Cw Fall 2017 Premiere Dates

Get ready for fall!  The CW has announced premiere dates for the 2017 fall line-up.  The season kicks off on Monday, Oct. 9th.  Check out the graphic below to find out when your favorite CW show premieres! 

Presleys' Country Jubilee celebrating their 50th Anniversary!

The Presleys are celebrating their 50th anniversary!  During our visit to Branson, we had a chance to stop by and talk to them about their family entertainment attraction "Presleys Country Jubilee" located in Branson, Arkansas.  

In 1967 the Presleys built the first LIVE music theater in Branson.  They continue to entertain with country, gospel, bluegrass and hilarious comedy.  Check out their interviews below.

Video of performances provided by Presleys' Country Jubilee

Help the Presleys celebrate their 50th Anniversary!!!

Go to Presleys.com for information on their shows

Go here for tickets and calendar.

If you want to read more about the history of the Presleys go here.

"Do The Ozarks" Branson trip second stop was Showboat Branson Belle

"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.

...

Native American Symposium held at the Museum of Native American History

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 

www.monah.us

List of sponsors of the 2017 Native American Symposium held at the History of Native American Museum.

We had a chance to chat with the band Kazha at the Arkansas Anime Festival

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:

Kazha.net, Kazha Facebook Page, Kazha Official Twitter.  Kazha Official Instagram

...

Arkansas Anime Festival is Firing it up at the Fort Smith Convention Center this weekend!

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!

The Arkansas CW Crew!

You can find a complete list of guest by clicking here.

Get your tickets now! For tickets and other event information go to  Arkansas Anime Festival Website now!

The Arkansas Anime Festival is Arkansas' largest and longest running anime and gaming convention. 

____________________________________

PROUD SPONSOR OF 

ARKANSAS ANIME FESTIVAL

"Do the Ozarks" lands in Branson! First stop is the Titanic Museum exhibit honoring James Cameron's movie "Titanic"

"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:  

www.titanicbranson.com

Native American Cultural Symposium and Outdoor Film Series June 2nd-4th

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! 

For weekend schedule Click here.   

Featured Presenters:

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 

June 2nd-4th, 2017

For more information go to 

www.monah.us

An Exclusive Interview with Grammy Award Winner Siedah Garrett

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

CW Announces 2017-18 Fall Schedule

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 PM VALOR (New Series)

TUESDAY

7 PM   THE FLASH

 8 PM DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW

WEDNESDAY

7 PM   RIVERDALE (New Night)

 8 PM DYNASTY (New Series)

THURSDAY

7 PM   SUPERNATURAL

 8 PM ARROW (New Night - New Time)

FRIDAY

7 PM   CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND (New Time)

 8 PM JANE 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.

Winners at the 2017 Bentonville Film Festival Competiton

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.