Entertainment Category - Page 11 of 23

Scotty Austin to Release Single “Money” on Black Friday 2022

The Chicago Journal Staff on November 23, 2022

Former Saving Abel frontman Scotty Austin is going solo and will be releasing his single “Money” on Black Friday 2022 through Stryker Records. Scotty worked closely with the best of the best in the music industry to make the single happen. “Money” was produced by multi-platinum Nashville producer Malcolm Springer, who is a well-known arranger, writer, engineer, and sound mixer. It will be distributed by Ingrooves, a company under the Universal Music Group.

Best known for his exceptional depiction of the rock genre, Scotty Austin is expected to attract a new breed of music fans as he goes solo. His many years spent as the lead singer of Saving Abel have allowed him to mature as he constantly improved his craft to give his audience a new experience each time he goes on stage. Over the past years, Scotty has successfully established himself as a respectable name in the rock genre, and all his hard work resulted in a rare project involving the number one video game soundtrack of the very famous game Dead Rising alongside the band Supernova Syndicate.

Apart from being a distinct vocalist, Scotty is also an exceptional guitarist who has collaborated with different producers and musicians in Nashville, which eventually led him to become the band leader for Jonathan Singleton, one of the most prominent singer-songwriters in Nashville. Scotty was also able to play lead guitar in the band Full Devil Jacket when it released its second album, Valley of Bones, in 2014.

Interestingly, Scotty’s talents do not confine him to the rock and roll genre alone. He is very versatile and can sing other genres, such as the blues. In the early 2000s, he represented Memphis, Tennessee, in the International Blues Contest and landed the fourth spot. Not long after the International Blues Contest, he worked with Ash Bowers, Jason Aldean’s Broken Bow Records, and Stoney Creek Records. Sometime later, Scotty decided to step out of his comfort zone and established his own rock group that came to be known as Trash the Brand. In just a matter of a few weeks, the band was already playing for packed venues, which quickly attracted the attention of personalities in the music business.

Before Scotty knew it, he was approached and offered to be managed by Jeff Hanson, the former manager of Creed, Paramore, and Sevendust. Eager to take his career to the next level, Scotty asked Hanson to put him on the show with Saving Abel. In one particular concert, Scotty was given the opening role. Impressed by his phenomenal performance, Scotty was later asked to lead Saving Abel. He immediately agreed and did it for eight years.

Apart from being a gifted and multi-talented artist, Scotty is a committed family man who enjoys spending time with his wife, Courtney and their two children. He draws a lot of inspiration from his family to get his work done, with times becoming tough. Being a full-time dad to his children is something he considers the biggest accomplishment of his life.

Get To Know the Vibrant People of New York Through Extra Edsta’s Surprise Street Interviews

The Chicago Journal Staff on November 23, 2022

We usually go about our daily lives without giving the strangers on the street a second glance, much less talking to them. The years of quarantine caused by the pandemic also did not help improve our social skills. Instead, we have become more comfortable keeping our interactions in the digital realm.

Despite this invisible wall, New Yorker Edsta throws caution to the wind, bravely approaches strangers on the streets, and asks them random questions in his online show, Extra Edsta. With his creative questions, his viewers get to see the colorful and interesting people of New York. Furthermore, Edsta having no specific criteria in choosing his interviewees allows the audience to see how similar and different everyone is, ensuring that everyone can find some answers they can relate to while making them think about how they would respond.

Edsta visits popular hangout places all over New York to film his content. He is able to elicit genuine and raw reactions from his unsuspecting respondents, with his questions ranging from funny and light to emotional and personal. Any viewer would have probably been left with a big smile and a full heart after watching his “How Happy Are You” video, where the social media personality asks questions that make the interviewees and viewers acknowledge the things they are grateful for in life. Indeed, hearing other people give out high ratings because of small things we take for granted puts things into perspective for many viewers and respondents.

The video that gave Edsta the most views on his channel was when he asked strangers to rate their appearance on a scale of 1 to 10. This video racked up over nine million views on TikTok, with his other videos reaching millions of views. Expanding his reach to various popular social media platforms, Edsta also releases more bite-sized content on TikTok and reserves his full-length videos for his YouTube channel, both equally engaging and fun to watch. In addition, he regularly uploads new content on his TikTok and YouTube accounts, keeping his YouTube subscribers of almost 7,000 and TikTok followers of 20,000 updated and thoroughly entertained.

Edsta gives credit to content creators all over the world who inspired him to adopt the unexpected crowd-sourcing format. “I was inspired by content creators from abroad and took the initiative to go out on the streets of New York City and interview strangers on my own,” shared Edsta. “Sometimes, I am able to put a smile on people’s faces, and I want the viewers to get a sense of satisfaction from that,” he added.

Edsta has set a personal goal of reaching 10,000 subscribers by the end of the year. By continuously exploring and trying to keep the questions as random as possible, Edsta will be able to hook more viewers and keep all his followers waiting in anticipation of the next update. Let’s hope that citizens of the Big Apple are also ready to answer the questions when they see the signature Extra Edsta microphone.

Cricketer Suneel Kumar Makes an Explosive Comeback After Recovering from Injury

The Chicago Journal Staff on November 21, 2022

A lot of dedicated athletes who went through an injury barely made it back to their respective sports, and those who do make it back often do it with a bang. One such athlete is cricketer Suneel Kumar, who returned with a vengeance in the US Premier League, where strong performances earned him a call-up to the India-based Global Power Cricket League. If anything, Kumar was not ready to give up his passion just yet after incurring a hand injury from a car accident in 2021.

The American-born cricketer has been fortunate enough to play his favorite sport in different parts of the world. He was part of the USA Men’s 30 Man National Training Camp back in the 2017-2018 season and is seriously looking at rejoining the camp. He was crippled by several injuries in between, but he continued to focus on recovering and getting back in the game. Despite his past injuries, he returned to professional cricket in the 2021 season in the Minor League Cricket, playing for the Florida Beamers. In that same season, he encountered a car accident that broke his hand, forcing him out of the game once again.

Known for his determination and strong fighting spirit, Kumar made his comeback this 2022 with a tremendous performance last October 23. He made a remarkable 103 not out in just 46 balls playing for Atlanta Thunder against the Atlanta Heat in the AGCC League, including 11 fours and six huge sixes. That kind of performance is very hard to miss.

Furthermore, during his time in Jamaica, as part of former international cricketer Brenton Parchment’s high-performance training camp, Suneel played for Bowes Cricket Club against Lacovia Cricket Club. The man-of-the-match performance held last November 6 saw Suneel scoring a whopping 24 runs not out off of ten balls, taking three wickets and giving up only five runs in two overs with his remarkable off-break bowling.

To put himself out there and discover more opportunities, Kumar is leveraging the power of the digital world to reach a vast audience. Times are changing, and everything is happening very fast online. Kumar intends to be part of the digital world and share his fondness for cricket and how fans and sports enthusiasts, too, can find fulfillment through it.

Last September 23, Kumar launched his own YouTube channel and premiered a 14-minute video showcasing a day in his life as a cricketer. It shows his followers his early start to training with his teammates and how he draws inspiration from the people surrounding him. Through his recently launched channel, he hopes to inspire people to never give up on their dreams, just as he did. He wants people to have a glimpse of his life, the dreams he holds on to, and how he keeps moving forward until they come to pass.

“I would like to share my message with the readers and let them into who I am as a person. That person is a dreamer, and I want the dreamers of the world to know they can make their dreams come true through hard work and perseverance. You just have to stand the test of time,” Kumar shared.

Apart from being a committed cricketer, Kumar is an out-of-the-box thinker who is not afraid to take risks. Not only is he known as a trendsetter, but he is also very confident with a strong work ethic. Kumar believes that his injuries were a test of his character and how far he is willing to go to see his dreams come to fruition. Choosing to press forward despite the temporary obstacles is a testament to his resilience and drive to succeed.

Holy Culture Radio’s Da Fixx Morning Show Making Headlines by Winning Kingdom Choice Award

The Chicago Journal Staff on November 14, 2022

The hip-hop genre has undergone a major transformation since its inception in the 1970s. What was once a niche style of music primarily enjoyed by African-American inner-city youth has become a mainstream force to be reckoned with. While people of all races and backgrounds have embraced the genre, Christian hip-hop has recently gained popularity.

Also known as “holy hip-hop,” this sub-genre of rap music is characterized by its positive, uplifting message and focus on faith, God, and spirituality. Christian hip-hop artists often use their music to spread their faith and share their testimony, and many have found success in the mainstream music industry. As the world becomes more and more secular, people are looking for ways to keep their faith alive and relevant. Holy Culture Radio (HCR), an edutainment channel, is successfully paving its way to promote holy hip hop.

James Rosseau, Sr. (known by many as Trig) leads Holy Culture Radio intending to solidify one’s faith. Since its inception in 2003, Holy Culture has been on a mission to educate and entertain the community through hip-hop music and conversation. Holy Culture Radio is owned and operated by The Corelink Solution, a
non-profit organization founded by Rosseau.

One of the shows on Holy Culture Radio is Da Fixx Morning Radio Show. This show is best known for its unique way of exposing the culture to positive but relevant music, making Jesus Christ the center of its message. The show keeps in view its music selection and #realtalk topics. The show also spends considerable time with artists to display their stories well-mannered during talk show conversations.

On October 21, 2022, Holy Culture Radio’s Dice Gamble and DJ Focus attended the Kingdom Choice Awards 2022 in New York City to participate in the event and do what Da Fixx Morning Radio Show is best at.

Rosseau, in an interview, said, “While they knew they were nominated, let’s just say they were caught up in their work and taken a bit by surprise when their names were called as the winners of Best Podcast/Radio Show.” He further added, “This marks their second award for the year, as they won a Stellar Award earlier this year.”

Holy Culture’s website currently features podcasts, videos, and event news and has a one-stop store. Quite recently, in 2022, Holy Culture partnered with SiriusXM to further expand its reach. The partnership opened doors to more listeners and followers. This partnership gave a golden opportunity to Da Fixx Morning Radio Show to interview more than 100 artists and industry influencers, including Brea Miles, Jay Williams, Pristavia, 1KPSon, Mahogany Jones, Wande, Scootie Wop, Myammee, Tedashii, HeeSun Lee, Sammy Praise, Lecrae, Agape Music Group, Porsha Love and many others.

Holy Culture Radio has become a go-to destination for listeners looking for an alternative to mainstream radio. The station’s programming includes faith-based hip-hop music, talk shows, interviews, and more, all focusing on uplifting and empowering. In addition, it’s a full-time edutainment channel that introduces upcoming artists to the audience and discusses Faith, Art, Vocation, and Education (FAVE). The channel features four daily shows and ten on the weekends.

The channel currently features shows like The Christ Revolution Music, hosted by Bryant Tabb; Old School Sounds, hosted by DJ D-Lite; Straight Ministry Heat Mix, hosted by DJ I Rock Jesus; The Underground Gospel Hip-Hop Show, hosted by Jay Williams; The DJ Wade-O Radio Show, hosted by DJ Wade-O; as well as music mix shows at various times of the day. It also features talk shows like K.I.N.G Talks, Da Fixx Radio Show, and Church on the Block.

The diverse program includes:

The DJ Wade-O Radio Show is hosted by all-time famous DJ Wade-O, well-known for his spinning skills and insightful interviews with artists, leaders, and pastors within the Christian hip-hop community.
DJ D-Lite hosts Old School Sounds that make the listeners return to the genre’s beginning.
I.N.G. Talks carrying out open discussions on life to create an environment for effective communication and an atmosphere of understanding and compassion.
Jay Williams hosts The Underground Gospel Hip-Hop Show to launch faith-based indie artists. This personifies the motion of having a great time while attracting many listeners with its meaningful messages.
Da Fixx Morning Radio Show, the winner of The Stellar Awards and Kingdom Choice Award.
Church on the Block, where Pastor Phil Jackson, DJ Ruckus, and Pastah J engage in all-encompassing hip-hop and street culture discussions. They also talk about how the church can deliver hope to its followers.

In addition to the regular programming, Holy Culture Radio will also be home to several special events and projects. These will include live music events, conferences, and other opportunities for the community to come together and learn.

Why Chanell Huecker is One of the Best Content Creators and Destination Photographers in Texas

The Chicago Journal Staff on November 4, 2022

Photography is an art form that is reliant on many factors, such as lighting, camera, and lens quality. But even if all these aspects are present, a photograph turns out perfect only after you add the secret ingredient – a talented photographer. Though there are thousands of photographers present in the world, only some can produce photographs that connect with one’s heart.

Amongst the photographers that managed to leave us impressed in the current times is Chanell Huecker. This creative lady has many talents up her sleeve, such as insta-blogging, producing innovative TikTok reels, video editing, filming, graphic design, and even acting. Her success is attributed to her passion for all things videography and photography. The effort she exerts into every piece of content is nothing short of spectacular. If you’re ever considering hiring a photographer to capture moments of your world, look no further. Chanell has an infectious personality and a creative mind that is always bubbling with bright ideas.

Have you ever dreamt of being as carefree and talented as Chanell? If photography is your passion, Chanell’s story will help inspire you!

The skilled photographer was first gifted a camera by her father when she was 12 years old. With the right equipment, all Chanell needed was some training to master the art. To give life to her passion, she started watching tutorials on YouTube. Over time, she continued polishing her skills and started publishing her work on YouTube. Chanell produced short films and music videos on her channel from 2006 to 2019.

While working on building her social media presence, Chanell was also earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication with a minor in Theater Arts from Texas State University. She graduated in 2015 with new knowledge and understanding of content creation. Today, she is the star of her show and is known as ‘bychanell.’

“I ensure my heart is fully immersed from start to finish when creating something. I never share content on a whim,” shares Chanell. “What I put out into the world represents who I am, and I always strive to be warm, kind, and FUN!”

Due to the vibrant content Chanell creates, she has managed to gain nearly 50,000 followers on Instagram and over 10 million views on one of her viral videos on TikTok. But even with all these achievements under her belt, Chanell wanted to pursue her unwavering love for photography professionally. This dream became a reality on September 24, 2022, when she bagged her first wedding shoot gig.

Even though Chanell Huecker is multi-skilled with great visual storytelling content, it is her destination photography that left us mesmerized. This is because most of us are so caught up in our lives that traveling becomes a strenuous task. However, it’s the work of people like Chanell that tells us how much we are missing out on and inspires us to do something creative with our lives.

“I love traveling whether I’m on a plane or embarking on a road trip,” informs Chanell. “I strive to ensure my work brings heartfelt joy or laughter to my followers. I want people to feel warmth when they interact with my content,” she stresses.

She further went on to say that she started this journey over 15 years ago, but in 2019 she took a break from uploading videos on YouTube. “I took a step back because I was getting married and wanted to live a more private life. I never knew when I’d return to the ‘public eye’, but I did in January 2022 and it just felt right,” she elaborates.

But like everyone else, Chanell faced many hurdles on her path to success. According to her, some days can feel taxing even if you love what you are doing. But instead of pushing herself, she listens to her body and slows things down. “I always aim to maintain a healthy balance between work and my personal life,” she says. “So, honoring the boundaries I’ve created for myself can help put things into perspective anytime I feel overwhelmed. Mental health and self-care are immensely important to me.”

Even though many people choose not to take a break when they have multiple projects lined up, Chanell’s connection with her mind, body, and soul reveals why there is so much depth in every piece she creates. When she is traveling, it’s not just to develop content to increase followers; instead, she truly aims to put out positivity with every photograph or video of hers.

As for those aiming to pursue a career in photography and content creation, Chanell believes that fancy gear is not needed. All one needs is passion and a good phone. “You will attract the right audience as long as you’re consistent, kind, passionate, and truly doing this for yourself. Do what makes you happy,” advises Chanell.

With a positive attitude and an infectious personality, it’s no surprise that Chanell Huecker is amongst the most popular destination photographers and content creators of our time.

P.S: She’s gorgeous too.

If you want to improve your craft and gain some useful ideas, follow this amazing content creator and be exposed to some of the most beautiful sights in the world.

Getting To Know The Church Secret Shopper, Greg Atkinson, and His Unconventional Community-building Approach

The Chicago Journal Staff on October 21, 2022

In 2018, a study was conducted in a school to enhance students’ learning experience. As per the results, they found out that when teachers deliberately foster a sense of belonging by greeting each student at the door of the class, they see significant improvements in academic engagement time and reduced disruptive behavior. The key is to make each student feel special and wanted in the class for them to show their best behavior. In fact, we have seen similar videos on social media in which teachers can be seen waiting outside the class to welcome their students with a high five, a hug, or a handshake. And then they let them enter the classroom. This allows the teachers to gauge and set the mood of the class.

Though it might seem like a small step, it can create a huge difference in someone’s day. Greg Atkinson is of the same view, and in fact, he has been implementing a similar idea in communities globally for years now. He is an entrepreneur, speaker, leadership coach, consultant, and member of the Forbes Coaching Council. What is even more interesting is that he’s been using his unconventional yet effective approach to help leaders develop strong communities.

Greg has worked with different churches, including some of the largest and fastest-growing churches in the country, as well as with businesses, non-profits, and organizations such as Josh McDowell Ministries.

Besides being a motivational speaker and leadership coach, he is a bestselling author. Greg has four successful books to his credit. Moreover, he has authored numerous e-books and articles. But one thing Greg is most passionate about is hospitality. He speaks and writes about hospitality and encourages church leaders to be more welcoming and accessible. He puts it as a Biblical mandate, where they are to ‘welcome the stranger.’

Building a strong and connected community requires acceptance and tolerance; when someone feels loved and wanted in a place, he is bound to be inclined towards its offerings too. The idea is simple; if you don’t greet the guests at your house well, they will not return to you or probably would even cut off ties after some time. On the contrary, if you are warm towards others and make them feel welcomed, they will enjoy spending time with you, and in turn, this will strengthen your relationship with each other. A similar formula applies to churches, institutes, and organizations as well.

Greg has been speaking, writing, and teaching for nearly three decades, as well as running a global leadership conference, First Impressions, which encourages all churches to be more inclusive and welcoming. Having hosted hundreds of speakers from around the world till now, the First Impressions Conference organizes both virtual and in-person events. It is essential that people feel at home in their local churches, and that’s where you build a strong bond with your community, making them a part of your bigger family.

It was in 2009 that Greg also started his church secret shopper company called Worship Impressions. It primarily works with large churches in order to create welcoming environments and be prepared for the guests each weekend. Greg visits churches unannounced as a secret shopper and evaluates everything that happens on the weekend. He then presents a report and provides his feedback on the services, which helps the churches get enlightened and improve themselves.

Being a people person, Greg Atkinson loves to be around them, learn from them and teach them something new through his own experiences. He imparts his knowledge as a coach and secret shopper to the people he meets daily. In fact, he strives every day to touch people’s lives around him, which in turn helps build a better society. He makes sure to instill kindness and compassion in people. His approach, though unconventional, develops a feeling of belonging to their community and owning it.

Greg is a very ambitious and driven individual. He gets excited every time he sees someone post a picture of one of his books on social media. Greg gets thrilled walking into a bookstore and finding his book on the shelf. He even gets driven by those around him, whether they are his mentors or friends. With every book, with every mentorship program, and with every coaching session, he learns something new and tries to teach others as well. His work has shaped him as a person and made him a better husband, father, leader, coach, and inspirational speaker over the span of thirty years. And he wants to use that knowledge to make the world a better, more accepting, and peaceful place to live in.

Actor Jermaine Rivers to Suit up for “Black Adam” and Lands recurring role in Netflix hit series “Sweet Magnolias” Season 3

The Chicago Journal Staff on October 20, 2022

With only two months left on the calendar, 2022 will undoubtedly be seen as a breakout year for actor Jermaine Rivers ,the Atlanta-based actor best known for his role as Shatter on Marvel’s television series “The Gifted”. Some might say that Rivers is an overnight success, but his impressive resume and track record for consistently delivering praise-worthy performances says otherwise.

For over a decade Rivers has paid his dues, working alongside academy award winning actors like Al Pacino, Danny Glover and Richard Dreyfuss. He’s landed roles in some of the hottest shows on network TV like MacGyver, Dynasty and “Power Book III: Raising Kanan”. Rivers summarizes his career as “The result of a slow but steady grind that took more than a decade of hard work, discipline, self-sacrifice and even rejection to accumulate.”

On 21 October the world will see Rivers take it up a notch as he officially becomes part of the DCEU when he suits up for his role in the highly anticipated film “Black Adam“, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Rivers is no stranger to the superhero genre. In addition to his role on“The Gifted”, last year Rivers became part of the MCU when he doubled as (Jamie Fox’s) Electro in “Spider-Man No Way Home”.

In addition to his role in Black Adam, Rivers is also joining the cast of the Netflix series “Sweet Magnolias” in the show’s third season that will air in Spring 2023. Rivers has been cast in a recurring role (Charles Perkins). Although no details have been released to the public about his character, Jermaine took to Instagram to share news of his casting saying, “Feeling extremely Blessed and excited to be joining the amazing cast of Sweet Magnolias in Season 3”. Rivers also secured lead and supporting roles in the following films that will be released next year: “A Party to Die For”, and “Freedom’s Path”. Jermaine Rivers is rep’d by Play Management and Eris Talent.

Katey Stanley | A Multitasker and an Inspiration to Women

The Chicago Journal Staff on October 19, 2022

With over 153K followers on Instagram, Katey Stanley is a well-known millennial mom-blogger and writer for NJ (New Jersey) Mom. She has four adorable children and enjoys spending quality time with her family. Katey has been blogging for the past six years now, and her work focuses on her family life and how she manages it all. She’s mostly seen sharing pictures of trips to the beach or different parks along with her family. This is not all! There is more to Katey Stanley than meets the eye. She makes sure that the content of her Insta blog is engaging as well as informative so that other mommas can benefit from it.

Whether it is parenting tips, mother hacks, or child development, she covers diverse topics and loves to share fun things one can do in New York City and New Jersey as well as what can be explored with kids. According to Katey, having children isn’t something that should put your life on hold but rather enhance every experience with an added perspective. Hence she writes about family-friendly activities, helpful parenting suggestions, and other ways to improve your quality of life.

As far as her first job is concerned, Katey joined Avis Budget Group once she was out of college. She started off her career as a social media manager, where she had the opportunity to collaborate with some of Instagram’s most popular personalities, including her all-time favorite blogger, Amber Fillerup. After interacting with her, she realized that Instagram blogging was her true calling, so she decided to leave her job and embark on a journey to social media influencing. It wasn’t until she quit her job that she realized how much time she was able to devote to her loved ones and create unforgettable memories with her children.

At first glance, Katey Stanley’s life may seem overwhelming, but her ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously allows her to be a hands-on mother of four as well as a content creator. In addition, she contributes to the parenting magazine NJ Mom, which focuses on great local resources for your family. Find the best pediatrician in your area, fun things to do in New Jersey this weekend, a fitness class for your toddler, or a great place to throw a kid-friendly birthday party; NJ Mom has it all.

When it comes to content for her personal blog, she keeps it very refreshing, and her Insta feed is a sight for sore eyes. It ranges from spending the weekend baking or doing science experiments, riding along the lake on beautiful mornings, ice skating, heading to Florida, and much more. The best part is that she involves her kids in every activity and thoroughly enjoys taking photos to cherish them forever. Katey uploads these on her feed as an inspiration for young moms across the world.

A woman of creativity, courage, and strength, Katey has mastered the art of multitasking. To put it simply, she is tenacious and a go-getter. Not only does she put her family as her topmost priority, but she’s also living her life to the fullest while managing her work and cherishing every moment. Since her work mostly revolves around her vacation trips, nights out, fun events, etc., it is often hard to separate the two. However, she has come up with a strategy to balance it out – she designates the first 15 minutes of any event for photos and then keeps her phone down to enjoy that time with her family unless she finds a priceless moment again, of course.

Undoubtedly, Katey Stanley is a role model for many women because of her incredible achievements and unconventional parenting approach. In fact, many influential and famous people read her blogs to learn some insider tips and tricks. They adore her and feel proud of the contributions she makes. She has found fulfillment in her role as a mother and truly enjoys parenthood. Moreover, Katey encourages others to do the same.

Parenting doesn’t always have to be serious and boring; as a parent, you have to make it fun for your kids in order to keep everyone’s sanity in check. Through her blogs, she motivates people to ignite the same passion in their lives. Katey suggests taking a trip to your favorite spot, as it will certainly help you find a new perspective. There can be magical moments in the simplest things; you just have to look through the right lens.

Actor Douglas Taurel Uses the Power of Theatre to Inspire and Honor Our Veterans With His Solo Show, The American Soldier

The Chicago Journal Staff on October 19, 2022

Theater is a powerful art form that breaks the boundaries of storytelling. It creates a lasting community between what happens on stage and what the audience feels as they experience a story unfolding. Esteemed actor Douglas Taurel knows this fact all too well as a seasoned performer. And as the house lights dim, Douglas elicits meaningful and lasting emotions from his audiences as they experience his award-winning solo show, The American Soldier.

Much like the old Vaudevillian actors did in the old days, traveling the country with their trunks full of costumes and props, Mr. Taurel does the same. He uses the art of theatre and goes from city to city, pulling props out of an old WWII Army trunk, transforming into 14 characters, and sharing powerful stories to help veterans and their families heal.

The American Soldier is a play based on real stories and letters written by soldiers and their families spanning the American Revolution through the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The script seamlessly combines years of intensive research where Douglas Taurel would go to the New York Public Library to read hundreds of letters from every war. The play explores our soldiers’ and their families’ internal struggles as they reintegrate into society after coming home from combat. But the play’s real power is how it highlights the brotherhood these soldiers have shared as they serve the country together. “After a while, they’re not fighting for the country. They’re fighting for each other,” shared Douglas Taurel.

He initially performed The American Soldier in 2015 in front of eight people at the iconic Bowery Poetry Club in New York. He fondly recalls that day as it significantly changed his career trajectory, allowing him to find a deeper purpose for his craft. “It was raining on the Sunday of Memorial weekend, and hardly anyone was there. I knew no one would come, and I didn’t think anyone would get it. It was so freaking hard to get motivated,” recalled the actor.

However, Douglas Taurel found the motivation to press on and perform the play. After the play, he received a standing ovation from all the eight people who were in attendance. He remembers one poignant moment when a Gold Star sibling came up to him in tears to thank him for performing the play. “She came up to me, hugged me, and said, I hope you never stop performing this play because what you are doing is incredibly important,” said Taurel.

Since that rainy Sunday night, Douglas Taurel has traveled to over 40 cities performing his solo show in front of crowds of people. He has performed at the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts, The Library of Congress, Off-Broadway, The American Legion’s National Headquarters, and recently in Champaign, Illinois, where he performed at the iconic Virginia Theater in May. In addition, he earned a nomination for the Amnesty International Award when he performed in Scotland.

Every time he thinks the play has found its ending, he receives more invitations to perform and share its message. At the start of 2022, the play was in Bedford, New York, then Tracy, California, Champaign, Illinois, and a VFW in Madison, Wisconsin.

This November, he will gear up to begin his tour in Charleston, Illinois, at the Doudna Fine Arts Center, then at Monmouth University in New Jersey, and finally at the Performing Arts Center at Kent State University, Ohio. During the last stretch of his tour, he will be stepping in for Stephen Lang’s one-man show Beyond Glory.

“We go on with our everyday lives and have no idea of our soldiers and their families’ commitment and sacrifices. We are responsible for knowing what wounds they carry for us as a society. We at least owe them that much,” said Taurel.

Helping Make An Oscar-Nominated Movie: Dr. Savoy Brummer’s Contributions In The Making Of “King Richard” Deserve Applause

The Chicago Journal Staff on October 19, 2022

The best film of 2021, King Richard, needs no introduction. The movie is based on the life of living legend Richard Williams, father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams. Will Smith played the iconic lead role and did justice to the character with his outstanding acting skills. But one fact that most of us are unaware of is that the movie was set to be released in 2020, but due to COVID-19, it was delayed twice.

King Richard made it to the big screen finally in November 2021. The movie went through a set of difficulties due to the global pandemic. Some of the main actors left the movie due to scheduling conflicts. Production wasn’t easy either due to preventive measures for the virus, restrictions, lockdowns, and social distancing caused a lot of struggles for the team. Still, one man that made it possible, and streamlined the whole process by providing health support through his expertise and years of experience, was Dr. Savoy Brummer.

A Hollywood Doctor who now has an iconic effect on the entertainment industry, Dr. Savoy Brummer is a diverse workforce consultant. He already had an impressive career as an award-winning physician executive, a healthcare and health equity leader, and a movie producer. Dr. Brummer is the CEO and Founder of Ivy League Capital, private equity and venture capital investment firm that focuses on early-stage investments in technology, healthcare, and media. His firm has exited several portfolio companies with 100% returns to investors, including media projects distributed across various platforms, including Netflix.

Dr. Brummer looks at the next generation of leaders to invest in because he is concerned with the current state of leadership in this country and globally. He is keen to get involved at the earliest stages of high-growth companies to help guide executives through the critical stages of company formation and scaling for growth.

In early 2020, Dr. Savoy Brummer was contacted by a senior Hollywood producer and asked to provide COVID-related educational services to prepare the entertainment industry to restart after being shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Brummer quickly embraced it and dove in headfirst. He spoke to various Hollywood unions regarding the possible applications of hospital-based procedures and COVID mitigation strategies.

For the movie “King Richard,” Dr. Brummer was responsible as COVID Compliance Officer working with Warner Brothers Pictures to reopen production safely during this pandemic by implementing COVID protocols that had never been used till that time. This was at a time when there were limited mask availability, no vaccinations, and first-generation testing. The production, which had already been suspended along with all of the other Hollywood productions, searched out an innovative partner to begin re-shooting as it would be one of the first major feature films to shoot post-COVID.

As an African American, Dr. Brummer continues to understand the importance of telling black inspirational stories. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the movie was shot over numerous months with a cast of thousands—several consecutive scenes involving over 500 extras. The film employed over 5,000 people to ensure it met all safety requirements helping to make an oscar-nominated movie.

A veteran producer who was in charge of production for Warner Bros reached out to him after a positive referral. This producer had a major project on their hands and was tasked with shooting the movie “King Richard,” starring Will Smith. The film was to be shot entirely in Los Angeles within the next one hundred days. The producer requested Dr. Brummer because he was a trusted physician and producer in his own right who understood and had a better knowledge of production. The production team was purposeful in wanting to make available culturally appropriate guidance and was concerned about the various actors and crew with diverse medical conditions and backgrounds that may have required special consideration. The producer also needed help implementing production-specific industry-wide guidelines and best practices for maintaining health, safety, and compliance with COVID-19 on set.

Dr. Brummer has worked with his colleagues to develop practical solutions for other tv and film productions. Dr. Brummer has been in charge of COVID-19 compliance for hundreds of Motion Pictures, TV shows, and streaming series. He has helped to bring back Hollywood while ensuring the health and safety of thousands of employees working on those productions.

From Georgia to California and beyond, his work takes him all over the country as he supports his portfolio of companies. He is a highly sought-after speaker on leadership and venture creation. Dr. Brummer founded ‘A Safe Way Forward,’ a company that helped crew and actors get back to work while keeping them safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Brummer has learned that movies are more than entertainment; they can change the world by telling stories that need to be told. He believes he can make a difference in every aspect of our society through art and health care and has found a way to make a difference in one of this industry’s most challenging times.

After a long, exhaustive journey to bring “King Richard” to the screen, the world can finally see it. With all of its ups and downs, the final product has been a joy to watch as it was meant for us to take away a personal lesson about human nature and life, in general, every time while watching it.