Thelma Houston To Play Catalina Bar & Grill

CHRIS ISAACSON PRESENTS ANNOUNCES

GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING MUSIC LEGEND

 THELMA HOUSTON

“MY MOTOWN: MUSIC, MEMORIES, AND MORE”

 

CATALINA BAR & GRILL IN HOLLYWOOD

TWO SHOWS ONLY 

FRIDAY, OCT. 23 and SATURDAY, OCT.  24

 

Chris Isaacson Presents has announced that Grammy Award-winning recording artist and music legend Thelma Houston will bring her new show My Motown: Music, Memories, and More to the Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood for two shows only on Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24 at 8:30 p.m. 

 

Perhaps best known for her number one international hit “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” Thelma Houston began her career singing for Capitol Records with The Art Reynolds Singers and then as a solo artist. “Sunshower,” her critically acclaimed album composed and produced by Jimmy Webb for ABC/Dunhill Records, was released in 1969 and spawned four popular singles. In 1977, her version of “Don’t Leave Me This Way” for Motown Records soared to number one in the United States and London and became a hit in at least twelve other countries. In her new show My Motown: Music, Memories, and More, Houston takes her audience on a musical and inspirational journey that chronicles her illustrious career. Sharing intimate stories and behind-the-scenes adventures against a tapestry of more than 20 classic Motown hits, Houston performs songs originally recorded by Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips,  Martha  Reeves  and  the  Vandellas  and  more,  leading  up  to her iconic Grammy Award-winning number one pop song "Don't Leave Me This Way." After 45 years of performing, 23 Studio Albums and winning a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Houston continues to celebrate her long and outstanding career.

 

Thelma Houston will play two performances only at Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 W. Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood on Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24 at 8:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. for cocktail and dinner service. Single entrée or drink minimums apply. Admission is $20-$35 and VIP seating is available (including front row seats and a meet-and-greet with Ms. Houston) for $50. Purchases made before October 16 receive $5 off. Tickets may be obtained online atwww.TicketWeb.com or by phone at (866) 468-3399. For more information, visit ThelmaHouston.com, ChrisIsaacsonPresents.com, or TicketWeb.com.     #   #   # 

'The Last Witch Hunter' In Theaters October 23

“Wake Up” Clip

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“Trouble” Clip

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Ciara “Paint It, Black” Sizzle

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The modern world holds many secrets, but the most astounding secret of all is that witches still live amongst us; vicious supernatural creatures intent on unleashing the Black Death upon the world. Armies of witch hunters battled the unnatural enemy across the globe for centuries, including KAULDER, a valiant warrior who managed to slay the all-powerful QUEEN WITCH, decimating her followers in the process.  In the moments right before her death, the QUEEN curses KAULDER with her own immortality, forever separating him from his beloved wife and daughter in the afterlife. Today KAULDER is the only one of his kind remaining, and has spent centuries hunting down rogue witches, all the while yearning for his long-lost loved ones. However, unbeknownst to KAULDER, the QUEEN WITCH is resurrected and seeks revenge on her killer causing an epic battle that will determine the survival of the human race. 

Cast: Vin Diesel, Elijah Wood, Rose Leslie, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Julie Engelbrecht, Michael Caine

Directed by: Breck Eisner 

Produced By: Bernie Goldmann, Mark Canton, Vin Diesel, Samantha Vincent

Release Date: October 23, 2015

Genre: Action, Fantasy

'Dope' Now Available On Blu-Ray And DVD

Universal City, California, August 18, 2015 – From Grammy®Award winner Pharrell Williams and Academy Award® winner Forest Whitaker comes a fresh and fun coming-of-age comedy Dope, which debuted on Blu-rayTM Combo Pack and DVD on October 13, 2015, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Nominated for the coveted Grand Jury Prize at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, the film is a fresh and funny foray into contemporary urban life that Rolling Stone calls “Irresistible, freewheeling fun!” and Marlow Stern of The Daily Beast says is “Nothing short of intoxicating.” Featuring an old-school soundtrack plus four new original songs by Pharrell Williams, the Dope Blu-rayTM and DVD are loaded with awesome bonus features for fans to enjoy.

Malcolm (Shameik Moore) is a straight-A high-school senior into old-school rap who finds himself in the middle of an adventure involving shady drug dealers, offbeat weirdos and a backpack that can make or break his chance of getting into Harvard. Also starring hip-hop talent A$AP Rocky, Blake Anderson (“Workaholics”), Zoë Kravitz (Divergent), Tony Revolori (The Grand Budapest Hotel), rapper Tyga and supermodel Chanel Iman, Dope is “vibrant and entertaining” (Boyd van Hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter).

BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAYTM AND DVD

•    Dope Is Different – The cast and crew discuss the film’s central characters and themes of being unique and authentic. 


•    Dope Music - Pharrell Williams, A$AP Rocky, Rick Fumuyiwa and others delve into the essential role old-school rap and punk rock tracks play in the film. 
Blu-rayTM unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD and theater quality sound. Plus, both the Blu-ray Combo Pack and the DVD will include DIGITAL HD with UltraVioletTM, a feature which lets fans instantly stream and download the movie anywhere to watch on their favorite devices. 
FILMMAKERS 
Cast: Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Kimberly Elise, Chanel Iman, Keith Stanfield, Blake Anderson, Zoë Kravitz, A$AP Rocky
Directed By: Rick Famuyiwa
Written By: Rick Famuyiwa 
Produced By: Nina Yang Bongiovi, Forest Whitaker
Executive Produced By: Pharrell Williams, Michael Y. Chow, Rick Famuyiwa, David Lonner Director of Photography: Rachel Morrison
Production Designer: Scott Falconer
Edited By: Lee Haugen
Costume Design By: Patrik Milani
Music By: Germaine Franco 


TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAYTM:

Street Date: October 13, 2015
 Copyright: 2015 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 55171525
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Rating: R for language, drug content, sexuality/nudity, and some violence—all involving teens Languages/Subtitles: English SDS, French and Spanish Subtitles
Sound: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0
Run Time: 1 hour, 44 minutes

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:

Street Date: October 13, 2015 
Copyright: 2015 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 55171526
Layers: Dual
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Rating: R for language, drug content, sexuality/nudity, and some violence—all involving teens Languages/Subtitles: English SDS, French and Spanish Subtitles
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Run Time: 1 hour, 44 minutes

About Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Costume Images For 'The Wiz Live! Released

The costume images of Dorothy (Shanice Williams), The Scarecrow (Elijah Kelley), The Tinman (Ne-Yo), and The Cowardly Lion (David Alan Grier) are released for NBC's THE WIZ LIVE! airing on December 3!

Darren Barrett's 'Trumpet Vibes' Due November 20

Trumpeter Darren Barrett proudly wears his Jamaican ancestry on his musical sleeve as well as on the album sleeve of “Trumpet Vibes,” his seventh album that will be released November 20 on the dB Studios label. Decorated in the distinctive green, yellow and black colors of the Jamaican flag, the award-winning Canadian musician, composer and producer mines the native sounds of  his parents’ homeland for the first time on the eight-tracker constructed of hard bop jazz amidst laidback reggae rhythms and frenetic ska grooves. Throughout the session that highlights Barrett’s academic technical proficiency and heartfelt interpretive trumpet work, animate vibraphone plays the role of trusty sidekick with noted vibist Warren Wolf on the record’s opener and closer. 

Barrett not only honors his family’s lineage on “Trumpet Vibes,” but he opens the proceedings with a salute to one of his early mentors, Donald Byrd, with a bouncy take of Byrd’s “Fly Little Bird,” that flaps mightily, evolving into a hard-swinging tilt midflight. Barrett wrote four compositions for the album and applies the jazz-meets-reggae ethos to a few modern classics. An original tune, “Chiapas” serves up somber autumnal hues from Barrett’s horn over a brisk ska track provided by the dynamic rhythm section composed of brothers Alexander and Anthony Toth on upright bass and drums respectively. The stately pop gem “To Sir, With Love” gets an invigorating and spritely makeover, riding the crest of a rocking wave of Caribbean culture.

Vibraphonist Simon Moullier, who plays on the entire album, charismatically shares the spotlight with Barrett’s moody horn on the regal reggae jam “Song For A Princess.” The cadence is elevated on “Phantom,” a particularly rambunctious monster stalking the outer perimeter of experimental jazz, free-form fusion and rowdy rock. Both “Everything I Own” and Stevie Wonder’s “My Cherie Amour” get the full-scale reggae treatment with the former being a fun and celebratory romp while the latter benefits from some good old rock & roll grit. Closing with a knockout punch, brilliant musicianship electrifies “The Club Up The Street,” which bops, swings and soars mightily, allowing Barrett and Wolf the time and space to mix it up in a go-for-broke improvisational trumpet and vibraphone free-for-all.   

“This album means so much to me personally because it mixes the music from my Jamaican heritage, which is part of my heart, and jazz, which is part of my soul, into one. ‘Trumpet Vibes’ brings together the best of these two musical worlds that share a common ancestral genesis in Africa. I’ve spent the past two years totally immersed in the creation of this project – writing, producing, playing and recording - and I’m excited for people to finally hear it,” said Barrett, who was labeled “a force to be reckoned with” by the Boston Globe.

Barrett, a Toronto, Ontario native who has been anchored in Boston, Massachusetts ever since attending the famed Berklee College of Music where he presently serves as an associate professor in the ensemble department, won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 1997. Two years later, he issued his debut recording as a band leader, the aptly titled “First One Up.” Often mentioned in the same breath as Wynton Marsalis and Terence Blanchard perhaps comes from having studied under the same professor, William Fielder. Barrett soloed on Esperanza Spaulding’s double Grammy winner “Radio Music Society” and has recorded or performed internationally with jazz royalty such as Roy Hargrove, Elvin Jones, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. The trumpeter is a jazz purveyor who leads a handful of combos that provide a variety of outlets for his wanderings and full creative expression in the genre. Still enjoying a remarkably prolific period that brought to fruition two releases last year - “Energy In Motion: The Music of the Bee Gees” and “Direct 2014: Darren Barrett and the dB Quintet” – he’s already at work crafting his next unpredictable endeavor, jazz interpretations of Amy Winehouse’s songbook, which is slated to arrive in the spring. On Sunday (October 18), Barrett leads his dB Quintet into New York City for a show at The Iridium.

The songs contained on “Trumpet Vibes” are:

“Fly Little Bird”

“Chiapas”

“To Sir, With Love”

“Song For A Princess”

“Phantom”

“Everything I Own”

“My Cherie Amour”

“The Club Up The Street”

For more information, please visit www.DarrenBarrett.com.

Screamfest To Honor 'Paranormal Activity'

HOLLYWOOD, CA (October 13, 2015) – Screamfest Horror Film Festival, the largest and longest running horror film festival in the U.S., will honor “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY” director Oren Peli and production company Blumhouse at this year’s festival at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

Jason Blum will accept the Future Icon Award on behalf of Blumhouse during Opening Night on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Oren Peli will be honored with the Trailblazer Award at the Closing Night screening of “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE GHOST DIMENSION” on Thursday, Oct. 22, which marks the series’ return to the festival where the first “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY” film made its debut in 2007.

“Screamfest has played such an important part in the ‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY’ franchise so it’s only natural that we end it where it all began,” said Blum. “Our company loves making all things scary so we are so grateful to receive this award and hope that the fans have an amazing time at the festival.”

“It’s an honor to receive the Trailblazer Award from Screamfest, which has supported independent films and filmmakers, all trailblazers in their own right, for years,” said Peli. “The original ‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY’ had its world premiere at Screamfest eight years ago, which led to the film’s distribution and the creation of the franchise. I am thankful to Screamfest for its hand in launching the franchise and, after five sequels, I can’t think of a more fitting closure than to come full circle for the screening of the final ‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY’ film.”

Commented Rachel Belofsky, Screamfest Founder and Festival Director: “Jason Blum and Blumhouse Productions have revitalized the horror genre by consistently delivering quality films that have turned into successful franchises, such as ‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY,’ ‘THE PURGE,’ and ‘INSIDIOUS.’ By empowering filmmakers and giving them creative freedom, Blumhouse has quickly established itself as an icon in the genre and we look forward to its many future hits.

“Oren Peli changed the trend in the horror genre with his first film, ‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY,’ which spurred a huge franchise. As a trailblazer, he created one of the most terrifying films to date and helped forge the found footage subgenre. We are excited to honor him eight years after the original ‘PARANORMAL ACTIVITY’ premiered and was honored at our festival in 2007.”

In addition to screening the latest film on Closing Night, Screamfest will host a special screening of the original “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY” on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the TCL Chinese 6, followed by Q&A with Oren Peli.

As a tribute to the original film’s most passionate fans, for the first time ever, Screamfest will expand nationwide with special advance screenings of “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE GHOST DIMENSION” in the 12 markets in which the first film opened with “Demand It” fan screenings before its theatrical run in 2009. The new film will play in Ann Arbor, MI; Baton Rouge, LA; Boulder, CO; Columbus, OH; Durham, NC; Lincoln, NE; Madison, WI; Orlando, FL; Santa Cruz, CA; Seattle, WA; State College, PA; and Tucson, AZ on October 22.

See the unseen in “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE GHOST DIMENSION” – the horrifying conclusion to the “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY” films in theaters on October 23^rd. The film is produced by Jason Blum and Oren Peli, based on the film “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY” by Oren Peli. Story by Brantley Aufill and Jason Harry Pagan & Andrew Deutschman, with a screenplay by Jason Harry Pagan & Andrew Deutschman and Adam Robitel & Gavin Heffernan. Directed by Gregory Plotkin. Starring Chris J. Murray, Brit Shaw, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Dan Gill, Ivy George, Jessica Brown, Chloe Csengery, Don McManus, Hallie Foote and Cara Pifko.

The 2015 Screamfest Film Festival will run October 13-22 at the TCL Chinese Theater. Tickets are available at http://screamfestla.com.

Screamfest Film Festival premieres and showcases new work from American and international independent horror filmmakers. Many of the filmmakers have garnered distribution and representation as a result of the festival. Film entries are accepted in the categories of Best Feature, Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Special Effects and Musical Score. In addition, there are special categories for Best Animation, Best Short, Best Documentary and Best Student Film.

Screamfest was formed in August 2001 by film producers Rachel Belofsky and Ross Martin in order to give filmmakers and writers in the horror/sci-fi genres a venue to have their work showcased to people in the industry.

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About Paramount Pictures Corporation

 
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

BET's 'The WestBrooks' Set To Debut October 14

The WestBrooks, BET’s new original one-hour docu-series is set to premiere on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

The network hosted an invitation only soiree at SLS Hotel last night where lucky guests were the first to screen the series’ debut.

The WestBrooks, also known as "The First Family of Social Media", includes India, Crystal, Bree, Morgan and Brooke, who each have a huge presence on social media totaling more than two million followers.

The show goes behind the tweets and posts to follow the insta-famous family as they work to establish the WestBrooks Brand, while doing all that they can to keep their tight-knit family intact in the midst of newfound fame and celebrity. 

Also featured on the show are the sisters’ parents Warren and Candy.

Special guests at the event included "Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood" personalities Moniece Slaughter, Miles Brock and Jason Lee; American Idol's Joshua Ledet; comedian Michael Blackson and actor Brandon T. Jackson.

The evening began with a lively cocktail reception followed the screening featuring introductory remarks by BET Networks SVP of Original Programming Charlie Jordan Brookins and "#TheWestBrooks" executive producers Lemuel Plummer, Le'John Plummer and Jason Tolbert.

(l-r) Brooke, Bree, moderator Karen Civil, Crystal and Morgan

Four of the five sisters (excluding India) participated in a Q&A after the screening to talk about why they are doing the show and what viewers can expect.

Asked why they wanted to do a reality show, Morgan said, “Do we have a choice? Instagram put us here. This will give everyone a better understanding of who we are. They can understand us better. All they see is a picture.”

“We are all stronger together,” said Bree about working with her sisters and pumping up the family brand.

When asked about the comparison to The Kardashians, Bree confessed she likes the popular reality TV family.

“The Kardashians are awesome, but we’re just the opposite,” said Bree. “There are no million dollar cars or houses.”

About the #THEWESTBROOKS ladies:

·  India (@indialove) is the pampered princess of the family. Most known for her rumored associations with multiple Hip Hop A-listers, this burgeoning model/fashionista stays busy juggling business meetings with posting endless selfies to her active social media accounts.

·  Crystal (@westbrooks.crystal) is the free-spirited, peace-loving, hippy of the family.  A college finance major by day, Crystal has aspirations of conquering the modeling and acting worlds with her signature smile.

·  Morgan (@mommyistattedd) is her Dad’s protégé and the tough-as-nails tattooed biker girl with a business mind and a fuse you don’t want to ignite.  Whether it’s riding with her bike club or running multiple businesses, the “Boss Lady” gives 100% to everything she does, including defending her sisters.

·  Bree (@breecandace) is the temperamental middle child of the group. She’s a mother of one with a budding plus-size modeling imprint on social media which focuses on the beauty of women with curves. 

·  Brooke (@shes_brookelauren) is the big sister and heart of the WestBrooks family.  This grounded mother of three is fiercely protective of her sisters as she makes plans to rule the fitness and fashion worlds with a focus on under-appreciated plus-size women.

#THEWESTBROOKS  is executive produced by Lemuel Plummer for L. Plummer Media, Jason L. Tolbert, for Field Legend Productions and Le'John Plummer for Art Life Entertainment.

#TheWestBrooks

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Network - BET Gospel, attractive alternative for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.