An interview with Hank Willis Thomas
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Hank Willis Thomas’ cousin Songha was the model older brother—talented and charming, he won many academic and athletic honors before almost finishing up a degree in communications to pursue a career in broadcasting. At age 27, his life ended outside a Philadelphia nightclub, where two men held Songha and two friends at gunpoint. Songha had not resisted. He lay prone on the icy floor when one of the gunman, after having taken some money and jewelry, shot him in the back of the head. For the Willis family, Songha’s death, however painful and senseless, was not without meaning. Hank thought about the circumstances of his cousin’s murder—who else but a black male would end another black male’s life over some jewelry? →

Introducing Wayne White, the award-winning Creator of Pee Wee’s Playhouse
The Cinefamily – Los Angeles, CA
11/16/10

After touring his autobiographical one-man stage show “You’re Supposed To Act Impressed” across the country, the Emmy-winning painter, illustrator, puppeteer, set designer, sculptor and Southerner Wayne White brings to the Cinefamily the show’s L.A. premiere! →

On Sunday 27th February 2011, renowned concert promoters All Tomorrow’s Parties will collaborate with Japan’s Creativeman to present their first Japanese event. Named after the b-side to The Velvet Underground’s original All Tomorrow’s Parties 7″ single, the one day I’ll Be Your Mirror event will take place at Studio Coast, Tokyo, Japan. →

A Pop-Up Pie Shop at Machine Project
Machine Project – Echo Park, CA
11/18/10

On November 18, 2010 from 7pm to 10pm.  This one-night only event will transform Machine Project into a stylish pie shop where you can pick up a do-it-yourself holiday treat. The shop will showcase “pie kits” that include a pie crust and a jar of a home made seasonal filling (Maple Pumpkin, Classic Apple or Lovely Lemon) for $20 to assemble and bake at home.

Complementary pie tasting and festive refreshments will be available during shop hours where visitors can mingle amid atmosphere designed by art director, Julia Luke, and pies constructed by pie director, Sarah Williams. Proceeds benefit the Los Angeles Food Bank. →

San Francisco native Hanni El Khatib plays a mean brand of blues and garage rock tinged with the street-tough mien of The Shangri-Las. Guitarist-drummer groups playing fuzzy, off-kilter renditions of blues standards are nothing new, but the current L.A. transplant has been turning heads with his throwback aesthetic and muscular musicality. →

Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)?
GRAMMY Museum – Los Angeles, CA
11/19/10

The GRAMMY Museum presents a special screening of the acclaimed documentary film, Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)? Profiling the vibrant life and career of the enigmatic singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson, the film includes powerful and emotional interviews with Nilsson’s friends and colleagues, including John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Brian Wilson, Randy Newman, Jimmy Webb, Robin Williams and many others with never-before-seen footage, home movies, over 50 Nilsson songs, and audio excerpts featuring Harry himself. →

My New New York Diary – Signing with Michel Gondry
Family Bookstore – Los Angeles, CA
11/11/10

Michel Gondry will be signing copies of a new book and DVD, My New New York Diary, at Family Bookstore. In 2008, filmmaker Michel Gondry proposed a film collaboration to cartoonist Julie Doucet. Together, Gondry and Doucet ultimately set the filmmaking process as the “reality” of their collaborative comic and film. They settled on a process that involved inserting the “real” Julie into a landscape of her own drawings. After meeting and filming with Gondry in Brooklyn, Doucet returned to her native Montreal and created dozens of drawings for the scenery, while Gondry, in New York, worked on editing the footage. Over time, they combined the two elements, which produced the imaginatively funny and affecting short film. →

When Birds Sing The Song of the Clouds
Toy Art Gallery – Los Angeles, CA
11/12/10

On November 12th, TAG, the world’s first and leading toy art gallery, will kick off “When Birds Sing The Song Of The Clouds”, a showcase focusing on the fascinating creations of French artist Marion Tanguy, better known as Tan-Ki. For his first solo show in Los Angeles, Tan-Ki is focusing on his signature ‘Ki-Clear’ line: small, solid resin figures filled with anything from multi-colored balls to toy soldiers, that are among the most sought-after pieces in the toy art world. →

Darren Aronofsky, award-winning director of “Requiem for a Dream” and the more recent “The Wrestler,” makes it his goal to create films with visual effects that are “felt and not seen” in a way that draws the viewer in and emotionally connects them to the image.

This December, Aronofsky is releasing his latest piece of eye candy “Black Swan.” Starring Natalie Portman as a young ballerina struggling against both internal demons and external rivals →

Movember and Repeat Offender
The Echo-Los Angeles, CA
11/12/10

MOVEMBER, the month formerly known as November, is a moustache growing charity event held during November each year that raises funds and awareness for men’s health.  Movember challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a “Mo” (slang for moustache) for 30 days.  Conceived in 2003, and inspired by the women’s breast cancer movement, the Australian Mo Brohs set themselves on a course to create a global men’s health movement where funds are raised for cancers that affect men.  →