#Interviewer: Jaylen Simons

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'Blindspotting': STARZ season 2 premiere red carpet interviews with cast and creatives

The Los Angeles premiere for Season 2 of the STARZ original series "Blindspotting" was held on Tuesday, April 11 at the NeueHouse Hollywood. Gold Derby's associate editor Latasha Ford interviewed several cast members and behind-the-scenes talent including co-creators Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal, actors Jasmine Cephas Jones, Jaylen Barron, Candace Nicholas-Lippman, Benjamin Turner, Atticus Woodward, Helen Hunt, Andrew Chapelle, Lance Holloway and Katlynn Simone, choreographer Jon Boogz and executive producer/director Jess Wu Calder on the red carpet.

[kingspoetrysoc]

Interview with Dan Bisset

Dan Bisset is an Irish first-year Classical Studies with English BA student at King’s. They wear a lot of hats: Dan is a poet, writer, actor, musician, singer and a social justice activist. They have proudly taken on the title of SJW and attempt to reclaim that name. Dan is currently working on a poetry cycle entitled Whole New World in conjunction with the King’s module Writing Race, Writing Gender. The poems in the collection are self-published and can be found at their Instagram @danbpoetry. The King’s Poet’s Jaylen Simons talks to Dan about their writing and how they are finding their voice through poetry.

How did you come to write poetry, and what are your feelings about it?

This is a difficult question. Poetry has invariably always been a big part of my life. I’ve been playing music since I was three, so rhythm and musicality have always been pretty natural to me. I started with Irish Traditional Music, which has a distinct amount of rhythm to it since it’s primarily dance music. It has various time signatures, rhythmic patterns and metres, and I think growing up with this musicality has impacted me strongly. Words and lyrics came later, and I think from my engagement with singing in a church choir. Church was all about music for me – I’m not religious – so being enveloped in the music and Lyric in different languages especially, really impacted me. The day I first decided to write poetry – as opposed to lyrics for music –  was the first day I posted to my Instagram, November 2019.

Poetry comes in little pieces. As I go through life, I collect fragments and bits of inspiration and mash them together, adapting and improvising when necessary for the writing. I write from experience and from things that resonate with me. Recently I’ve tried to write and sit down and come up with ideas – it’s worked for my Whole New World cycle; writing to deadline and submission. My journey started with moments of insomniatic inspiration as a result of quarantine and the exhaustion I was feeling.

That makes me think of Ruth Stone, and what she’s said about poetry being out there and something that has to be committed to the page and controlled on the line, or it’s gone. Is there anything from your modules that has inspired or guided your writing? 

Absolutely! I think about things I want to write, thinking that it can be a poem, but that I need the right tools. I started with an idea 99% of the time, or I’ll see something in the street or anywhere and think it would be a good title. In the Whole New World cycle I've been experimenting and playing with my studies. The cycle is specifically for this poetry for the Writing Race, Writing Gender module in English. We looked at Charles Bernstien’s experiments in writing to push ourselves. I took that on and made some poetry I’m very proud of. Being able to submit my poetry for grading – something I do as a hobby has been a dream come true! If we were allowed to do that for all assignments, I would.

Can you tell me a bit more about Whole New World? How has that been for you?

It has been emotional. As a trans person, it’s forced me to look inward and question my own beliefs, both as a poet and as a person. For example, when you say ‘trans woman’, what do you think of? Who are the people that come to mind? Who are the people that should come to mind that maybe don’t? Writing has given me a type of agency; the pen is mightier than the sword. Who is going to inspire me and has inspired me throughout my life? I have also had to represent a beautiful, multifaceted, multicultural community and do that in a tactful and nuanced way and make sure I’m not overstepping. In Track 9, for example – the title taken from Solange’s Don’t Touch My Hair – I wrote about the beauty of trans hair; Munroe Bergdorf, an English model and trans activist; and Emma Dabiri, an Irish-Nigerian writer. I had to consider the double meaning that hair has for women of colour. I also considered my own relationship with my hair and worked with titles taken from YouTube when you put in ‘trans hair’.

In terms of the poetry I write, Whole New World was a way for me to unpack a lot of the gender trouble I was having. Quarantine has been a time of self-discovery and the time when I came out to myself. I was also thinking a lot about SOPHIE – the late Scottish musician – and her music, and its direct affect on me. Whole New World has taught me about the trans person I want to be, for and on the behalf of other people. Through my writing I’ve also had to reconcile my identity as an Irish person, especially as we are starting to lose our connection to our culture. I’ve also had to think about being an immigrant and coming to the UK, a place that traditionally has been hostile to Irish people. My poetry has been a catharsis for me and my trauma and a way for me to articulate things. Whole New World has been a way to also think about happiness as well.

Do you have any tips for writers and for writing poetry?

The Notes app on your phone is going to be your best friend. I’ve mostly written through the Notes app, or digitally. I also screenshot what I write so I can come back to it and work on it further later. I write, review and then either refine the piece and post, or I’ll reuse any ideas for other projects and poems. Poetry can be written anywhere – the District Line, the doctor’s office. No matter how mundane or beige a poem may seem... Write it down! You never know if it could be used to form a wonderful tapestry of work. If you also write about things that interest you, you’ll never run out of things to write. Basically, write about things you enjoy and make a conscious effort to write down the things you enjoy. You can also take whatever image you have in your head and subvert it. If you’re thinking about a bird in a tree, tell the story from the point of view of the branch, not the bird. Play with the normal and make it extraordinary. 

You share work via social media and have a poetry Instagram, @danbpoetry. What do you think about Instapoetry and self-publication?

I think the digestible nature of it is interesting. It can also be insidious – like for example, Rupi Kaur taking the work of another poet. I don’t post all of my work, I save some of it and may use some of my work for other projects in the future. I’d love to self-publish even one copy of Whole New World – possibly more depending on interest.

I think there are definite benefits to using social media. Instagram was first designed as a catalogue and archival space. Instagram has been changed obviously with the rise of influencers and things. I primarily use it as a way to document my poetry so that I can go back and look at my work and how it’s developed. It’s also a great way to share poetry generally, in a lowkey way. Instapoetry is always accessible and people can view it in their own time. They are also more likely to engage and respond and give feedback too because of this.

Our generation and young people generally have a totally different view of poetry now – it’s all very academic and its definitions are more stringent. Having poetry online offers another view, one that maybe isn’t so geared towards Shakespearian sonnets or the poetry of the Victorians for example. The writing has changed too so we don’t necessarily think about writing in a strict metre and rhyme. Narrative for me has become very important, as has telling stories in a substantial and tangible way  – as substantial as writing on a screen can be! The poetry is also shorter; my poetry is usually on one slide.  I think about if that’s important and about how it will look visually on my feed. At the same time posting to Instagram means you can disregard the branding and the form, and how strict poetry has become, and focus on the writing and writing lots – writing with passion! Poetry can just be poetry. The abolition of poetic forms really excites me. Why would I not want to try something new? 

Things change, attitudes change and approaches to writing change and that’s okay. Your writing style can evolve. That’s part of the beauty of Instagram actually, archiving your work there and seeing the physical change in your poetry. It’s important to me that I don’t keep changing my work, and to keep this journey of mine intact  – as cliche as that sounds. Keeping it genuine. It’s important to look at narrative especially.

What are your thoughts of writing as an Irish person and even on Seamus Heaney, and Joyce?

Heaney is tough, and I say that with as much love as I can as an Irish person. He is THE poet of Ireland in my opinion – you can talk about Keats, you can talk about Wilde but I think that Heaney is great. Irish people know Heaney for his poems about the Irish spirit, for example Digging or Mid-term Break, rather than his adaptations of Archaic texts such as his Beowulf. Heaney’s work is more than Beowulf, which I think is a testament to how writing changes. We can see this in Heaney. He did not only write a version of Beowulf, taking inspiration from the ancient world and from history like a type of Ulysses-Joyce figure; he also wrote about peeling potatoes as well – a universal Irish spirit if you ask me. His work is also so very evocative and meaty. Mid-term Break for example changes your expectations: “Next morning I went up into the room. Snowdrops And candles soothed the bedside; I saw him For the first time in six weeks. Paler now,  Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple, He lay in the four-foot box as in his cot. No gaudy scars, the bumper knocked him clear. A four-foot box, a foot for every year.” 

We expect the poem to be about a big strong man but it’s actually about a 4 year old kid. I bawled when I first heard it. It definitely speaks to this subversion of expectation.

You study Classics and English like me (!) so I wondered what you think about it – studying the two together? Classical writers like Homer and Ovid are doing this same thing with changing approaches to poetry. Would you mind discussing that further as well?

Absolutely, Classics and English go so well together; I wish more universities offered it. I knew when I was making my applications that I had to study both together. Studying the two together is so engaging. Homer was absolutely changing ideas in his day. I find nothing better than a reworking of ancient texts, be it feminist or queer, or any other lens of reading – I love it! Homer is a transgressive; it’s a thought provoking image. How he transcended everything – literature, philosophy, art etc. Homer was the Lady Gaga of his day, you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing his influence, he basically invented the idea of the polis – in literature – single handedly. I just think classical literature has so much to offer us, as does classical poetry. Things like the elegiac love poetry of Sappho have just as much angst as poetry does today. 

[shervonfakhimi]

The Nerdtastic Blog Boy NBA Combine Observations

Every year, the NBA holds their annual combine. While not quite the underwear-olympic spectacle the NFL showcases, this event is a great for prospects looking to fulfill their dreams to help make it happen and blog boys like me so we can talk about something while the actual NBA games are on hiatus. Verticals, shuttles and scrimmages take place in the Windy City (Chicago) over a two day span where in between teams ask prospects they’re interviewing the weirdest questions imaginable to try and get a better glimpse as to who these players are as they try to guess what the hell these players will be five years from now. Regardless, its a great event and often will help or hurt players trying to make an impression. Here are some observations I had watching the scrimmages the last two days.

1. Donte DiVincenzo SG Villanova - Donte DiVincenzo picked up right where he left off from his big performance in the National Championship during the two days of scrimmages at the combine. While he did not shoot it particularly well, he still showcased he has capable NBA range. But most importantly, he displayed the overall toughness on the defensive end and relentless crashing the glass and getting the 50-50 balls he and his teammates made the norm at Villanova. Along with his measurable tests, Donte solidified himself as a first round pick should he declare officially for the NBA Draft (*nudges Magic Johnson*).

2. Jevon Carter PG West Virginia - Pairing Carter with DiVincenzo was a bad idea, because they hounded guards and gave them zero room to breathe. Not only did Jevon Carter bring his 94 feet of defense to the combine, he brought out more of playmaking repertoire, creating shots for both himself and others. While being an All-Star seems likely out of the picture, Carter looks the part of a player who will stick in the league for a long time with his toughness. Though likely best as a backup point guard or a 5th starter alongside a premier offensive creator, Carter looks the part of a player that will make any team he gets selected by better in the early second round range.

3. Kevin Huerter SG Maryland - He only played one game, but Huerter showed he isn’t just a shooter. He showed an ability to run a pick and roll and make some slick pocket passes to create looks for others. His measurables tested well also. Should he declare, he looks to be a first round pick.

4. The ‘3&D’ Jewels - The league is thirsty for players who can defend multiple positions and spread the floor. A few made names for themselves at the combine, including the likes of Jacob Evans III (Cincinnati), Melvin Frazier Jr. (Tulane), Gary Trent Jr. (Duke) and Devonte Graham (Kansas) all showcased the ability to hit 3s and defend their position and switch onto others. All seem likely as first round picks, or early second rounders at the latest.

5. The Under the Radar Gems - Kyle Kuzma made his name at the combine last year, prompting the Lakers to select him at 27 (thanks for letting him slip, NBA!). A few followed suit this year with their opportunity, perhaps none more so than Georgia Tech’s Josh Okogie, who tested very well with measurables and showcased versatility and awareness defensively along with a capable skillset offensively that, while it can be improved, it will not keep him off the floor. He may have made himself into a potential late first round pick. Other guys like George King (Colorado), Kevin Harvey (Texas-Arlington) and Alize Johnson (Missouri State) displayed a versatility from the perimeter teams are looking for anywhere they can find it.

6. The No-Shows - I was looking forward to seeing numerous prospects take a crack at scrimmaging to show off their skillset, but many did not play. Some of which included Anfernee Simons (IMG Academy), Malik Newman (Kansas), Billy Preston (Kansas), Hamidou Diallo (Kentucky), and Trevon Duval (Duke) amongst others. While entirely possible these players were assured promises to be selected in a certain range and/or wanted to avoid risk of injury, it would have been nice to see these guys show what they have to offer and make their way up boards. Oh well.

7. The Big Men - Few big men really solidified themselves during the combine. PJ Washington, Udoka Azubuike, Ray Spalding, Austin Wiley and Kostas Antetokounmpo had flashes of brilliance, but was not consistently sustained. I don’t think any of these players will be first round picks, but at least showed there is something to work with. Sagaba Konate of West Virginia may have had the best performance of the bigs present at the scrimmages.

8. The Buggin’ Feds - Brian Bowen II, De’Anthony Melton and Billy Preston were among the many ruled ineligible due to the ongoing FBI probe into college basketball. The lack of games played this season looked to get to them. While Bowen displayed athleticism and size, he looked raw with an unrefined skillset. Preston didn’t even play. Melton had flashes of rust, but picked up his play during the second game. Melton will likely get drafted, but hopefully Bowen and Preston can find a way to hone in their skillset.

9. The Other Players Who Disappointed - Disappointed is a big word, but so is life in the volcanic craters of hot takes. Anyway, I felt players like the Martin brothers (Caleb and Cody, Nevada), Jaylen Barford (Arkansas), Theo Pinson (North Carolina, though this probably wasn’t the best of settings for his skillset), Landry Shamet (Wichita State), Brandon McCoy (UNLV), Tony Carr (Penn State), Shake Milton (SMU), and Omari Spellman (Villanova) still have bright futures, but could’ve played better than they did these two scrimmages.

[whatsfilming]

The Heart of the Mountain (TV Movie)

Signed, Sealed, Delivered star Kristin Booth is back in British Columbia for her latest project, The Heart of the Mountain. The movie is part of this year’s Winterfest original movie series from the Hallmark Channel which airs throughout January.

The story of The Heart of the Mountain was developed by Kristin and her husband Tim Ware. Tim also wrote the script for the movie, and Kristin is serving as the executive producer. Not much has been officially revealed about the plotline, however it looks like it will be a love story closely tied to skiing or snowboarding. The first couple days of production were spent at Mad Dog’s, a ski and snowboard shop on Montrose Avenue in downtown Abbotsford. Kristin also revealed via Instagram that the movie would be spending time filming at Manning Park Ski Resort, which is just off the Crowsnest Pass between Hope and Princeton.

Location scouting today for Heart Of The Mountain @hallmarkchannel . . . #bc #manningpark #locationscout #hallmark #mow #movie #timware #skimovie #ski #skiing #winter #chairlift #mountain #theheartofthemountain #executiveproducer #winterfest

A post shared by Kristin Booth (@kristintbooth) on Nov 14, 2017 at 2:42pm PST

It sounds like Kristin will make an appearance in the movie, but the stars are Kristy Swanson (Dude, Where’s My Car?, Psych) and Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Supergirl).

Kristy shared a behind the scenes look at the movie via her Instagram:

#K2 #Kristy2 Thank you @k2skis for being our sponsor on #HeartOfTheMountain @hallmarkchannel

A post shared by Kristy Swanson (@kristyswansonxo) on Nov 21, 2017 at 1:11pm PST

We’ll update this article if more information about The Heart of the Mountain is revealed. The Heart of the Mountain will continue filming in British Columbia until December 8th.

Frozen in Love (TV Movie)

Like The Heart of the Mountain, Frozen in Love is part of Hallmark’s Winterfest lineup that will be airing in January. Again, the storyline hasn’t been released, but it’s sure to be set in a winter wonderland. The production scouted the Revelstoke area, where Hallmark’s Marry Me at Christmas filmed earlier this year.

In an interview with Ruth Hill at My Devotional Thoughts, writer Rick Garman revealed that Frozen In Love will star Rachael Leigh Cook (She’s All That), and it’s a story based on her original idea. Rachael spent the month of June in British Columbia filming another Hallmark movie called Summer in the Vineyard. It was the follow-up to Autumn in the Vineyard, which also filmed in the province in 2015.

We’ll update this article if more information about Frozen in Love is revealed. Frozen in Love will continue filming in British Columbia until December 8th.

For a full list of what’s filming in Vancouver and British Columbia right now, check out our In Production page.

Wrapping Up This Week

Rocky Mountain Christmas (aka Unbridled Love) (TV Movie) with Lindy Booth, Kristoffer Polaha and Treat Williams wraps up November 22nd

Siren (aka The Deep) – Season 1 (TV Series) with Ian Verdun, Eline Powell, Rena Owen, Sibongile Mlambo, Fola Evans-Akingbola, Alex Roe and Tammy Gillis wraps up November 22nd

SIX – Season 2 (TV Series) with Walton Goggins, Dominic Adams, Edwin Hodge, Olivia Munn, Eric Ladin, Barry Sloane, Kyle Schmid, Juan Pablo Raba, Brianne Davis, Nadine Velazquez, Jaylen Moore and Lindsley Register, Nikolai Nikolaeff, Katherine Evans and Erik Palladino wraps up November 23rd

The Crossing – Season 1 (TV Series) with Steve Zahn, Sandrine Holt, Rob Campbell, Jay Karnes, Simone Kessell, Grant Harvey, Kelley Missal, Maddie Phillips, Marcuis W. Harris and Melinda McGraw wraps up November 24th

A Father’s Nightmare (TV Movie) with Jessica Lowndes, Joel Gretsch, Ana Golja, Lucia Walters and Ellery Sprayberry wraps up November 24th

If you see any of these productions, including Two/One or Deadly Class filming in Vancouver and British Columbia, be sure to let us know by tweeting us (@WhatsFilming) or via our Submit a Location page.

The post The Heart of the Mountain & Frozen in Love from Hallmark’s Winterfest Start Filming appeared first on What's Filming?.