Punk: utilitarian anti-fashion that was nonetheless raw, angry, and intimidating. The rejection of the mainstream culture and social statements graphitied on ripped t-shirts and dusty cut up jeans. From the hair to the attitude “punk fashion” has inspired modern high-fashion over the decades allowing everyone to part take in his or her own rendition of rebellion. Designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gautlier, and Alexander McQueen commercialized the essence of the punk art form into their designs.

    This year the NYC Metropolitian Museum of Art 2013 spring costume exhibition “Punk: Choas to Couture”, will examine the birth of the movement to its current visual influence. However, year after year the opening of the Met exhibit isn’t your ordinary art collection debut. The Met Gala is a couture-fashion production as the A-list Gals and Gents of Hollywood and the fashion realm command their presence on the red carpet. What makes this red carpet so divine is the celebs interpretation on theme of the Met grand exhibit. With this year’s theme paying a tribute to Punk and all its glory, celebs took a walk on the wild side with couture styles of nostalgic hard leather, tartan accents, sexy fishnets, grungy safety pins, and attitude spikes.

    With vogue streaming the red carpet extravaganza live you had the opportunity to be part of the crowd from the comfort of your screen. The biggest disappointed were the celebs that didn’t embrace the creative theme in their attire and simply went the traditional Hollywood red carpet glam. Of course there were the handful of eye-sores but, with a theme like “punk” is there such a thing as overdoing it?

Check out the pics below of the top 5 celebs who rocked out and nailed the theme with class, the top 5 that just screamed chaos, and top 5 men who did more (or less) than show up in a black tux.

Your modeling portfolio is a resume of pictures that sells you when you are looking for modeling gigs. Here are something’s to consider when getting ready to build your model portfolio.

#1. Finding the Right Photographer: When shopping for photographers do your research! Ask them about their rates, what type of photos they specialize in, how many photos will you receive, how long do you have to wait for your digital file, ask for references etc.  Investigate until you find a photographer you feel comfortable to work with.

#2. Determine the Types of Photos You Will Need: The objective is to sell yourself as a well-rounded model. Determine what types of modeling you are best suited for, for example: commercial print, high fashion, promotional. Express your intentions to your photographer and come up with a vision for your photo-shoot.

#3. Hair & Makeup: While not required it’s highly recommended to seek the assistance of a hair & makeup artist they day of your shoot to ensure you are presenting yourself at your best.  Like your photographer research and ask questions to make sure your getting your dollars worth. Most importantly ask to see their portfolio.

#4. Prep for Your Photo-shoot: Prior to your shoot make sure to select the outfits you want to wear. Ideally you should select 3 outfits demonstrating variety in your look as a model. Practice your poses in these outfits so you’re comfortable and know what angles make you look the best. Pack your model bag with your essentials and confirm shoot location and time with photographer, hair, & makeup artists.

#5. Selecting Your Images: Variety is key! You don’t want too many photos with you in the same poses, just smiling, in one outfit, or the same background. Make sure to select a combination of full-length shots and headshots. Ask for judging advice from your friends, family, and your photographer when making your selections.

Remember once you have selected your photos presentation is key! It’s best to have a printed book of high quality 8x10 prints and a digital version of your portfolio. Every detail counts so don’t cut corners.

Here are our top five favorite Red Carpet looks for last nights 2013 Oscars Academy Awards. This was a tough choice but based on overall elegance, fan favorites, and attention to details we think you'll agree who made their mark on the Oscars Red Carpet. Who wins number one on our list? Share your reviews! 

Based off of the book series, “Caster Chronicles” By Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, this supernatural teen romance shot in New Orleans is competing for the spotlight to be the next big “Twilight” phenomenon. “Beautiful Creatures” starring Emmy Rossum, Alden Ehrenreich, and Alice Englert tells the tale of two witty supernatural teens uncovering the mysteries of their respective families and town. Making its big debut in theaters this weekend you’ll notice a lot of familiar Nola landmarks, southern cooking, and of course the famous oak trees. We don’t want to spoil the plot so share your reviews below to tell us your thoughts about the movie especially its controversial similarities to “Twilight”. 

As many of you know, New Orleans hosted the Super Bowl XLVII Sunday.... and with that, came lost of A-list guests, exclusive parties, football fans, and of course, Beyonce! The city was left without time to recover, as we are NOW in the middle of one of the largest celebrations of the year, MARDI GRAS! Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler! 

If you weren't in town for Super Bowl and want to take a look at some insider coverage, check out www.nolawrapup.com! Host, Blake Lopez is a Louisiana native, and receives training at local performing arts academy, John Robert Powers! He attended all the best parties, and interviewed top athletes and celebrities  on the red carpets all across New Orleans! 

The Hollywood South welcomed the glitz and glamour and can't wait to host more red carpet events, as the industry continues to grow! 

Some say history repeats itself… and lucky for New Orleans, the feature film, “The Kennedy Detail” and story is coming back to town. The film’s producers explain this film as answer to Oliver Stone’s “fanciful JFK”.  As the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy approaches, award-winning director Stephen Gyllenhaal has signed on to the feature film The Kennedy Detail as Screenwriter and Director.  The motion picture focuses on the men of the Secret Service protective detail assigned to President John F. Kennedy.  The project is targeted for a November, 2013 release, coinciding with the tragic anniversary.  Back in 1991, Oliver Stone’s  film was also filmed here  in New Orleans.

 "The Kennedy Detail" is based on the New York Times bestseller of the same name written by former Secret Service agent Gerald Blaine -- a former member of Kennedy's security detail -- with journalist Lisa McCubbin. The book has already spawned a Discovery Channel documentary, also called "The Kennedy Detail," which was narrated by Martin Sheen and nominated in 2011 for a News and Documentary Emmy in the long-form historical programming category.We can’t wait to see what will happen when an award winning writer/director and journalist come together to share a new perspective on this historic assassination.

Gyllenhaal has begun work on the script with his research including interviews with many of the surviving members of President Kennedy’s protective detail and their family members.  The film will be based on the New York Times best-selling book The Kennedy Detail by former agent Gerald Blaine and award-winning journalist Lisa McCubbin, with a foreword by former agent Clint Hill. Hill has signed as a special advisor to the project.

"JFK and his story will be brought to life with cutting-edge CGI and enhanced historical footage, allowing the actors to 'interact' with the 'real' 35th president," Gyllenhaal said in the release. "The actors will also have direct access to (Secret Service) agents, now in their 80s, three of whom were within a few feet of the assassination."

Principal casting on the film is set to begin this week.

For  more on the film, visit the official "Kennedy Detail" website.

The Golden Globe Award nominations were announced last week,  and Steven Spielberg's presidential drama "Lincoln" led the pack with a total of seven nominations, including for best picture (drama), best director and best actor (drama). Not close behind, however, was a “Hollywood South” project, director Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained“! The film tied with Ben Affleck's historical drama "Argo" for second place, with five nominations each.

We’re excited for the Louisiana-shot, "Django Unchained"  to open in theater on Christmas day! The film was nominated for best picture (drama), best director, best screenplay, and two nods for best supporting actor (for Leonardo DiCaprio and Christoph Waltz)! We can’t take credit for the wonderful talents of  Tarantino or the actors casted in this score but we’re proud to say, Louisiana served as the perfect setting for this “spaghetti southern”. 

Nola.com tells us this isn’t the only local film to be in the running for a 2012 Globe! Nicole Kidman received a Globe nomination for her supporting role in Lee Daniels’ Louisiana-shot film, Paperboy. The animation talents of Shreveport resident, William Joyce were also recognized and received five nominations for best animated feature, “Rise of the Guardians”.

** The full list of nominated films and TV projects follows. The 70th annual Golden Globes will be handed out Sunday, Jan. 13, in a ceremony hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and telecast live on NBC. 

The National Board of Review released a list of the best movies of 2012, and several  “Hollywood South” shot films made the cut. Kathryn Bigelow's "Zero Dark Thirty" Wednesday (Dec. 5) was named the best movie of 2012 by the National Board of Review, but it wasn't the day's only big winner.

Locally shot,  "Beasts of the Southern Wild," "Django Unchained" and "Looper"  all earned spots on the board's list of the top 10 films of 2012, with "Django" and "Looper" earning additional board honors. The board awards also indicate that this could be an outstanding year of recognition for the Louisiana film industry. Not only did "Beasts," "Django" and "Looper" earn spots on the top 10 list -- which, aside from the top spot, isn't ranked -- but the best original screenplay award went to writer-director Rian Johnson for the script for his New Orleans-shot sci-fi thriller "Looper"; and Leonardo DiCaprio won best supporting actor for his turn as a slaveowner in Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained," also shot in New Orleans. In addition, actor and New Orleans resident John Goodman will be honored with the board's "spotlight award," noting his work in such 2012 films as "Argo," "Flight," "ParaNorman" and "Trouble With the Curve."
I
n addition to individual awards, the board also lists its top 10 films, in no particular order: "Zero Dark Thirty," ''Argo," ''Lincoln," ''Beasts of the Southern Wild," ''Django Unchained," ''Looper," ''Les Miserables," ''The Perks of Being a Wallflower," ''Silver Linings Playbook" and "Promised Land."

The awards will be handed out Jan. 8 in New York. The 103-year-old National Board of Review is made up of film academics, students and professionals, and it is one of the first groups to announce its picks for the year's best movies. The Los Angeles Film Critics announce their choices on Sunday. The Golden Globe nominations come Dec. 13.

The film was shot in Baton Rouge and New Orleans from March to July of this year and stars Tom Cruise, Olga Kurylenko, Morgan Freeman, Melissa Leo and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. It was directed  and co-written by Joseph Kosinski ("TRON: Legacy") and tells the futuristic sci-adventure of a soldier, Jack Harper (Cruise) as the last few drone repairmenr stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known at the Scavs. 

Forbes online is anticipating the 2013 film as well, "The story is fascinating, the effects are eye-popping, and Cruise looks to be in his usual top form." 


WATCH the trailer HERE! 

** The film is scheduled for release on April 19, 2013. 

The Lookalike, starring Justin Long, Jerry O’Connell, John Corbett, Steven Bauer, and Gina Gershon, began filming in New Orleans last week. We're going to keep our eyes pealed for these celebrities!