This Episode Russell sits down with fellow UNCG grad Thomas Mendolia to discuss his filmmaking process and his thesis film "Mr This for That" being picked up by a major company to create a feature film.

Brought to you by Real Creative Heart. Like, Review, Share, & Subscribe.

Thomas Mendolia is a filmmaker born in Brooklyn, but raised in North Carolina. He graduated from the UNC Greensboro’s BFA Acting Program, then later attended USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. Thomas has directed several short films such as OVERNIGHT (2019 Flyway Film Festival “Best Student Short”), WHEN TREES FALL (2018 Semi-Finalist Los Angeles CineFest) and LETHE AVENUE (NYC New Filmmakers Festival). His most recent project, MR. THISFORTHAT, is a psychological thriller currently on the festival circuit, and is being developed by a studio into a feature film to be directed by Thomas. He resides in Los Angeles, CA with his wife, Cheryl, and his best-friends (dogs), Murphy and Maggie.

Instagram: @thomasmendolia

Welcome Back Guys, to the Season Premiere of Season 2!!! It's been a long time coming.

For the second season Russell sits down with some of his fellow classmates and teachers down at UNC Greensboro where he was finishing up his MFA.

Up first on the list is directing student Karen Sabo. Karen and Russell discuss a little bit about the theatre directing process as a student as well as the importance of theatre education not only in the theatre but in everyday life also.

Brought to you by Real Creative Heart. Like, Share, Review & Subscribe.

Karen Sabo (she/her) is a director, teacher, writer, and actor. She has been a member of three resident acting companies, including the Barter Theater in Virginia where she was also a resident director, dialect coach, and eventually, director of education. Karen studied with the American Conservatory Theatre, the San Francisco Mime Troupe, the Saratoga International Theatre Institute, and Shakespeare & Company. She has a B.A. from Hampshire College, an M.A. from East Tennessee State University, and an MFA in Directing at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Her plays have been produced in New York, New Mexico, Alabama, North Carolina, and Virginia, and she has had dozens of articles published in regional publications in the Southeast, including American Theatre and Southern Theatre Magazine. She is a 25-year member of Actors’ Equity, and belongs to SDC (Stage Directors and Choreographers Society), and to VASTA (Voice and Speech Trainers Association). She is grateful to currently teach in the wonderful theatre program at Missouri State University. www.karensabo.com 

Instagram: @kabbasabes

Facebook: @Karen Sabo

On the season finale of this week’s special Black Friday episode, I sit down with another mentor/teacher friend and fellow actor Verneice Turner as we discuss the art of honoring the totality of one’s self outside of just the art itself. Make sure you tune in this Black Friday and catch the season finale of Art is Life.

Presented by Real Creative Heart.

Audio by Yemi.

Like review, share, rate, subscribe. Enjoy and we’ll see back next season.

You can follow Verneice @verniceturner on Instagram and @Vernice Turner on Facebook                      

Verneice Turner, Artie award winning actor & a director, started out the African American Cultural Center of Buffalo NY, under the direction of Malcolm Enie. Continued her study of the performing arts at SUNYAB. Having performed in many productions here in WNY & beyond, including Off Broadway,, she is thankful to & for all who contribute to her growth & development as an artist, a person, especially late husband, Douglas H. May & daughter, Jasmine L.May. Her motto - "God is Good!" . 

Plays performed in includes The River Niger, Westside Story, Antigone, From The Mississippi Delta, Our Town, Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Ain't Enough, Skeleton Crew, To Kill A Mockingbird, Branches of The Same Tree, No N****rs, No Jews, No Dogs, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, Black Girl In Search of God & many others.

This weeks episode I sit down with friend and barber Jason Lape aka Jay and we discuss his journey from working in the fitness and corporate world and transitioning into his passion for art through the world of barbering. We'll also talk about the importance of being a part of a strong community. You keep in touch with him on Facebook @Jason Lape.

Audio by Yemi. Presented by Real Creative Heart.

Jason Lape

NYS Licensed Master barber.

Owner/operator of “Jays Barbershop”,

located in the village of Hamburg, NY.

Jay is a well versed barber, and highly skilled in his trade.

Because of a desire to always learn and perfect his craft, Jay has apprenticed with a myriad of top barbers throughout the country, in 19 different states.

Jay offers an exceptional premium barbering experience. He’s is a student to his craft, and above all, a friend to his customers.

Jay is your neighborhood barber.

‘Jays barbershop’ is a local hidden gem.

The barbershop is a hip space with an exclusive club like feel. It’s only marketing scheme is word of mouth.

Jay manages an ‘appointment only’ shop, with a schedule that’s booked weeks in advance.

Above all, Jay is an approachable guy, just looking to freshen your style, exceed your expectations and brighten your mood, before sending you away.

This weeks episode I sit down with my sister from the same mister, my older sister Makeda Holt-Devonshire as we discuss what it means to be a nurse and be of service to others while also creating her own business and being a boss on her terms with her body contouring company Nubian Resilience. We also discuss why it's important to always be flexible and adapt to change when it comes your way. Make sure you like, rate, review, share, and subscribe. For more Information on Makeda's company check it out on Instagram @nubian_resilience or @Makeda_nubianresilience as well as her website nubianresilience.com

Audio by Yemi Presented by Real Creative Heart.

Makeda Holt- Devonshire, BSN, RN, MPH. Is a Registered Nurse also known as The “Snatched Queen” owner & founder of Nubian Resilience body studio, where they have provided over 100s of women with getting their confidence back through their non invasive body contouring services such as laser lipo, cavitation, detox sauna treatments, wood therapy, skin tightening and body wraps to name a few. They also recently added Vaginal wellness products, services such as Yoni steaming and Vaginal rejuvenation. They specialize in the body “bounce back” which allows women to regain and maintain their dream body.

This weeks episode I sit down with friend/cousin David Wells aka Davie Dave and we discuss the art of bodybuilding and how important it is to be disciplined while trusting the process. Also how important it is to continue pushing forward even when things might not go as planned as you will find out with some technical difficulties we had to overcome during this interview. Be sure to like, rate, review, share and subscribe.

Audio by Yemi. Presented by Real Creative Heart.

 David Wells is a NPC top six nationally qualified competitor. He's been training for several years now. Of course the goal is to become a professional IFBB pro bodybuilder but for now the game plan is to improve this off-season and take full advantage of it and what it has to offer. Follow him on Instagram @iamdavidwells and Facebook @Davey Dave

This weeks episode I sit down with make-up artist Cassandra Lyons as we discuss the basics of what goes into being a make-up artist and what got her into the world of make-up in film. We also talk briefly about Cassie's time working on the new Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin, out today Friday October 29th. Make sure you, Rate, Review, Subscribe and Share.

Audio by Yemi.

Presented by Real Creative Heart.

Cassandra is an IASTE 798 makeup artist local to Buffalo, NY. She has been an industry makeup artist for 10 years. Her work ranges from working on film sets, commercial sets, and print. Cassandra enjoys the uniqueness of each production and loves meeting new people. 

In this week's episode I sit down with actor, director, teacher and my mentor/friend Stephen McKinley Henderson as we discuss the art of acting and the art of self-revelation. We also chat about what it means to be a teacher and the importance of art in the world, as well as his upcoming projects including the highly anticipated film "Dune" which premieres today October 22nd. So sit back, enjoy and make sure you like, review, subscribe and share.

Audio by Yemi.

Henderson’s work appears in five Oscar nominated films including Denzel Washington’s, Fences, for which Stephen received a Virtuoso Award from the Santa Barbara International Film Festival; Greta Gerwig’s, Lady Bird; Steven Spielberg’s, LINCOLN; Kenneth Lonergan’s, Manchester by the Sea and Stephen Daldry’s, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. This season he can be seen in theatres and on HBO Max in Denis Villeneuve’s, DUNE and Halle Berry’s directorial debut, BRUISED on Netflix. Noteworthy television work includes the FX/HULU series, DEVS; WU TANG: An American Saga; AMC’s Fear of The Walking Dead; HBO’s, THE NEWSROOM; and HBO Films’ Everyday People. His six Broadway shows include two Tony winners for best Revival of a Play, A Raisin in the Sun, and Fences, for which Stephen received a Tony nomination. His OBIE and LUCILLE LORTEL awards are for his work in Stephen Adley Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize Winner, Between Riverside and Crazy.

Live from Buffalo, NY. Real Creative Heart presents in this very First Episode of the Season in the Series Premiere of the "Art is Life Podcast" Actor Russell C. Holt sits down with Producer MJ aka Mike Jones and they discuss his role as a producer in Hollywood and what the art of producing means to him being a black man navigating through as well as his involvement in the upcoming film Cabrini filmed locally in Buffalo. So sit back, relax and enjoy. 

Audio by Yemi

Michael “M.J.” Jones has been involved with films for over 25years. After graduating from West Los Angeles College with an AA Degree in Liberal Arts with an emphasis on Film Production, he started his career in casting on movies such as: Set it Off”, ‘Boyz in the Hood ‘and “ Menace to Society” Television Shows such as “Hoops”, “ Living Single and “ Martin”. He left the movie industry to start a family. After a long and productive career in the public sector, he returned to the Film Industry as an Associate Producer on the film “Marshall” starring Chadwick Boseman, Kate Hudson, Josh Gad, Sterling K. Brown and Dan Stevens