"Do the Ozarks" lands in Branson! Second stop is the Showboat Branson Belle. The Showboat Branson Belle is a showboat that floats on the Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri.
The showboat is 278 ft and was launched August 12th, 1994. It is America's most entertaining dining cruise with an unforgettable experience for the whole family.
The Crew had a chance to experience this two hour cruise and the delicious 3 course meal prepared by the ships galley.
That night we had a chance to sample a great meal. Chicken and pot roast with vegetables. mash potatoes, salad with roll and a very delicious ice cream cake dessert made at Silver Dollar City!
We were entertained by the amazing show and live music performed with our meal. Check out what the cast and crew of the Showboat Branson Belle had to say about the voyage!
Go here to get your tickets for a great experience and lot entertainment for lunch or dinner!
Showboat Branson Belle is located at 4800 MO-165 Branson Mo 65616
They are open 9:30 AM to 6 PM. Go here for calendar of events.
We had a chance to check out the Native American Cultural Symposium at the Museum of Native American History in Bentonville, Arkansas during their preparation for their weekend event that was held on June 2, 3 and 4th. We had a chance to speak with some of the guest speakers. Check out their interviews below.
For more information on events at the The Museum of Native American History in Bentonville, Arkansas go to
Masaya Kondo, Hideki Matsushige, Kazuha Oda and Dustin Lynch
Dustin had the honor of speaking with lead singer and bassist Kazuha Oda, guitarist Hideki Matsushige and drummer Masaya Kondo. Check out their interview below.
Kazha is a 3 piece rock band from Japan. Kazuha Oda has worked with world wide performers including Grammy award winner Bob James. Lead Singer and bassist Kazuha Oda's work has appeared in iTunes top 100 charts in several different countries. The band's first album was released in 2010 "Overture". Since then, Kazha has released another album "Evolution"in 2013.
Kazha has been performing in world famous venues across the United States including A Go Go in Las Angeles, Rockhouse Live in Memphis, sharing the stages with Gilby Clarke, Linch Mob, Tantric, Trapt and L.A. Guns. Kazha is working on a third album. They are playing at big venues across the country and in Memphis, Tennessee. You can also catch them nationwide at anime festivals and comic cons. You can go here to find a city near you, Kazha.net . Coming up over the next few weeks, they will be playing on June 9, 10 and 11th at Anime Festival Orlando and June 30th-July 1st and 2nd at Sausomecon in Kansas City.
You can keep up with everything KAZHA by going to any of these links:
Anime Festival began on Friday. You can still come down and participate Saturday and Sunday! Last night we had a chance to watch the Fire show put on by "Bound by Fire". Today you can hang out with other special guest. Leah Clark, voice actress
Musical Guest: International Rock Band from Japan, Kazha!
"Do the Ozarks" lands in Branson! First stop is the Titanic Museum special exhibit honoring James Cameron's movie "Titanic"
Titanic Museum Attraction is honoring James Cameron's "Titanic". It is in celebration of the iconic movie's 20th anniversary. It has a limited engagement new gallery to showcase many, never-before-seen elements from the movie costumes, set pieces, props and other items. This exhibit is only available for viewing until June 11th, 2017..... The Titanic Museum Attraction is located at 3235 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO. Their hours are 9am to 9pm and Memorial Day weekend 9am to 10pm. Take the seven part sneak peak at what you can find at this exhibit below.
For more information about the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, exhibits and tickets go to this link:
The Museum of Native American History in Bentonville, Arkansas presents the debut of the Native American Cultural Symposium and Outdoor Film Series, June 2nd-4th, 2017
All Museum Symposium events are free and open to the public. Pre-registration with the Museum (479) 273-2456 is strongly suggested for some events.
During the Symposium, donations towards the Seneca Black Elk Mathews Scholarship will be most appreciated.
There will be panel discussions, children's storytime, storytelling performances, outdoor films and so much more!
Joseph Marshall III is the Celebrated Rosebud Lakota author of "The Journey of Crazy Horse: The Lakota History", "Walking with Elders: The Wisdom of Lakota Grandfathers" and twelve other books. He also worked as a technical advisor and narrator for the TNT and Dreamworks Television six-part mini-series "Into the West" and played the on-screen role of "Loved by the Buffalo" a Lakota medicine man.
Gayle Ross is an internationally renowned storyteller and a direct descendant of legendary Cherokee Chief John Ross. She has appeared at almost every major storytelling and folk festival in the United States and Canada. Gayle is also the author of five critically acclaimed children's books. She was recently featured in ground-breaking American Experience series "We Shall Remain" in the Trail of Tears episode.
J R Mathews was the youngest Tribal Chairman in the history of the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma and co-founder of the American Indian Theater Company. He was recently appointed to serve as a board member of the National Indian Cannabis Coalition. He co-produced the play "Black Elk Speaks". His work in the training of Native American talent in Tulsa has produced 14 individuals who have gone to work in the industry.
Sam Scinta is the former publisher and consulting editor of the Fulcrum Publishing. Sam founded IM Education, Inc., a non-profit focusing on education programming. He is the creator of Fulcrum's best-selling Speaker's Corner Books series on contemporary political and social issues.
Bobby Bridger is an author, musician and winner of the John Neihardt Award, as well as a co-creator of the Symposium. Bridger has performed all over America and Europe. He is also the author of the award-winning books "Buffalo Bill" and "Sitting Bull: Inventing the Wild West" and "A Ballad of the West".
Charlie Soap husband and community development partner of the late Wilma Mankiller and producer/director of a film being featured at the event "The Cherokee Word for Water". Mr. Soap is a skilled photographer and is working on a book of photographs of indigenous people.
Celia Xavier is a producer, writer, director and actress known for "Playground of the Native Son" (2013), "Blood Battle" (2012) and "Rock, Paper, Scissors" (2005). Celia is CEO and Head of Original Programming at Tribal TV. She is also the the owner of IndieIN films plus, founder and executive director of the Tribal Film Festival in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Native American Cultural Symposium and Outdoor Film Series
Jenna had a chance to sit down with an exclusive interview with Grammy winner and two time Oscar nominated Siedah Garrett. Siedah Garrett is a singer, songwriter and composer. She also performed backing vocals with other artist like Michael Jackson and The Pointer Sisters.
Siedah Garrett
She wrote and performed the song "Man in the Mirror" with Michael Jackson. She speaks about her experience with "Man in the Mirror" and how this song has developed into a project that is building a brand that is recognizing extraordinary people and groups for making changes. The "Man in the Mirror" Award acknowledges those that are dedicated to overcoming the odds and changing the conversation. It is dedicated to an individual or organization that provides extraordinary inspiration or outstanding opportunities to women and diverse groups. This year at the awards ceremony the new award "Man in the Mirror" was presented to Dr. Charles Mully the film "Mully" was about his life. Check out her three part interview below.
Next year will be the 30th anniversary of the song "Man of the Mirror" from Michael Jackson's "Bad" Album. #BFF2017
The CW Network has released next season's fall schedule. Next season will include four new shows, two of which will debut in the fall. Take a look at the schedule!
MONDAY
7 PM SUPERGIRL
8 PMVALOR (New Series)
TUESDAY
7 PM THE FLASH
8 PMDC’S LEGENDS OF
TOMORROW
WEDNESDAY
7 PM RIVERDALE (New
Night)
8 PM DYNASTY (New
Series)
THURSDAY
7 PM SUPERNATURAL
8 PMARROW (New Night - New Time)
FRIDAY
7 PM CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND
(New Time)
8 PMJANE THE VIRGIN (New
Night)
New show "Life Sentence" and New DC Series "Black Lightning" along with "iZombie", "The 100" and "The Originals" are set for Mid-Season.
The award winners selected from the jury,
Festival audience and BFF Foundation are as follows: Best of the Fest – Blood Road Audience favorite Showcase Film. Determined by
Audience ballot. Blood Road – Austria
Director: Nicholas Shrunk
To gain closure over the death of her father, a fighter pilot who was shot down
during the Vietnam War, professional mountain bike athlete Rebecca Rusch and
her Vietnamese riding partner pedal 1,200 miles of the Ho Chi Minh Trail to
locate her father’s crash site while experiencing the impact war leaves on
families, countries and cultures.
Cast: Huyen Nguyen, Rebecca Rusch Audience Spotlight – A Happening of Monumental Proportions Audience favorite Spotlight Film. Determined by
Audience ballot. A Happening of Monumental Proportions - (USA)
Director: Judy Greer; Screenwriter: Gary Lundy
During the course of one day, a group of students at a school in Los Angeles
find themselves caught up in a plot of sex, lies and dead bodies. Audience Short – Deep Storage Audience Favorite Short Film. Determined
by Audience ballot. Deep Storage - (Australia) US
Premiere
Director & Screenwriter: Susan Earl
Two loners find love in the most unromantic of places.
Cast: Miles O’Neil, Alice Ansara, James Lawson, Dawn
Klingberg Audience Episodic – Lost and Found
Audience Favorite Episodic Film. Determined by Audience ballot. Lost and Found -- (USA)
Director & Screenwriter: Haroula Rose
When Stella and Ian host their “unwedding", all kinds of uncomfortable
truths are unearthed for this group of friends. What is intended to be a
healthy way of breaking up in fact raises all kinds of issues for this group of
thirty-something’s in their own relationships, especially when Stella's unruly mother
Lourdes appears unexpectedly.
Cast: Melonie Diaz, William Janowitz, Jennifer Lafleur, Terence Nance, Avi
Rothman, Peter Thomson, Laura Lee Botsacos, Nick Thurston, Ethan Gold, Haroula
Rose Audience Documentary – Woman on Fire
Audience Favorite Documentary. Determined by Audience ballot. Woman on Fire -- (USA)
Director & Screenwriter: Julie Sokolow
Brooke Guinan is the first openly transgender firefighter in New York City.
As a third-generation firefighter, Brooke has a passion for heroism that
runs in her blood. Audience Narrative – Parkers Anchor
Audience Favorite Narrative film. Determined by Audience ballot. Parkers Anchor -- (USA) World
Premiere
Director: Marc Hampson; Screenwriters: Ryan & Jennica Schwartzman
When her plans for marriage and a family fall apart, Krystal finds herself back
in her hometown, re-evaluating her life. Krystal soon discovers that you're
never starting over, every step of the journey seems destined in hindsight.
Cast: Jennica Schwartzman, Amy Argyle, Christopher Marquette, Ryan Schwartzman,
Penny Johnson Jerald, Michael Beach, Sarah Colonna, Brandon Keener, Claire
Donald, Peter Weidman, & Deborah Smith Best Jury Narrative – The Sun at Midnight Jury award for Best Competition Narrative.
Determined by Jury.
The Sun at Midnight - Director: Kirsten Carthew Cast: Devery Jacobs, Duane
Howard, Mark Anderako, Sarah Charlie Jerome, William Greenland, Shayla
SNowshow, Jaclynn Robert
Shot at the Arctic Circle The Sun at Midnight tells the story of an unusual
friendship between a hunter obsessed with finding a missing caribou herd and a
teenage rebel who gets lost while on the run. Best Family Film – Saving Sally Best Family Film in a Competition Narrative
Film. Determined by Jury. Saving Sally - (Philippines/France)
Director: Avid Liongoren; Screenwriters: Charlene Sawit-Esguerra, Carlo
Ledesma, Avid Liongoren
A teenage comic book artist who secretly sees unpleasant people as cartoon-like
monsters struggles to save his eccentric best friend (and love of his life)
from her abusive foster parents—but she becomes involved with an older man who
happens to be a monster too.
Cast: Rhian Ramos, Enzo Marcos, TJ Trinidad, Peejo Pillar Best Documentary – Served Like a Girl Jury award for Best Competition Documentary
- Determined by Jury. Served Like a Girl - (USA)
Director: Lysa Heslov; Screenwriters: Lysa Heslov, Tchavdar Georgiev
Five women veterans who have endured unimaginable trauma in service create a
shared sisterhood to help the rising number of stranded homeless women veterans
by entering into a competition that unexpectedly catalyzes moving events in
their own lives to bring them full circle in a quest for healing and hope.
Best Ensemble – Let Me Go Best Ensemble in a Competition Narrative
Film. Determined by Jury Let Me Go (UK) World Premiere
Director & Screenwriter: Polly Steele
The film is set in the year 2000 following not only Helga and Traudi’s journeys
but the next two generations and how Beth, Helga’s daughter and Emily her
granddaughter are confronted with the unraveling of the darkest of family
secrets.
Cast: Juliet Stevenson, Jodhi May, Lucy Boynton, Karin Bertling, Stanley Weber
Highest Diversity Score – Looking at the Stars Determined by analysis through the Bentonville
Film Festival Foundation Looking at the Stars -
(Brazil/Nicaragua/USA)
Director: Alexandre Peralta; Screenwriters: Alexandre Peralta, Melissa Rebelo
Kerezsi
Looking at the Stars is an intimate glimpse into the lives of the extraordinary
ballerinas at the world’s only ballet school for the blind—the Fernanda
Bianchini Ballet Association for the Blind. Impact Award– Paula Doufat of STEP Selected by BFF based on contribution to
Festival & Mission
In addition to the support of Walmart, AMC Theatres and Lifetime, the expanded
partnership support from Starz offered filmmakers in the 2016 BFF Film
Competition even greater distribution opportunities. Carmi Zlotnik,
managing director at Starz said, "Starz is pleased to partner with
the BFF. The festival has already made an impact, and we are proud to participate
in a bigger way this year. We are dedicated to supporting new voices and
emerging storytellers.” Man in the Mirror Award – Mully
Recognizes those that are dedicated to overcoming odds and changing the
conversation. It is dedicated to the individual or organization that
provides extraordinary inspiration or outstanding opportunities to women and
diverse groups. Mully - (USA)
Director and Screenwriter: Scott Haze
Mully depicts the extraordinary rags-to-riches story of Charles Mully, whose
meteoric rise from orphaned poverty in Kenya leads him on an unimaginable
journey of selflessness.
BFF Jurors ranged from industry professionals to corporate executives and were
led by Rosie O’Donnell in the Documentary competition and Hazel Joyer-Smith in
the Narrative competition.
Narrative Jurors: Hazel
Joyner-Smith (Head Juror), Tom Hoehn, Kelly Leow, Louis Martin. Documentary Jurors: Rosie
O’Donnell (Head Juror), Tani Sylvester Rachel Derrico, Melissa Gute.
Film shot in Northwest Arkansas wins audience award at the Bentonville Film Festival. Dustin had a chance to speak with cast and crew from the film "Parkers Anchor". Check out their interview below.
*Winner at Bentonville Film Festival
BFF "Audience Narrative" Award – Parkers Anchor
"Parkers Anchor" is a film about a woman whose plans for marriage and a family fall apart. She finds herself back in her hometown and soon discovers that you're never starting over.
Director: Marc Hampson
Writer: Jennica Schwartzman
Starring: Michael Beach, Chris Marquette, Penny Johnson Jerald, Brandon Keener, Amy Argyle, Jennica Schwartzman
Kiowa Gordon, Laurel Harris, Robert Craighead, Dustin Lynch
Dustin sat down with the cast and director from the film "Painted Woman". "Painted Woman" is a western that was locally produced and shot in Oklahoma. It was a spotlight film at the Bentonville Film Festival. Check out their interviews below.
Interview with Kiowa Gordon, Laurel Harris and Robert Craighead
Stef Dawson
Starring Stef Dawson, she also starred in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1 and 2. Check out her interview about the film below...
Also starring Actors David Thomas Jenkins (Return to the Hiding Place) and Matt Dallas (Kyle XY). Check out their interview below.
Director, Writer and Producer James Cotten. James Cotten is a Fort Smith native and was executive producer on bunch of films including "Painted Woman".
"Painted Woman" is a western about a young woman with a dark past that finds the wisdom and her identity in the old west. Directer: James Cotten Writers: James Cotten and Amber Lindley Producer: Priscilla Tran Starring Stef Dawson (The Hunger Games Trilogy), David Thomas Jenkins (Return to the Hiding Place), Kiowa Gordon (Twilight Saga), Matt Dallas (Kyle XY), Laurel Harris and Robert Craighead (Tyler Perry's Too Close to Home)
Dusting spoke with the cast and crew from the film "Quality Problems". "Quality Problems" was a competitive narrative at the Bentonville Film Festival. Check out their interview below.
"Quality Problems" Family to do list: Throw the perfect birthday party, find wandering grandpa and deal with cancer in left boob.
Director: Brook Purdy, Doug Purdy
Writer: Brook Purdy
Starring: Chris Mulkey, Jenica Bergere, Michael Patrick Macgill, Mo Gaffney, Mike Erwin
Dustin Lynch, Rebecca Rusch and Director Nicholas Schrunk
Dustin spoke with professional athlete Rebecca Rusch and award winning director Nicholas Schrunk talk about their documentary "Blood Road". Rebecca Rusch and her Vietnamese riding partner, Huyen Nguyen pedalled 1,200 miles along the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail. "Blood Road" is a competition Documentary at the Bentonville Film Festival.
*Winner at Bentonville Film Festival
BFF "Best of the Fest" award – Blood Road
"Blood Road" is a documentary about Rebecca Rusch journey to reach the crash site and final resting place of her father, a U.S. Air Force pilot shot down over Laos some 40 years earlier. It was a journey of self discovery and finding their limits while learning about the historic "Blood Road". Cast Rebecca Rusch and Huyen Nguyen Director Nicholas Schrunk If you would like to find out more about the documentary and their journey go to: https://bloodroad.com
Filmmaker Susan Earl speaks about her film "Deep Storage". "Deep Storage" was a competition short at the Bentonville Film Festival. Check out her interview below.
*Winner at Bentonville Film Festival
BFF "Audience Short" Award – Deep Storage
"Deep Storage" is a short film about two loners find love in the most unromantic places.
Director: Susan Earl
writer: Susan Earl
Starring: Alice Ansara, Dawn Klingberg, James Lawson
We sat down with cast and crew from the episodic "Lost and Found". "Lost and Found" was a competition episodic at the Bentonville Film Festival. Check out their interview below.
*Winner at Bentonville Film Festival
BFF "Audience Episodic" Award – Lost and Found
"Lost and Found" when a couple have a "un-wedding", all kinds of uncomfortable truths come out for this group of friends. It raises all kinds of issues for this group of thirty-something's in their own relationships.
Director & Screenwriter: Haroula Rose
Starring: Melonie Diaz, William Janowitz, Jennifer Lafleur, Terence Nance, Avi Rothman, Peter Thomson, Laura Lee Botsacos, Nick Thurston, Ethan Gold and Haroula Rose
We sat down with the cast and crew of "Homestate". "Homestate" was a competitive narrative film at the Bentonville Film Festival. Check out their interviews below.
"Homestate" a homemade film about a down and out brother that shows up unannounced, altering the routine of his sister family.
The showboat is 278 ft and was launched August 12th, 1994. It is America's most entertaining dining cruise with an unforgettable experience for the whole family. 
The Crew had a chance to experience this two hour cruise and the delicious 3 course meal prepared by the ships galley. 
That night we had a chance to sample a great meal. Chicken and pot roast with vegetables. mash potatoes, salad with roll and a very delicious ice cream cake dessert made at Silver Dollar City! 
We were entertained by the amazing show and live music performed with our meal. Check out what the cast and crew of the Showboat Branson Belle had to say about the voyage!
