Compelling Content is the Holy Grail of the Modern Era.
Disconnect for a moment from that mobile device.
Follow the graceful path of a well-ordained thought through more than 140 characters.
Look past the red carpet, or the fabricated "reality" that society is so enamored of lately.
A well-crafted article, whether op. ed. or interview, tells a story that runs deeper. Characterized by multivalent meaning, self-aware writing style, and a fair amount of idealism, these articles highlight my editorial involvement with New York Moves Publications.
Cover Interviews & Articles
(hover to read a bit; click on the image to read the article at New York Moves)
Things that get better with age:
Fine wine.
Good friendships.
Black comedy.
Thrive.
It’s more than an aspiration
these days.
It’s an exhortation.
““And, I can forgive and prosecute at the same time, and I have.””
This is the Ashley Judd you don’t know, but you probably should. Her eloquence is surpassed only by her passion: a driven dedication to humanitarian issues you also may not know about. Yet.
Because changing the world requires an awareness campaign, and Ashley has risen to the challenge.
Power. It’s an enticing subject. Its definition changes constantly. The power of influence, and the power of money, and the power of love, and the power of humility. Do we bow before it, or do we stand against it? Terrence Howard shared his perspective with an almost philosophical stream of metaphors.
Zoe Saldana laughs with a sharp, staccato outburst that belies her physical grace. But when you hear it, you’re hearing the authentic expression of a tough Latina from Queens. Zoe’s a study in juxtapositions that combine to create this extraordinarily unique woman.
These days, we prefer our stars complicated and multi-faceted. We want accomplishment and poise. We want grace and wit. We want intelligence and motivation and depth, and we want it wrapped in a package of style and sex appeal and stunning good looks.
“Cool can be blowing shit up, or it can be finding an interesting way to connect with a woman.”
We all certainly agree with that.
He’s long been recognized as somewhat of a poster-boy for the cult of masculinity. With a mustachioed charm that has wooed more than a few ladies, he is the McDreamy for generations that have come before.
““I had a rather old-fashioned attitude that when the tabloids would say stuff, that it oughta be true. But I’m also sort of a 1st-Amendment absolutist.””
And here he shares something that tells you exactly what kind of man he is: “I like to go to Village Vanguard and think about the fact that Thelonious Monk sat at that piano, once upon a time, even though I wasn’t there to see it. It’s the same room, which is pretty thrilling. Pretty exciting.”
With a voice like whiskey on a cold day, confidence that springs from a passionate exuberance for life, and an impressive knowledge base, she’s got sex appeal in spades.
Quick to smile, with a face that is vaguely reminiscent of her father’s, and quick to laugh, with an infectious optimism, Bryce possesses that rare one-two punch: inner and outer beauty. Because no one can deny that this woman is gorgeous.
“It makes it real when you’re convicted in something. I’m newly involved, on a physical level. I spent four or five years reading about this cause, and then I went to the Congo, and it has changed my life.” ”
Sometimes the grace, eloquence, beauty, and determination of a woman can be an unmitigated power in and of itself. A power to make change when there is no other conceivable option.
But even actresses can benefit from old-fashioned schoolwork. Alice’s days at University were pivotal to her life, in that they taught her an important lesson: how to be dedicated to something.
It was only a matter of time until the concept of Six Degrees became less about a fame game and more about helping people. “It’s an idea that I believe very strongly in – if you take me out of it. The idea of the connectivity of human beings is, I think, one of the secrets to our future.
“Sometimes I think I’m nuts; I think, ‘I’m too old for this shit.’ ”
Now, both Julia and her fans are faced with what it means to be a discerning, conscientious, confident woman in today’s world. And as we all know, what you choose to do can tell a lot about who you are.
Dano’s gift of smartly subtle acting complements the ballsy all-out screen moments that make him impossible not to watch no matter what his part. But he fills his days just like any other guy, hanging out with friends, making plans for the future, staying up to date with The New York Times, sharing experiences with his girlfriend, and dreaming big.
“You know, the better the actor across from me, the better I’ll be.”
A non-conventional bi-coastal resident jetting between the Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic, Mackie has an enduring love for both North and South. “I love New York. In fact, I don’t find New York and New Orleans to be very different until you’re out of the boroughs.”
Combining an intuitive soul with a powerful physical presence, he is contemplative enough to recognize frailty, but strong enough to affect change.
Well, every serious girl needs a little fluff in her life. Especially if it comes with some rockin’ 80s costumes. But Akerman has some great perspective to share.
Virginia speaks with conviction and understanding, telltale signs of a woman who is passionate about her life, and who redirects that passion into everything she does.
“This isn’t about staying young. This is about how to be old.”
America is an aspiring country, with trailblazers and stride-takers from all demographics. But Hawke doesn’t think we should get too boastful. “There are women and black people leading all over the world. We break our arms patting ourselves on the back like we’re so noble and enlightened and progressive.”
Cover Articles written from transcript
Sometimes your raw material isn't your own, but you can still spin it like it is...
Tall, strong-chinned, and dreamy-eyed, Corey Stoll is like the deluxe version of the American everyman, with the kind of expression that always looks like he’s got a delicious secret to tell.
And yet when Moves caught up with him, he was open, honest, and unassuming. No secrets. Just Corey.
John Leguizamo is a man of the people. The fiery, impassioned Latino took a moment to talk with Moves about stereotypes, presidency, and Ghetto Clown. And although his latest one-man-show has you laughing out loud at his brazen confidence, he hasn’t always been able to focus that disruptive energy into constructive output.
She’s not the charming starlet or the bold and brazen screen queen. She’s just Katie Holmes. No apologies necessary.
Has a culture of consumerism bred disinterest? Or does the world just not rally to a cause like it once did? “What’s amazing in terms of cultural apathy is that it feels like we’re a culture of niceties, like we’re waiting to use our voice but we want people to like us.”
Friendship. Jealousy. Sex. Love. Marriage. Family. Death. And, of course, the news. When we caught up with Emily Mortimer, it was all on the table, conveyed with a high frenetic energy and a wry wit, the telltale signs of a woman who’s got it all together, even though she’s not quite certain she does.
We’re on the cusp of something big. Something great. Something so much more powerful than a dreamy doctor. We’re waiting for the catalyst that shows us more, that integrates the friendly and caring aspects of this familiar star with the grease and sweat and toil that will shock us into taking notice.
Opinion Editorials and Other Articles
Sometimes you write from your own perspective; sometimes you pretend to be someone else.
“Thank you for watching Cheers. Please come in and meet this amazing marine biologist who has something very interesting to say.”
If you’ve ever wondered what America’s all-time favorite bartender does in his free time, you might be surprised. He’s been working to save the planet.
We’ve got Tweedledee and Tweedledum, born of the same mother but always ready to pick a fight, bearing a striking resemblance to Democrats and the GOP. The polarization of modern party politics seems to stem from a heretical interpretation of the original bi-partisanship, and an eager readiness on both sides to argue at every possible moment.
Once you peel back that lacquered image of “good old classic American farming,” and look beyond the imagined red barn doors and verdant green pastures, what you see isn’t often all that appetizing. Gone are the days of Bessie and Wilbur and Charlotte all coexisting happily, with room to roam and space to breathe.
But no, I stuck around. I’m a glutton for punishment. And I figured the magical powers of the whiskey gods would somehow transform crass and dim to charming and bright. After all, whiskey is pretty powerful stuff.
Thomas Haden Church speaks with a voice reminiscent of a lethargic roll of thunder, an easygoing spirit, and a remarkable ability to maneuver the English language. Standing 6 foot 1, he seems to take things in stride, making the dichotomy of life on the wild range and life on the silver screen seem like the most natural match in the world.
Life is a trip, and anyone who tells you otherwise is just pretending. That’s why Dena Blizzard’s honesty is so refreshing. We’re all in this together, she assures working moms everywhere, so we may as well laugh our asses off. Here are some of our favorite outtakes of Dena’s life.
To be continued...