Art is in the eye of the beholder.

Or the ear. Or the mind.

Artists of ALL mediums and talents are welcome under The Spotlight.

 

Rick Therrio

Visual Artist

Artist Statement

Rick has been a Chicago artist for many years. He exhibited publicly throughout the 80’s and 90’s at galleries such as World Tattoo and Art-o-Rama and was part of the collaborative known as The Colson Truck Group. . In 2012 he moved from Humboldt Park in Chicago to Lansing, IL and joined Paul Henry’s Art Gallery where he has exhibited his drawings, paintings, and work produced on a Wacom tablet. He has also become very involved with helping to manage the South Lake Artist’s Co-op.

His imagery has evolved from a wide variety of sources, music, films, literature,  comics, history, and science fiction. He finds an inexhaustible source of humor in the absurdity of existence.

What medium(s) do you work in and why?

Oil, because it has power and versatility,

Watercolor, because it’s fast

Colored pencil (Prismacolor) colored pencil is a lot of work, but nothing else looks like it

Wacom Tablet, endless possibilities

Pencil, Like to go back to basics every once in a while

Painted Lamps, I like to buy lamps from flea markets, clean & rewire them, and paint em. Usually a homage to my favorite artists.

Mixed Media, lately I’ve been buying broken toy robots from Goodwill and inventing new lives for them.

I also recently started doing a serialized comic on FaceBook called ‘THE OLD FAT DETECTIVE’ I was just screwing around when I started it, but it’s reached 36 pages and is not done yet

Is this how you make your living?

HA! I would starve to death with alarming rapidity if I tried that. I’m retired, and I spend my days making stuff. Life is good, except when it isn’t.

What message(s) do you try to convey/express through your work, if any?

My favorite theme is the seemingly endless absurdity of life

What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of selling your work?

My work is a little bit too strange for most people’s living rooms. That, coupled with the fact that nobody has any money makes sales challenging indeed.

Do you have a studio/upcoming shows where people can find your work?

The plague has pretty much wiped out my ability to exhibit anywhere. My artist friends and I are working to figure out how work may be shown in our current predicament.

Anything else to add?

Thank you for your interest in my work Sue, and for this opportunity to gabber about it. The closest thing I have to a website is an online gallery that my friend Joseph Crosetto built, in which I have a section that has a bunch of my work. I’m also on Instagram as ricktherrio.

~~~

Anthony Rotolo

Podcaster

~~~

Diana Barwald

Visual Artist

What medium(s) do you work in and why?

Mostly acrylic paint and oil-based colored pencil on paper, illustration board and gesso board.  I like working with colored pencil because it’s a fairly tidy way to make art, but I find I get a better depth of color with acrylic paint and now work mostly with acrylic paint on flat surfaces.

Is this how you make your living?

Not even close.

What message(s) do you try to convey/express through your work, if any?

Mostly I’m just trying to entertain myself and make something pretty or interesting to look at.  Sometimes I try to express a personal opinion.

What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of selling your work?

Time.  I have worked full time to support myself since I was 18.  It’s hard to have enough time to make the art and market it in the time I have left.  But now that I’m on the verge of retirement, I am making a greater effort to get my artwork noticed.

Do you have a studio/upcoming shows where people can find your work?

People can find my work for sale on the internet at dbarwald.artspan.com.

Anything else to add?

I find making art deeply satisfying.  Even if I never make very much money from it, just making it is the main point for me.  And I encourage everyone reading this interview to explore their own creative abilities.

Plus, I have also written a sci-fi trilogy of stories (short stories, heavily illustrated) about an android named Soo. I have attached the cover and first page of book one of the trilogy. I think I will try to self-publish this through Amazon.

I’m currently working on my first graphic novel, also a sci-fi story.

I plan on working one more year before retiring. It will be so fun to devote much more time to my art!

~~~

Cam Chaney

Voice Over Actor

Give us an overview of what you are working on (or have worked on/written/produced):

First, I would like to tell about the first voiceover I ever did as a kid. I was probably 9 or 10 years old. I did my first ever radio spot for my local radio station in Loudon, TN. It was fun to do.

In 2014, I voiced a museum character for a World War II project called Soldiers’ Stories for Northern Light Productions, a Boston, MA production company.

In 2017, August Aguilar of Strange Films asked me to voice the role of the newscaster in his short film “Passenger” a supernatural / horror film short back in 2017.

Most recently, I had the opportunity in 2019 to be the book trailer narrator for author Rose Marie Machario’s

“The Amulet of Elements” a fantasy book. I had a blast recording the book trailer. One of my favorite voiceover highlights.

What is your method – or – how do you go about preparing to do a Voice Over (V.O)?

First, lots of breathing exercises to loosen your vocal cords and muscles. Then practice reading the script aloud. Then you have to think about what audience you are sending the message to. For example, let’s say I am voicing a commercial spot for a food product like ice cream. I would want to pretend that a good friend or relative is standing right in front of me while I am reading. Just thinking about their reaction to the product and reading the copy like your in conversation with someone makes all the difference. Also enunciation and pronunciation is key to voiceover.

How does one become a V.O. actor / actress?

That is a very interesting question. First, meeting other people who have the same passion whether new or experienced. My suggestion is to enroll in an intro to voiceover workshop. You will either like it or it might not be for you. If it is for you, then you can try other workshops such as commercial, audiobook narration, etc. Going to VO conferences is a big advantage. My first conference was VO Atlanta back in 2016. It opened my eyes up to so many possibilities. My commercial demo was produced  by Joe Loesch.

What is your biggest frustration with the current film industry?

My biggest gripe is I think more theaters should show more films in 35 or 70 mm format. The true director’s vision. Also there is good CGI and bad CGI.

Do you believe that someone has to live in NY or LA to be successful in the business? Why or why not?

Not at all.  Nowadays with the proper equipment and studio one can work out of the comforts of their own home.

What are your 3 top films that you enjoy and why?

The Empire Strikes Back:  One of the best sequels ever. Great story, special effects, character driven. Kudos to Frank Oz for his wonderful performance of Yoda.

Ghostbusters:  I can watch it over and over again. Great special effects for the time plus Bill freaking Murray!

Lost in Translation:  I remember going to the theater to see this masterpiece. Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson and director Sofia Coppola made this come alive. To me its amazing to see Bill Murray go from comedy to drama.

~~~

Anthony D.P. Mann

Actor/Film Maker

Give us an overview of what you are working on (or have worked on/written/produced):

I’ve been quite fortunate to dabble in various mediums over the course of my career. I stopped trying to identify myself years ago, as I’ve had the pleasure of working as an actor on stage / in film / on audio, as a director of films (five of them), a singer, and as a writer (I reckon I’ve written over 100 scripts over the past 25 years!)… so now, I prefer to simply identify as a storyteller, because everything I do is centered around the various ways I can tell stories and entertain people.

These days, I find great joy in the audio medium – writing, producing and appearing in some wonderful full-cast audio plays (alongside some of my heroes like Sylvester McCoy, Malcom McDowell, Colin Baker, Sir Derek Jacobi and others), and also serving as a narrator for some deliciously sinister tales published on vinyl by Cadabra Records. The next “biggie” in the pipeline is a licensed audio adaptation of one of my favorite films, The Wicker Man, which I get to co-star in alongside the great Brian Blessed… what an honor!

What is your method – or – how do you go about producing your screenplays/where do you find actors/talent?

I learned years ago that opportunity doesn’t necessarily show up knocking on one’s door, and that it was important to create my own opportunities if I wanted to enjoy a fulfilling career as an actor. Much of my work is self-produced, which allows me control over how our stories are told. Although people may not always agree with the direction I take a production, there’s no denying that my work is always true to my vision… for better or for worse, LOL (mostly better, I hope)! I only produce material that I enjoy, because you become married to each project for such a long time, it would be miserable to commit that amount of time and energy to something that my heart wasn’t completely invested in.

I’ve learned to write within our means, budgetary and otherwise, which allows us to maximize the resources that we do have, and realize a project to fruition… so many writers set out with grand ideas and unrealistic expectations – kudos to them, but that often makes getting a project MADE very difficult. Maybe I just set the bar low? I don’t think so… I’m very proud of everything that we have accomplished.

Another key is to engage the right talent. I’m surrounded by some wonderful, talented people in Bleak December (actors Terry Wade, Anne-Marie Bergman, Amie Bello, Nik Yuen, Steve Spencer, Dave Hudson, Melissa Radford – to name only a few… and of course our brilliant house composer, Brent Holland, whose original scores elevate our work), as well as my co-producer and spiritual brother Bill Bossert, who has helped make so much of my work a reality. I’m blessed to be surrounded by these wonderful people, and our work is all the better for it.

What is your biggest frustration with the current film industry?

Expectations. There’s a difference between how a $10k indie film is made, and how a multi-million dollar studio picture is produced. Indie filmmakers should be celebrated for what they have been able to accomplish DESPITE their limitations… there are too many armchair critics out there, and it can be demoralizing and exhausting. I don’t think the average viewer has any understanding of how much effort goes into crafting an independent film – it’s a Hellish existence, and I think all we independent filmmakers are self-masochists to some degree, haha.

Do you believe that someone has to live in NY or LA to be successful in the business? Why or why not?

I think a proximity to opportunity / the centers of the industry is important, if you want to make a lot of money or sustain a regular income at it. I’m very happy creating work I enjoy (I get to pick and choose my projects) on my own terms, in Kingston Ontario. I’ll never be a rich Mann off my efforts, but I’m certainly fulfilled by them… most days 😉

What are your 3 top films that you enjoy and why?

1) The Changeling (1980) – My favorite film of all-time! Not only is Peter Medak’s film the greatest haunted house movie ever made, it’s central performance by the late, great George C. Scott is a masterclass in acting.

2) A Christmas Carol (1984) –Second favorite film, and another masterful performance by George C. Scott – Clive Donner’s adaptation is the definitive telling of Dickens’ story… it might even be better than my own humble contribution to the Carol canon!

3) This slot has a rotating selection, depending on my mood: El Conde Dracula (1970, Jess Franco’s version of the Stoker novel, starring a moustachioed Christopher Lee), The Devil Rides Out (1968 – another Lee film from Hammer), Night of the Demons (the 1957 adaptation of M.R. James’ Casting the Runes), and the original Wicker Man (1973)… all honorable mentions.

Add anything else you would like to share with us.

I am a HUGE Doctor Who fan, and have a collection of original screen-used props from both the classic and new series on display in my studio – which you enter from a professionally-made mock-up of the TARDIS! My dream role (and this has remained unchanged since I was four years old!) would be to play The Doctor in some official context. I had the chance to do it in a Montreal Fringe Festival show in the 1990’s, and relished every minute of it. Someone needs to start a petition 😉

~~~

August Aguilar 

Film Director

Bio:

I am the Director of Strange Films, a multi-media production company that produces films, comic books, music, and art. I have built a shared universe of stories, following something similar to the Marvel formula of storytelling.

Give us an overview of what you are working on (or have worked on/written/produced): 

Most recently, I finished my short film “Pandora” that actually was a competition film where we had two weeks to write, shoot, and edit a film. The film won three awards including Best Director. Up next we will be in Philadelphia working on our final film in our “CENTER CITY” series: “CENTER CITY 2”.

Pandora (Short Film)

What is your method – or – how do you go about producing your screenplays/where do you find actors/talent? 

My methods are pretty consistent as far as producing a film. It usually starts with an idea, bounce it around and then write it out. Once the story is clear and the inspiration is set, I seek actors mostly through Facebook groups for filmmakers and acting talents. I’ll usually communicate through email and check on reels/resumes, and then make my decision to cast.

Then its on to location scouting and then finally production! Overall, the anticipation of it all is the most stressful, but when on set with people I tend to have a very relaxed directing approach. I let my talent run with the script and characters as seem fit to the vision, and we really just have a lot of fun making it.

 

What is your biggest frustration with the current film industry? 

The biggest frustration in the film industry is most people tend to set standards of what a “good” film is. I believe mostly from my experience in film festivals and other screenings, that most people who watch these films are more inclined to give recognition to the films who have very high budgets but often lack a personality or core value to the story, versus a film that may be on a lower or no budget situation and may not look the prettiest, but has a really in depth story behind it. I believe we should give more props to the underdogs out there.

Do you believe that someone has to live in NY or LA to be successful in the business? Why or why not? 

In today’s day and age, I think it’s absolutely not necessary to live somewhere like LA or NY to be successful. First, success is what you make it. You can literally be successful in any way you seem fit if you put the work into it and are happy with the accomplishments that you’ve made.

Secondly, I believe though those cities are glamorous, they are a bit overrated and way too expensive. A lot of this stuff is about who you know and how you get your vision out there. I believe everyone has the capability of finding that kind of success in their hometown or place of residency if they are talented and push far enough.

What are your 3 top films that you enjoy and why?

My top 3 films would have to be:

“It’s A Wonderful Life” Directed by Frank Capra

“Taxi Driver” Directed by Martin Scorsese 

“The Dark Knight” Directed by Christopher Nolan 

Nolan and Scorsese are in my top 5 list of Directors. “Taxi Driver” is such a gritty and personal story behind Robert De Niro’s character, it’s a really powerful and fun film. “The Dark Knight” really humanizes such a fictional world that any fan of Batman is used to, there’s a lot of symbolism at play and it keeps things very grounded. Plus the amazing performances by Heath Ledger and Christian Bale. Finally, “It’s A Wonderful Life” is just a beautiful story that I watch every year on Christmas Eve to remind myself of my blessings, family, and friends in my life. That film makes me feel very humble.

Add anything else you would like to share with us.

Strange Films is all about connecting and finding our audiences. I encourage anybody to check out our work, reach out to us, listen to our podcasts, or even read one of our comic books. Supporting independent cinema is one of the best things we can do for creators so we are just always looking to invite new friends to our films and help others while we can.

Lastly as a side note, we do have a Kickstarter campaign going on that is making our second comic book come to life. If you would be interested in being a part of creating a comic and scoring some Strange Films goodies, here is the link!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1598461524/passenger-horror-comic-book

https://www.strangefilmsstudios.com/

~~~

Kevin Conlin

Visual Artist – Wood Worker

~~~

 

Angel Rosa

Give us an overview of what you are working on (or have worked on/written/produced): 

My first film festival success was a really well-received allegorical drama, Only Moments. That was more of an art house film. My first real breakout film, as far as public reaction, was a horror short titled, Laundromat*. That was shot in one night at a local laundromat in Danbury, and even I think it’s creepy as hell. Laundromat has been featured on a couple of international horror film websites and screened at various film festivals. It was most recently featured as the 2019 season premiere episode of a horror anthology webseries, A Slice Of Fright.

In 2018, we released our short suspense thriller, Samuel’s Got A Sweet Tooth, which has gone on to achieve some pretty remarkable success on the international film festival circuit, earning us a litany of awards along the way. That’s a pretty impressive feat for a short that comes in at a running time of just 4 minutes and 52 seconds. We refer to the project as “the little film that could.”

Right now we’re in post-production on a short drama, Two Sneakers in a Bucket, that touches on the sensitive topic of aging and assisted suicide. That is geared up for an early fall release, and we’re going directly to the festival circuit with this one. The film is based on an original script written by a wonderfully talented first time screenwriter, George Barnett, and it has some very powerful and profoundly touching scenes. Adding my own directorial flair to the storyline gives it an added air of mystery with a slight hint of suspense as well. I expect more great things for this one.

Our next project is a horror thriller, Let’s Do Things That Make Us Happy, which contains some elements of abstract imagery mixed with an increasingly foreboding sense of urgency. You could almost say it’s a slasher film, from an entirely different perspective. We’re very psyched about all of these projects.

What is your method – or – how do you go about producing your screenplays/where do you find actors/talent? 

My method? In a word: Madness. I’m joking, of course, but only kind of, sort of. Creativity is a dynamic art form for me. I personally never feel comfortable settling on a fixed destination way ahead of time. To me this only serves to lock the artist—writer, filmmaker, whatever—into a specific path that he or she then feels compelled to take in order to get to and justify this climax they’ve thought so long and hard about. I understand that very process is what most artists employ, and often with great success. It’s just something I prefer to avoid.

I’m not saying I go into production on a film without a finished script, but when I’m on location, and we’ve got the actors and the whole crew there and ready to rock, I might realize halfway through a proposed scene or shot sequence that this, or that, would look way cooler, sound more logical from a character, or more importantly, would add further depth to the story. So I’ll be on set, I’ll see the setup, the lighting configuration or the camera placement and I’ll start envisioning every possible combination of scenarios.

It’s a weird process that reminds me of that one character from Men In Black 3, I think it was. There’s this hat-wearing alien dude, ‘Griffin’, played by the wonderful actor Michael Stuhlbarg, who’s at this party talking to Will Smith’s character. As Griffin is engaging in small talk, or trying to, he’s going over the probability of any number of possible scenarios about to unfold at any minute. He’s not imagining these scenarios, he’s actually seeing them unfold in his head because he’s able to see parallel timelines overlapping. Though he’s uncertain as to what outcome will take place in the universe he’s in at the moment. That’s me on set sometimes. It’s not all that often, but yes, there are times where I stand there, surrounded by my people, and I’m working it all out in my head. Like, “Crap. I think it might look or work better this or that way, instead of what we originally planned.” I want what’s best for the ultimate outcome. Not necessarily what’s most expedient or convenient for anyone else.

Anyone reading this who works for big Hollywood might giggle a bit at that whole idea, but trust me, it’s a nervous laughter. Unless you’re a high profile director who’s already made them a shit-ton of money, and/or strike a super sweet deal with a studio, in Hollywood you have almost zero real input into the filming schedule, or least of all the final cut of the film. Working under such a microscope, with studio executives breathing down your neck, and the financial bottom line at the forefront of their every thought, you don’t have the same kind of latitude that indie filmmakers tend to have. If we get a shot in one take—magnificent. If it takes 12 or 20, yeah, that’s going to happen too. As needed. Though realistically speaking, the latter scenario is a rarity for me. We try to get it right within the first 3 to 4 takes.

What is your biggest frustration with the current film industry? 

My biggest gripe with Hollywood over the last couple of decades, really, is the state of reboot purgatory we find ourselves trapped in. I have never really understood Hollywood’s fascination with remakes, sequels, and prequels. For some of the popular franchises, the 007 films, etc., okay, maybe I get that. These aren’t meant to be one-offs. The audience wants more stories tied into a particular universe or cast of characters. This might arguably be less pure laziness and more good old fashioned American capitalism at work; mindless money grabs. But the constant remakes of old classics, or the reboots of long dead franchises, or what was once a shitty cartoon in the 80s now being made into a gazillion dollar film directed by Michael Bay—that is indicative of a serious case of creative famine currently plaguing Hollywood. They’ve run out of ideas, or at least forgot how to go out and find the right people who have them. They’re out there, believe me, in great abundance. *coughs* Call me…

Do you believe that someone has to live in NY or LA to be successful in the business? Why or why not? 

Speaking of “the right people”,  it’s a perfect seque into this next question. No, I don’t believe that someone has to live in New York or L.A. to be successful in the film business. The rise of the truly independent filmmaker in America gives clear testimony that one doesn’t have to surrender to the delusion of packing their bags and moving to Hollywood in order to become a success. Movies are being made everywhere. In my experience, it’s more about one’s own capacity to hustle; to get out there and rub elbows and network with the right sorts of people. The actor, screenwriter, filmmaker, etc. who believes that he or she is going to make it on their talent alone is absolutely fooling themselves, and in turn inflicting a great deal of harm on their chances of success by taking on an attitude that they can just wait around to be ‘discovered’. No, you need to get your ass out there, and make people discover you. But you don’t need New York or Los Angeles for that, you need you.

What are your 3 top films that you enjoy and why?

Let me start by going on the record as playfully objecting to this question. Not because it’s a bad question in any way. In fact, it’s a great question. Just one that always makes me feel compelled to narrow down my love for films to two or three all-time favorites. Citizen Kane, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, there are so many. It is very difficult, if not impossible, as a cinema lover to settle on just a few films that stand out to me, but I will say from a point of view of influence, the films of Stanley Kubrick have had a tremendous impact on me. 2001: A Space Odyssey remains unparalleled to this day. As far as its use of abstract storytelling, blended with its remarkable ‘spatial cognition’, if that term doesn’t sound pretentious AF.

Kubrick uses the spaces he films in as essential elements of the story, not just as incidental backgrounds. The vastness of that primal desert terrain on which the early hominid species are forced to contend with the various perils of nature, also underscoring how much ‘space’ there was—yet the ape creatures still managed to wage war with one another over turf and resources. Some things never change. Though in all honestly, if there’s one film that first made me go, “Holy shit. I want to do THAT!” it has to be Star Wars. It’s well beyond cliche to say that, I know, but it’s a reality nonetheless. As a boy, I would grab my mother’s clothes pins and just lie there on the carpet, with one eye closed to simulate the POV of a camera, and turn each clothes pin into flying vessels—imperial and rebel forces clashing in this impossibly loud ‘vacuum’ of space. Sound effects provided by yours truly. LOL

Add anything else you would like to share with us.

Get up. Get out. Make movies. Write scripts. Pen novels. Sing. Dance. Paint. Don’t just follow your dreams, grab them by the neck and put them in a headlock until they surrender unconditionally to your will. 🙂

*Link to Laundromat (Where was she): https://vimeo.com/109978213

(WARNING: VIOLENCE/NOISE)

~~~

Nora Zaring

Visual Artist

~~~

Tony Cade:

Visual Artist

What medium(s) do you work in and why?  

Oil, acrylic, watercolors,colored pencil,sculpture. Either they’re handy at the time or it’s just what floated my boat

Is this how you make your living?

I wish.

What message(s) do you try to convey/express through your work, if any?  

Not really a message. Just like to do art.

What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of selling your work?

Getting someone to buy it.

Do you have a studio/upcoming shows where people can find your work?

No. Not really.

~~~

Joann Goetzinger

Visual Artist

Bio:

Music education was my main study in undergraduate school at Illinois Wesleyan. I studied vocal performance at the American Conservatory of Music and taught voice at Illinois Wesleyan and Illinois State for some time. I worked also at the library at Illinois State.

I became interested in the visual arts, studied at Illinois State and received an MFA in art there in 1988. Since then I have been working in metal working, sculpture and painting. My interests are many. Cooking and gardening are my favorite hobbies.

My jobs have been an interesting variety also. I have worked in a canning factory as a corn taster, as a waitress, in a factory making washing machine coils, working in a music store and a store selling cooking supplies, in a bookstore as an order clerk, working in a laundry, working as a nanny and cook, teaching voice, piano, choral music and metal working. I also sang two years with the Norman Luboff touring choir. In April 2008, Martha Burk and I started Main Gallery 404 in downtown Bloomington and owned it until 2013.

Needless to say, I am never bored.