F is for Foxtrot! 11/16/2011
 J.R. Martinez doesn’t seem to be scared of anything- from foxholes to foxtrots! This Louisiana local was raised in Shreveport, before moving to Georgia as a high school senior. Following school, Martinez joined the Army and served for his country in the Iraq war. It was during his time overseas that Martinez was injured in a landmine explosion that left him with severe burns covering almost half of his body. This event would have been enough for anyone to feel defeated- but for J.R. Martinez it had the opposite effect. While in recovery, Martinez began to speak to his fellow injured soldiers, before beginning a national speaking tour to help spread his motivational message. His dedication and determination gained public attention, and he was even interviewed by Oprah and Jay Leno for his (literal) courage under fire. But this wouldn’t be J.R.’s last television appearance! In 2008 he joined the cast of “All My Children” playing war veteran, Monroe, and most recently he joined the competitors on “Dancing with the Stars”. His dance partner, Karina Smirnoff, challenges Martinez each week with vigorous combinations and intricate choreography. Luckily, J.R. is more than prepared to overcome challenges. He remarked, “"Karina made the choreography really hard but I'm going to take this challenge head on” in a recent interview. His perseverance in his personal life, and his unyielding optimism have made J.R. an easy crowd favorite, and have definitely made the town of Shreveport proud of their local success! Visit the “Dancing with the Stars” website for more about this tremendous story! Or watch this interview with J.R. himself! Add Comment It is not often that Hollywood just drops into your place of business. But movie man Franco Carbone did when he stopped by Pilgrim's Progress on Line Avenue. Carbone, designer/visual consultant of "Straight A's," which was filmed here, asked owner/interior designer Marlene Shaw if she would consult on a set design for the movie. The always unflappable Shaw said, "I have never done a movie before and I am not sure I could do it." He answered: "I've seen your work. I know you can do it." So she became a "design consultant" for an upscale, trendy two-story home of Anna Paquin's character in the movie, said Carbone, in an e-mail from his California office. Continue reading at the Shreveporttimes.com  Save the Date: September 16-22, 2011 at the Robinson Film Center in downtown Shreveport, LA. Celebrity guest Bruce Vilanch, Hollywood's premier comedy writer, will appear at the film "Get Bruce", and will perform a stand-up comedy act on Saturday evening September 17. For information about films, times, festival passes, and tickets, please see the film festival web site: nlglff.org.  Bruce Willis, in a scene from 'Looper.' The New Orleans-shot sci-fi actioner "Looper" only just wrapped the local part of its shoot last month, but it's already got a distribution deal in place. The 2-year-old distribution outfit FilmDistrict -- fresh off its success with the horror film "Insidious" earlier this spring -- announced today (May 16) that it has acquired the rights to the film, which stars Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emily Blunt. It is directed by Rian Johnson ("Brick," "The Brothers Bloom"). No release date has been announced, although FilmDistrict is partnering with Sony Pictures banner TriStar for distribution. Translation: You can expect a wide release. The move comes just days after FilmDistrict picked up another Hollywood South production, the Shreveport-shot "Playing the Field," a so-called "soccer comedy" starring Gerard Butler, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jessica Biel and Uma Thurman. By Jane Bokun, The Shreveport Times Sometimes the burgeoning movie industry in Shreveport can mean dollars — dining dollars to be exact. "The movie sets order from us," said Don O'Bryne, owner of Don Juanz Baja Beach Tacos in Bossier City. "Catering to the movie people has increased our profits and it's definitely been helpful to our economy." Now that Nu/Image Millennium Studios is officially open in Shreveport, dining here should be a continuous star-studded event, said Pam Glorioso, project coordinator for Bossier City. Even before construction began on the new 53,000-square-foot Nu/Image Millennium Studios project in December 2009, movies were filming in Shreveport, putting the city among the top film venues in the country. "The movie industry is spending direct dollars for the films they're making and they have to live, eat, dine and shop somewhere while they are here," Glorioso said. "They also like the fact that while they're dining here they're not inundated with paparazzi." During the past years, movies such as "Mad Money" (Diane Keaton, Katie Holmes and Queen Latifah), "The Guardian" (Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Costner), "Factory Girl" (Sienna Miller and Guy Pierce) and more have added dollars to the local economy. Erica Papillion, director of communications for the Louisiana Restaurant Association, said in Baton Rouge when crews were filming "Breaking Dawn," another film in the "Twilight" series, each time the actors ate anywhere that place was mobbed. "We don't have official records, but it's safe to say that anytime movie or television crews are shooting, it's a boon for the Louisiana restaurant economy," Papillion said. "In New Orleans, local crews will order hundreds of po-boys for their sets." Movie stars have been caught in national magazines such as US Weekly and People Magazine dining in Shreveport restaurants such as Wine Country, Cush's Grocery and Market, Columbia Café, Tokyo, Superior Grill and Superior Steakhouse. During the making of Nu/Image Millennium's "Playing the Field," now filming in Shreveport, cupcakes are ordered from Cush's Grocery and Market as a Friday surprise for cast members. "I like when they eat here, but mainly it's because the customers enjoy it," said Chris Cush, owner of Cush's Grocery and Market in Shreveport. "They're hoping to see Gerard Butler or Jessica Biel eating here. "The stars think it's a lot like Joan's on Third restaurant in Los Angeles," Cush said. "They like the atmosphere and the food is really good." Tony Wang, owner of Shreveport's Tokyo Japanese Restaurant and Bar, had a brush with the stars when actors Jessica Biel and Gerard Butler from "Playing the Field" and an entourage ate meals such as the chicken and fried rice at his restaurant. It was a double-edged sword Wang said because he doesn't want to bother the movie stars, but it's been good for business. "People have been eating here more hoping to see them again," Wang said.  Catherine Zeta-Jones Last week, Catherine Zeta-Jones made headlines when she was featured on the cover of People magazine with the headline "Catherine Zeta-Jones Battling Bipoloar Disorder: Inside Her Private Struggle." Today, People reports the actress is back to work in Shreveport after checking in to Silver Hill Hospital, a mental-health facility in New Canaan, Conn., earlier this month. People featured a photo of the actress beaming on the set of the comedy, "Playing the Field," in which she stars with Jessica Biel and Gerard Butler. Shreveport Attracts Business From Hollywood 04/11/2011
 Downtown Shreveport, Louisiana How Shreveport, Louisiana lured more business away from Hollywood by: Frank DeMartini This week I had the pleasure of attending the Grand Opening of Millennium Studios in Shreveport, Louisiana. As some of you know, I have a “first look” deal with Millennium. I have enjoyed working with Avi Lerner, Trevor Short, and Danny Dimbort in various capacities since 1992. This week was the culmination of the company’s growth and it came in a small city in Northwestern Louisiana with a Democratic Mayor. Mayor Cedric Glover may be a Democrat, but he is a great conservative when it comes to business. He helped us in many ways when we were building the studio including helping us in the land acquisition and facilitating a loan from the city when the economy collapsed and we needed a little extra cash to make sure the project did not fall apart. Continue Reading At BigHollywood.Breitbart.com Battle: Los Angeles Behind the Scenes 04/06/2011
"Battle: Los Angeles," topped the box office during its March 11 opening weekend and has grossed nearly $175 million worldwide, according to boxofficemojo.com. The extraterrestrial action flick, which stars Aaron Eckhart, was shot primarily in Shreveport and Baton Rouge in 2009. Check out this behind-the-scenes footage with Eckhart and Michelle Rodriguez. | AuthorJohn Robert Powers - New Orleans' premier Performing Arts Academy ~ Acting. Modeling. Singing. Dancing...Life!  ArchivesMay 2012 CategoriesAll 
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