jitZul Articles: RSS Feed

Modern Suits - Promises EP Review

Oct 25, 2012

Doing Rock Right

Modern Suits is a Philadelphia rock band comprised of Keith Gibbons (Vocals/Guitar), Stu Olson (Guitar), Adam Jessamine (Guitar), Mikal Smith (Bass) and Nick Costa (Drums). This up and coming group is gaining momentum in the Philly market, but in my opinion should be gracing the airwaves across the US. MS is a straight rock band. They aren’t some crossover blend of this and that. They create music that is for a true rock fan looking for smooth sounds that aren’t hyped up with auto tune or excess background noise.

Modern Suits’ debut EP, In Transition, was released in 2011. While their freshman attempt was good work, the group was clearly still finding themselves. Their latest release Promises (released October 23, 2012), is notches above their freshman attempt. MS seems stronger and more confident this time around on the EP recorded at Vudu Studios in Long Island, NY with producers Mike Watts and Steven Haigler.

Promises gets better with every listen. While each song is very different they all have the same vibe and don’t make you feel like you are listening to multiple bands at once. There wasn’t a single weak link on the entire 5-song line up. In fact, each one plays perfectly for the radio. I really enjoyed that MS slowed things down at the very end with The Devil Is In The Details. I think that rock ballads tend to be some of the very best songs. You take a group with this hard edge and as soon as they let their guard down a bit they can produce even more amazing music. This song was no different and put the perfect ending on an already amazing EP. I think that the songs on Promises were perfectly written, sung and produced for this group.

You can learn more about Modern Suits on their website.

Rating: 45 out of 50.

Conclusion: This is a "must know" band for all rock fans. Their songs can rival any of the rock greats heard on the radio right now. Modern Suits has found their sound, now they need the fan base to appreciate it.

This post contains a audio, please visit the post on jitZul to view rich media content.

EP available on iTunes

Promises is available now!

Come check out this post at jitZul.com to post comments and see full size images.

Satellite EDM Partners with Alan Parsons to mark the release of The Raven with exclusive contest

Oct 11, 2012

EDM Producers/DJs Given Opportunity To Remix 1970’s Track The Raven

Satellite EDM (www.satelliteedm.com), the world’s most innovative dance music download store, announces a partnership with legendary musician Alan Parsons to celebrate today’s release of The Raven on Blu-ray and DVD with an exclusive remix contest, courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Beginning Oct. 10 through October 24, Satellite EDM is inviting up-and-coming music producers and DJs a chance to remix Alan Parson’s classic track The Raven, for a chance to win $1,000 and have the winning remix featured as an official release via Satellite.

For more information on the contest and instructions on how to enter, please visit: satelliteedm.com/ravenremix.

About The Raven

Available this week on Blu-ray and DVD, THE RAVEN stars John Cusack and Luke Evans in this blood-curdling tale of terror that's as dark and haunting as the legendary master of the macabre who inspired it - Edgar Allan Poe. The Blu-ray features deleted & extended scenes, audio commentary by the filmmakers, behind-the-scenes featurettes and much more.

About SatelliteEDM

Newly launched SatelliteEDM (www.SatelliteEDM.com ) is the world's most innovative dance music download store. Building on a 17 year Satellite tradition of selection, presentation, commitment to customer service to DJs, fans, and producers, SatelliteEDM is the premier resource to find a curated selection of music. In keeping with the Satellite philosophy, owners Scott Richmond and Jonathan Kadish are committed to turning their customers on to new great music they may never have heard of anywhere else, stay ahead of the trends, and offer exclusive tracks hand curated by the Satellite team.

Come check out this post at jitZul.com to post comments and see full size images.

The Arrogance of Youth - Riley Etheridge, Jr. Album Review

Sep 14, 2012

Riley Etheridge, Jr. is back with a brand new album, The Arrogance of Youth, due out September 18, 2012. The critically acclaimed singer-songwriter takes you through the changes of youth on the ten songs chosen for this release. Longtime fans of Riley will continue to enjoy his country/blues sound, but may be surprised by a new level of polish. Of course, if you are finding Riley for the first time, there will be a lot to like on this album.

The Arrogance of Youth starts off with a great southern, gospel vibe. Grace Will Wash My Sins Away is an upbeat ditty that you can see people singing in the streets of the South. Next, we move onto Empty Hands which immediately moved onto Riley’s twangy country sound. For whatever reason this song reminded me of an old school Wallflowers tune. It was definitely one of my favorites along with Lunchbox Queen. This was a bebop infused song that had me dancing in my seat.

Riley slows things down on They Still Dance, Fork In The Road and The More I Learn (The Less I Know) which all have just the right amount of insight, sap and sadness at just the right time in their album placement. The biggest song miss for me was Greatest Enemy. No matter how many times I listened to this album this song got completely lost for me. The song would pass without me really noticing it. It isn’t a bad song but it wasn’t one that attracted my attention as all of the others immediately did.

The Arrogance of Youth has a great progression. Riley steadily takes you through an up and down journey that never gets too high or too low. I felt that these ten songs had a much better flow than his past albums. While his signature sound and vibe is the same he seems to have a bit more confidence and polish this time around. Perhaps, as his title says, he has moved past his youth and is well on his way to a bright future in music.

Check out Riley's website and facebook for up to date information on his album release and upcoming tour dates.

Rating: 40 out of 50.

This post contains a audio, please visit the post on jitZul to view rich media content.

Check out our interview with Riley from 2011!

New York resident Riley Etheridge Jr. is a blues rocker who gets his southern sound from his time spent in Louisiana. It was the creative energy of New York however, that got him writing and performing music again after a long break.

Vintage Blue Album Review

Apr 06, 2012

Strike the Mics is out now!

Strike the Mics is out now!' />

Chicago rockers Ben, Ryan, Will, Caesar and Matt, who make up the group Vintage Blue (formerly Tanglewood), have reinvented themselves on their debut album, Strike the Mics that was released in February 2012.

Singer/guitarist Ben Bassett said,

"These songs move us beyond the old band makeup and are brand new to the five of us, so it was time for a different message for the band. This album is all the five of our minds working together, so it was kind of nice to have a whole new idea, brand and image to present with this new album. I think essentially the new name clarifies what we want to be or what the vision is: a contemporary twist on classic rock."

The group has moved towards accomplishing this vision by releasing an ambitious 13-track record. The release is a mix of songs that at times made me think I had multiple artists on shuffle. No song really sounded the same. Vintage Blue worked with producer Jamie Candiloro, who has worked with talents such as Ryan Adams and Willie Nelson. Candiloro’s expertise helped the group meet their maximum potential when writing and recording each song. He even assisted them in naming the album.

Vintage Blue’s sound is quite mixed and instead of attracting only rock fans, should also be heard by blues/folk/alternative fans. I can hear sounds of many 90’s rockers in this album; Creed, Live and hints of Finger Eleven come to mind first. There is bound to be a song or two that will attract any music lover.

I found each song on Strike the Mics to be uniquely different. Speak and Just Breath stood out the most to me. They were the songs that seemed the most polished and the ones that really showed me what this group had to offer. Set You Free had a quirky, fun beat that immediately got your attention. It made me want to dance around! Against Time and Help Me See had great melodies and the lyrics were quite relatable. Unchained is the quintessential rock song on the album, while they slowed things down with love song Great Divide.

While Vintage Blue does not pursue music full time, they have spent a considerable amount of time fine tuning their sounds and practicing as a group. Their first release, Strike the Mics is a solid effort that shows the group has staying power in a not-so-solid industry.

Track Listing

1. Set You Free
2. Unchained
3. California Road
4. Speak
5. Hey Hey
6. Sleep On This
7. Here To Stay
8. Just Breathe
9. What Lies
10. Help Me See
11. Against Time
12. Great Divide
13. True

You can learn more about Vintage Blue at the following sites; vintagebluemusic.com, Twitter, Facebook and Reverbnation.

This post contains a audio, please visit the post on jitZul to view rich media content.

Strike the Mics is currently available for purchase!

Check out our interview with Vintage Blue!

Attaloss Album Review

Mar 14, 2012

One Band, Two Ways

I love me some good rock music. It isn’t often that I have the opportunity to review a new rock album, nor find one that I actually like. For some reason it seems that rock music is hard to master. I have heard many bad albums in my life time but some rock albums have been the absolute worst. To my relief, Attaloss was not one of those. Their upcoming release has 10 songs but only 5 originals. The band chose to record and release acoustic versions of the first 5 songs.

I think the first song on an album is so important to keeping listeners interested. If they don’t love your first song they probably won’t keep listening or at the very least will tune out. Open Door is the first track on Attaloss’ album and the first single to be released. Boy, did they get this one right! It is the perfect song to get this thing started and definitely the strongest. The songs progressed nicely from there, moving onto Before You Let Me In, Fate Will Only Know Tomorrow, Move On and wrapping the originals up in a nice bow was Forward. I preferred the originals over the acoustic versions but only because I think they best displayed the overall capabilities of the band. It’s always nice to hear a rock song stripped down, but for me, hearing this band for the first time, I wanted to know exactly what they were capable of.

Rating: 40 out of 50.

Conclusion: I've read quite a few reviews talking about the talent that this band exhibits and I have to agree. This group definitely has their shit together. Obviously, no group is perfect and everyone has room for improvement. At this point though, Attaloss seems to have things worked out and more time together is only going to refine their sound.

If you’re a rock fan, you want to check out this album.

Download a FREE copy of Attaloss' latest release Open Door HERE

This post contains a audio, please visit the post on jitZul to view rich media content.

Attaloss' self-titled album is available April 10, 2012

Pre-order now!

Check out our interview with Attaloss!

Check out the interview and the bands current tour dates. Tour continues through May 2, 2012

Chase Perryman - All Things Invisible: Album Review

Feb 17, 2012

When we last caught up with Chase Perryman it was 2009 and he was putting out his own music. Three years later we find him signed with the independent label Archetype Records and releasing new material called All Things Invisible. Chase has come a long way and so has his music. It is obvious that he has spent the time between records honing his singing and songwriting skills.

All Things Invisible doesn’t veer far from Chase’s other releases. What it does is come across as more refined. Chase still has the deep and soulful voice with meaningful lyrics, but also a touch of polish. On this release the songs are quite melancholy. The more upbeat songs, such as Three Times As Fast and Antithesis caught my attention the most. Overall, the 10 songs are mellow and great for a day of relaxation.

His music is one that doesn’t fit into just one category. Some songs fit into one, some into two; some might fit into many categories. If one category was required to break down his musical sound, he would most likely be put into the indie/folk/blues category, at least according to my ears.

Chase’s music isn’t for everyone. He has a unique sound that requires the right group of fans, but finding that group when producing distinctively different music isn’t always easy. It seems though that Chase has found a way to garner the following he is looking for. One can only image how his career will have evolved when we catch up with him again in another couple of years.

This post contains a audio, please visit the post on jitZul to view rich media content.

ALL THINGS INVISIBLE TRACK LISTING

1. Elephant in Red

2. Lady in Waiting

3. Three Times As Fast

4. If You Were a Leaf

5. Crash After This

6. Antithesis

7. Okra Plant

8. Holy Palmers

9. Holes That Let The Light Through

10. Only So Many Pockets

All Things Invisible is available on iTunes and Amazon.com

Upcoming Shows

February 18 at 7pm - The Fly, Shelbyville Arts Council, Shelbyville, TN
March 7 at 7pm - Hotel Indigo, Nashville, TN
March 28 at 9pm - Roosters Texas BBQ & Steakhouse, Nashville, TN
May 12 at 7pm - The Fly, Shelbyville Arts Council, Shelbyville, TN

Check out our interview with Chase from 2009!

Chase Perryman is a talented, new musician hitting the streets. He's no stranger to music, however, as he performed in the band Asher before embarking on a solo career.

Riley Etheridge, Jr. – Meaningful, Wily, Somber

Jan 19, 2012

Brand new EP coming your way January 24!

Fans of Riley Etheridge, Jr. won’t be surprised by his latest EP release Better Days. The sounds and lyrics they have grown to love are on high display in his newest four songs. This time around, Riley worked with just a drummer (Dan Rieser) and bassist (Tim Luntzel) which produced sounds much more stripped down than some of the ones featured on his previous album Powder Keg.

Riley’s friend called the songs on this EP "real people playing real music" and that is such a true observation. The songs come across as having real meaning about real situations. There wasn’t fluff. Just well put together songs. My favorite song is Even As We Fall. It was fun and really uplifting. I thought it was a great way to start an EP. The next 3 songs are noticeably slower but not so much that you lose interest.

I would have enjoyed listening to a full album instead of the standard 4 song EP. I felt like the album ended just as it was getting started. Maybe I was looking for another upbeat song to end things or perhaps I felt like the story wasn’t done being told. Either way, this EP will make Riley Etheridge, Jr. fans long for another full length album which I hear should be released this year. For those who are unfamiliar with him, this EP will at least get them interested in his music and searching for other works.

This post contains a audio, please visit the post on jitZul to view rich media content.

BETTER DAYS TRACK LISTING

Even As We Fall The More Time Passes By Roll With The Tide Better Days

Better Days will be available by digital download on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 via Rock Ridge Music. Get the latest news on this release by visiting Riley's Website, Facebook and Twitter.

Check out our interview with Riley Etheridge, Jr.!

jitZul interviewed Riley last year just before his release of Powder Keg.

Pilot Touhill: Music Review

Dec 02, 2011

When the holiday’s roll around, I spend my days cooking and it can get quite boring. In order to keep the boredom at bay I try to always have music blaring. I use this time to listen to some of my favorite CD’s over and over again but I also like having new music to check out. I was lucky that this year a new CD dropped right into my lap at the perfect time.

Pilot Touhill’s is a singer/songwriter from California that mixes and matches beats to form his own original sound. Reviewers have said that Pilot has ‘effortless talent’ and I completely agree. One listen to this album and one has to hear the sounds of someone doing what they love, not forcing beats for the sake of an album. Pilot Touhill is upbeat and exciting. The type of music your body dances to even if you don’t ask it to. It isn’t the type of music I would typically listen to but it was an album that I enjoyed enough to keep on repeat while preparing my Thanksgiving meal.

Kaleidoscope comes across as the perfect single after a quick listen to all of the songs. Maybe the word Kaleidoscope just caught my attention more than the other lyrics, but overall it was my favorite song. One Thing was crazy with up and down beats that had my body moving right away. I also really enjoyed the mellowness of Sitting on Top of the World. Pilot Touhill’s simple, yet catchy lyrics remind you of summer and will have you longing for a trip to the beach. Perhaps this is a great album for folks entering the dreary winter months.

Pilot calls his music a mix of Rock, Reggae, Hip-Hop, Soul and Electronica. If I had to create a playlist for it I would call it ‘Fun’.

Rating: 35 out of 50.

Purchase Music by Pilot Touhill

Paper Armour

Released in 2011

This post contains a audio, please visit the post on jitZul to view rich media content.

Come check out this post at jitZul.com to post comments and see full size images.

Murder 101: A Review of The Ritual

Oct 20, 2010

Anthony Spadaccini's follow-up proves that not all sequels are bad

There are two ways to review movies. One of them involves looking at them from an artistic perspective. The other involves looking at it from the perspective of the audience...or those who want go to the movies for entertainment and nothing more.

Good news! The Ritual, filmmaker Anthony Spadaccini's follow-up to his 2007 release Head Case, has the ability to impress audiences who view films as art as well as those who view films as nothing more than entertainment.

Once again we meet Wayne Montgomery (Paul McCloskey), a sadistic, deranged serial killer. His wife, Andrea Montgomery (Barbara Lessin, who only appears in a couple of scenes), is in jail after assisting Wayne in the brutal crimes from the first film. While the cops look for Wayne, Wayne has a new pupil...a disturbed (and disturbing) young man by the name of Jared (Joey Garrison). However, their relationship is put to the test when Wayne and Jared admit they have different ideals when it comes to committing murder.

That just makes it all the more interesting and entertaining (in a good way, of course).

Yes, there's more bloodshed but not as much as in the previous film. This is one of the reasons why Ritual is much more watchable than the first film. The first film was basically non-stop killing of innocent people in rather gruesome ways, making it rather easy to turn away from the screen. In this film, however, there isn't a big body count as this film delves into the psyche of serial killers (and we meet more, other than Wayne and Jared). That is what makes this so interesting...and entertaining.

Spadaccini switches filming styles on us throughout the film. Some scenes appear normal (a la like home movies), others look distorted, and some even appear in crooked angles. These various filmmaking styles make this look like an experimental student film almost...but better.

Still disturbing, don't get me wrong, as we have a few instances where serial killers (not necessarily Wayne or Jared) talking about how they are going to kill their victims or want to kill them. The way they talk about such subject matter is about as laid back as talking to a car salesman about purchasing a new car, or how an employer talks to a job interviewee. Eeek!

Thankfully, Spadaccini doesn't rub corpses, blood, and guts in our faces. He knows the scariest part about these types of films is what goes on inside the heads of serial killers.

Rating: 35 out of 50.

A lot more entertaining than its predecessor, The Ritual hits high marks through Spadaccini's experimental student film-like style and a script that is more interested in character relationships and psychology rather than overall murder and torture. Unfortunately, there were a couple of scenes that were so ambiguous that they were confusing, which hurts its rating a little.

Quick notes: Brinke Stevens makes a welcome return as Wayne's verbally abusive, equally-disturbed yet amusing mother; like Head Case, timid or squeamish audiences may want to avoid this film; and this is followed by Post-Mortem.

Come check out this post at jitZul.com to post comments and see full size images.

Featured Artist: Vanessa Singleton

Oct 1, 2010

Vanessa Singleton is a Canadian actress that has passionately been acting since the age of 13. You may recognize her from the television shows Seven Deadly Sins or Siblings. If not, I am sure you will soon as Vanessa is poised to hit the Vancouver acting scene with a vengeance.

In addition to her work on screen Vanessa is also a stage actress and has recently been awarded the part of Lady Macbeth in the epic Shakespearean play of the same title.

You can learn all about Vanessa on her website at vanessasingleton.com.

Come check out this post at jitZul.com to post comments and see full size images.

The Parlotones - Stardust Galaxies Album Review

Sep 10, 2010

The Parlotones shine with their leap into the US market

What do the World Cup, South Africa and Multi-Platinum status all have in common? The Parlotones! This South African group has sold more records than Coldplay, The Killers, and Oasis combined and they are finally bringing their music to the US. Their US debut, Stardust Galaxies, hits stores on September 14 and will be followed by 21 tour dates throughout the country (many dates with the group Blue October). The group, consisting of Glenn Hodgson (bass guitar, piano, backing vocals), Paul Hodgson (lead guitar, keyboard), Kahn Morbee (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Neil Pauw (drums), originate from Johannesburg, South Africa where they have seen significant success over the years. They have been compared to many notable acts, usually The Killers, but I don’t like to make comparisons as I feel all musicians have their own uniqueness about them that shouldn’t be taken away. Since 2006 the group has seen a slew of nominations and wins from various organizations for their stellar music. Everything from Best Rock Album in 2006 at the South African Music Awards, Best Video in 2007 at MK Awards, and Best Serenade in 2009 at MK Awards, just to name a few.

Stardust Galaxies may be the first time many US ears are hearing The Parlotones music but it isn’t their first attempt at music. This will be the 5th release by the group who recently finished a sold-out, 300-date world tour. In addition to the sold out tour, the last two years has been a time of highs for the group, having performed at the Kick-Off Celebration Concert at the FIFA World Cup, the 2009 Presidential Inauguration in Africa, Africa Day and at Live Earth.

Stardust Galaxies consists of 12 singles, which many may not notice at first listen, contain stories of social and political struggles taking place in South Africa. The Parlotones do a good job of telling stories more than preaching about their beliefs. The other songs contain lyrics that almost anyone can relate to, stories on everything from love to life.

The first single, Push Me to the Floor has already won a 2010 South African Music Award for "Best Music Video of the Year" so it was no surprise that it was my favorite on the album. It instantly pulled me in and I think mainly because of the beat, as opposed to the meaning and lyrics. It came across as a really catchy song that I know I would instantly recognize as a Parlotone’s song. It was a perfect choice for the first single. The Stars Fall Down is a very relatable relationship song. It talks about how life can come along and complicate things and how things don’t last forever, but you should make the most of now. Anyone who has been in a relationship (whether friend, family, love, etc.) can understand the ups and downs that come with a short-term or long-term relationship. I am a sucker for upbeat songs so We Call This Dancing was right up my alley and had me dancing right away. It is a fun ditty that I found myself singing long after the album was finished.

I loved the lyrics of Remember When that told a story of growing up carefree and then facing life’s everyday challenges and the world that you live in. Everything the song told was so true to the journey that one goes through from childhood to adulthood. My favorite lyrics were ‘When days are dark and it all goes wrong, We'll just hum along to our favorite songs’. This could not have been said more perfectly. For me, and many others, music is life and no matter how bad things get, a simple song can make everything feel so much better. On the title track,Stardust Galaxies, Zolani Mahola (of the band Freshlyground) joins The Parlotones and gave the album ending serenade a slightly different sound. It made you pause and really listen up as you hear a sort of couples love story. Zolani and Kahn were a perfectly matched pair for this song.

Rating: 40 out of 50.

Conclusion: The album is a great up and down mix of soft ballads and more upbeat rock songs that stayed consistent throughout. It is an album with radio friendly ballads that will have you singing and dancing one minute and contemplating social issues and how they can be solved the next. Overall it is a great mix of songs that will hopefully get the group the recognition they deserve in the US.

This post contains a audio, please visit the post on jitZul to view rich media content.

Pre-Order Stardust Galaxies by The Parlotones

Available Sept. 14.

Upcoming US Tour Dates

9/14/10 – Washington, D.C. @ DC9
09/17/10 – Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

with Blue October
09/18/10 – Tempe, AZ @ Tempe Beach Park [KEXX Fall Frenzy]

with Blue October
09/19/10 – Bakersfield, CA @ Fox Theater

with Blue October
9/20/10 – West Hollywood, CA @ Viper Room

with Blue October
09/21/10 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues Anaheim

with Blue October
09/22/10 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom

with Blue October
09/24/10 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo

with Blue October
09/25/10 – Bellingham, WA @ Mount Baker Theatre

with Blue October
09/26/10 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom

with Blue October
09/29/10 – Spokane, WA @ The Knitting Factory

with Blue October
09/30/10 – Boise, ID @ The Knitting Factory

with Blue October
10/01/10 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex

with Blue October
10/02/10 – Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater

with Blue October
10/03/10 – Kansas City, MO @ Crossroads KC

with Blue October
10/04/10 - Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
10/06/10 – Columbia, MO @ Blue Note

with Blue October
10/07/10 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave at Eagles

with Blue October
10/08/10 – Traverse City, MI @ Leelanau Sands Theatre

with Blue October
10/09/10 – Mount Clemens, MI @ Emerald Theater

with Blue October
10/11/10 – New York, NY @ The Mercury

Be sure to check back next week as we will be posting an interview with Kahn Morbee of The Parlotones!

Come check out this post at jitZul.com to post comments and see full size images.

The Art of The Audition

Aug 09, 2011

Learn about auditioning from Beatrice King, a Mortal Kombat queen.

Beatrice King is an experienced Canadian actress who teaches, among other things, auditioning technique in beautiful Vancouver, Canada. Beatrice has a great list of credits ranging from Mortal Kombat Legacy to Supernatural. We sat down with Beatrice to talk about how to make the best out of auditioning so you can maximize your chances of landing that dream role.

Know Your Limits

Early in Beatrice's career she began auditioning much like any other actress would and soon found what seemed like a dream role. After a grueling four callbacks everything seemed perfect! She was set to land her first lead. They loved the way she portrayed herself in the auditions. They thought she had fantastic chemistry with the male lead. It seemed too perfect to be true. And then they dropped the bomb! They decided they wanted her to do an explicit scene right at the end of the movie.

When auditioning for a role make sure it is something you are comfortable with. Many directors will push the boundaries of what is acceptable and the only way they will draw a line is if you show it to them. Have the confidence to turn down a role that insists on breaking boundaries that you don't feel comfortable in bending. If you were offered a lead role once you will be offered one again.

Do Your Homework

The most important thing an actor or actress can do to maximize their chance of success is research, research, research. Many actors think that just learning their lines is enough but knowledge is power. Learn the entire story. Learn its mood. Learn its tone. Learn about the director, learn about his style. Learn about the producer, learn about his expectations. Study the setting. Dominate the role you are auditioning for, do a character study, learn their motivations, their weaknesses, their strengths. Walk into the audition feeling like you know more about the role being cast than the team on the other side of the table.

You don't always have time to do all this research though. When Beatrice first auditioned for Mortal Kombat she was asked to audition for one of the twins at the very last minute. They contacted Beatrice's agent and wanted her to audition within the next couple hours. Rushed, Beatrice focused on the most important aspects of her character. She learned the scene as much as possible but also focused on the tone of the story so that she could capture the mood of her character.

They really loved Beatrice's performance despite being under prepared. After some strong feedback, however, the role went to another girl simply because she looked very similar to the other twin who had already been cast. The casting team, however, assured Beatrice that they were impressed by her audition and would keep her in mind for another role. Soon after Beatrice was cast as Queen Sindel, the twins' mother in flashbacks. Even if putting that extra effort into an audition doesn't pay off initially you never know how it will reward you down the road.

Be Up to Date with Acting in your Area

Every actor should be up to date with what is filming in their area and already be familiar with those stories. When auditioning is slow this becomes your job. Watch the shows that are airing and learn as much as you can about those that are not. You never know when you will get an audition for any of them and if you already have done most of your research the last minute preparation becomes much easier.

Be Confident

Never apologize in an audition. Especially Canadians seem to be always be apologizing for something. "I'm sorry, can I use a chair, or I'm sorry I messed up on a work, can I start over?" Indeterminate behavior just doesn't fly in an audition room. It is all about learning to be confident and trust in your work. Be solid with your choices. Even if you don't perfectly know your lines be confident in your talent. Make sure to keep your edge.

Conclusion

In all, a career in acting is undoubtedly hard. For every role an actor lands they must go through dozens of auditions. While learning your craft is definitely key to success, mastering the audition is just as hard. Practice makes perfect and never forget that when you are having fun you will always be more genuine. Learn to be take charge while auditioning and you will soon discover that it is a process that actually can be enjoyable.

Learn more about Beatrice King by visiting her website as beatriceking.com. Photo by Toranj Kayvon.

Come check out this post at jitZul.com to post comments and see full size images.

Ali Liebert in Year of the Carnivore

Jul 01, 2011

Year of the Carnivore is the latest film by award winning filmmaker Sook-Yin Lee. Year of the Carnivore follows the innocent, yet predatory adventure of a young women crazed about becoming sexually experienced so that she can impress the man she loves. Year of the Carnivore quickly becomes a bitter statement about the reality of human relationships and Sook-Yin Lee takes great effort in presenting a satyrical view of the triviality of intercourse.

Canadian, Ali Liebert stars in the film as the protagonist’s coworker and friend named Sylvia. Sylvia serves as a polar opposite to her strange friend being gifted with all the self confidence and strength that timid Sammy Smalls (played by Cristin Milloti) does not. Ali Liebert seems perfectly suited for such a role as she takes hold of it and creates a character filled with both subtle (and not so subtle) intrigue. The viewer can’t help but wonder why the story does not focus more heavily on Sylvia as Ali’s performance forces one to ponder the depth of Sylvia’s character through her conversations with Sammy.

Throughout the film Sammy small continually refers to a pin-up poster of Ali as a depiction of beauty. It is unclear as to the message Sook-Yin Lee wishes to portray by giving Ali’s character a certain double identity as it is clear that the girl on the poster is not Sylvia. Ali Liebert’s more vulnerable, sexual, look on the poster creates an aroma of mystery as it directly contrasts the more voracious sexuality of her character, Sylvia.

Ali Liebert’s presence throughout Year of the Carnivore anchors the viewer’s surprise to the audacity of Sook-Yin Lee’s approach elevating the story’s message to that it can be better understood.

Learn more about Ali

Listen to the interview jitZul conducted with her in April.

Crafting That Perfect Screenplay

Jun 8, 2011

with Anthony Spadaccini

Writing a screenplay can prove to be a challenge. There are many things to keep in mind while crafting one, such as developed characters and an original concept. Studio executives, producers and other hard-hitters in Hollywood are in constant search of that perfect screenplay that will truly knock their socks off...not to mention, when the movie opens, the audience's.

Derek sat down with award-winning filmmaker Anthony Spadaccini to discuss the importance of what goes into a screenplay. What are the elements of a great screenplay? Why are these elements so important? How do you make sure these elements are strong enough to make a studio exec greenlight your project?

So what are these elements? They are concept, presentation, structure, plot, characters, pacing, dialogue, theme, tone, and commercial potential. Let's look at each element a little closely.

Concept

No matter the genre of the film, it must be original or, at least, innovative. For example, the film Quarantine was basically a horror film about zombies. That's been seen before...but what the film did was adopt a subjective camera angle (a la The Blair Witch Project) to make it look as though the story was happening in real time.

In other words, although it can be very hard (almost impossible) to find an original idea for your screenplay, it's important to at least put a new spin on the not-so-original idea. That's what Quarantine did.

Presentation

Your grammar teacher was right...presentation is important! Your screenplay must be properly formatted and devoid of spelling and grammatical errors. There are books and online resources you can check out that talk about how to properly format a screenplay.

Screenwriting software (Final Draft -or- Movie Magic), some of which is available for a free download (Celtx), automatically formats your script while you write. Such software is worth checking out.

One final note...industry professionals are very picky about proper presentation in screenplays. So make them shine so bright that you can see your reflection in the title page!

Structure

This will include your three acts, plot points, climax, and resolution. It is all how you tell the story, and nowadays it's important to tell your story in a unique way. The Saw films did this. Granted each of the films had its own story, but the overall storyline was told from different angles as well as from the help of flashbacks.

An important note to remember is that no matter the genre, you have to create some kind of suspense. Going back to the Saw films, the filmmakers generated suspense through the use of a "ticking clock" concept. In keeping our example in mind, in each film a character had to participate in a maze of the serial killer's games in a certain amount of time or their loved ones would be killed. That right there creates suspense and a lot of it!

To the upper right is a basic structure diagram for a screenplay. Please note the page numbers each point should fall on, too.

Plot

What fits into a screenplay structure is the plot of the story. That is...what happens first? What happens next? What happens after that? What are the conflicts...and so on?

Characters

Very important in your screenplay. What are your protagonist's goals or, to begin with, his/her likes or dislikes? Occupation? Is this person religious? Does he/she live in a house or an apartment? Back story is very important. Audiences must be able to get to know your characters so they'll be well-invested in them, even the antagonists.

A good way to make your characters well-developed is to give each one a different trait. One character may be cocky, another may be devoutly religious, and one may be very smart. Is that all you need to do? No, but it's a start. Also, there has to be drama in your screenplay and there can't be any drama unless your characters don't get along with each other. This doesn't mean all the characters have to hate each other. Maybe a couple characters have a brief disagreement during a part of the screenplay, but for the most part agree. Create some conflict between them because it creates drama!

Pacing

Pacing can go back to structure as the suspense of a "ticking clock", for example, makes the script more engaging. Going back to the Saw films, a character who has all the time in the world to go through the serial killer's various games isn't going to be very exciting.

Drive the action forward, especially if you're writing an action film! If an action script has only occasional action set pieces, the pace is going to be uneven and the film will be overall boring.

Dialogue

In film, it's more "what you say" than "how you say it." Dialogue is never suppose to sound like real-life talk. It's just suppose to mimic it. Make your characters not always talk in complete sentences. What they say should also be witty, but it all depends on the situation. For example, if you have aliens landing in a family's backyard, the family isn't going to start talking about their favorite science fiction films.

Theme

Don't get too hung up on finding a theme for your screenplay but always remember that it needs one. The theme, most of the time, comes by accident. It may be the theme you want, or it may be a theme you weren't exactly looking for. If you do have a theme in mind, be careful because you may run the risk of writing a preachy screenplay

In other words, your screenplay needs to be about something. Dawn of the Dead, for example, was about consumerism and the humans trapped in the shopping mall were trying to fight it even though it was all around them...the zombies being consumerism because they wanted the humans inside to "wear their clothes, act like them, eat what they eat, etc."

The people who read your screenplay may find different themes. Remember...art is subjective.

Tone

If you've written a film you like to call a "sweet-natured comedy" and someone finds the jokes more raunchy than American Pie's, then you have a problem. If your screenplay is a heavy-handed dark comedy, then it should be one the whole way through without any preaching from the characters. If your screenplay is a light family film, the cartoon bear shouldn't be tearing apart a cartoon bunny and playing with its guts. Doesn't fit.

Keep the tone consistent throughout, and you'll be fine.

Commercial Potential

Screenplays can cost thousands of dollars, so it better shine. Producers and studio executives don't want to spend all that money on a script that would make a poor film. And even if it gets shot, audiences have to be able to like it. People don't want to spend ten dollars to sit down and take up two hours of their time watching a crummy film.

Get an original concept, make those characters as deep as the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and keep all the other screenplay elements in mind and you should be fine! And to make sure your screenplay adheres to these elements (and you want to spend the money), you can hire a script consultant.

Script Consultants (or readers)

While Derek has used script consultants for his screenplay projects, Anthony has never but might one day. The reason Anthony has never hired a script consultant is because many of his films (i.e. the Head Case series, Unstable) are improvisational. Granted there are some script consultants out there who are willing to take a look at treatments or even query letters and give their opinions on them, but for the most part they concentrate on screenplays.

Script consultants (a.k.a. readers) can be very helpful in getting a screenwriter's script in fighting shape. How they help screenwriters is read their scripts a few times before writing what's called a coverage.

Coverages are written reports of a screenplay. Think of that book report you had to write in school. Normally, a coverage will include the script's information (i.e. title, screenwriter's name, number of pages), a logline (a brief summation of a script's plot), and a brief synopsis which is a more detailed summary of the screenplay. Then come the reader's constructive notes...what's working and what's not. After the notes is the advice for executives, as these are normally written for studio executives, agents, managers, and producers.

The screenplay's reader will give it a grade for the executives, or whoever the coverage is being written for. These grades include Pass, Consider, and Recommend.

It's important to do your homework when finding a reader to write a coverage on your screenplay. One thing to do to make sure they're reputable (or actually have screenwriting experience) is to search their name on The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Also keep in mind that readers can charge a good sum of money for their services, so use them wisely too!

Another important thing to remember about seeking a coverage report from a reader is that it is only one person's opinion. Also, art is subjective...one reader may give the script a Pass grade while another reader may give it a Consider.

The overall goal is to get as many opinions as possible from different sources. It can be readers, or your family and friends, or perhaps even members of your writing group if you're involved in one.

To learn more about Anthony Spadaccini, please visit his profile on IMDb.

Come check out this post at jitZul.com to post comments and see full size images.

When it is OK for an Actor to Say No!

May 19, 2011

Find out how Brenna O'Brien was able to handle a difficult situation

Acting is one of those careers that can sometimes push you to the boundaries of your own comfort. Sometimes even these boundaries can be broken. As an actor struggling for work and hoping for success how can you say no when presented with a scene that you simply are not willing to execute?

Brenna O’Brien was only seventeen when she first ran into this problem. She was about halfway through filming one of her latest roles when out of nowhere she was told by the director and producer that there had been a change in the script that would force her into a very uncomfortable scene.

At only seventeen Brenna was not ready to engage in such a blatantly sexual display and felt unsure. When first shown the script change Brenna instinctively agreed, however, as the minutes began to tick she quickly realised she simply was not prepared to do what they were asking. Not yet.

Concern for her career immediately washed through Brenna. She was worried that they would consider her unprofessional or a child and that it would hurt her reputation or she wouldn’t be able to find more roles once word got out that she had refused.

Brenna, despite her reservations decided not to do the scene. She, however, was more than aware that how she turned down the change was key to avoiding any negative fall-out on her career.

She started by discussing things with her agent who she trusted implicitly. During this conversation Brenna felt re-assured that she had chosen an agent that was both reliable and supportive. Many agents would simply push their charges towards doing anything on screen, however, Brenna’s agent was understanding and willing to help her.

After talking to her agent they both approached the director and calmly explained Brenna’s feelings about the sudden script change and how she was unwilling to engage in what they were asking of her. They pointed out that Brenna was not an adult yet and that she did not wish to cause trouble but felt she had to draw the line in order to protect herself.

The conversation went well and neither party ever got angry or vengeful. Both Brenna and her agent knew that any hostility could de-rail Brenna’s entire career if she lost the respect of the director or producer.

After a short talk it was agreed that a body double would shoot the scene in Brenna’s place. In fact both the director and producer were very understanding and willing to accommodate. Ultimately it seemed as if they respected Brenna more than before.

When placed in a very difficult position Brenna O’Brien was able to prevail and do so with grace and dignity. Every actor and actress must face such a moment at some point in their careers. Sometimes the answer is to simply grin and bear it, however, if you are truly uncomfortable with something being asked of you, you really shouldn’t engage in it. Regardless of what career you have chosen.

Despite the risk of seeming unprofessional Brenna’s methods of handling the situation calmly ultimately only served to increase the respect of her peers. Whenever you are faced with a similar situation remember how Brenna was able to avoid any arguments or hostility so that she could protect herself and continue along on her passionate career.

Editor's Note: jitZul is proud to say this is our 200th article!

Learn more about Brenna!

Check out a great Audio interview she conducted with jitZul!

Create Prosperity by Becoming the Expert of your Niche

Apr 08, 2011

Discover how Lili Wexu leveraged her specialty to find success.

Finding your way in any art related business can be a tremendous undertaking. One moment you can be struggling, the next moment you can be doing fine, and mere days later you can be famous. It isn’t easy though, there was a time that all it took to reach the top of a respective art would was to simply master your art. Those times are gone. Every possible medium has an endless supply of fantastically talented people. You need an edge. You need to find a way to make your work stand out and to leverage yourself as the expert you have worked so hard to become.

The year was 1997 and a youthfully passionate Lili Wexu decided to pursue a career in voice acting. Lili took the first step into what would, over the next decade or so, become the career she had always dreamed of.

It wouldn’t come easy. Like any art industry the world of voice acting is one of struggle. It is this driving pursuit that is the true test of an artist’s resolve. Will they make a career of what they love or will they keep it as a hobby.

Like many artists Lili refused to take the complete plunge out of the gate and decided to make voice acting a part time endeavor. She quickly found moderate success as she began to be casted voicing commercials. The nature of Lili’s voice made her perfect for such things and she soon became known for this talent.

Despite the relatively early success in her career Lili felt that the limitations of her portfolio reflected a weakness in her versatility. She strove to broaden her vocal range in order to expand her image. Simultaneously she also made the move towards building her own studio.

At the time very few voice actors had their own rigs and because of this producers were unsure how to react when Lili pitched recording on her own. Naturally an endless swathe of concerns would quickly erupt. Will the sound quality be good enough? How can we have enough creative control? Is your equipment up to the task?

Lili was ahead of her time, clearly the industry wasn’t ready to accept the benefits of voice actors using their own studios. Soon times would change.

In 2006 change became inevitable. The screen actor’s guild went on strike and the access to acting talent dried up. Change had to happen. Producers no longer could reach out to talent agents to find voice actors, instead they had to find the actors directly.

A revelation began to occur. Actors began submitting submission digitally. Producers quickly realised how much money they could save by not having to rent studio space or equipment and over night home studios went from being laughed at to a necessity.

Naturally, given that she was a few years ahead of the curve Lili began to reap the benefits. Before long producers became dependent on talent banking websites to find the voices they needed. It was up to the actors to market themselves.

Consequently, however, the rise of actors marketing themselves also led to an influx of eager vocalists constantly pawing at the doors of producers. Lili quickly realized she had to stand out from the crowd.

Thus she returned to her roots. In the beginning Lili felt stifled and frustrated that she had been pigeon holed into a specific type of role. However, Lili, now realized this specificity was a gift. Her natural skill at tag-lines, her flawless bilingualism, and her commanding voice began to propel her upward.

In 2007 Lili began to be overwhelmed with work and finally had to make voice acting a full time career. She made the decision and hasn’t looked back. Her success continues to grow to this day as Lili continually lands prestigious roles that are making her career into an amazing one. In 2008 Lili was recognized by her peers as one of the most talented and outstanding voice actors on the international market when she was presented with a Voicey award. Lili even had a dream come true when she was cast to be the voice of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.

Come check out this post at jitZul.com to post comments and see full size images.

The Chase is on...Again!

Apr 04, 2011

A Review of Chasing Mood, Season 2

Chasing Mood, the beloved Vancouver-based Web series, is back...and better than ever! With a new style, more supporting characters and an entertaining storyline, the second season is certainly worth "chasing" after.

The second season finds Curtis (played by none other than...you guessed it, Curtis Lum) freeloading off his uncle, who left him his condo while he's away on business. During the first scene of the first episode, we're introduced to Curtis's high-strung and goofy friend Johnson (played by, guess who...Johnson Phan). Johnson wants to be involved with another season of Curtis and Brendon's reality show from the first season, but it looks as though their reality show days are over.

After the first scene at the house (er, condo) party, Curtis and Johnson pick up Brendon (Brendon Bertolini...who knew?) at the train station. But Brendon has come back rather strange, almost like he's in some sort of trance. Other than that, Brendon is the same character we liked and got to know in the first season. He's also apparently living with his grandmother now. Oh yes, and we also get to see Brendon's sworn-enemy J.J. (Jeremy Schuetze) in the brief final scene. On a side note...Blu Mankuma appears in the season, too, but only as a different character.

A hilarious season will ensue for sure, as the laughs hardly ever stop (Johnson practically steals the episode). The trailer for the second season drops several hints as to the comedic situations that will be thrown at us during the next month as more episodes are posted. Series creator Leslie Birch doesn't bore us with any unnecessary exposition (it is only the first episode) and gets right to the heart of the storyline...a new one from last season. In this season, Curtis and Brendon are unsure what they want to do with their lives, so it looks as though they're going to spend all season trying to figure it out...and we're along for the ride!

In addition to a new storyline and colorful characters is Birch's cinematography. The "shaky camera" style from the first season (which is the only way to mimic a reality show) has been abandoned. Instead, we get steady shots like that of any typical movie or TV show. A different music score is also present, although some of the score we heard in the first season is there, too.

Among the new cast members are Jarod Joseph and Michelle Hadbavny.

Rating: 45 out of 50.

I like to think of myself as a psychic when it comes to movies, TV shows...and Web series. That is, I can almost always tell if something will be good without viewing the rest of the episodes (or the rest of the movie). Chasing Mood, season two is something that I've only seen one episode of but I know it's going to be bigger and better than the last season.

When the first episode of the first season of Chasing Mood was released, I watched it and wrote a positive review on the series as a whole instead of just the first episode. I ended up being right about the first season...and I'm fairly certain I'm right about this one.

Please...chase it!

For more information about the show and/or to watch episodes, visit the Chasing Mood website!

You've read about the second season, now hear from one of the stars!

Last year, jitZul had the pleasure of interviewing Curtis Lum. A link to Brendon Bertolini's interview can be found below Curtis's. Enjoy!

Patrick Joseph~rsquo~s Antiques: A Review

Mar 09, 2011

"Antiques" isn't an oldie, but definitely a goodie

Every good review must begin with not criticism of a musician’s album, but with a little about the musician himself or herself (let’s not get sexist now). Why read a review about an album without knowing a little about the musician?

Patrick Joseph is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and spent many of his years playing with bands and working with fellow singer-songwriters. It wasn’t until Patrick was twenty-one when he ventured out on his own. Since embarking on his solo career, Patrick recorded his first EP titled The Basement Tapes, released in 2007 and inspired by his internet fan base which came with the release of various demos on social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook.

Late last year, Patrick released his first full-length album titled Antiques. The 10-song album features something I’ve never heard in an album before or, at least, rarely do. That rarity I’m referring to are the two brief instrumental tracks. We begin with an instrumental, and then another comes along on a later track. The second instrumental is a nice little interlude.

As a whole, the album has a dreary feel. This is a good thing, as I particularly enjoy music that has kind of a dark feel. The mood Patrick’s songs create isn’t overly dreary, like something you would listen to in a dark room by yourself. Its melodies are full of emotion…mostly sad, but at other times surprisingly inspirational and even happy despite the dreariness. These traits are what make the album even more unique and enjoyable.

His fourth track, Untangled, is one of the happier songs (not that the concept of the track was happy). The melody is quicker, didn’t seem as dark as the previous three tracks and had lyrics which (to me, as all art forms are subjective) suggested Patrick was in a horrible car accident but his girlfriend (or someone he loved) wouldn’t give up on him, even though he was in a terrible place physically and mentally post-accident. This particular song was a standout.

Rating: 45 out of 50.

Yes, I really enjoyed Patrick's debut album. The songs weren't too short or too long, the melodies sounded great and delivered some powerful emotions, and it was very well-organized. Yes, you read that right...organized. I've always been a fan of organization, especially when it comes to art. Patrick's organization of his album made it very unique, particularly with his two instrumental pieces. We come into Antiques with an intstrumental and don't hear the second one until later.

After that nice musical interlude, we hear two more songs before the album is over.

During March 2011, Patrick is giving away his debut album for FREE! All you have to go to his official website and join his mailing list. Once you've joined his mailing list, you can download Antiques for free.

Come check out this post at jitZul.com to post comments and see full size images.

Featured Artist - Josh Stewart

Jan 18, 2011

I first stumbled across Josh Stewart when watching MTV in 2009. I had no idea that once I searched his music I would fall in love. Josh is a talented musician who may not have the help of a label, but is doing all he can to make his music available to fans.

He has released an EP and a full length album since that time and is just about ready to release another full length. His music has always been about his life and love, but this time he goes a step further telling us about the recent birth of his son, Jude.

Josh is currently trying to acquire funding for his next album with the help of a KickStarter Campaign. Please check out his music and then think about donating to his upcoming album, Songs for Jude. Even $1 will help him reach his goal!

You can learn more about Josh on facebook.

This post contains a video, please visit the post on jitZul to view rich media content.

Check out an interview with Josh!

Josh chatted with jitZul in the fall of 2009. Catch up on where he started and check back in the next couple weeks to see what he is up to now!

Post-Mortem: A Review

Nov 17, 2010

The third and final installment of a disturbing yet incredibly realistic series

The saying "All Good Things Must Come To An End" is a true one, especially when talking about the final installment in a film series.

What film series, you ask? Post-Mortem, the third in writer/director Anthony Spadaccini's serial killer-grooming series. Yes, this is the final installment...which also means one more disturbed individual is being taught how to kill by, well, another disturbed individual.

This disturbed individual is John Craven (Mark Cray), a serial killer who was taught by fellow serial killer Wayne Montgomery (Paul McCloskey), who we met in Head Case, spent more time with in The Ritual, and only briefly get a glimpse of in this film. The student is Seth (Devin Kates), a teenager who has two young sisters, a little brother, and drug-addicted parents. More of the same "kidnap unsuspecting people, torture, and then kill them" ensues, but is a lot more disturbing than it ever was. Not to give anything away, but the scene that has the victim with the mask was extremely disturbing...so disturbing I considered clicking that "STOP" button on the DVD player.

However, there still aren't as many victims than in Head Case but more than in The Ritual. Despite than brutal (did I mention disturbing) murder scenes, the film seems to be more about the friction between teacher and student, plus other serial killers in what I would personally call the "gang". The friction between everyone is definitely what makes this film riveting.

Brinke Stevens makes a very brief (and welcome) return as Wayne's verbally-abusive mother, Julie.

Saying any more about this film would give away too much, and I wouldn't want to spoil the true experience for anyone.

Rating: 40 out of 50.

Like I mentioned before, I don't want to give anything away. However, I feel compelled to say that there are some murder victims who sincerely didn't deserve to die. It was a little too disturbing and sickening to watch that particular scene. Perhaps you'll pick up on it, and perhaps you won't.

All in all, Post-Mortem was still very good. Great acting and writing, with some truly "edge-of-your-seat" moments. Probably the most suspenseful of the films in the series. A little better than The Ritual, too.

To conclude, please do me a favor...Keep That Finger Off The "STOP" Button! The temptation will be strong. Trust me, I know.

Come check out this post at jitZul.com to post comments and see full size images.

Featured Artist: BelleVoxx

Nov 9, 2010

White Sox MVP Frank Thomas debuts first band signed to his W2W Records

BelleVoxx or "beautiful voice" is a Las Vegas-based trio comprised of Denisse Lara, Harmony Moniz, and Raquel Houghton. All three have had music careers leading up to this pairing with songs heard on Pokemon: The Movie and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. You can learn more about BelleVoxx on their website.

You can watch BelleVoxx' debut video, Looking for Love below and purchase the single on iTunes.

Check back in a couple weeks for an interview with BelleVoxx.

Come check out this post at jitZul.com to post comments and see full size images.

Featured Artist: Robyn Dell~rsquo~Unto

Oct 15, 2010

What happens when a girl with a guitar gets a chicken suit?

Robyn Dell'Unto is a talented emerging musician from Eastern Canada. A sharp wit and a creative voice have served Robyn well and are in the process of propelling her to success. Look for her debut album, I'm Here Every Night which recently hit shelves!

To learn more about Robyn and to listen to some of her tunes, check out out MySpace Page.

Learn more about Robyn

Check out this interview that jitZul conducted with Robyn earlier this year.

Book Review: Waxed by Robert Rave

Oct 01, 2010

Robert Rave’s sophomore release, Waxed was one marked with laughter, confusion and longing. It is a story about 3 basically dysfunctional sisters living their separate lives in NYC yet working in the same waxing salon. Carolina is the overachiever who has spent her whole life running from her upbringing only to become an unhappy, OCD challenged bitch. Sofia is the sweet, unaware sister who finds herself unsettled and longing for her partying days. Finally there is Anna, who has loved, married and had children all to have it fall apart and find herself starting over.

Carolina starts off the story and she instantly becomes the character you hate. She seems perfect in every way. Even when you learn of her flaws and learn of her insecurities you want to hate her for her bitchiness. Carolina and her sisters find themselves facing midlife challenges yet Carolina is the only one who doesn’t seem to grow during the process. I felt like Carolina’s journey and realization about Ron and Jack could have been just as good had she not gotten pregnant. That storyline for me fell flat as in the end we never know exactly how impactful the pregnancy will be on her life and how she will begin to live it differently.

Anna finds herself starting over with a new position at her sister’s salon, Impresarios. She ends up being the sister with the most to gain from her new experience. Even though she spends most of her time outside of the salon her adventure was the most entertaining for me and all because of her relationship with JJ Powers. JJ’s crass comments and attitude were perfectly placed in the book and kept me wanting more. On the other side of Anna’s life she has a son turned daughter, Ariel, an unruly daughter, Fabiana and a basically non-existent middle son, Michael. Ariel’s storyline was a bit odd and misplaced. There wasn’t much info on why ‘the change’ happened which would have been beneficial considering we find out that is the reason for Anna’s broken marriage.

Sofia came across as the girl that everyone women wishes to be. She is the woman with a great job and amazing husband that is envied by everyone. As we are taken through her journey we find that after meeting Dennis, a gay client who shows her all that has been missing from her life, she is quite unfilled being at home alone many nights a week. She longs for the excitement that Dennis and the City brings to her. The absolute shocker for me was finding out the identity of Dennis’s boyfriend; this was a revelation that I never saw coming and am still amazed by.

The salon scenes were some of the most enjoyable. It was hysterical reading about the interactions with the clients. One can only imagine what life would be like working in a salon specializing in waxing.

I felt a connection with the characters, probably more so Anna than the others, but I was longing for more info about them. I would have loved to learn more about their lives before that particular story started. Some more background on how they got to where they are. I also felt, as I was going through the chapters, that it was hard believing/remembering that the sisters were late 30’s, early 40’s; mid twenties was what I kept envisioning based on their various adventures.

Rating: 35 out of 50.

As I flipped closed the back cover I was longing for more information about Carolina, Anna and Sofia and wished that Waxed was the first in a series of adventures with these ladies. Robert Rave has a knack for writing and can convey the life and surroundings of a woman to a tee. He knows just when you make you laugh (revealing the thoughts in the ladies heads was a riot) and he knows when to get down to the serious. Waxed wasn’t perfect, but it will certainly keep you entertained from cover to cover.

Purchase Waxed

Check out Waxed for yourself and see what you think!

Come check out this post at jitZul.com to post comments and see full size images.

Featured Artist 9/10 - Anna Marine

Sep 10, 2010

Anna Marine is a Russian illustrator with a flare for Gothic style who has been drawing since childhood. She prefers to draw with pencils and watercolor and always carries a sketchbook with her for when inspiration strikes.

You can learn more about Anna on deviantART and you can buy her photos at CILM.

Come check out this post at jitZul.com to post comments and see full size images.

Featured Artist 9/3 - Matt Duke

Sep 03, 2010

Matt Duke is a singer/songwriter residing in Philadelphia, PA. Matt creates excellent music on his album releases but you don't truly know his style and sound until you have heard him live. Be sure to pick up his album and catch his next show in your area so you can hear for yourself.

You can learn more about Matt on his website.

Buy music by Matt Duke

Kingdom Underground

Released in 2008.

Come check out this post at jitZul.com to post comments and see full size images.