#fort lauderdale

White washed textures , earthy touches and bold marbles come into play in this project by #Belousova ! The feel of calmness …sides with organic nuances and honest materials to collectively create a subdued but powerful look

Grand + monumental in scale; the intriguing shapes and patterns of @chris.shao.studio are conceived with functionality in mind ….the subdued palette has one goal …luxurious living that is understated yet prominent

Contemporary details , soft tones of neutrals, whites + sky (blue) shades …Playful lighting with custom design give a feel of floating and movement in the space …an ethereal look for sure …

by @tarakantointeriors

An elevated sense of a way of living , modernist touches + authentic design are used thoughtfully … functional yet playful … a fun project by @carlydesigns

By Martin Moore | Photos provided by Rick Twombley & Griff King

Over 700,000 followers, on multiple platforms including Instagram, tune into the adventures on Rick and The Griffopotamus, where Rick Twombley and his hubby Griff King project the splendid wonder of a real-life, loving, gay couple while also addressing important themes such as heteronormativity and masc vs. fem.

“Rick and the Griffopotamus are not for everyone,” Griff concedes, “but a lot of people seem to connect to what we do, and those are the people we do it for.”

Just in time for summer, the duo unveiled their newest venture, the Two Kings Unlimited (a combination of their last names) online retailer that features exclusive Rick and Griff merchandise including pajama onesies, erotic playing cards, a coffee table book and their line of phallic sex toys – molded from the real things. We spoke with the guys from their Atlanta home.

Martin Moore: I just watched your rendition of Mary Poppins’ “The Cover is Not the Book” on your YouTube channel. It’s incredible!  
Rick Twombley: Oh, nice! That is such a fun song, but also extremely challenging. Especially Griff’s part toward the end – a total tongue twister and so fast! We practiced it on a drive from Miami to Orlando, had it on repeat for about four hours, but eventually got it. We really wanted to do it because it’s not only a great, positive song, but one we can identify with. People often assume a lot about us just off what they see online, so “The Cover is Not the Book” is a good reminder that perception is not reality.

MM: Are you, two big burly men, into show tunes?
Griff King: Absolutely! Rick was a professional stage performer for nearly twenty years, with a degree in dance and musical theater. He worked on Broadway, with Cirque du Soleil, Disney and more. I grew up watching movie musicals and Disney with my mom. You’d be hard-pressed to name a musical we don’t know every lyric from.

MM: You guys really seem to have fun together. Is that what makes your relationship work so well?
RT: It doesn’t hurt! If you’re going to spend the rest of your life with someone, you need to be able to be dorks, let loose, and bond over common interests. It’s a great stress-reliever.

MM: What other crazy hijinks do you get into when you’re together?
GK: We love spending time with our close friends, hiking, movie nights, and hosting dinners.  Rick is a killer chef! We love to go out dancing, but we’re equally happy cuddling on the couch on a Saturday night with our cats, Willow and Ripley.

MM: Who wears the crown in the relationship?
GK:In our relationship, we both have strengths where one wears it more than the other. As far as managing our business, Rick is better suited. He’s more organized, business-minded, and has a ridiculously good eye for details.

MM: Whose idea was it to launch your wildly popular social page, Rick and the Griffopotamus?
RT: The idea for starting a joint social media actually came from our friends, especially after Griff’s rendition of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from The Little Mermaid went viral on Facebook.

MM: Was the idea to make the page a brand?  
GK: The original motivation wasn’t necessarily to be a brand, but just to create a stage to entertain. Even with our sexier posts, we try to incorporate humor, creativity, fun, and a bit of tongue-in-cheek fantasy.
RT: The branding and business side came later when we realized just how much people were wanting to take that journey with us. We started getting requests for calendars and other items.

MM: Are the sex toys your best sellers?
RT: Our sex toy line has now sold out five times! New stock is always coming. We also had a line of onesies designed which are absolutely fantastic and available for pre-order. Calendars and an erotic playing card deck based on a series of photos we did on Instagram are also in production.

MM: Tell us about the coffee table book.
GK: That’s the project we are most excited about! It is an erotic coffee table book, very much inspired by Madonna’s “Sex” book from the ‘90s. We spent the past year traveling to shoot with some legendary photographers like Mike Ruiz, Michael Stokes, and Mack Sturgis. They all captured some extremely mind-blowing and highly NSFW images that we can’t wait to share!

MM: What are your world-dominating goals for Two Kings Unlimited?
RT: The sky’s the limit, really. We have our merchandising and other major projects in the pipeline. We’re continuing to grow our social media platforms, and we’ll continue to push boundaries and show the reality that a genuine, fun-loving married couple can also be sexual beings who are not ashamed about celebrating and showcasing the erotic elements of their relationship.  
GK: We try our best to be role models by living our lives very unapologetically, transparently, and with a huge love of adventure. We want to inspire people who feel trapped or pressured to conform to societal expectations to do the same, embrace their inherent power, and not be shoved into the boxes that society wants them to fit into.

VisitTwoKingsUnlimited.com. Follow on Instagram at Rick_and_the_Griffopotamus.

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Issue 8.2020

By Rafa Carvajal | Photos provided by Toyota Motor Corporation

The Toyota GR Supra A91 Edition nods to the company’s well-known sportscar past with a new two-seater sports-coupe that pushes the limits and delivers upgraded performance, power, agility, and style. The GR Supra A91 features a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine that produces 382 horsepower at 5,800-6,500 rpm, 368 lb-ft of torque, and a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and sport pedals. 

Some of the standard options in the A91 include black-painted satin-finish duckbill carbon-fiber spoiler; black/blue Alcantara leather-trimmed sport seats with blue stitching; 500W, 12-speaker JBL 62 High Fidelity surround sound system; and 8.8-in. touchscreen with Supra Command featuring touchpad control, navigation, digital audio, wireless Apple CarPlay, and voice recognition; amongst others. This car boasts a lower center of gravity that has all the parts balanced perfectly, and its ‘golden ratio’ makes it ideal to handle by allowing the immediate driver to road awareness.

The GR Supra A91 is a small aerodynamic masterpiece. You will definitely enjoy an optimum driving experience behind the wheel of this sportscar. Priced from $55,990.

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Issue 8.2020

LUCKY CAT MASK FROM VISTAPRINT
Show off your unique personality with these Neko Cat reusable masks with a replaceable filter system. The bright colors and cute cats show that you have a fun side. $18

MAKALI'I FACE MASK FROM KONA SUPPLY CO.
These machine washable vibrant masks have a flourishing flower print to add some color to the bleak world of masks. They come with a 205-thread-count made of 100% cotton. $14.99

THE SUSTAINABLE MASK FROM CHRISTY DAWN
For a low price, you get five different washable and reusable masks in varying colors. With this color scheme there’s no such thing as ‘plaid’ publicity. $30

THREE PACK OF ESSEX MASKS FROM BONRISU
These three stylish, reusable masks will be a statement at the office. Made from the same posh 100% cotton as dress shirts mixed with a muslin cotton layer, plus a pocket to add a filter. $48

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Issue 8.2020

By Alyn Darnay

I personally did not know what the title of the film 7500 referred to, so let’s start by clarifying the meaning of the title. When a pilot squawks 7500 into his headset, it’s code for “I’ve been hijacked.” The responding signal from air traffic control will be “confirm you’re squawking 7500.” If you say yes, law enforcement will immediately be called to help.

There have been many films about the hijacking of aircraft. Some better than others, but this time the action stays entirely inside the cockpit. That sets up a very realistic and highly claustrophobic drama that plays well on the viewer’s nerves.

It’s not often we see a film abandon rah-rah heroics for what could be the authenticity of a real situation. That’s where this film excels; it’s also where it fails. It appears that when too much hand-wrenching and claustrophobic anxiety continues for too long a time, 90 minutes in this case, the drama becomes too exhausting to be enjoyable. You can respect the director’s ability to follow the story all the way through without breaking the spell, but when the continued actions become predictable, as it does here, boredom sets in and reality flies out the window.

Here’s The Storyline…

When American co-pilot Tobias Ellis (Gordon-Levitt), on a routine flight from Berlin to Paris, steps into the cockpit of his plane and begins his pre-flight checks, he anticipates nothing more than a simple trip to a town where he and his flight attendant girlfriend (Tezel) can be together for a few hours.

Joking with the pilot (Kitzlinger) as Tobias takes off, they prepare for the drinks and sandwiches that are regularly served to them after they reach altitude. However, what comes in with the food are two terrorists who fight them for control of the plane. The pilot is severely injured and Tobias is wounded, but they manage to regain control and lock the cockpit door before the rest of the terrorists can gain entry. What follows is a harrowing cat and mouse game for possession of the plane.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers an excellent performance as a mild-mannered everyman dealing with an untenable situation. He is flawless in his actions and actually makes the film worth the watch. The other performances are also good, even though the characters are more than a bit clichéd.

7500  is available from Amazon Studios starting Thursday, June 18th.

My take…

Even with its obvious flaws, 7500 still manages to deliver a tense terror-filled thrill ride that’s a little out of the ordinary. You might want to check it out.

Written & Directed By: Patrick Vollrath
Cast: Joseph Gordon-levitt, Aylin Tezel, Omid Memar, Carlo Kitzlinger, And Murathan Muslu

7500
Rating: 3 Stars (out of 5)
Rated: R (for violence/terror and language)
Running Time: 1 hour & 32 minutes

Alyn Darnay is a film critic; feedback is encouraged at [email protected].

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Issue 8.2020

By Alyn Darnay

Judd Apatow, a director known for both his edgy comic dramas and his eye for discovering unknown talent, has not been living up to his reputation lately. The King Of Staten Island is a prime example of that. I seriously don’t know what I’d classify this film as. Is it a comedy perhaps? No, because unless I missed something, there isn’t a single laugh in the whole film. OK, so maybe it’s a drama then? Again, no, because the drama is so light you miss that too. I guess I might refer to it as a stoner film, or cotton candy for the school-age set, or maybe even a tattoo tribute film.

Whatever you call it, the film is painful to watch. Maybe that’s the whole idea; make a film for people who want to watch two hours of its main character going through a meaningless, painful daily existence. Now there’s an idea I never again wish to see come to fruition.

I like Pete Davidson, he’s funny, so I’m baffled. On the one hand, you have a talented young comic actor – a mainstay on Saturday Night Live with a large fan base. On the other hand, you have a lost and very troubled young individual, and you choose to tell a loosely based, vapid story of his mental challenges instead of his rise to comic acceptance. That could have been an excellent film. This is not.

Here’s the storyline…

Twenty-four-year-old Scott (Davidson), a weed-smoking slacker, is still living at home with his overworked ER nurse mother (Tomei) on Staten Island.

He dreams of being a tattoo artist, an art form he seems to have little or no actual talent for. He’s quite satisfied sitting on a couch with his buds, getting lost in online games and clouds of smoke, while occasionally hooking up with his childhood friend Kelsey (Powley). When his younger sister (Apatow) heads off to college, and a firefighter named Ray (Burr) starts dating his mother, Scott’s life starts taking a radical turn. Among the many things bothering him about his mom’s dating is the fact that it brings up the painful memory of his father, also a firefighter, who died in a fire when Scott was seven.

These two major developments, and several other minor chains-of-events, force Scott into the world in a way he never expected. Can he survive the catharsis and become a functional human being, or will he get lost in the ‘morass of the lost’?

There is nothing new here; it’s a standard doper film without the usual humor. The fact that Davidson is appealing as a performer, and has some real acting chops, helps the story a bit, but all his charisma doesn’t help the film come far enough to make it palatable for a general audience.

The film was released worldwide on Friday, June 12th.

My take…

If you’re up for this kind of film, by all means, watch it. Personally, I’d rather watch Harold and Kumar Go to White CastleorSuperbadagain.

Directed By: Judd Apatow
Screenplay By: Judd Apatow, Pete Davidson, Dave Sirus
Cast: Pete Davidson, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Bel Powley, Maude Apatow, Ricky Velez, And Steve Buscemi

THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND
Rating: 2.5 Stars (out of 5)
Rated: R (for language, drug use throughout, sexual content and some violence)
Running Time: 2 hours & 17 minutes

Alyn Darnay is a film critic; feedback is encouraged at [email protected].

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Issue 8.2020

[email protected]

APPLE WATCH PRIDE EDITION SPORTS BAND
Apple is proud to support LGBTQ advocacy organizations working to bring about positive change. This rainbow band is assembled by hand from individual strips of colored fluoroelastomer. $49

LEVI’S PRIDE BELT
Levi’s message for pride this year is: 

Use Your Voice! This belt has so much to say with its vibrant multi-colored full-grain leather. $48

PINK SUNDAYS PRIDE DAD HAT
This versatile hat offers the perfect cover up for sunny days when your face needs some shade. Maybe you’re hiding that bad haircut – this cute hat has you covered, literally! $26.50

PRIDE CHUCK TAYLOR ALL STAR
You can never go wrong with a classic Chuck, but the fact that these got pimped out in pride style makes them even cooler. Check out the other pride Chucks while you’re at it. $65

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Digital Issue 6.2020

By Brian Falduto, The Gay Life Coach

Whether it was something you started brainstorming right away or something that occurred to you somewhere along in the quarantined state of the world, “How can I use this time to reinvent myself?” is likely a question you’ve thought about in the past however many weeks or so. We are in the slow but sure process of unfreezing things and that thawing process is coincidentally coinciding with Pride Season. I feel it’s a good time to discuss how the queer community specifically can “come out” of this stronger as our resilient type tend to do after trying times.

I remember when I finally came out of the closet my senior year of college, I wanted the world to stop for a moment. At that time, when the truth about who I was became non-negotiable, I didn’t know that coming out is actually a healing process. I didn’t know that I would have to spend the next chapter of my life battling 14 years of internalized homophobia and discovering a rejected self that was hidden in shame. Instead, I just waltzed into my twenties completely out of tune with who I was and with very little time to figure it out. I had to navigate my new role as a gay man while finishing college, getting a job, ending a relationship, moving into my first apartment, and all the while having to provide status updates to friends and family that were anything but reflective of what was going on inside.

During this healing chapter I didn’t know I was entering, the most important improvements on my relationship with myself have come during the quiet moments. They’ve often arrived right when I’ve started to slow down, or even more often when I’ve crashed and burned from going too fast. They’ve arrived on nights where I was alone with nothing but my own thoughts and feelings to keep me company. And they’ve arrived in the form of hurt. When I look back at some of the perceived tragedies of my twenties, I see that they were actually the biggest moments of growth.

Quiet. Loneliness. Tragedy. Does any of the above sound familiar? Look, we all know at its core that this pandemic is a bad thing with a negative impact. It comes with so many unanswered questions and troubling concerns. But I’d like to propose an additional way of looking at it, and that is as the healing time that I, and perhaps we, have been waiting for.

If you think about what being in the closet is, it’s a form of compartmentalization where we disassociate from aspects of ourselves that don’t feel important or worthy enough to present to the world. Those beautifully valid parts of our being get tucked away in the back of our mind and covered with lies. Then, when the lies get removed, there’s still shame, so then we cover up even more with busy schedules and vibrant social lives and beautiful photos of ourselves posted on Instagram, so that no one has to see or deal with the real core of the problem which generally tends to be a lack of love for ourselves. After all, we don’t know who it is that we are loving because we haven’t had the chance to heal. The amount of instant pride we expect from those that come out as LGBTQ after living an incomplete life is basically what it’d be like to ask a brand new dancer to perform triple pirouettes proudly even though they’ve never tried anything like that before.

If this time of being quarantined has been particularly difficult for you, a good question to ask is, “Why?” And pay attention to what comes up. Is it something you’ve been avoiding? For me, some of the difficult moments have been the uncomfortable ones where I’ve realized how many aspects of myself were still being skipped over with the hustle and bustle of normal life. When these thoughts and feelings get uncovered after years of collecting dust, they can be a bit surprising. And as anyone who’s ever been in a haunted house knows, not all surprises feel good.

I love Pride Season. I love getting my shortest shorts on and coordinating tank top colors with my friends. I love partying and celebrating a part of myself I never thought I’d even acknowledge, never mind flaunt around the West Village. And it’s okay to grieve the loss of all that. But what if this June is a little less about pride and a little more about healing? It is yourself that you should be most proud of anyway so who better to celebrate it with than you. Perhaps if we get a little quiet with ourselves this year, we can be even louder and prouder next year than we’ve ever been before.
 
I wrote this piece prior to the recent current events involving the Black Lives Matter movement. I want to add that I stand in full support of that messaging and I encourage everyone inside and outside the LGBTQ community to get loud and take the action needed against racial injustice. Let us remember, though, what the Lesbian American writer, feminist, womanist, librarian, and civil rights activist Audre Lorde said, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation and that is an act of political warfare.” On the topic of healing, it’s clear that America needs just as much healing as prescribed above for LGBTQ persons, if not more. Let us make sure we lead that effort by doing that work on ourselves while we stand up for what we believe in. We can be of better help this way as it is physically impossible to pour from an empty cup.

Brian Falduto is an ICF certified LGBTQ Life Coach who is best known for his child actor days as “that gay kid from School of Rock.” Brian has launched The Gay Life Coach Podcast and you can catch his latest life coaching podcasts on his website brianfalduto.com or follow him on Instagram @thegaylifecoach.

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Digital Issue 7.2020

By Alyn Darnay

You rarely hear me fawning over a movie, but when I finally get the opportunity to review a really enjoyable film, well, it’s just great. The High Note is such a film. It hits all the right “notes.” It doesn’t take itself too seriously, it isn’t too heavy, or preachy, or over-wroth with emotion. It just slides right into that “this is fun to watch” category. You might feel like you’ve seen this film before, but you really haven’t. It just feels that way because it’s so dang comfortable and easy-going.

Above all that, the film’s highest note is its music, which throughout is better than almost any recent movie I’ve seen that’s set inside the music industry. The last time I loved a score this much was by Eminem in 8 Mile, and that was a long time ago. The team of songwriter Sarah Aarons and producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins turned what could have been a lame series of tunes into an outstanding showcase for the exceptional vocal talents of both Tracee Ellis Ross’ and Kelvin Harrison Jr.

If you didn’t know, Tracee Ellis Ross, who has been a popular lead actress in such Television shows as GirlfriendsandBlack-ish, is in real life Diana Ross’ daughter. Like her mother, she has a wonderful singing voice, but until now hasn’t been able to capitalize on it. This film and its wonderful main song “Love Myself” should change that for her.

Here’s the storyline…

Grace Davis (Ross), a 40-year-old superstar singer whose life has become an endless series of moving from one concert to another, is being pushed into a Las Vegas residency she does not want, by both her manager (Ice Cube) and her record label. Her dedicated and overworked assistant Maggie (Johnson), who aspires to become a music producer herself and is re-working some of Grace’s classic tunes, thinks it’s the wrong move. She believes it’s time for Grace to start writing again and record some new material.When Maggie stumbles upon a talented new singer (Harrison) and convinces him to let her produce his music, a series of events is unleashed that will change everyone’s life forever. Everything in the film echoes what one imagines is the reality of Los Angeles’ glitzy music scene, with its flashy personalities, fast cars, expensive wardrobes, lavish parties, big promotional shindigs, and powerful agents. It’s all there and just a lot of fun to watch. Director Nisha Ganatra has managed to somehow capture the life of a superstar in a most engaging way. It’s a refreshing change from the destructive behavior we’re used to seeing in this type of film. Adding to that, Tracee and Dakota make a great team, playing off each other with such humor and sensitivity, you’re just forced to love them both. The High Note was released on Video on Demand Friday, May 29, 2020. My take… The High Note is a musical treat, with a lot of easy-going soul to it. I think you might just fall in love with this one. Check it out.

Directed by: Nisha Ganatra
Screenplay by: Flora Greeson

Cast: Dakota Johnson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Zoë Chao, Bill Pullman, Eddie Izzard, and Ice Cube

THE HIGH NOTE
Rating: 4.5 Stars (out of 5) 
Rated: PG-13 
(for some strong language, and suggestive references) 
Running Time: 1 hour & 53 minutes

Alyn Darnay is a film critic; feedback is encouraged at [email protected].

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Digital Issue 7.2020

By Rafa Carvajal
Photos by Stas Vokman

This week’s cover story is a photo essay of beautiful Russian model, actor and fitness trainer David Lurs by Moscow based photographer Stas Vokman. It includes some information about David, so you can get to know him a little bit better.

David Lurs

Profession: Model, actor and fitness trainer

Born: St. Petersburg, Russia

Sports growing up: Football, ice skating and Thai boxing

Self description: Creative, hard-working and kind

Favorite hobby: Fitness

Interests: Theaters, clubs, cinemas, traveling and meeting new people

Staying in shape: Hard work in the gym, five times a week

Nutrition tip: Care about what you are eating. Food is the main thing

Favorite photo shoot location: Sea and beaches with a sunset

First photo shoot: Russian photographer Andrew Vishnikov

Favorite food: Salmon

Boxers or briefs: Briefs

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Digital Issue 6.2020

By Nick Sedbrook

Today, Pride refers to the celebrations held in June where the queer community and our allies gather and celebrate in safe public spaces. However, not long ago, pride was seldom a word that a gay person would use to describe their feelings about their own sexuality. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) peoples were not always able to proclaim their identities freely. The queer community has fought hard to ensure that people are respected regardless of a label. But, exactly how far has the Gay Liberation Movement come?

Flashback fifty-one years ago, when police raids were as American as apple pie. People who rebelled against the traditional culture of the ‘50s were subject to discrimination. Like other marginalized groups of the era, gays had a limited amount of spaces to congregate and feel safe. Most of these places were bars – which were not even owned by members of the queer community. However, even in these supposed safe places, police still harassed them. Until one day, patrons of the Stonewall Inn – a gay bar in the Greenwich Village area of Manhattan – decided that LGBTQ citizens deserved equal rights.

That day was June 28, 1969. Ten New York Police Department (NYPD) policemen invaded Stonewall early that morning to perform a routine raid. Instead of accepting things the way they are, the customers in the bar chose to fight back. The scene erupted into more than 500 protestors challenging police authority outside the bar. The next day, multiple NYPD precincts swarmed Greenwich Village to control the protests. They were met with nearly 1,000 rioters proclaiming their distaste for the current system.

The protests continued into the next week. LGBTQ people grew tired of being oppressed. Rather than feeling ashamed, they decided to show Pride.

The Stonewall Inn riots were a series of violent protests against inequality based on sexual orientation. Thankfully, people like Marsha P. Johnson – an African American drag queen – resisted the oppression. The repercussions of the riots reverberated around the country. The message was clear – the LGBTQ community is here. Rather than feeling embarrassed for being different, they chose to celebrate it and fight for their right to express themselves. That night carved gay rights into the tree of the 1960s counterculture.

A year after Stonewall, on June 28, 1970, the first Pride marches took place in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Other cities around the world held similar events to commemorate the historic riots. Since then, most Pride events take place in late June. These celebrations are a way to see how far the queer community has progressed since 1969. So, although there may not be any parades or festivities happening for Pride this year, let’s give thanks that there is such a month dedicated to our community. Remember the people who fought for the rainbow to be worn proudly.

At one point, being gay was synonymous with being a criminal. Never feel guilty for being different, and always show your PRIDE!

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Digital Issue 6.2020

By Brian Falduto, The Gay Life Coach

One of the things that have been interesting during this time is the almost completely opposite counterbalance of struggles that I think people would generally identify with. For example, I suffer from chronic anxiety and have found that a lot of my symptoms have alleviated during this pandemic because, in a way, a lot of the variables of day-to-day life have become more fixed and controlled. My peers who would not normally call themselves anxious are struggling to cope with all the uncertainty and risk. In a similar parallel, I consider myself to be both an introvert and a master at disassociation at times, and my extroverted peers who seem to seamlessly integrate themselves into the flow of things as their standard are now coming up against some new territory that require skills that to me have always felt very familiar and perhaps even commonplace to how I function.

A point I want to make (and I’m not sure everyone who suffers from this will agree with me) is that I wouldn’t trade my anxiety for the chance to not be anxious. I’ve done the work – and I mean a lot of work – on my relationship with that voice inside my head that contains all the wonderful feelings that come with anxiety that are honestly too many to name. And also, scratch that – I haven’t done the work, I’m doing the work. It’s a constant battle. But even before COVID-19 showed me the benefits of the survival tactics I’ve picked up over the years, I knew that there was a sensitive, creative, and vulnerable part of me that my anxiety came about to protect. Sometimes I need to gently ask my anxiety, whom I call Justin, to step into the next room so that I can be present with whatever I’m doing. But Justin is just a part of me as everything else I hold dear to who I am and I’m well aware he’s not going anywhere, so it benefits me more to create space for him.

If you’ve stopped reading because you’re convinced I’m a schizophrenic, that’s fine. If you’re still with me, I shall stop bragging about how many surprisingly adequate tools I’ve found in my toolbox for dealing with the global pandemic, and I want to instead move on to sharing some of what I practice with you because it’s never too late to start building your toolbox. After all, toolboxes are filled with items meant to help with starting a project or fixing up an old one, and it’s certainly true that the world needs some fixing up at the moment and perhaps even a restart. 

Justin is an example of a tool. Even just naming that voice that fills you with fear is a massively productive way of bringing awareness to it. Awareness is the greatest agent for change because it takes a problem that you’re facing and it stops it from creating a tornado of thought inside your head, and it instead allows you to hold the problem in your hand and look at it with some perspective. Right now, the entire world is experiencing a tornado of negative information, doubt and uncertainty, so one can only imagine what is going on inside someone’s brain. What should be understood about anxious individuals is that at any given moment on any given day, and sometimes even for no particular reason, a tornado of worrisome thought can appear out of nowhere. Fishing into that toolbox in response to that hurricane of thought becomes a necessity.

My suggestion for those who are not used to the presence of their Justin in their lives would be to stop fighting him. This is the first time any of us have experienced something like this. It is unprecedented. Of course, Justin is going to try and swoop in and protect us with all these fight-or-flight thoughts inside our brain. Protectors don’t just go away when we ask them to. Ever heard of an overbearing mom or a cop who gives out too many speeding tickets? Sometimes they overstep and, similarly, everyone’s Justin is probably getting a little carried away with his attempts to protect them. But just like the world needs moms and the world needs cops, you need your Justin. So stop fighting him and instead create some space for him.

If you do not have a mindfulness practice or a way to create space around the thoughts that are taking over your head during this time, find your anxious friend and ask them to help you start building a toolbox. I guarantee they know your struggle and they want to help. Choosing to stay in the eye of a tornado of thoughts seems peaceful momentarily, but really you’re just trapped.

Editor’s Note
Brian Falduto is an ICF certified LGBTQ life coach, but he is best known for his child actor days as “that gay kid from School of Rock.” Recently named by PrideLife Magazine as “one of the 20 most influential, outspoken and optimistic individuals on the planet,” Brian wrapped a cross country #PrideTour this past summer inclusive of Sacramento Pride, RI Pride, Brooklyn Pride, Dallas Pride, and more. His Now This News interview has reached an audience of just under 5 million, and he’s had similar reach with his Advocate essay. Brian’s latest single, “Like a Wave” dropped just last month and is now rippling its way through the digital streaming world. Brian is the lead in a new series, Fishing, which will hit the web soon. Additionally, Brian has launched “The Gay Life Coach Podcast,” which will be hosted by Brian and will feature some of the queer community’s most prominent storytellers. Meanwhile, you can catch his latest press and content updates on his website, brianfalduto.com.

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Digital Issue 6.2020

By Alyn Darnay

Directed by: Autumn De Wilde 
Screenplay by: Eleanor Catton
Based on: Jane Austen’s beloved comedy novel EMMA

Cast:Anya Taylor-joy, johnny Flynn, josh O'connor, Callum Turner, Mia Goth, Miranda Hart, Bill Nighy

There’s something unique, beautiful, and visually stunning about the way that British filmmakers try to recreate a certain era of their history. I’m referring to the Georgian/Regency era when big manor houses dotted the countryside and the polite society of upper-class nobility lived a charmed and somewhat jaded existence. It’s an historic period that Jane Austen wrote about with a deft pen, a Wiley sense of humor, a heartfelt understanding of, and a not so hidden love for.

EMMA, probably the tamest of Austen’s novels, has been brought to life many times, four movies, of course a BBC series, and also as a pop musical featuring hit songs by legendary girl groups. Perhaps the most interesting film interpretation for our times was Clueless, the witty comedy set in Los Angeles starring Alicia Silverstone and the late Brittany Murphy. The thing about EMMA that makes the story so timeless is its sensibilities toward love, kindness, forgiveness, empathy, and generosity amid the humorous antics of its broad cast of oddly driven characters.

Unfortunately, this film came out in February, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was escalating, and its release was cut short before it could find a broad audience. Now, however, on a new digital release and on streaming networks it will finally get a chance to transport its viewers to a beautifully envisioned time when matters of the heart reign supreme.

Here’s the storyline…

EMMA, written in 1815, is one of Jane Austen’s most beloved books. It’s a comedy/drama about love within a tangled web of woe-begotten relationships and everyone’s attempts at finding their own happy ending. 

Twenty-one year old Emma Woodhouse (Taylor-Joy), whose charmed life and social leadership has led her into a series of misguided and meddlesome matchmaking efforts, has to constantly find ways out of the entanglements she herself has wrought.

As travails descend upon her from a myriad of directions, she finds herself drawn into the matchmaking fray, when her own sense of desire rears its head, and Emma discovers she also needs love and affection. 

This film version of the story, visually sumptuous as it is, and it is a real treat for the eye, is a bit too long for its own good. At over two hours the story tends to drag in several places. It also lacks some of the book’s humor, which fans have come to love about it.

What is terrific though, is the total recreation of the period. The smallest detail is painstakingly and meticulously placed in front of your eyes. Each scene is its own painting of the bygone era. It’s as if a museum came to life. And it didn’t stop with the scenery. Under the watchful direction of Autumn de Wilde, the actors themselves did a brilliant job of recreating the verbiage of the times, the walk and movement of the era, even the mannerisms or reactions expected of people of that time.

My take… EMMA is a treat for the eye. However, if a story doesn’t grab me in the first four minutes, then it takes me a while to get into the film. That’s the problem here. This film caught and held me with its visual content; unfortunately, the story never reached the level of the novel.

EMMA

Rating: 3.5 Stars (out of 5)
Rated: PG (for brief partial nudity)
Running Time: 2 hours & 12 minutes

Alyn Darnay is a film critic; feedback is encouraged at [email protected].

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Digital Issue 6.2020

By John Stein | Photos by Jay Fuertez

Nick Stracener is best known to his 200,000 followers on Instagram for wearing close to nothing at all. In real life, however, he wears many hats. In addition to being a social media star, he’s a nationally qualified men’s physique athlete, an international flight attendant, and a DJ/producer whose new remix of Lindsay Lohan’s “Back to Me” was recently heralded by the Hollywood actress. What doesn’t the soon-to-be husband do?Wire Magazine spoke with Nick from his Dallas home. 

John Stein: Before breaking into DJing, you traveled the world as a go-go boy!
DJ Nick Stracener: I’ve go-go danced in Dallas, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego, Toronto, Oklahoma City, Austin, and a few other cities that I can’t remember off the top of my head. 

JS: Was it fun?
NS:It was a great opportunity to really let loose, express myself, be creative, and come out of my shell. I’m naturally a shy person, but when I’m on stage or on the box, I feel confident. 

JS:Do go-go boys get the respect they deserve?
NS: I don’t think so. These guys spend countless hours in the gym and maintain strict diets year-round just so they stay booked at all the biggest events. It takes a lot of commitment to stay in top physical form all year. 

JS: So, how did you make the jump from the box to the booth? 
NS: I am a self-taught DJ. After putting my second mix on Soundcloud, DILF Party reached out to me to open up for Kitty Glitter in Dallas. That went really well and I was booked for DILF Atlanta and DILF LA and the gigs kept rolling in. Then COVID-19 hit. 

JS:How would you describe your style of music?
NS: It’s a combination of indigenous rhythms with a lot of sultry uplifting female vocals. I want to give you something upbeat to dance to most of the time, but also take you on a journey with slow moments so you can experience different emotions. Music, to me, is therapy and a way to escape life’s biggest hurdles.

JS:Who are your favorite divas?
NS:Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Whitney Hou-ston, J.Lo, and Lindsay Lohan.

JS:Let’s talk Lindsay. Has she heard your remix of “Back to Me”?
NS: Yes, she did! My friend, who knows Lindsay, sent it to her. She sent me a video telling me how much she liked the remix and that she would like to meet me at some point. So yeah, that was pretty exciting. I hope I do get the chance to meet her one day.

JS: What inspired you to remix her song?
NS: I am drawn to Lindsay’s confidence and how she comes across so fierce. She’s an entrepreneur, which is something that I can relate to.

JS: She also battles her share of criticism online. Do you?
NS: I encounter bullies every week on my Instagram. When people are behind a keyboard, they will say anything. It really used to get to me. I’ve gotten better at not taking things personally. The more I ignore, the happier I am.

JS: Are you as bold and confident as you project on Instagram?
NS: Bold, yes. Confident, not always. I want people to know that behind the risqué pictures and the body, there is an actual human being. I have feelings, just like everyone. I am a shy and introverted person until you take a minute to get to know me.

JS:Are you keeping up with your workout routine during these weeks in quarantine?
NS: I’m trying! I found a set of dumbbells on Craigslist and bought some cables.

JS: What’s the deal with wearing the leotard?  
NS: (Laughing) I don’t usually sport women’s clothing, but every once in a while, I do like to create an Instagram post that makes a state-ment. The brand I’m wearing is called EX-SL and it’s a men’s lingerie company. You can be as masculine or feminine as you want. I hate labels. Masculinity is not defined by what you wear.

JS:Tell us about becoming a nationally qualified men’s physique athlete. What did you have to do to achieve that?
NS: To become nationally qualified, you have to place first or second at a show. My first show took place in Houston in 2018. I placed 4th. Shortly after, I competed in Dallas at the Ronnie Coleman Classic. I worked on my posing and tweaked my diet, and took first! It was one of the proudest moments of my life!

JS: How often do you work out?
NS: Pre-corona, I would work out six days a week. Chest is my favorite. It’s also one of the hardest muscles for me to grow.

JS:Do you follow a strict diet?  
NS: My meals usually consist of a good protein, a good carb, and a good fat like avocado. I try and stay away from fried foods and sugar. I drink a lot of unsweet tea with Splenda to satisfy my sweet tooth; definitely a southern thing.

JS:How has the pandemic impacted your job as a flight attendant?  
NS: The pandemic has vastly affected everyone in the airline industry. Personally, I haven’t been able to pick up any extra flying, and that means bills are getting harder to pay and my anxiety has been super bad lately.

JS: You’ve been open on Instagram about your struggles with depression and anxiety.  
NS: My anxiety levels have skyrocketed over the last few weeks. I expected it would. A lot is from worrying about things that are out of my control.

JS:Is your fiancé helping to keep your spirits up?
NS: My fiancé, CX, has been an incredible source of light through all of this. He reminds me how far I’ve come and encourages me to stay positive. We have been staying very busy with our two new fur babies, Oliver and Olivia. They don’t allow us a whole lot of time to dwell on the situation at hand, which has been a blessing.

JS: Where can fans find you during this time of COVID-19?  
NS: I have done a couple of live streams on Instagram and Facebook. I just got some better equipment, so I will be doing even more soon.

JS: Any shout outs to your Miami fans?
NS: I just want to thank all of you for supporting me and my music, and I can’t wait to be back in beautiful Miami real soon!

Visit nickstracener.com. Follow Nick Stracener on Instagram @thenickstracener. A free download of Nick Stracener’s remix of Lindsay Lohan’s “Back to Me” is available now at soundcloud.com/nickstracener/lindsay-lohan-back-to-me-nick-stracener-remix

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Digital Issue 5.2020

By Rafa Carvajal | Photos provided by General Motors

The 2020 Stingray Corvette is Chevrolet’s first-ever mid-engine Corvette and the fastest, most powerful entry one. It delivers new levels of performance, technology, craftsmanship and luxury. The new mid-engine layout gives the 2020 Stingray better weight distribution, and better responsiveness and sense of control with the driver positioning closer to the front axle. It also delivers the fastest 0-60 time of any entry Corvette ever – under three seconds when equipped with the Z51 Performance Package. The Stingray sports a 6.2L Small Block V-8 LT2 engine that produces 495 horsepower of torque when equipped with performance exhaust, which is the most horsepower and torque for any entry Corvette. The 2020 Stingray’s canopy forward stance was actually inspired by the F22s, F35s and other modern fighter jets and Formula One racing, with a cockpit that envelops the driver to match its high performance and aeronautic theme. With Stingray’s center of gravity placed close to the driver’s inside hip, this sports car literally turns around the driver, so it completely changes the perception of vehicle handling and responsiveness. It also has dual trunks with a total of 12.6 cubic feet of cargo volume that can provide you storage for luggage or even two sets of golf clubs. Priced from $59,995.

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Digital Issue 5.2020

By Alyn Darnay

If you’re a film fan, as I am, you know that there are thousands of really great films out there just waiting to be discovered and watched. I’m referring to the truly wonderful films, the ones we never forget, those we unexpectedly stumbled upon made by the most talented of filmmakers; films that we’ve missed, overlooked, or just didn’t know about until they were right there in front of our eyes as we watched. The common denominator of these rare film experiences is that in one way or another the films speak to you, make you feel something on some emotional level, and leave you thinking, or laughing, or smiling, or scared, or even angry.

The curse of finding and watching one of these movies is that once we’ve seen it, once we’ve experienced it and it hits us on that visceral level, we soon begin to hunger for that next visual treat, and the next, and the next. The problem is finding the exceptional films that have us experiencing them in this way is not so easy. I believe an appropriate expression is, “You’ve got to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince.”

I’m not saying all film experiences are or should be like that, nor do they have to be. Though that would be nice. We all have different tastes and what we watch is often driven by our mood at the moment. So, here in Part Three, after already suggesting mostly classic films, I’m considering mood, and putting out another set of movies to watch, but this time they’re of a more escapist style. From high octane thrill rides to complicated heist films and lots of good things in between. They are all available on one or more of the streaming services or on YouTube. So have some fun watching and here we go.

GASOLINE ACTION FILMS

The Driver (1978):Directed by Walter Hill. It’s the story of a getaway driver (Ryan O’Neal), who is pursued by a persistent detective (Bruce Dern).

Drive:A Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a getaway driver runs into big trouble when he helps out his beautiful neighbor.

Baby Driver: A talented young getaway driver with an ear for music, is coerced into taking part in a heist that is doomed to fail.

Vanishing Point(1971): Kowalski, a long-distance car delivery driver trying to get back home in record time, runs afoul of police in states all over the West. The 1997 remake is not nearly as good as this original.

DIRECTOR JOHN CARPENTER TRILOGY

Assault On Precinct 13 (1976):Officers and prisoners are forced to defend a lonely police precinct under siege by a huge street gang. The original is the best, but the 2005 remake is also good.

Big Trouble In Little China:A tough trucker fights to rescue his girlfriend from an ancient sorcerer beneath Chinatown.

Starman:An alien takes the form of a widow’s deceased husband who helps him escape the clutches of government bad guys.

DIRECTOR RENNY HARLIN TRILOGY

The Long Kiss Goodnight:As an amnesia patient regains her memory, her violent CIA past begins to catch up with her.

Cliffhanger: After a mid-air heist goes bad, a mountain rescue team is forced to help the thieves search for the money they lost on top of the Rocky Mountains

The Adventures Of Ford Fairlane:A vulgar PI hired to find a missing groupie is pulled into a murder mystery in the music industry.

HEIST FILMS

The Sting:Two grifters, Paul Newman and Robert Redford, team up to pull off the ultimate con.

The Score:De Niro, Norton, and Brando plan their biggest heist. Great performances delivered with edge-of-your-seat tension.

The Killing(1956): Five criminals plan and execute a daring race track heist. Great early Stanley Kubrick Film.

Kelly’s Heroes(1970): Clint Eastwood leads a band of soldiers across enemy lines to steal a stash of Nazi Gold.

JUST DOWN RIGHT EXCITING FILMS

Three Days Of The Condor:CIA researcher finds his co-workers dead and must find out why to save his own life.

The Guest: A soldier shows up at the home of a fallen hero, claiming to be his friend. The family takes him in. Shortly after, strange things begin to happen.

The Getaway(1972):Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw run for the border as ruthless hitmen chase them. The 1994 remake is nowhere near as good.

Rollerball (1975): In a corporate-controlled world, one athlete in the ultra-violent sport defies those who want him out of the game. Make sure it’s this version; the 2002 remake isn’t worth your time.

Once again there should be enough for everyone in this collection of films. I hope they helped make your quarantine hours a little more exciting. Stay safe and healthy!

This was originally published in Wire Magazine Digital Issue 5.2020