DSALA Announces 'TWENTYWONDER' Benefit

Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles  (DSALA) announced today, in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day, that their  annual benefit TWENTYWONDER, A Carnival of the Mind, will have its 5th Anniversary on Sat., June 28, 2014 beginning at 6 p.m.   

This year’s  TWENTYWONDER, marks the 4th year, that the L.A. Derby Dolls will host the  critically-acclaimed, 21 and older fundraising event, at the Doll Factory (1910  West Temple Street) in Los Angeles.  The evening will feature an all-star roller  derby bout, music, comedy, art, sciences and plenty of last minute guest  surprises.  Proceeds will benefit DSALA’s efforts to support those born with  Trisomy 21/Down syndrome living in greater Los Angeles.  “WOW...I can hardly believe we are about to mount the 5th Annual TWENTYWONDER in  Los Angeles!  From it’s funky/sweaty/adorable beginnings as SuperBall ‘The One  Day World’s Fair’ in 1996 to the fun-loving genre bending acceptance/awareness  event hailed as today’s Carnival of The Mind, this event is a genuine pleaser.    TWENTYWONDER repeatedly draws and amazes the sweetest people of Los Angeles with  a cultural cocktail shaken with the sights and sounds and ideas for our thirsty  modern lives,” said Jim Hodgson, Director of Down Syndrome Association of Los  Angeles.  Rebecca Ninburg, aka Demolicious, Co-Founder, L.A. Derby Dolls added, “It's a  privilege and honor for the Derby Dolls to host TWENTYWONDER for the fourth  year. 

The event is powerful and effective in educating and bringing awareness to  the needs of the Trisomy 21 community. TWENTYWONDER is in line with our  commitment to serving and elevating underrepresented and under served members of  our community. We know that by working together we can achieve greatness!”  Through the years, TWENTYWONDER has been fortunate to have the amazing support  of wonderful artists including Joel Hodgson, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Exene  Cervenka, Lucha VaVoom, Mac King, Tim Biskup, Vaud and the Villians, David  Koechner, The Lampshades with Kate Flannery, Dave Alvin, Jacksh*t, Wayne White,  Steve O, Sam Phillips and The Section Quartet, Andy Kindler, among hundreds of  other great talents and content providers. 

This year’s line-up will be announced  on May 1, 2014.  “It seems like everyone who has ever participated in a TWENTYWONDER wants to do  it again. I’d expect a few cool surprise guests if I were you,” said  TWENTYWONDER Friend and Producer Don Foster.  Since 2010, TWENTYWONDER has raised over $400,000 with the proceeds helping to  support DSALA’s various programs offered to nearly 4,200 individuals with Down  syndrome living in Los Angeles.  With the monies raised last year, the DSALA  continues to reach into new neighborhoods of Los Angeles providing support for  those families living with Down syndrome/Trisomy 21.   

Additionally, the monies  from TWENTYWONDER have help to fund programs including: four basketball camps in  diverse areas of Los Angeles, reading programs at the DSALA Van Nuys office,  host Age of Change -- a game-changing, nationally important conference on  Alzheimer’s and Down syndrome, partner with UCLA’s medical research projects,  give free seminars for parents on subjects ranging from endocrinology to potty  training, among other valuable program for members of the DSALA community.  This crowd-pleasing annual event is hit with both the audience and the Los  Angeles press.  TWENTYWONDER was named, “An Event Pick” and called “Awesome!” by  the Los Angeles Times. "Part charity, part science, part comedy…a mindbender,"  proclaimed LAIST.COM.  "A once in a lifetime, completely eclectic, fun-filled  amalgam of creators, builders and performers," said The Wrap and "One of the  essential events of the summer," raved The LoveStain.com.   

TWENTYWONDER will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at the Doll Factory in Los  Angeles (1910 West Temple Street).  The doors open at 6:00 p.m. with live  entertainment, food, drinks and attractions throughout the venue.  Roller Derby  match begins at 8:00 p.m. in the Doll Factory arena.  Special performances, art,  music, science and comedy, which will be announced on May 1, will continue from  9:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Tickets for TWENTYWONDER go on sale on May 1, 2014.  Guests must be 21 or older to attend. Tickets will be available online at  www.TwentyWonder.org.  Donations are currently being accepted at  TwentyWonder.org for the 100 Ambassadors Fund, which helps to give 100 adult  members of the local Down syndrome community the opportunity to attend  TWENTYWONDER.   

For more information on the event visit www.TwentyWonder.org or  www.DSALA.org.  #   #   #  

 BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT DOWN SYNDROME: Down syndrome is the most common genetic condition affecting all ethnicities and  economic groups.  Down syndrome is found approximately once in every 691 births.   Individuals with Down syndrome have an extra copy of the 21st chromosome  (Trisomy 21), which causes physical differences and disabilities.  Most people  with Down syndrome live a rich and productive life thanks to organizations like  the DSALA, which has been providing services for more than 35 years to the  Greater Los Angeles Area.   

ABOUT TWENTYWONDER: “TWENTYWONDER is the cause-driven cousin of SuperBalls 1-8.  The recipe of  TWENTYWONDER is easy: take a soulful collection of 100 plus creators,  supporters, builders, entertainers, friends and volunteers who've been gathering  for years in the name of SuperBall, create a new name derived from the medical  term Trisomy 21(Down syndrome), expand the fan base to new and far-reaching  sectors of society, then bring it all together for a One-Night World's Fair  event to raise support and awareness for those born with Down syndrome living in  the Greater Los Angeles area,” said Jim Hodgson, Director of Administration and  Development, DSALA.  The inaugural fundraising event TWENTYWONDER began in 2010.  

ABOUT DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF LOS ANGELES (DSALA): The Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles (DSALA) was started over  thirty-five years ago by fifteen forward-thinking parents of children born with  Down syndrome.  In an era when society's predominant response to individuals  with Down syndrome was to place them in institutions, these pioneers stood up  for what is right, took control, and opened up the dialog that all grateful new  parents in the Down syndrome/Trisomy 21 community are advancing today.   DSALA  offers information, guidance and programming designed to assist parents and  families who have a family member with Down syndrome.  Part of DSALA’s mission  is to educate and enlighten a wider community to fully understand that everyone  deserves respect, inclusion and that “we are more alike than different.” 

ABOUT THE L.A. DERBY DOLLS:  The L.A. Derby Dolls are Southern California's premiere all-female, banked track  roller derby league.  Founded in October 2003 by Rebecca Ninburg  (a.k.a.Demolicious) and Wendy Templeton (a.k.a. Thora Zeen), the L.A. Derby  Dolls are a league of more than 150 skaters and volunteers, divided into five  teams who skate on a banked track.  Embodying the do-it-yourself ethos of modern  roller derby, as resurrected in Austin, Texas in 2000, the L.A. Derby Dolls are  an entirely volunteer-run organization, relying on the support of their fans and  community.  The L.A. Derby Dolls take all the thrills of the old game and update  it with a fresh and feisty new face. And the hits and spills are 100% real. No  script can write this kind of action.

'Walking With The Enemy' Opens In LA April 25

In Theaters April 25, 2014

Opening in theaters across Los Angeles

Sir Ben Kingsley and newcomers Jonas Armstrong and Hannah Tointon star in WALKING WITH THE ENEMY. Inspired by a true story, WALKING WITH THE ENEMY follows the heroic lives of a world leader and a young man swept up in the horrors of WWII.

Regent Horthy (Ben Kingsley) is the remarkable leader of Hungary and a German ally, but his favorable standing with Hitler changes as the war comes to an end. Forced to cede Hungary’s power or else witness the execution of his son, Regent Horthy gives up control of his country to the Nazis, who quickly move Hungarians to ghettos and death camps, with no hope in sight.

But the despair changes when a young man named Elek (Jonas Armstrong) emerges. Separated from his family during the relocations and aided by the woman he loves (Hannah Tointon), Elek defies the enemy by becoming one of them. In a race against time, disguised as a Nazi Officer he embarks on a mission to save his family and thousands of his countrymen.

Filled with suspense and danger, WALKING WITH THE ENEMY is an unforgettable film of love, cou

Watch the TRAILER on YouTube now: http://youtu.be/aty51VTXz4o   

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WalkingWithTheEnemy 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WWTEmovie

Singer Will Downing Is In A State Of 'Euphoria'

WILL DOWNING

Available Tomorrow, March 25

Soul singer supreme Will Downing is flexing his freedom as never before with an outstanding offering that showcases the broadest breadth of styles yet, fittingly titled Euphoria ( Tomorrow, March 25). The artist has been sending connoisseurs of soul into a state of euphoria for a quarter of a century with timeless albums such as A Dream Fulfilled, Moods, After Tonight, Love’s the Place to Be (his career-best seller), All The Man You Need (nominated for a Best Traditional R&B Vocal Grammy in 2000), the song cycle concept CD Lust Love & Lies: An Audio Novel, and his recent trilogy of EPs: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Downing created most of these projects for some of the greatest record companies in history, including Motown, Verve, Mercury and Island. Now recording on his own Soul Sophisticated Records label, Downing delivers Euphoria. 


Will Downing’s 8-song Euphoria is a delectably eclectic affair that finds the singer moving from the psychedelic soul swing of Stevie Wonder’s conscience classic “Too High” (a lament for a drug-addled girl) to the timeless ballad of longing “If I Were a Magician” (popularized by the late, great Lou Rawls). Downing takes the bark out of Teddy Pendergrass’ bedtime command on the lead single “Turn Off The Lights” (smoothly waxing as effectively crooning over a jazz quartet featuring longtime musical partner Gerald Albright on alto sax) and adds layers of his own background vocal accompaniment to the torch standard “Lush Life” (featuring Najee on tenor sax). Daryl Hall & John Oates’ soft rock gemstone “She’s Gone” receives the identical loving Downing treatment that Paul Davis’ “I Go Crazy” received two decades before while his take on alt-rocker Ray Lamantagne’s “You Can Bring Me Flowers” finds Will in a decidedly “all blues” frame of mind. 

Rounding out Euphoria at the highest of heights is Downing singing Brazilian superstar Djavan’s world famous “Meu Bem Querer (My Wishing Well)” in its native tongue of Portuguese followed by the CD’s one original composition of Will’s, “Heaven in Your Eyes.” As always, Will Downing sings of love in ways that soothe the hearts of the lonely while simultaneously bringing the hearts, minds and bodies of those luckier in romance…closer together.    

Brooklyn-native Will Downing has cultivated a faithful audience worldwide with his sonorous baritone voice, gallant charm, easygoing sense of humor and sincerely engaging stage presence. He is also often called upon as a featured special guest on recordings and in concert with peers such as Bob Baldwin, Gary Taylor, Jonathan Butler, Maysa, Chante’ Moore, Brian Culbertson and Marion Meadows. His 1992 duet “Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This” with Rachelle Ferrell is among the most dynamic, sophisticated jazzy soul pairings of all time. This year he placed lucky #21 out of 100 on respected international music website Soul Tracks’ “Greatest Male Soul Singers of All-Time” poll. 

Beyond the music, Downing is a published photographer with one coffee table book, “Unveiled Series I” (2005) and a follow-up soon to come. He is a passionate and purposed spokesperson for the American Stroke Association, often hosting a charity bowling event of his creation, “Strike Against Stroke,” to raise funds towards awareness and education in the disproportionately affected African American community. The American Heart Association officially recognizes Downing as a Celebrity Ambassador. Closer to home, Downing battled and beat the chronic muscle inflammation disease polymiositis over the course of several years beginning in December 2006 – a hard-won triumph that has given him a new lease and outlook on life.

A master of sensuality on record, Will Downing is - ultimately - a family man, married to singer Audrey Wheeler-Downing and the father of three children including his daughter Aja – both of whom vocally grace Euphoria.

The first single "Turn Of The Lights” is already doing well at radio and the album "Euphoria" will be available for purchase at ITunes.com, Amazon.com, other retail and on-line stores on March 25^th.

Kimberly Elise Stars In UP's 'Apple Mortgage Cake'

Film Tells Inspiring True Story of Angela Logan and How Her Apples Cakes Saved Her Family and Home From Foreclosure

  

UP, America's favorite channel for uplifting family entertainment, presents the UP Original Movie Apple Mortgage Cake, the inspiring true story of Angela Logan who when faced with foreclosure set a goal to bake 100 cakes in 10 days to save her home.  Starring four-time NAACP Image Award winner Kimberly Elise ("Diary of a Mad Black Woman", "For Colored Girls", "Grey's Anatomy") and produced by Entertainment One (eOne).  Michael Scott ("Mrs. Miracle," UP's Far From Home) directs the film from a script by Jamie Pachino ("Franklin & Bash").  Apple Mortgage Cake will premiere exclusively on UP on Easter Sunday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m.

The ensemble cast also includes Kevin Hanchard ("Orphan Black," "Suits"), Lamar Johnson ("The Next Step", Home Again), Stephan James ("Degrassi: The Next Generation," Home Again), A.J. Saudin ("Degrassi: The Next Generation," "Da Kink in My Hair"), Gemini Award winner Gabrielle Miller ("Corner Gas," "Call Me Fitz), Joanne Boland ("Copper," "Lost Girl"), Paul De La Rosa ("The L.A. Complex," "Covert Affairs"), Gemini Award winner Catherine Disher ("The Border," "Flashpoint"), Peter Williams ("Stargate SG-1," "Da Kink in My Hair"), Siobhan Murphy ("Rookie Blue," "Men With Brooms"), Barry Flatman ("The Kennedys," "Defiance"), Darlene Cooke ("Saving Hope," "Da Kink in My Hair") and Millie Davis (The Best Man Holiday, "Orphan Black").  The real-life Angela Logan makes a cameo appearance.

Angela Logan (Kimberly Elise)is a single, working mom with three teenage boys, Marcus (A.J. Saudin), William (Stephan James) and Nicolas (Lamar Johnson) in Teaneck, NJ.  She juggles various jobs and helps with employment counseling at the local Mission.  While thrilled to be in the family home where she learned to bake, the house is falling apart, with sections deemed uninhabitable by inspectors after storm and flood damage.  She has always made due until now - when her lender calls in the mortgage loan and puts her into foreclosure.  Angela has 10 days to come up with $4000 or lose her home.

This is the true story of a woman who decides to bake 100 apple cakes and sell them at $40 each in order to save her home - and how this idea completely changes her and her family.  As word of her "bake sale" ripples out through neighbors, friends, her church and even old flames, such as Melvin (Kevin Hanchard), the story soon spreads to the news, locally, nationally and internationally.  Angela is taken off guard by the overwhelming support.  But soon, this fiercely independent woman learns to depend on the kindness and love of others that comes her way. 

"Apple Mortgage Cake is the inspirational, real-life story about how one good idea - plus several bushels of apples, sugar, flour and butter -- helps a family rise from financial disaster in the worst of the recent recession," said Leslie Glenn Chesloff, executive vice president of programming, UP.  "Angela Logan went from home foreclosure to 'overnight' national success as her homemade apple cakes helped her build a prosperous apple cake business.  We think this is a perfect movie for our viewers in April, especially on Easter Sunday."

Logan is now the owner of Mortgage Apple Cakes, LLC, based in Teaneck.

UP presents Apple Mortgage Cake, an Entertainment One Ltd. production.  Starring Kimberly Elise, Kevin Hanchard, Lamar Johnson, Stephan James, A.J. Saudin, Gabrielle Miller, Joanne Bolland, Paul De La Rosa, Catherine Disher, Peter Williams, Siobhan Murphy, Barry Flatman, Darlene Cooke and Millie Davis.  Directed by Michael Scott.  Produced by Entertainment One's Jonathan Schwartz and Robert Lee.  Director of Photography is Boris Mojsovski.  Editor is Charlotte Disher.  Script by Jamie Pachino.  Entertainment One is also the international distributor.

# # #

Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions Get U.S. and Canadian Rights To Simien's 'Dear White People'

                                                                                                    

** Sundance Film Festival prize winner slated for fall 2014 release**

(Los Angeles, March 19)  – Ahead of two sold-out shows at New Directors/New Films this weekend, Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions have acquired all U.S. and Canadian rights to Justin Simien’s provocative and timely comedy DEAR WHITE PEOPLE.   Winner of the Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Simien’s debut feature is a satirical look at campus life and racial politics at a fictional Ivy League college, and pays homage to such groundbreaking films as Spike Lee’s School Daze and Robert Townsend’s Hollywood Shuffle.  In his praise of Simien, the New York Times’ A.O. Scott wrote today, “Seeming to draw equal measures of inspiration from Whit Stillman and Spike Lee, but with his own tart, elegant sensibility very much in control, Mr. Simien evokes familiar campus stereotypes only to smash them and rearrange the pieces.”

DEAR WHITE PEOPLE follows the stories of four black students at Winchester University, where a riot breaks out over a popular 'African American' themed party thrown by a white fraternity.  With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the film explores racial identity in 'post-racial' America while weaving a universal story of forging one's unique path in the world.

Written and directed by Justin Simien, DEAR WHITE PEOPLE was produced by Effie T. Brown (Duly Noted Inc) and Julia Lebedev (Code Red Productions), executive produced by Stephanie Allain (Homegrown Pictures) and Leonid Lebedev, with Simien, Angel Lopez, Ann Le and Lena Waithe as producers.   Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris), Tessa Thompson (Veronica Mars), Teyonah Parris (Mad Men), and Brandon P Bell (Hollywood Heights) lead the ensemble cast of newcomers.  

“Justin Simien is a funny, fresh and current voice with his finger on the Millennials’ pulse,” said Cohen.  “His crowd-pleasing DEAR WHITE PEOPLE took Sundance by storm, with its sly and extremely topical satire sparking conversations about our supposed ‘post-racial’, 21st century America.” said Roadside’s Cohen.  

Producer Julia Lebedev said, “We are thrilled to have found our home at Lionsgate and Roadside.  I know they will give the film the attention and support it needs to make a successful launch, ensuring that Justin’s vision has a chance to reach and entertain audiences everywhere."

“This film was truly a labor of love with everyone on our team giving 110%. We have so few films made by people of color and I couldn’t be prouder to have been a part of bringing Justin’s fresh voice to fruition. And now to partner with Lionsgate and Roadside is an exciting next chapter in what I’m sure will be an amazing life for DEAR WHITE PEOPLE,” said producer Effie Brown.

The deal was negotiated by Marc Danon and Jean Chi on behalf of Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions, and by WME Global and attorney Irwin M. Rappaport on behalf of the filmmakers.

ABOUT DULY NOTED INC.

Los Angeles based producer Effie T. Brown and her company Duly Noted Inc. were the force behind such critically acclaimed HBO Films as Stranger Inside, Real Women Have Curves and Everyday People. Brown’s film Rocket Science won the Sundance 2007 Grand Jury Prize for Directing and was nominated for Best First Feature, Best Screenplay and Best Actress by the Independent Spirit Awards.  Since then she has produced Polish Bar and The Inheritance, and from 2011to 2013 teamed with Jon Avnet and Rodrigo Garcia to produce WIGS, a brand new original content channel for Google/YOUTUBE. The WIGS channel is currently the number one scripted channel on YOUTUBE.

ABOUT CODE RED PRODUCTIONS

Code Red Productions is a film financing and production company, founded by Julia Lebedev. Since 2009 Code Red has produced independent films such as The Good Doctor, Honour, and The Prophet.

ABOUT HOMEGROWN PICTURES

Homegrown Pictures, Inc. is a film and television production company dedicated to producing the work of writer/directors who create authentic depictions of people of color.  Founded by Stephanie Allain in 2003, Homegrown Pictures has produced several first time directors whose films have been nominated for over 80 awards including Spirit Awards, NAACP Awards and Academy Awards. Films include Hustle & Flow, Something New, Peeples, and Gina Prince Bythewood's upcoming Blackbird.

ABOUT ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS

In its tenth year of operation, ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS films have grossed over $180M and garnered thirteen Academy Award® nominations.  Roadside has released such critical and commercial hits as All Is Lost, Mud, Winter’s Bone, The Cove, Arbitrage, Margin Call and Super-Size Me. Its upcoming slate includes David Gordon Green’s JOE starring Nicolas Cage and Tye Sheridan; Craig Johnson’s Skeleton Twins, winner of the Sundance Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, starring Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig; and Anton Corbijn’s A Most Wanted Man, adapted from John le Carré’s bestseller, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Willem Dafoe and Robin Wright.

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms and international distribution and sales. Lionsgate currently has 34 television shows on 22 networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning Mad Men and Nurse Jackie, the comedy Anger Management, the network series Nashville, the syndication success The Wendy Williams Show and the critically-acclaimed series Orange is the New Black.

Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as the blockbuster first two installments of The Hunger Games franchise, The Hunger Games and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, A Madea Christmas, Now You See Me, Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain, Warm Bodies, The Expendables 2, The Possession, Sinister, Roadside Attractions' Mud and Pantelion Films' breakout hit Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S.

Kevin Hart Sits Down With Oprah for 'Oprah Prime'

Oprah Winfrey meets up with comedian and actor Kevin Hart on the heels of his box-office hits and recent NAACP Image Award for “Entertainer of the Year” to discuss his skyrocketing career. Hart discusses his comedic influences and how reaching his fans through social media was a vital part of his success as he made his way up in the industry. Hart also talks about raising his children with his ex-wife, the support his mother gave him when he was first starting out and how he learned to forgive his father. Oprah Prime: Kevin Hart airs this Sunday, March 23 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network

FIRST-LOOK: with embed code

http://www.oprah.com/own-oprahprime/First-Look-Kevin-Hart-on-Oprah-Prime-Video

ABOUT OPRAH PRIME:

“Oprah Prime” will take an in-depth look at some of the most important issues facing us today, as well as headline-making current events through compelling interviews and thoughtful discussions with newsmakers, celebrities, luminaries, and real-life families.  “Oprah Prime” is produced by Harpo Studios.  Join the conversation on Twitter using #OprahPrime.

50 Shades of Grey Set For Valentine's Day 2015