Hollywood East

   

As I was invited to write a blog for W.O.W Radio it was suggested to write about the nightlife and events that I cover as a photographer, but the problem is there was nothing of interest to write. I could have written about the 1 or 2 artist that shine at the weekly open mics I attend, or the incredible vocalists that I cover every Tuesday and Friday. Or maybe I should write about the industry affair I swung pass between a R&B show and a birthday party on Friday night that saw the same faces that I'm always happy to see. But I thought no,..let me write about the fact that I see those same faces every where I go. 

I have been working the DMV entertainment industry as an artist, label owner, videographer, photographer as well as a promoter for over 10 years now, and I have seen a lot of folk come and some folk go. But what I haven't seen to my displeasure is no one, city wide really take off nationally. Yes, we all see the few that have hit national radio and a couple who we've actually seen on TV but we have true grinders out here that don't get heard past there block or the local open mic night circuit. Musicians that rival the likes of Teddy Riley, producers as good or better than Swiss Beats, singers that can out blow the Keri Hilson's and rappers that go harder than Rick Ross, or are as lyrical as Eminem. Why don't we have what New York built, what Compton made, what the mid west stumbled across or what the Dirty south is enjoying? Because we don't do us. 

The fact that you are reading this blog means that you care about independent entertainment. But caring and supporting is two different things. We need to come together as a city and support the talented individuals who work hard at there crafts to provide us this entertainment. What separates Lil Wayne from Lil Cuz from around the way? Umh about a million dollars in advertisement and your support. If you look through your CD collection you can find all the CD's that you bought and just don't listen to now. That is the product of advertisement not good music. You bought the Mike Jones CD for $15 bucks when Mike Mike 'round Minnesota ave, was selling his for $5. Mike Jones had one hot track on it, Mike Mike had 4. You bought the Pedi Crack CD for $15, and listened to one song and flipped it in the back seat, you got this local artist mix tape for free at an open mic and listened to the whole joint for three days straight. The difference isn't in the music folks it's in the Support. Same deal with independent movies. There was a period where no limit dropped  a few movies. They weren't blockbuster hits, but they told a story we could relate to, had a few rappers serving as actors so we could get behind a familiar face and they made some decent money doing it. Guess what DMV we have independent film makers here that tell the similar stories, all a little closer to home, though they don't have Silk the Shocker playing the lead or Mia X as the supporting actress doesn't mean they aren't just as good. But we will never know if we don't go and see them or buy the DVD's to support.

    Now this isn't all the faults of the consumers though, artist have to except some of the blame. Movie producers have to promote. R&B artist have to advertise, rap artist have to showcase. We have to used our media outlets to our advantage. As I have worked the independent market, I have met numerous talented individuals that names were foreign to me before they stepped on an open mic stage, or shot me a movie trailer via email. Or even sang an original song at a karaoke night event. All very talented individuals. Networking is more than performing for your peers. You have to do block parties, pass out CD's, community days, handing out flyers. Once you meet a fan/friend, stay in touch with them. Keep them abreast of your moves, your successes, it helps them to feel like a part of your team. And the most important thing you can do to start to reap some of the benefits of your labor is stay true to yourself, and keep doing you. Here's my attempt to ignite the DMV fire and make the DMV, Hollywood East.

~ D-City, Photographer & Freelance Blogger - Capital Heights, MD

Screening for "School Without Walls"

Event Title:  Screening for "School Without Walls"

Event Date:  June 4, 2010 6pm-10pm

Event Address:    District Lounge, 2473 18th St NW (Washington, DC)

Event Host: Tanecia Britt of the DMV International Film Festival

Sponsor: Crystal Head Vodka

Why did you attended this event?  In support of the producer and director of the film, Tanecia Britt

Did you have an active role in this event?  If so, what & why? No, just an invited guest.

How would you decribe the setup of the event? the appearance?  Great. The location was nice as it provided an open floor and plenty of viewing opportunities of the film.

What was the highlight of the event?  Seeing Tanecia's name in the production credits ;)

What could have been better about the event?  I arrived late so I cannot properly gauge what was needed.

Give a brief summary of how you think the event turned out as a whole?  I believe people were in awe of the directorial debut of Tanecia Britt in Washington DC (she may have done viewings prior to this but this was the first that I attended). Anyhow, aside from that, the ability to converse with various talents in the DC area over Crystal Head vodka was a plus as well ;)

Pick one word that best describes the event:  Exciting

~ Sasha Vann, Publicist - Wash, DC




For more information about the DMV International Film Festival visit: http://www.dmviff.com

"Need You" by Sonny Corleone ft. Miss ID

Type of Media:  Music video

Title: "Need You" by  Sonny Corleone ft. Miss ID


URL:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcZpJk5Wqds , http://www.DutchmenEntertainment.com  


Followers:  Not Sure. But I am sure that he has a fan based because he has his own website. 


Channel views: 3, 057 (as of June 11, 2010)


Date:  May 5, 2010 


Description:  Music Review 


Critique: Lyrics are ok, but honestly I was not feeling the video.  It didn’t really have a lot of energy.  I know it is a love song and it is not meant be all bubbly and high energy, but there still wasn’t that chemistry that you look for in love song music videos.  There was much interaction with him and the girl portrayed as his girlfriend.  Based on the lyrics and title of the song, I expected the video to tell a story about the complex struggle he is having with this girl, but that wasn’t there.  And because of that, I lost the interest in really enjoying the whole video experience.  I need more camera interaction and real personal feel to draw me in and have me relate to the video. 


Miss ID, she was doing the hook. She was overdoing it.  Too me, she was being too sexy.  That vulnerability was not there.  Sonny’s lyrics are about the struggle of being in love not the sexiness of being in love.  I would have loved to see or softer side of her, not just sex appeal.  There is a way of being sexy without looking like all you want is sex.


Overall, I really enjoyed the song, but I needed and expected a little more.  I think with a little more work in front of the camera and really studied how both Sonny Corleone and Miss ID look when they are in front of the camera, they could make a great music video and pull in their listeners and watchers more. 


For more on Sonny Corleone, please visit: http://www.DutchmenEntertainment.com 




~  Megan, Entertainment Reporter

3 Ballerina’s Tea Dieter’s Drink

Food or Beverage: Beverage

Type of Beverage: Green Tea

Brand Name: 3 Ballerina’s Tea Dieter’s Drink

Price: $3.99-6.99 per box of 18-30 bags

Purchase Location: Most Asian & Caribbean markets or herbal stores

Active Ingredients: Chinese mallow (malva verticellate) and Senna (Cassia Angustifolia)

Benefits: Promote bowel movements, flush waste; weight loss supplement

Side Effects: Some patients develop allergic reactions, has the potential to lower blood sugar levels, effects during pregnancy are unknown, may cause abdominal pains (http://www.ehow.com/facts_5535138_malva-verticillata-side-effects.html ; http://altmedicine.about.com/od/completeazindex/a/senna.htm )

Precautions: Extra bowel movements may be expected in the 1st or 2nd day after using this tea. Pregnant and nursing women, children, the elderly, and individuals suffering from any illness or health condition should not consume this tea. Do not use this tea if you have or developed diarrhea, loose stools, or abdominal pain. Consumers are urged to consult a licensed physician prior to using this or any herbal supplement.

Instructions: Start by drinking small quantities initially and then gradually increasing the amount you feel comfortable with. 2-3 minutes should be sufficient for the green tea bag or loose green tea to soak in 2 cups of boiling water. Nevertheless, you can dilute the tea with more water according to your taste. Afterwards, to get a stronger flavor use a single cup of boiling water, after a week has passed. It is not advisable to drink more than 3 cups of green tea in any single day. Have a cup of Ballerina green tea either hot or cold in the morning, afternoon and evening to gain the maximum health benefits of green tea. (http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Ballerina_Green_Tea.html )

Description: This special formula, Dieter's Drink, is an all natural tea that is soothing and relaxing and especially delightful for those desiring to adjust weight. (http://www.chinesenaturalherbs.com/herb_pages/dieterstea.asp )

Critique: I have known about this tea pretty much my whole life. My grandma always keep a box in the cabinet the same way you usually always have milk, sugar, flour or even eggs. It was MANDATORY. Whenever it was cleansing time, it was only arms length away. Even though this tea was always there, I never tried it until a few weeks ago. An aunt of mine came into town, visiting from Jamaica. One of the 1st things she asked for was flour and that tea…LOL. It’s like a ritual. A lot of my Caribbean family members swear by it, thus why I decided to give it a try. I figured it would be the natural way to go instead of taking the pills & stuff.

I was kinda nervous the 1st day I decided to try it. I didn’t really know what to expect. Was it going to hit me like a semi-truck? Or sneak up on me like Swiper from Dora the Explorer (thanks for this analogy J.Pinkney).  That day I drank an oversized mug full of it around 2pm. Around 5pm I felt a slightly uncomfortable feeling in my tummy, not pain but like a weird moving pressure feel. About an hour after that, I knew it was bathroom time. That uncomfortable feeling in my tummy was the warning. At least it was for me. Then when it was time, it wasn’t a horrible experience (except for the smell!) I personally did experience the abdominal cramping but it was bearable. Without giving you a disgustingly nauseous description, I could tell by the look & smell that I was being cleansed. It was that normal everyday poop!

So far I have been drinking this tea twice a week. I’m working on being able to drink it every morning. I did read that you’re not supposed to consume it more than 3 times a day. Ummmm, I don’t think I’ll ever need to drink it that many times a day. My purpose in drinking the 3 Ballerina’s tea is to flush out some of the built up waste in my body and to shed a few of pounds (just a FEW). Because I just recently started drinking this tea I CANNOT give a rating based on what it has done for me but rather what I look forward to it doing. So I’ll start with a 3 stars since it is a neutral rating and periodically provide updates.

Rating:

~  Caribgem, Program Director

Teeth

Type of Media: Movie

Movie Title: Teeth

Category: Horror

Director: Mitchell Lichtenstein

Cast: Jess Weixler , John Hensley , Josh Pais , Hale Appleman

Premiere date: April 3, 2008

Important Facts: Hopefully none of the facts in this movie are real!

Where viewed: Via Netflix

Date watched: December 2009

Description: High school student Dawn works hard at suppressing her budding sexuality by being the local chastity group's most active participant. Her task is made even more difficult by her bad boy stepbrother Brad's increasingly provocative behavior at home. A stranger to her own body, innocent Dawn discovers she has a toothed vagina when she becomes the object of violence. As she struggles to comprehend her anatomical uniqueness, Dawn experiences both the pitfalls and the power of being a living example of the vagina dentata myth.

Critique: So I’m sitting in my house, cycling through movies while snowed in and bump into the movie called “TEETH”. The summary says something about her “VAG” having teeth which is sort of scary to me so I flip to something else. However, the curiosity just kept me wondering so I said, “Hey, why not”! To my surprise, it really did have teeth and the way that these dudes was coming up short (literally) was painfully funny because their faces spoke a TRILLION words!

I’m going to recommend this movie to all guys as it was rather entertaining how she went about it. While being a scary movie in the sense that nobody wants their member shanked, it holds a certain value that one has to experience for themselves.

Rating:  I give this movie 4 WOWS, for the 4 dis-membered victims!

~ Kellz, Studio Engineer

Recess!

Event: Recess

Location: Sheraton National Hotel 900 South Orme Street, Arlington MD

Event Time: Saturday, January 9, 2010 from 9pm-2am

Cost: Admission: $10 – Cash Bar: $4-$10 (various drinks)

Description: DC area's first game night for adults mixed with a party atmosphere! Relive some of your youth as attendees will be able to enjoy games, drinks, discounted rooms, and a live DJ in a fun and relaxed environment.

Critique: For the last few months, I been meaning to get around to this event but for reasons beyond my control I could never make it to Recess...until now. Originally, a couple of staff members were suppose to accompany me to help with the coverage but they were unable to attend so I decided to take that trip by myself.

It took me about 15 minutes to arrive at the Sheraton National Hotel. The hotel was pretty easy to find. Next was parking...oh yes, parking. To my satisfaction, their garage had FREE parking! This was the first plus of the night. I truly dislike having to find parking on the street. From the garage, I made my way to the lobby area of the hotel. Once there, you could definitely hear the festivities at hand – music, laughing, talking. I was greeted at the entrance by Rashad “Mayor” Wilson one of the Recess hosts. This was my 1st time meeting him in person but we had been connected for over a year. From there, he walked me to the greeting table where I met Diego aka “Mr. Burns” who is a member of the Recess welcoming committee. Both men were very informative, charming & approachable. After a brief conversation with them, they presented me with my name tag in which I was asked to write my Playground name but of course I choose to be me. Nice touch though.  I also was given a notepad and pen (Thanks guys!). It’s like they knew I forgot mine at home...LOL! Now time for RECESS!

Upon entering the spacious ballroom, the 1st thing I noticed was the diverse crowd. There were numerous ethnicities in attendance getting their mingle on...CHECK PLUS! The lighting was slightly dimmed but it added to the stimulating atmosphere in which ALL the tables were FULL with people “getting their Recess on”. Recess games consisted of: Scrabble, Monopoly, Life, Scattergories, Uno, Spades, Checkers, Operation, Wii Bowling, Trivial Pursuit, Charades, Gestures, Yahtzee, Bingo, Clue, Battleship, Twister, Hungry Hippos Chinese Checkers and Taboo. I NEVER in my life have seen so many games in one place that were ACTUALLY being played. To me this was mind-blowing! There was a nice sized dance floor in front of the DJ table where DJ Adrian Loving was doing his thing. He played such songs as” “Diva” & “Video Phone” by Beyonce, “Oh Sheila” by Prince, “I Know” by JayZ along with other artists such as Frankie Beverly & Maze, A Trible Called Quest, Rihanna & more. Most folks hit the dance floor when the classic tracks came on.


There were 2 reasonably sized cash bars conveniently located in the left and right corner of the ballroom. Drink prices ranged from $4 - $10 w/ Specialty Drinks: Twistertini (10 cane rum, ground cinnamon, apple juice), Monopolized (premium belvedere orange, x-rated fusion, triple sec, orange juice), Boardwalk Smash (makers mark, muddled lemon wedges, mint, simple syrup). The bartenders were courteous and worked well together. The bar area was also neatly kept. When I asked for a drink recommendation, one of the bartenders recommended the Monopolized. I’m not a fan of citrus anything but I enjoyed this drink even though it could have been a little stronger.

The nights festivities started to die down around 1:30am which was perfect since the ending time was 2am. I took this time to head out to the lobby area and get some audio feedback from participants and interviews from Recess contributors which will be aired on W.O.W Radio the week of January 18th.

Key points of the night for me were 1] the fact that there we absolutely positively NO altercations or BS, 2] there was something that appeared to be an overflow area positioned behind the welcome area, 3] everyone meshed together so greatly 4] The hosts worked the room and interacted with the guests so professionally and smoothly.

Special thanks to Rashad “Mayor” Wilson who was such a gracious host and made sure that I was comfortable and taken care of the whole time. I send him this shoutout not because I got “special” treatment but because I feel that he did & will do this to ALL the guests.

Five words that describe Recess in my eyes: Phenomenal engaging CLEAN adult FUN!


Rating:

For updates and more info about Recess, please visit: http://www.host-dc.com

~  Caribgem, Program Director
 

Lookie Looky Vision

Type of Media: Lookie Lookie Vision (D.C. Don Juan’s Ustream channel)

URL: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/lookie-looky-vision

Ustream Followers: 147

Ustream Channel views: 3800+

Broadcast Date: Friday, January 8, 2010 @ 7:21am (http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3829760)

Description: The video blog of D.C. Don Juan 23 year-old Bronx-born rapper D.C raised Maurice Campbell. He is a prolific Indie R&B Rapper who has recorded over 4,000 songs during the course of his eight-year career, he channels the harshness of urban street life into hip-hop developing his persona as D.C. Don Juan.

Critique: I do not personally know D.C. Don Juan nor have I had the pleasure in meeting him (Yet) but I occasionally carry on cordial conversation with him via Twitter. On this day however, I decided to tune into his video blog, Lookie Looky Vision. Interesting name huh? I am guessing that it is named after his single “Lookie Looky”. Upon tuning in, I saw a handsome young rapper wearing his promo T-Shirt & a matching hat in one of my favorite colors, turquoise. Don Juan was starting off his day early by getting some work done & engaging his supporters before heading off to the studio.

I really like the fact that he interacted with all the viewers via his chatroom & greeted everyone that entered. Don Juan genuinely showed his supporters love. He spoke on topics such as his upcoming tour starting in California and ending in North Carolina, magazine features, checking in with his label (Battery Records) and his visit to Ultra Bar the night before. An unforgettable moment was when he made his tea, dumping what looked like 5 cups of sugar into it! Seriously!! As one of the chatroom members stated, “It was more like he was putting tea in his sugar than sugar in his tea.” Don Juan, watch out for diabetes brotha!!

He gave his viewers updates on his already released tracks & music in progress, one being “Keep Spendin” w/ Charlie Boy. He played such tracks as “All My Money” ft. Jeremiah, “Every time I Come Out”, and “We Gotta Go” ft. Kim Scott. At one point during his broadcast he made a few attempts to show us the “Fear Freestyle” video. It took some time but his attempts were not in vain because it worked w/ the help of the viewers of course. The “Lookie Looky” video was also shown.

I appreciate artists that take the time out to engage their fans. I had no idea what to expect when 1st tuning in but was pleasantly surprised by not seeing any crazy antics. Instead I saw a real person being his real ole’ self. I applaud your grind Don Juan and look forward to seeing more of & from you soon!

Rating:

For more info on D.C. Don Juan, please visit: http://www.batteryrecords.net/dcdonjuan.html || http://www.myspace.com/mostjuanted ||http://www.twitter.com/IamDonJuan

~  Caribgem, Program Director

Public House

Company: Public House

Location: 199 Fleet Street, Oxon Hill MD 20745 (National Harbor)

Business Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00am-2am; Sat-Sun 10:00am-3am

Cost: $7 - $23 (various food & drink)

Description: A restaurant serving upscale American cuisine with a lively bar and lounge area. Every Tuesday come sing your heart out from 9pm-1am. Karaoke is only for those 21 & up.

Critique: The Public House is located directly across from the Cadillac Ranch down at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD. My visit to this establishment was brought on by the need to celebrate a career milestone & a friend’s birthday. The night that I attend was a Tuesday which is...YUP...Karaoke night.

Upon entering the establishment, there is a full bar directly in front of you w/ 3 big screen plasma TVs on each side of it. Of course for dining purposes there are booths scattered throughout the restaurant. Also upon entering I could hear my friend, Hollywood, taking a shot at a Ralph Tresvant song “Sensitivity”. That was hilarious, especially since he resembles Ralph. Now singing like him would be another whole review...LOL (You know we folks Hollywood!). There was a stage setup towards the front of the restaurant with a gigantic screen that displayed the lyrics to the songs being sung. To the left of the stage was the DJ area where he manned the controls to the Karaoke database.

On this night the bar wasn’t packed but contained a fair amount of people. I would say about 40-50 folks. I sat on the opposite side of the bar away from the entrance but near the front of the stage. The bartenders on duty were very attentive and pleasant. This night I didn’t have the pleasure of ordering food because I didn’t arrive until about midnight but I did order a Long Island Ice Tea & a Coors Light for a friend. This bill came up to $25! WOW!!! It was shocking but not really. I would not expect anything less from a restaurant at the National Harbor. In regards to the strength of my drink, it was satisfying. Not as strong as I would have liked but it satisfied my thirst.

As the night went along a few people took the bold dive into the Karaoke scene. We heard songs such as “Got It Bad” by Usher, “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” by Beyonce, "Rockstar" by Nickleback and my favorite “Rapper’s Delight” by SugarHill Gang. The DJ promised a free drink to the person who could complete the “Rapper’s Delight” song without stopping or messing up. Mind you, this is an 8 MINUTE song with tricky words and verses. About 3 people tried and failed...miserably might I add. Until, THE ONE! He was an older fellow, looked to be in his late 40’s accompanied by a lady friend. He took the mic off stage and began his journey. This fellow finished the WHOLE SONG almost perfectly. When done, the crowd gave him a round of applause and he bowed humbly. I’m not sure if he accepted the free drink or not but he was definitely the star of the night (Sorry Hollywood). After that amazing performance, I enjoyed one last drink on the rocks, Glenfiddich Scotch Whisky, before departing this marvelous establishment.

Even though I didn’t get to taste the cuisine, I thoroughly enjoyed the drinks, atmosphere and people. It was a lovely night and great place to celebrate. I definitely appreciated the time spent and look forward to another Karaoke night w/ hopes of food!

Rating:

For more info on Public house, please visit: http://www.publichousenationalharbor.com

~  Caribgem, Program Director

Java Coast

Company: Java Coast

Location: Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center  201 Waterfront Street National Harbor, MD 20745

Business Hours: Open daily, 5:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. 

Cost: Menu items range from $3 - $10

Description: A coffee bar serving eye-opening shots of espresso, soft pastries, gourmet salads and sandwiches, and delectable desserts. They also carry premium coffee drinks along with a selection of beer and wine.

Critique: This visit to Java Coast was my 1st and was brought on by the FREE holiday cookie coupons that were given to me & my family after attending the The Gaylord National Resort’s ICE!  I thought that it would be a nice end to our evening of wintery bliss.  Java Coast is located amongst a host of other restaurants inside The Gaylord National Hotel.  

It's a tiny coffee bar that serves pastries, sandwiches, espressos, coffee and such.  There's no seating, so it's just in and out.  The area around it was neatly & cleanly kept.  The food in the refrigerated compartment looked pretty fresh but it was open, which to me kind of defeated the purpose of a refrigerated compartment.

I can honestly give everything in this establishment a B+ except for the customer service.  With that being said, the employees taking the orders were not rude or disgruntle by any means BUT they were certainly NOT upfront.  This gripe goes back to receiving the FREE holiday cookie coupons from the The Gaylord National Resort’s ICE!  They were handing out these coupons left and right.  SO, you would naturally assume that Java Cost would be prepared to fulfill the demand...WRONG!  Well at least it was wrong during the hour of the day that I was there.

Instead of the employees being forthright with the customers awaiting FREE holiday cookies, they gave us the run around.  They did this by saying things such as: “The cookies are cooling.”, “They will be out in one minute.”, “They are being bagged.”  My family and I (including 2 young children) waited about an hour for these FREE holiday cookies.  In addition to my family about 10-15 other people joined us in our wait.  Of course, this was frustrating when a simple remedy would have been: “We are running behind in our batches, please be patient.”

It is understood that this is a normal response to most things in high demand, especially if they are FREE.  All I’m saying is please give me the common courtesy of HONESTY but I guess that may be too much to ask these days.  In regards to the untruthful and extensive wait, I would have to give this establishment a “D”.  I understand that things happen but when dealing with parents with children looking forward to FREE holiday cookies...please...tell the truth!

Rating:

~  Caribgem, Program Director