The Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival 2017 Opens with Love

Cleveland, Ohio is booming -- trendy city amenities and mid-west comforts.  We enjoy an "Emerald Necklace" of Metroparks, delicious culinary cuisine, and a thriving Arts & Culture scene. 

At one of the city's most beautiful times of year, The Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (GCUFF) launches it's 6th annual event, September 21 to September 29, 2017.  Most films will show at the Shaker Square Cinema; movie lovers can take in a show, dine and participate in other GCUFF festivities on the square*.  

It's going to be 9 amazing days of films, industry networking, dining, panel discussions, parties, and connecting with really cool people. 

Aspiring actors can compete in the monologue competition, and art lovers can take in and buy compelling art work at the A Beautiful Burden art exhibition by Donald Black, Jr..

Movie lovers and fans are encouraged to take several days to join in on the fun.  All Access Passes get you into just about every film, party, and panel discussion (excludes children and student film series).  They're available at the low price of $150, or if you prefer, you can purchase individual passes too.  Click here to buy yours today!  

The Opening Night film feature is Love by Chance, a hilarious comedy written and directed by Samad Davis; and starring Clifton Powell, Terri J. Vaughn, and E. Roger Mitchell.  Watch the official trailer here.

Get excited about what's to come at the GCUFF 2017!  Download the free GCUFF app and browse the films and events schedule so that you can plan your experience.  Click here for the AppStore, and here for GooglePlay.

Cleveland, Ohio is quite beautiful in the fall with all it's bounty of foliage, transforming in an autumn array of oranges, burgundies, and golds.  Kick off the season by taking a little holiday with The Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival.  To help you out, we came up with a few suggestions on how to easily fit GCUFF into your schedule:

1)  All In:  Take a 9-day vacation (staycay if you live in the city) to enjoy GCUFF movies and happenings each day.  Save when you get an All Access Pass! 
2)  Celebrate 6 Years:  Make it an extended weekend, (Thurs. - Sun.) and help GCUFF celebrate the launch of their 6th year, with Opening Night festivities, Films, the Launch Party, Panel Discussions, Dining, and more! 
3)  Weekend Retreat:  Plan to enjoy the entire weekend (Fri - Sun) at the GCUFF. 
4)  Dinner and a movie:  Break up the daily grind; take a day or 2, and join us at Shaker Square after work!
5)  Combination Duo:  Combine Options 2 & 4, or Options 3 & 4.

Book your stay at a hotel near Shaker Square Cinemas.

To give you an idea of what to expect, at last year's GCUFF fans mixed and mingled with people in the media and film industry like:  Mel Jackson, Denise Boutte, industry leaders of BET, Bounce TV, and Enchant TV, members of Parliament Funkadelic, the Legendary Jim Brown, and many more. Movie lovers, aspiring actors, filmmakers, and other industry professionals were able to connect, learn from one another, and hang out.  So, word of advice, it's best to be prepared; here are things you need to be #GCUFFREADY:

- Download the GCUFF app

- Your camera (or phone)

- Your smartphone & charger

- Selfie stick

- Notebook/pencil

- Cash

- Your smile & positive attitude

You're welcome!  

Fans are encouraged to show their GCUFF love.  Snap photos and share on your social media accounts with hashtags: #gcuff #gcuff6 #gcuffready #thisiscle .  (Why yes, feel free to cut and paste them into your smartphone notepad for safe keeping & to save time when posting.  ;-)  )

GCUFF 2016 #GCUFFREADY

Get social with GCUFF for exclusives!  Follow them here: 

Facebook: @gcuffcleveland
Twitter: @gcuff
Instagram: @urbanfilmcle
Google+:  @gcuff

GCUFF.org

See you at the movies!

- T. James-Sykes


*Check film and event schedule to verify location & times

The Killer Nashville Reader's Choice Awards Nominees Are....

Congratulations to our 2017 @KillerNashville Reader’s Choice Awards nominees!! https://t.co/AognRu2qhD pic.twitter.com/ptJEFI7TzI

— Amazon Publishing (@AmazonPub) July 24, 2017

Cast a vote for your favorites by visiting www.KillerNashville.com .  Winners will be announced at the 2017 Killer Nashville Guest of Honor Dinner and Awards Banquet.

Congratulations to all of the nominees, and good luck!

Top Best Selling Mystery, Suspense & Thriller Novels on Amazon

Reading is one of the world's best, most constructive past times.  To get ready for the coming season, we took the liberty of gathering a few Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense titles to browse through.  The 5 new releases that are listed have high reviews, and have made Amazon's best sellers list.

1. All the Missing Girls a Novel by Megan Miranda
"Like the spellbinding psychological suspense in The Girl on the Train and Luckiest Girl Alive, Megan Miranda’s novel is a nail-biting, breathtaking story about the disappearances of two young women—a decade apart—told in reverse." Read more about this novel here:

2. Echoes in Death: An Eve Dallas Novel (In Death, Book 44) by J.D. Robb
"As NY Lt. Eve Dallas and her billionaire husband Roarke are driving home, a young woman―dazed, naked, and bloody―suddenly stumbles out in front of their car. Roarke slams on the brakes and Eve springs into action."  Read more about this novel here.

3. The Girl Before:  A Novel by JP Delaney
"The request seems odd, even intrusive—and for the two women who answer, the consequences are devastating."  "SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY RON HOWARD."  Read more about this novel here.

4. Heartbreak Hotel: An Alex Delaware Novel by Jonathan Kellerman.
"At nearly one hundred years old, Thalia Mars is a far cry from the patients that child psychologist Alex Delaware normally treats. But the charming, witty woman convinces Alex to meet with her in a suite at the Aventura, a luxury hotel with a checkered history."  Read more about this novel here. 

5. Right Behind You by Lisa Gardner
"Eight years ago, Sharlah May Nash’s older brother beat their drunken father to death with a baseball bat in order to save both of their lives. Now thirteen years old, Sharlah has finally moved on. About to be adopted by retired FBI profiler Pierce Quincy and his partner, Rainie Conner, Sharlah loves one thing best about her new family: They are all experts on monsters."  Read more about this book here.

Click here for more great titles!

T. James-Sykes

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Confusion II: Betrayal Directed by Arkier K. Burton (a.k.a. Prince Onyx)

Confusion II: Betrayal is the highly anticipated sequel to Diary of a Confused Vampire.  This sci-fi film series centers around Lares, who is the vampire leader faced with the ultimate conflict: Should he transform back to mortality, and commit an unthinkable blood ritual that will cost him his family?  Or, will he remain King Vampire, and lead his family on the crusade to rid Chicago's streets of unworthy criminals?  

Lares, Vampire King speaks with Zuberi, King of Voodoo

Skylar Passion ready to pull the trigger

As this urban horror story, set in Chicago, unfolds, we're presented with a diverse cast that is committed to bringing the plot to life.  Flurried with vampire and voodoo royalty, and a team of bounty hunters who are eager to eliminate them, Confusion II: Betrayal keeps you at the edge of your seat.  

Calla vs Darla

Lares and Adonis during the ritual scene

Zuberi laughs in Jade and Jason's face

Reminiscent of when Alfred Hitchcock appeared in his films, Confusion Director Arkier K. Burton (a.k.a. Prince Onyx) also works his magic (no pun intended), as the Prince of Voodoo, on the screen!  

Asim, Voodoo Prince, has something up his sleeve

Leda vs Darla

Shonda and Paulo

What a treat it was to follow behind the scenes via social media, witnessing the work and dedication put into a vision, and seeing it come together.  Confusion II: Betrayal, is a well-written, indie horror film, with an awesome story-line riddled with good versus evil...and a touch of comic relief too.  Entertaining!

Adonis, Latona, & Paulos walks through the forest

Adamma, Queen of Voodoo vs Pete Walker

We start to care about the characters, but the movie ends, and now we want more.  A few of the stand-outs are Adamma, Asim, Shonda, and Baron Samedi.  Who will be your favorites?  Side note:  Guess who will be going as Baron Samedi for Halloween?  That character's horrifying, rock star presence made the cut!  No one will have a clue, but they will be spooked and seduced.  mmwwwaaahhaaahaaa  Be sure to subscribe and stay tuned!

You know the "thirst" you feel when your favorite show goes off?  Well, thankfully, we won't have to wait too long, because the saga continues...Confusion 3 Part 1: Trials of the Gods is underway, and we WILL be following to watch the magic unfold.  (That pun was intended).

Watch the original short film, Confusion: Diary of a Confused Vampire here.

Check out the inspiration and vision behind the creation of this film series here!

Adonis gets angry

Paulos and Latona in the ally

Director:  Arkier K. Burton(Prince Onyx).

Producers:  Arkier K. Burton, Stephanie Aliceia Jones, Jiron Howard, Maurice McCoy, Billie, Terrell Varaydein Wright, Mariah Furlow.

Writers:  Arkier K. Burton, Stephanie Aliceia Jones, Jiron Howard, Jesiah Reeves, Rashidat "Frye" Shittu. 

Support, stay connected and get in on behind the scenes footage!  Click the links to Like, Follow, Tweet, & Watch the Confusion film series:

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter 
Youtube

See you at the movies!

Asim has a plan

Thanks for reading.

T. James-Sykes

The New Edition Story is FIRE

The three-day biopic about five boys, from Boston who formed the iconic, legendary music group, New Edition, is EPIC!

BET/IMDb

Twitter is on fire with fans uniting each night, to cyber party and reminisce during the movie.  It's safe to say that we're all impressed with how every detail and nuance was remembered when creating this made-for-BET film.  

Johnny Gill was born to sing on Can You Stand the Rain. The song doesn't have that special effect without him. #NewEditionBET

— Pencil_Pusher (@_JMC_ART1992) January 26, 2017

This song will forever live #canyoustandtherain #NewEditionBET

— Kimberly King (@Kimberl80660524) January 26, 2017

Some compare it to "The Jacksons: An American Dream" from 1992, which was a an awesome mini-series about the Jacksons' rise from rags to riches in the music industry.  "The New Edition Story" is by far one of, if not THE best biopic that t.v. has aired since then. The dance moves were poppin', the voices were eerily throwback, and the casting, for both the young and teenage New Edition, was spot on.  Based on the impeccible portrayals, it was evident that each New Edition member spent time helping to coach both of the actors that played him.  To get their performance tight, the boys studied videos on YouTube, and went through a rigorous boot camp.  True professionals!  

"The child actors from 'The New Edition Story' are absolute perfection", says Sylvia Obell BuzzFeed staff member.  See the full story here.

Learn more about the cast, visit www.Bet.com.  See the full cast on www.IMDb.com.

New Edition poses with actors who portray them in the film.  Photo by Bennett Raglin/BET

According to www.Ebony.com, "Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis (who produced New Editions fifth studio album Heartbreak) and Babyface produced all the music for the mini-series. In fact, all the actors who stared as members of New Edition re-recorded all the N.E. music, so when you hear them singing classic New Edition joints, that’s the real actors’ voices." See the full article here.

Just in time, Bell Biv DeVoe (BBD) is set to release Three Stripes on January 27, 2017 (at midnight); their first album since 2001.

The New Edition Story Actors - BET

The overall consensus: A six-hour mini series is an exceptional start.  No more stuffing years of legacy into a 1.5 or 2-hour film.  We like our biopics made for t.v., and to last for days so we can watch (with hearts in our eyes) stories about our favorite, most beloved, legends.  We hope other the networks take note, and in the words of Judge Joe Brown, "Do better!"  We thank BET and New Edition for this amazing collaboration.  Congratulations BET for pushing through, and elevating great content to the masses; we see you.  Much love and respect New Edition for weaving your spirit up and through this project.  We're so proud of you!   

- T. James-Sykes