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Showing posts with label OUTview America. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OUTview America. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE: The Kosher Baker Previews Hanukkah Favorites in her New Cookbook!

by MK Scott
 
Too often, Jewish recipes have too much salt, fat, sugar, and processed foods and lack whole grains and fresh ingredients. But now Paula Shoyer, THE kosher food expert and best-selling author has released her newest cookbook: The Healthy Jewish Kitchen: Fresh Contemporary Recipes for Every Occasion, a delicious new take on Jewish cooking. 

In each of Paula’s recipes she uses only natural ingredients and offers a fresh, nutrient-dense spin on every dish. Here you’ll find very little frying, and no margarine, frozen puff pastry, soup stocks and powders, and most jarred sauces. More than 80 recipes include both Sephardic and Ashkenazy Jewish classics (Israeli Herb and Almond Salad, Sourdough Challah, Tzimmes Puree, Potato and Scallion Latkes, Schnitzel with Nut Crust) as well as American and international dishes that extend beyond the Jewish culinary world.

With Hanukkah coming up next week,  the timing couldn't better to order this book as a gift or cook up a storm this holiday season. I had a chance to chat with Paula Shoyer by e-mail.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE: Screen legend Tippi Hedren on her new memoir, sexual harassment in Hollywood from Alfred Hitchcock, and her involvement with the Roar Foundation and Shambala Preserve!


by MK Scott 

Sexual harassment in Hollywood is nothing new, according to screen legend Tippi Hedren, who has finally written her memoir titled Tippi. In the book she writes about her harrowing experience working with film director Alfred Hitchcock on 1963's The Birds and 1964's Marnie. By the time they shot Marnie, the now 87-year-old actress details that Hitchcock was controlling and threatened to ruin her career. So when I was given the chance to ask her about that time, especially as the #MeToo movement is gaining some steam, I jumped at the opportunity. I also asked her about her passion for Wildlife Conservation when I chatted by phone with her on Friday, November 3rd.

Friday, November 3, 2017

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE: Catching up with Broadway, TV star, and musician, Reeve Carney at Steamposium 2017

by MK Scott 

Six years ago, Reeve Carney had just started out on Broadway in title role of the much-talked about Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark musical with the sensational score by Bono with The Edge which was originally directed by Julie Taymor (The Lion King). The show was plagued with a high-budget and the dangerous aerial stunts that even injured a stunt man. In August 2011, I was lucky enough to attend and review Spider-Man and the music and the leading man was what made the show. I met Reeve Carney after the show and he was very gracious. I later learned that his band, Carney, had performed as part of the pit orchestra for the show. I also learned that he is the grand-nephew of TV legend, Art Carney ('The Honeymooners'). In recent years, Carney left Broadway for the starring role of omnisexual, Dorian Gray on Showtime's Penny Dreadful (2014-16) and last year as Riff-Raff in the FOX TV remake of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. So, it was a delight to catch up with Reeve at Steamposium 2017 (also known as Steampunk-Con) at Seattle's Bell Harbor Conference center on October 28.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE: Catching up with Del Shores and Emerson Collins on A Very Sordid Wedding at TWIST 2017

Photo by Matt
by MK Scott

It was 1999 when Sordid Lives was a surprise hit for filmgoers with an all-star cast that included Bonnie Bedelia, Beth Grant, Ann Walker, Kirk Geiger, Leslie Jordan and Olivia Newton-John. In 2007, it spawned a prequel TV series on LOGO that added Caroline Rhea and Rue McClanahan to the cast. In the much-anticipated sequel to the film, A Very Sordid Wedding, promises a wedding in the tiny Texas town that Sordid Lives was set in. TWIST: Seattle Queer Film Festival screened the film on October 14 with creator and director, Del Shores, along with producer and actor, Emerson Collins in attendance. As I did with their other film, Southern Baptist Sissies, I had a chance to chat with them after the screening.

Friday, July 14, 2017

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE: Jake Biondi releases seventh book in his popular BOYSTOWN series!

by MK Scott

'It's finally here and I'm so excited,' author Jake Biondi said of his seventh BOYSTOWN book in a press release, which he released on July 7th. 'The fans' wait is over and they can now discover what happened to their favorite characters whose lives were hanging in the balance at the end of the sixth book.'

The seventh book features a cover created by BOYSTOWN designer Anna Crosswell, who is responsible for the recent redesign of all BOYSTOWN book covers. Featuring the image of a casket, the cover of BOYSTOWN Season Seven teases what readers will find inside its pages.

Biondi recently announced a re-launch of his entire book series with an exciting new look.

'It's going to 'wow' readers from coast to coast,' Biondi said of the series' new design. 'I wanted the BOYSTOWN book covers and all the marketing materials to better represent the drama, excitement, and diversity of the BOYSTOWN series. The new covers hint at the story line twists and turns that readers will find within the books' pages.'

Monday, May 8, 2017

(2017 GLAAD Media Awards-NY); Debra Messing Calls on Ivanka Trump: “It’s time to do something”: Billy Porter receives the Vito Russo award!

OUTview Reporter, Damon Jacobs with Messng
GLAAD, the world’s LGBTQ advocacy organization, honored Debra Messing, Billy Porter, and outstanding LGBTQ images in film and television at the 28th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York City on May 6. The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBTQ community and the issues that affect their lives.

At the ceremony, Andrew Rannells presented Debra Messing with GLAAD's Excellence in Media Award, which is presented to media professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBTQ community.

In her speech, which received multiple standing ovations, Messing called on everyone to raise their voices and call the Congressional Switchboard in Washington, D.C. She also spoke directly to Ivanka Trump:
It’s not enough to simply say that women’s issues are important to you. It’s time to do something. You can change the lives of millions of women and children just by telling your dad stories about real people who are suffering. Don’t let him separate immigrant mothers from their American-born children. Don’t let him take health care away from women who need it. Don’t allow him to make trans kids like Gavin [Grimm] fight in court for their basic human dignity.”

Friday, April 28, 2017

(OUTview AMERICA) LGBT NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Anime voice actor Vic Mignogna in attendance at Seattle Sakura-Con sets the record straight: 'I am not the least bit homophobic'!

by MK Scott

Two weeks ago, the weekend of April 14-16, was my second year in a row to attend Sakura-con, the annual Japanese Anime Convention at the Washington State Convention Center. I had no idea what type of story I would write until I met the hunky, blond haired and blue-eyed, voice actor, Vic Mignogna, 54, most known as the voice of Qrow in 'RWBY' and Matt in the 'Digimon Adventure' series, as well as Pok'emon and Final Fantasy (the video game).

Mignogna also stars as Capt. James T. Kirk in the live-action web series, 'Star Trek Continues.'

Sunday, April 23, 2017

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE: Ted Allen talks 'Queer Eye,' food and Dining Out for Life!

by MK Scott

The 26th Annual Dining Out For Life® hosted by Subaru® is a restaurant-based event with a truly scrumptious call to action: Dine at one of the 3,000 participating restaurants in more than 60 cities across North America on Thursday, April 27th and that restaurants will donate a generous portion of the day's proceeds to fund HIV/AIDS care, prevention, education, testing, counseling and other essential services in their city.

For over 20 years, Lifelong AIDS Alliance has benefited from this annual event and it goes into the same programs that are benefited from the annual AIDS Walk that occurs every September. Here is a chance to support Lifelong's programs by just eating out.

On this day, over 100 restaurants in the Seattle area will donate 30-50% of their proceeds to Lifelong's vital programs that support people facing serious illness and poverty in our community. For participating restaurants, visit www.diningoutforlife.com or Facebook/DiningOut4Life.

Because of your support, in 2016, Lifelong was able to feed over 1,900 individuals by providing 36,500 bags of groceries and 170,000 nutritious meals to those in need. Dining Out for Life is one of Lifelong's biggest, most important fundraisers of the year and ensures that their food program, Chicken Soup Brigade, can continue to provide their clients with healthy food catered to their specific medical conditions. DOFL also ensures that Lifelong's other life-saving programs, including medical case management, housing, insurance and dental, can continue to support the clients who need it the most.

Reality star and my old friend (of 14 years), Ted Allen ('Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,' 'Chopped') has been one of the spokespeople for Dining Out for Life for over 10 years. I had the chance to chat with Ted by phone last month on March 14th.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE: Strike a Pose: An interview with Salim 'Slam' Gauwloos!

by MK Scott

The documentary Strike a Pose was a huge fave at Three Dollar Bill Cinema's Twist (the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival) last fall and this week returns to the Northwest Film Forum (April 5) before its big premiere on Logo TV on Thursday, April 6 at 9pm ET/PT. The film catches up with seven young male dancers - six gay, one straight - on Madonna's controversial 'Blond Ambition World Tour' in 1990 and her subsequent Truth or Dare documentary, as they unwittingly become icons for Gay rights and sexual freedom. Twenty-five years later, the dancers reveal the truth about life during and after the tour and the significance of their courageous but harrowing journey to, as Madonna sings, 'Express Yourself.' The critically acclaimed documentary, from filmmakers Ester Gould and Reijer Zwaan and the Emmy Award-winning Logo Documentary Films, was an official selection at the 2016 Tribeca, Berlin and Hot Docs film festivals.

One of the most memorable of the dancers is the gorgeous Salim 'Slam' Gauwloos. Born in a small Flemish town by Belgian-Moroccan parents, 'Slam' made an impression in Truth or Dare by kissing fellow dancer Gabriel Trupin - the first Gay kiss ever to be shown in a major movie. It is only recently that he has come to see what both the tour and Truth or Dare have meant to people around the world: 'We helped the world to come out of the closet!' he has said. In the more recent documentary, Strike a Pose, Slam comes out as Poz. Slam chatted with me earlier this week about his journey and as a Muslim with a green card what he thinks of the political climate.

Saturday, February 18, 2017

(OUTview AMERICA) INTER-view: Screenwriter and director Brian O'Donnell on AKRON, One of the most inventive Gay coming-of-age films ever is finally out on DVD and VOD!

by MK Scott

At the 2015 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival I was thrilled to see a new coming of age film about two Gay college students who are conflicted by a family secret. (This was in my Top 5 of the best films at the 2015 SLGFF.)

What I found was an inventive tale of two Gay lovers with no coming out issues, no health issues or small community conflicts, it is a simple story of two families that dealt with a family tragedy and how it will affect the family now that old wounds resurface.

The film synopsis from the AKRON website reads:
Benny and Christopher, college freshmen, meet playing football and begin a relationship. They fall in love supported by their family and friends. As their love for each other grows, a past tragic event involving their mothers comes to light. This revelation tests their own love and Benny's close-knit family.

Throughout this reflective love story, with the beauty of rural Ohio as its backdrop, Benny travels an emotional journey that examines both his own feelings and his family's ability to come to terms with the past. AKRON is a sensitive and unique independent film that puts a progressive, Midwestern spin on a classic family drama.

So I was doubly thrilled to have a chance to speak with writer/director, Brian O'Donnell by phone.

Saturday, January 7, 2017

(OUTview AMERICA) EXCLUSIVE INTER-view: NW native and rising star Angus MacLane on theater, animation and Finding Dory!

by MK Scott

I am always in awe of local people who have achieved success. The Pixar film, Finding Dory was a summer hit and it was co-directed by Northwest bred, Angus MacLane.

MacLane and I were raised in Beaverton, Oregon and we both attended Beaverton High School and owe our success to one man, our mentor and drama teacher, James N. Erickson. Other big names came from our theater program as well, including Broadway stars Brooks Ashmanskas and Shoshana Bean, NPR's Ari Shapiro, and Out Magazine writer and actor Jesse Archer.

I reached out to Angus for an interview last summer, and we finally connected just in time for Finding Dory's DVD/VOD release.

Friday, December 16, 2016

(OUTview AMERICA) INTER-view: Author, Jake Biondi previews his 6th Boystown Book, Available NOW!

by MK Scott

BOYSTOWN series author Jake Biondi has revealed the cover of the highly anticipated sixth book of his BOYSTOWN series. BOYSTOWN Season Six will be released on December 16, 2016. The cover for the book, which was designed by photographer James Franklin, features BOYSTOWN model Sean Zevran as well as six other BOYSTOWN boys: JR Bronson, Pablo Hernandez, Eddie Eduardo, Cory Zwierzynski, Jo Franco, and Andy Andranik.

Like the first five books, BOYSTOWN Season 6 will be available at bookstores across the country as well at online at amazon.com, bn.com, and itunes. The series is available in paperback, audio book, and all e-book formats.

Biondi is currently working with television producers Gabe Fiscale and Weston Mueller, who are interested in bringing the BOYSTOWN series to television. Biondi remains optimistic that fans all over the world will soon be able to watch their favorite BOYSTOWN characters in action on television.

I have interviewed Jake for Seasons (Books) 1 to 4 on my blog and Season 5 was discussed in the SGN's Pride 2016 issue (http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews44_26/page28.cfm). I had a chance to catch up with Jake to find out more about Season (Book) 6.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

(OUTview AMERICA) Carrie Turns 40 and hits BluRay Today: See MK's 2013 Chat with Sissy Spacek!

In 1976, Carrie, the "absolutely spellbinding horror movie" (Roger Ebert) directed by Brian DePalma (Scarface, The Untouchables, Dressed to Kill) and based on the best-selling Stephen King novel, premiered in theaters, forever changing the landscape of horror films, and launching much of its outstanding cast into stardom.

TODAY (10/11), the SCREAM FACTORY™ home entertainment brand celebrates the 40th anniversary of the film with a 2-disc Collector's Edition Blu-ray release which includes a brand new 4K scan of the film and nearly 3 hours of bonus material.

The first film adaptation of a Stephen King book, Carrie was a box office hit, garnering Academy Award® nominations for the up and coming star Sissy Spacek (Coal Miner's Daughter), and film veteran Piper Laurie (The Hustler), a rare accomplishment for the horror genre at the time. Featuring the first major film roles for John Travolta, who was then starring in TV's Welcome Back Kotter, Nancy Allen (RoboCop) and William Katt (The Greatest American Hero), Carrie was also the big screen debut for Amy Irving (Yentl), P.J. Soles (Halloween) and Betty Buckley (Eight Is Enough).

MK w/ Spacek in 2013              (Wang)
At the center of the film's terror is Carrie (Spacek), a high school loner with no confidence, no friends... and no idea about the extent of her secret powers of telekinesis. But when her psychotic mother and sadistic classmates finally go too far, the once-shy teen becomes an unrestrained, vengeance-seeking powerhouse who, with the help of her 'special gift,' causes all hell to break loose in a famed cinematic frenzy of blood, fire and brimstone.

Over the last 40 years the ultimate revenge fantasy has become one of the all-time great horror classics, and Carrie is now, finally, offered as a definitive, two-disc Collector's Edition Blu-ray.

In 2013, I had the opportunity to chat with Sissy Spacek on the Red Carpet at SIFF minutes before receiving her lifetime achievement award.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

EXCLUSIVE: Dolly Parton talks love, Pure and Simple, and her Gay fans!

by MK Scott

Last month I was one of a dozen members of the LGBT press to be part of a live phone conference with the iconic, Dolly Parton. Dolly is in the middle of a concert tour. I had to ask Dolly, why she chose the ShoWare Center in Kent over the larger Key Arena, and she responded that this show is more ideal for a smaller audience. I told her to expect a sold out show with 95% LGBT. Dolly is also promoting her new album, Pure and Simple. Here are the highlights from the 20-minute LGBT press conversation.

Tell me why you think you've remained such an icon within the LGBT community after all these years?


DP: Oh, well, I'd like to think they know I love them, they know that I accept everybody for who they are. I have a lot of friends that I work with, you know, in the gay and lesbian, I have a lot of gay and lesbians in my family, I have friends, I have people in my, all my businesses. I just always, you know, I just love people. I don't even think about whether you're straight or gay. I just love you because I love you. But, I think people respond to that, too, I don't judge people, I think people should be allowed to be who they are and be allowed to love, exactly who they love. I just think that, that's the way it should be. We're all God's children and we all have the right to our own happiness, and so I've just always been loved for being accepting, I guess? I've always wanted people to accept me for what I am. I've always been, you know, persecuted for the way I look and all that. But I just, you know, I just care about the soul and the heart of the people.

How can the Country Music Industry be more tolerant of the LGBT Community?


DP: Well, I think though what really gets me a lot of times is that so many of the Country people and all that, they're you know, supposed to be good Christian people. And to me if they would exercise more of what the Bible says to love one another, to love your neighbor, and to not to judge and you know, and just to love. That's God's business, God is, you know, is the judge and I just, I think there is room for everybody to be more accepting of all people not just the Gay and Lesbians. You know there's just so much prejudice in the world, about so many people and for people being different. We're just all God's children, we're all His and we should love one another and accept one another. And I just always had that kind of faith and that kind of open heart and open love. And I just think people should just get over themselves and start you know, just thinking about what they're about and what would make this world a better place. And a good place to start would be to allow people to be free and happy in their own selves. You know, because I just can't imagine you can be happy judging and criticizing other people all the time. What kind of life is that? I'd rather just go with the flow and love everybody and maybe God will love me more for loving more.

Do you plan on taking your tour, or your latest album, on a nationwide Gay Pride Tour in 2017?


DP: Oh! Well, I hadn't thought about that, nobody asked me about that! I hadn't put any thought into it, sounds like a good idea. I don't - next year I'm probably going to take off and [I'll be] promoting, and with my TV shows. I'm going to produce TV shows and possibly be in a series. But I'm glad you loved the album! And I'd be happy to sing to anybody wanting to hear it. Especially, I have a lot of gay fans out there, so maybe I'll see you somewhere, whether it's on a whole tour or not, but we'll, we'll be doing some things here and there, now and then. Thank you for asking, thanks for inviting me!

You have inspired so many, so many songwriters. I want to know, what do you do when you get writer's block? Because we all get it and we all have our ways around it, but what do you do?


DP: Well you know what? I have never really thought that I've had a writer's block. I just, because I write all the time, I don't, don't feel like I have to write. There are times like, if I've been working, the only way that I, sometimes when I'm having to write on a project, like when I was writing '9 to 5,' and I had to come up with something all of sudden, if they changed the number on me when I was doing the musical, I'd be stalled. I would call it a writer's stall, more than a writer's block. I'd have, you know, it stalled me for like a day or so till, till I could gather my, rethink and all. But I just write all the time. I don't, like I said, write because I have to, I write because I want to. And I've been doing it since I was little, and so, I don't really, I've got, thousands of songs. I don't really feel desperate if I don't have one coming right out because I've got so many more laying there. I just pick 'em up and re-work 'em.

When you're doing your live shows, what kind of connection and interaction are you seeing with your live audiences, on this more stripped down pure album?


DP: Well, they just seem to love it. It actually seems to be a more intimate setting for me and for them. Seems like they can hear me better, they can concentrate better since there's not a lot of loud music, big productions, there's not a lot of things distracting in the background. So we're kind of pretty much focused on each other. I'm focused on them, and they're focused on me and they seem to be really liking it and I'm enjoying it myself. I'm, I'm enjoying not having to, you know, I've always loved my fans, I love singing with great musicians and singers. But, this has been actually nice, to where I could, I don't have to sing over, or sing too hard, you know force myself to rise to the, you know, sound and all that. So it's actually been very pleasant and enjoyable thing for me as well as the fans.

Where did you find this love that you keep putting out into the world for all of us?


DP: Aww, well that's very sweet. Well, I just love people. When I grew up, I grew up in a very spiritual family, my grandpa was a preacher, my mother was very open, you know, she loved people and we were taught to love each other. You know, in our family, we were taught to be good to our neighbors. We were taught to love people and so I think that it just comes from that open-hearted faith, you know. For me, I just always took the good parts of that when we would go to church. I believe in that through God, all things are possible and to love your neighbor as yourself, and to you know, just, I've just always just had a good time in this world. I don't know what we're all here for, but I'm gonna find out, what all I can do to make it. And part of that is just trying to love people and enjoy people and accepting everybody for who and what they are.

And when it got to me, I asked Dolly who her Dream Duet partner would be?
Dolly, without hesitation said 'Adele or maybe (her god-daughter), Miley (Cyrus).'

.

Friday, September 9, 2016

(OUTview AMERICA) Former Seattle writer Dominic Holden to receive the 2016 NLGJA Journalist of the Year award!


by MK Scott

In the fall of 2014, Seattle bid adieu to former Stranger News Editor, Dominic Holden as he made the move to New York City and was hired almost immediately at Buzzfeed as a National LGBT Reporter.

This Saturday, September 10, Holden will receive the 2016 Journalist of the Year award from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalism Association at their annual convention being held in Miami South Beach, Florida this year.

In a recent NLGJA press release, one judge wrote, 'Holden presents a really strong mix of thoughtful trans stories, a good take on familiar subject matter, some really strong characters and good depth.' Holden additionally took second place in News Writing (Non-Daily) for 'Why Are Black Transgender Women Getting Killed in Detroit?'

Thursday, August 18, 2016

EXCLUSIVE: After 50 years, Olivia Newton-John still 'hopelessly devoted' to her Gay audience!

by MK Scott


Olivia Newton-John has been busy in the last few years with her Vegas residency at the Flamingo, three albums and a new one on the way, and in her free time, she devotes the proceeds and countless hours to her Cancer Wellness charities. Now she is on tour and will hit Seattle's Snoqualmie Casino next Thursday, August 25th.

After a little phone tag, we finally chatted by phone and she has a lot to be proud of after 50 years of entertainment:



MK Scott: Olivia, thanks for joining us! First, I wanted to congratulate you on your 50th year in show business.

Olivia Newton-John: Oh, thank you! Yea!

MK: It's gone by so quickly!

ONJ: I'm very lucky; it has for me, I don't know about you!

MK: Well, especially since it's been almost 40 years since Grease, and I remember that so well!

ONJ: Yes, yes, it's been a long time since that as well; it's all been a wonderful great journey!

MK: Yes, and your Las Vegas show just keeps on getting extended and extended at the Flamingo.

ONJ: Yes. It's been a lot of fun!

MK: I guess the summer nights have continued.

ONJ: Yes, it's just one long night. It's been great!

MK: And finally you're on tour and you're coming to Seattle. We're looking forward to that. What can we expect?

ONJ: Me, too! I love Seattle, love Seattle; it's one of my favorite places and the San Juan Islands. You can expect a show of my hits, the songs people expect from me. Songs from my country time, from Grease, from Xanadu, from, you know, my earlier songs when I first started, my rock and roll era, and then some of my environmental music, because I've written quite a few songs about the planet, like 'Care Deeply For Her' and 'What's Going To Happen,' so I do a little medley of environmental songs, but it's a fun show and it's been going really well in Vegas and I'm excited to bring it there!

MK: Wonderful, and also this is at Snoqualmie; they have an outdoor amphitheater they use for the summer.

ONJ: Oh, wonderful! I think it will, that will be a change, I haven't done that for a while.

MK: Awesome, and you also have a new album coming out called Liv On (how appropriate) out in September.

ONJ: Yes, it comes out on September 30th, that I recorded with my dear friends Amy Skye and Beth Chapman who are wonderful singer/songwriters, who are dear longtime friends of mine. And we wrote an album. I lost my sister three years ago to cancer and it was a difficult time, and I wrote a song for her kind of as my way of expressing how I felt about losing her and I miss her. So I called my friend Amy Skye who produced my Grace and Gratitude album and asked if she would help me finish it, and we got talking about loss and grief and how these things started our music really for people going through that. She had just lost her mother and Beth, we knew, had lost her husband not so many weeks before and [Beth] had written a wonderful song called 'Sand and Water' about that time, a beautiful song that I've also sung. So I thought it would be wonderful to create a trio of women to sing about these things that are so important about grief and how you get to the other side, how you move on, which is the name of the title, title of the album rather, and so we wrote these songs and we also re-recorded songs of ours that have been successful. Beth re-recorded 'Sand and Water,' Amy re-recorded a song that was a hit called 'I'll Take Care of You' and I recorded, re-recorded 'Grace and Gratitude' and the rest are all new songs and them kind of take you on a journey through grief and re-birth. Really it's, I'm really excited about this album, I'm very proud of it.

MK: And I hear a portion of the Vegas show goes to your cancer research and wellness centers.

ONJ: Yes. A portion of every ticket goes to the wellness program of my cancer center in Melbourne, so that is wonderful and inspires me every time.

MK: In fact the Gaia wellness retreat is now in it's 10th year, congrats!

ONJ: Yea, Gaia just celebrated our 10th year. I'm also very proud of that. It was something born out of a dream of my friend Greg and I, we both dreamt about it, which is wild, and we started with no idea, we had never had a retreat before, we just knew we wanted to create a space where our friends could come and a place that we would like to go to, and now we are an award-winning spa, and it's a heaven, a heavenly place.

MK: And now do you have any message for your Gay fans?

ONJ: Oh! Oh yea! Well, thank you for all your support! I think Gay fans have been extremely loyal and loving towards me and I really appreciate that. And, I look forward to seeing them at the shows!

MK: Now what is next for you? Are you going to continue, do you think you'll continue, the Vegas residency past December?

ONJ: I don't know yet, there are no plans at the moment, but you never know what can happen. (Laughter.) I'm planning on next year to have some more downtime, and um, following some more of my other pursuits, and um, playing and spending time with my animals, and also working on the Liv On an album with my friends Amy and Beth. I'd like to do a few shows with them. So um, yea it's an open book right now.

MK: Any acting coming up?

ONJ: No plans right now.

MK: Yea, I was disappointed when I saw you were not going to be in the Sordid Lives movie.

ONJ: Yea, well, you know I did that one and that was fun, but I was so busy with everything that I'm doing, that it just didn't work out, but I wish Del all the best. I'm sure it will be wonderful and very funny.

MK: Yea, we've chatted with Del before and he's great.

ONJ: Yea, he is.

MK: Well then, at the end of the interview I usually end with my burning question, my burning question, which is the most important question.

ONJ: Uh-huh?

MK: Who was a better dancer? John Travolta your Grease co-star, or Gene Kelly your Xanadu co-star?

ONJ: Oh goodness, you can't, you can't compare; that's like comparing apples and oranges. Both different; both different and both wonderful.

MK: I bet it was amazing to be one of the last people to dance with Gene Kelly.

ONJ: It really, I know, what an honor, yes really, and he was such a lovely man, a fantastic experience I will never forget, to dance with him. Thank you very much.

MK: Thank you so much. I'm glad we were able to connect; and hopefully, I'll meet you in person sometime, either at the Snoqualmie show or in Vegas sometime.

ONJ: Okay, lovely, thank you.

MK: Thank you so much, we adore you.

ONJ: Thank you!

For all things Olivia Newton-John, please visit her site at olivianewton-john.com.

Friday, July 29, 2016

(OUTview AMERICA) Director, Gillian Armstrong on "ORRY-KELLY: Women He's Undressed', Coming to DVD and VOD ON 8/9!

by MK Scott

Who was Orry-Kelly? The name is forgotten but he was the King of Hollywood costumes from the 1930's to the early 1960's and was Australia's first Hollywood Star.

Kelly had a secret long-term relationship with Archie Leach (aka Cary Grant) before even moving to Hollywood and garnered 3 Oscars for his designs for An American in Paris, Les Girls, and Some Like It Hot.

Now, his life and work can finally celebrated in the DVD release of  Women He's Undressed. It is more than a documentary, it is part narrative as Orry (played very campy by Aussie, Darren Gilshenan) as well as some great interviews from Jane Fonda, Angela Lansbury, Scotty Bowers (At your Service) and Gay Hollywood expert, William Mann (Wisecracker).

I had a chance to chat with the director, Gillian Armstrong about her film and legacy of Orry-Kelly.
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