well as a variety of sports camps/clinics in volleyball, baseball, golf, softball, tennis, and basketball. These programs provide a competitive recreation opportunity that promotes fitness and wellness to participants through team and individual league play. The goals of the programs include participation, sportsmanship, fun, and skill development.


Where did you get the idea for the website?
How many requests do you get? Do you read them all? Do you make them all?
What differences are there between free and paid song requests?
Will you make me a song for free?
How much can I expect to pay you for a custom song?
May I please use your songs in the movie or other thing that I'm making?
What equipment/instruments do you use?
Do you make music that isn't from requests?
Unable to find a job, I started posting eBay auctions where the winning bidder would receive a personalized song, written and recorded by me. It went surprisingly well, and several weeks in I launched this website and started making short, silly songs for free based on visitors' suggestions.
The name "Songs To Wear Pants To" popped into my head randomly when I was 17. I used it for a CD that I put out in high school, and when I started this website it seemed like an even better fit for the name.
I usually receive between 50 and 100 a day, and I read each one. Unfortunately because so many come in I don't have time to respond to each person, much less write and record each suggested idea. The 500+ songs on the site actually represent far less than 1% of all the suggestions that have come in. If you really need a song made please get in touch about commissioning me.
What differences are there between free songs and commissions?
I only make a song for free if I really like the idea and have a lot of spare time. Free songs are always posted on STWPT, and often paid songs are not.
For the first three years of Songs To Wear Pants To, free songs never exceeded one minute and eleven seconds in length, partially to keep things short and sweet, and partially for the challenge.
I try to keep the free songs entertaining for everyone who visits the site, so I won't make free personal theme songs, anniversary songs, birthday songs, film/animation scores and so on. These are the most common types of requests, and it wouldn't be fair for some people to get them for free when others have to pay for them. Also, this is a full-time job for me, and doing just the paid ones keeps me beyond busy.
It depends a lot on your exact request, but you can expect something between $100 and $200 per minute of music.
1. All your content is rated G - suitable for audiences of any age.
2. Your work is not used in any commercial way.
3. "SONGSTOWEARPANTSTO.COM" is credited for the music, with a link if your work is displayed online.
Go here for a pretty comprehensive list.
All kinds! You can check out VS if you're into hip-hop, Your Heart for my rock/pop/folk jams, Girl and Ghostface Kilobyte for everything electronic, and my mixed-genre experiment The Cloud.
"How old are you?" I was born in 1984.
"How long have you had this website?" Since April 9, 2004.
"How much money do you make?" It varies. I get by just fine though, don't you worry about me.