TRAE HARRIS. Lesbians and films!

NEWLYWEEDS, a New Kind of Stoner Romance and will be available on DVD, OnDemand.

Writer-Director Shaka King created the pot comedy, NEWLYWEEDS that neither condones nor condemns the recreational use of marijuana as it tells the story of Lyle and Nina, a young couple trying to keep their lives and relationship together while sharing a voracious appetite for cannabis.

Out lesbian spoken word artist Trae Harris plays 'Nina,' a tour guide for the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.  Their grass habit stokes a hallucinatory safe zone setting off a series of wacky, urban drama!

Trae and I shared a round of perfectly poured espressos in the house; courtesy of expert barista & rising fine artist Richard R (@Starbucks on 9th).

Hyped on caffeine here is what the young beauty had to share about being out and weed!

 

myNewYorkeye: Did the film director, Shaka King, actually find you via Facebook?

Trae Harris: Part true and false.  First through mutual friends and then from an interview in my blog that I did for Stylelikeu.com

myNewYorkeye: Describe your character, 'Nina,' and how she fits into the world of "Newlyweeds"?

Trae Harris: Well for me she does not strive to fit into the world, she is more or less hovers around it trying to find the path that looks most colorful and dreamy.

myNewYorkeye: What single piece of advice did your two co-stars, AMARI CHEATOM and COLMAN DOMINGO give when working on a film?

Trae Harris: To be honest, and have fun. Everybody was really good at being in truth.

myNewYorkeye: Your a Performance artist, what's next for you?

Trae Harris: Releasing my writing and more solo performance work. I wanna really flex my wings and showcase the full range of what I have to offer artistically.

myNewYorkeye: As a working and out lesbian, what's the best part of being a creative sappo?

Trae Harris: The best part of being out and being a creative is I get the opportunity to be a face and voice for a group that does not usually have one!!

myNewYorkeye: What do you love about NYC?

Trae Harris: I love that when I'm walking down the street people are not staring because I'm black or queer or even a woman, people are namely staring because I have on a sick outfit or because I'm standing next to someone famous!!

myNewYorkeye: Where do you get creatively charged?

Trae Harris: I get really creatively charged in my spiritual world. My dream state is where I come up with my work.

myNewYorkeye: Whose your favorite up and coming fashion and jewelry designers?

Trae Harris: Why and show Right now I would say L'Enchantuer which is a luxury life style brand based in NY!! They are twin sisters and I live and love their work!!

They incorporate their heritage and culture in their pieces and they have such a international feel!! They utilize the textures and materials that are rich and rare!! I love them!!

 


Larry Morgan : The Voice of The Movies, Sort of!

So, I was at the press conference for "The Grudge Match," (directed by Peter Segal) which you can not catch on netflix. I am minding my own business-which the NYC  way-and I heard a booming voice that instantly reminded me of film authority. 

The distinctive voice kept growing louder, like an impending thunder storm until the supersonic source was literally in front of my blinking eyes.

"Good golly Miss Molly," this man has a voice.  I know this voice but the face was not familiar.  Throwing my shy demeanor to the wind and attaching my "journalism hat," snugly and fashionably, to my fuzzy heard, I ventured the question and the answer came bubbling out.

myNewYorkeye: Are you the voice of AMC theaters?

Larry Morgan: Yes'mam.  I'm that voice inside AMC and UA/Edwards/Regal cinema chains theaters telling you to hurry up, wash your a hands because the movie is about to begin!  Plus other cool stuff!

myNewYorkeye: Nice to know that I am not (that) crazy! Wait, why are you at the Warner Bros. "Grudge Match"  press junket?  Did Robert Di Niro or Sly forget to wash their hands?

Larry Morgan: No (I don't think) the director, Peter Segal is one of my best friends.  We go all the way back to our USC days!  Coming to surprise Peter is now a tradition!

myNewYorkeye: Awesome.  I get the loyalty part and the movie link.  So, whats the tradition you have with Peter?

Larry Morgan: One of the traditions is ambushing his press junket any time he has a new film coming out.  It started back in 2003 when he had me in a small role as "Guy Playing Pool."  I teamed up with my long-time friend Mark S. Allen who hosts the show "Mark at the Movies" on the Reelz Channel and we surprised Pete by me hopping in the chair asking him sarcastic and personal questions. 

Since then we've done the same on "50 First Dates", "The Longest Yard", "Get Smart" and this year for "Grudge Match" I showed up in boxing shorts and gloves - and nothing else.  I think he appreciates the special attention since, usually, directors get the short end when it comes to publicity. 

He's a good sport, though, and it certainly breaks up the junket process.

myNewYorkeye:  I am touched that you and Peter are friends after all these years!

Shout out to the folks you love brother!  It's the holidays, show love!

Larry Morgan: Shouting to my amazing wife, Charla, who has been putting up with the bizzaro radio, tv, film business adventures!  Second shout to our amazing child, Alex,  who we managed to bring up and turn into an incredible young man!  He's now attempting to live the actor's life in New York.

Last shout out to my personal/professional pals Mark S. Allen and Peter Segal who, for many many years, remain two of my closest friends and are still the most grounded, most talented and most silly people I know.  And silly is important.

Happy holidays,Larry and tell young Alex to visit us in Harlem.  I'll make sure he gets a good seat at the movies, after all his father is the voice that hurries millions back to their movie seats and with clean hands!

"Anchorman 2," Whammy! David Koechner isn't a foul mouthed racist : he just plays one in the movies!

I've fallen in love with a sexist, racist man with repressed homosexual tendencies and I'm confessing it with unrepentant passion.

His name is David Koechner but the movie going world knows him as Champ Kind, one of the hilarious misfits that delivers sport news in the Anchorman franchise starring SNL alumni Will Ferrell.

Created by writer/director/comedian Adam McKay Anchorman: The Legend Continues (which he co-wrote with Will Ferrell) is much more than just a sequel to the 2004 cult classic (which he also co-wrote).  Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is a hilarious and smart satire the examines the hypocrisy of the news business and the quest for power, money and great hair!

Champ, like most complex characters in comedies, was created to slap a big fat purple explanation point on the hot button issues that plague and shape cultures the world over;

racism, sexism and the intolerable greed of corporations.

David, the actor/singer and all around good guy, is as different from sports reporter, Champ as a warm fuzzy kitten is, to say, a 12 set baking kit! 

The following phone interview took place inside a crowded Upper East Side coffee house.

My phone rings, blaring Beyonce's "Diva" the ringtone easily eclipsing the holiday carols. 

It took me a full half hour before I noticed that I was on speaker phone.  Good news, David had that crowd laughing and that's a hard room for comedy!

David Koechner: (singing and singing well)

LAPACAZO, Lapacazo, Lapacazo, Lapacazo. La-la, la-la, la-Lapacazo. Oh, Lapacazo!

I love your name.  It's musical. Laaapppaazo. (He sang three verses).

myNewYorkeye: (Hysterical) I've never had anyone sing my name.  Thank you. I happen to love country music!

David Koechner: Thank you kindly Miss Lapacazo (he's still singing).  Hey, what did you think of the movie?  No pressure?  You know the one I'm in:  "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" opening December 18th.  No pressure ..... Lapacazo!

myNewYorkeye: (Hysterical) Adam (McKay) sliced off the hairy arms of one of my favorite mythical creatures. Comedy is a cruel master.

David Koechner: (Hysterical laughter back) He did, didn't he?!  Oh Adam-dear-Adam with him so little is sacred.

myNewYorkeye: 'All is fair to the comedy gods.'

Hats off to Adam and Will for having an African-American woman as the head of a maverick, 24-hour All News Network, loosely spoofing CNN.  A deliberate casting choice?

David Koechner: Well, I can't speak on Adam or Will's behalf, like 100percent, but I'm pretty certain that they both demanded an African-American character for that role.  Megan (Goode) is good!  She delivers on all levels!

myNewYorkeye: Megan rocks the mike (stand up comic pun intended).  There is a very funny "meet the family" scene when her character introduces Ron Burgundy to her successful clan and well...

David Koechner: ....Every known racial slur followed by inaccurate stenotypes paints the introduction?  Is that the family "meet Ron Burgundy" scene your referring too?

myNewYorkeye: Yes.   I've never seen a group of paid actors look so uncomfortable and confused.

David Koechner: That's because I'm fairly certain that Adam and Wik didn't script it.  They wanted to capture the impact of those absurd slurs and most importantly, I think, to show the sincere feelings those "words" have on others!

myNewYorkeye: That explains a lot.  I'm impressed.  Continue?

David Koechner: Racism (to me) is stupid.  I'm a father and my kids didn't see race. They noticed differences but it means nothing to them.  Nothing.  I want a world like that.  I work toward a world like that.  I really do!

Hey when we meet and we will, remind me that your a song?!

myNewYorkeye: I shall indeed.  I'm jealous you're paid to work with your friends!  You laugh and make people laugh to the sound of  "whammy" all the way to the bank!

David Koechner: WHAMMY!  (Laughing) that's so true.  I was just in Australia with Adam and we both just had that "omg this is still real" series of moments.  I'm a father of five so there isn't really enough money.  They keep growing!

myNewYorkeye: When did your parents finally stop worrying about your career choice?

David Koechner: (Laughing) Lapacazo (singing) you are good!  My parents finally started to rest easy with the successful release of the last "Anchorman " They now think this comedy thing just might be a ..

myNewYorkeye & David Koechner ; A whammy!

twitter @DavidKoechner

"Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" opens December 18.

Gita Pullapilly Is Living The Dream

The Gotham Independent Awards, the annual New York event that kicks off awards season, looked more like the Oscars this year  — with a roster of attendees that included Forest Whitaker, Ethan Hawke, Jared Leto and Shailene Woodley.

That annual event was very special for rising director/producer Gita Pullapilly (Sunny Side Up Films) who won the Euphoria Calvin Klein Live The Dream Grant  ($25,000) for her indie feature BENEATH THE HARVEST SKY.

Patting ourselves on the metaphoric back, Art and I knew that Gita would take the prize!  We shared our predictions with her when we conducted this interview three days before the award ceremony.

Here's what Gita Pullapilly had to say about NYC, indie filmmaking and what the Euphoria Calvin Klein Live The Dream Grant means  to her future and other female indie filmmakers.

myNewYorkeye: We think you are the winner of the "Live The Dream Grant," so Art and I are sending our congratulations early.

What's it like to be you?

Gita Pullapilly: As an Indian American, I have always dreamed of making movies. BENEATH THE HARVEST SKY is my directorial debut.

To be nominated for The "Live The Dream Grant" is a tremendous honor. This will allow BENEATH THE HARVEST SKY to be seen by a larger audience but also allow us to take the film to communities that may not have had a chance to see the film otherwise. As independent filmmakers, sometimes you feel alone in the filmmaking process. But to have the support of IFP, has been an enormous boost.

myNewYorkeye: Art and I think you've won.  We're not being polite.  We're being creatively honest and objective.  So what what's your thoughts on winning?

Gita Pullapilly: OK, (and) to win the "LIVE THE DREAM GRANT" would be an incredible honor and also hopefully show other aspiring female artists out there that it is possible to reach those next to impossible dreams.

The New York film community is vital to independent film. It's where filmmakers come to find the best talented actors and production services. The New York film community allows independent filmmakers to have a voice and a platform and we are forever grateful.

ABOUT

Euphoria Calvin Klein has enjoyed a four year partnership with IFP.   This year they were the platinum sponsor at The 23nd Gotham Independent Film Awards which were held at Cipriani Wall Street.

The evening’s guests who were wardrobed by Calvin Klein Collection included Shailene Woodley, Brie Larson, Forest Whitaker, Michael B Jordan, Oscar Isaac, host for the evening Nick Kroll and IFP Executive Director Joana Vicente.

Mr. Whitaker also received a career tribute for his contribution to independent film.

Just as we were filing this story Gita alerted us that Tribeca Films has acquired U.S. rights to her coming-of-age drama “Beneath the Harvest Sky,” which stars  Callan Mcauliffe (“The Great Gatsby”) and Emory Cohen.

 “Beneath the Harvest Sky” centers on two teenage boys and their last summer working the potato harvest.

Yup, we were right ON THE VERGE!

Photo credit:  IFP Gotham Awards; Gita Pullapilly, Aron Gaudet.