About Megan Brand

SLO FILM FEST

The 29th Annual San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, taking place April 25-30, has announced their honorees for the festival. Two-time Academy Award winner, Rick Carter, will receive the King Vidor Award, and two-time Academy Award-nominee, Judd Hirsch will receive the Spotlight Award. Carter will receive the King Vidor Award as a key section of the Filmmaker’s Award ceremonies on Saturday, April 29, and Judd Hirsch will receive the Spotlight Award prior to the Closing Night Gala on Sunday, April 30. During the Closing Night Gala, a screening of Narvin Samel’s IMordecai, will take place, in which Hirsch stars.

Rick Carter is one of the most notable Production Designers and Art Directors in the industry, laying his hands on movies such as Avatar (2010), and Lincoln (2013). One of his biggest nominations was on Robert Zemeckis’ Forrest Gump (1994).

Judd Hirsch has held a presence in the film, television, and theater industries for over sixty years. He has received two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in Ordinary People (1980) and The Fabelmans (2022). He is most known for his role of Alex Rieger in the classic television series Taxi (1978-1983), for which he won two Emmys.

ABOUT SAN LUIS OBISPO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Located half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, San Luis Obispo’s laid-back vibe and serene natural beauty is the perfect setting for this highly regarded annual film celebration. Filmmakers rave about the warmth and attentiveness that is so much a part of the SLO Film Fest experience, as do the swelling tide of industry pros and film critics who are fast discovering the film festival’s thoughtful audiences and unique programming sensibility.

Crypto Queen Darcy Donavan

Listen to Darcy Donavan on 360 MAGAZINE podcast HERE.

Darcy Donavan, known for her roles in television shows Modern Family and Parks and Recreation, is innovating the world of cryptocurrency.

She dove into the crypto world almost seven years ago, and was instantly enamored with it. She began researching and investing in blockchains, like Bitcoin and Tron. Over the years she has been involved with numerous companies and projects in Web3, which have seen enormous growth. In 2021, Darcy was brought onboard the Decentralized Finance company Ecoin Finance as the CMO.

In 2022, she was brought on as a Co-Owner of the Cryptocurrency Company and Metaverse, Income Island.

Income Island is a new generation of blockchain-supported virtual reality games with mining capability for users to earn money while playing. The game is based on the Binance Smart Chain blockchain, and it supports the BEP20 standard for tokens. The island features a variety of mineable cryptocurrencies.

Whether it comes to business or her personal life, Darcy strives to be an “alpha female”. Crypto, as well as Film & Television, are majorly male-dominated industries. She encourages women to build each other up and become power players in their roles: “An alpha female [is not] afraid to speak her mind. [They are] intelligent, strong, and honest.”

One of Darcy’s major keys to success is being relatable. “I want somebody to tell it to me straight [and be] a straight shooter.” She also encourages those interested in cryptocurrency to do their own research.

To hear more about Darcy’s tips to success, read her book Darcy’s Daily Dose of Inspiration: A Page by Page Guide to a Better Life.

Find Darcy here:

Sir Ivan

Sir Ivan: International Billboard Top 10 recording artist, singer/songwriter, celebrity, philanthropist, billionaire, and owner of Wilzig Castle.

Ivan Wilzig was born in Clifton, New Jersey, to parents Siggi and Naoimi. His father, Siggi B. Wilzig miraculously survived the horrors of Auschwitz in Nazi Germany, after which moving to the United States for a better life. In the USA, he got into two businesses: oil and commercial banking.

Ivan attended the University of Pennsylvania in 1977, earning a B.A. degree in European Intellectual History. He then earned a law degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University in 1980. After graduating, he decided not to practice law; rather, work with his father and younger brother, Alan, in running The Trust Company of New Jersey, a full-service commercial bank.

In 2001, Ivan met recording industry executive Dave Jurman of Columbia Records, which led to his electronic dance remake of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” After its release, it sold 10,000 vinyl copies in its first 3 months and landed a place on the Top-40 hit on the Billboard Club Play Chart.

After the success of “Imagine”, Ivan decided to abandon the banking business and pursue music full time, performing under the stage names “Peaceman” and “Sir Ivan”. Since then, he has released countless singles, many EPs, and albums- his newest release being the album LIFE.

While he’s not working on music, Ivan lives a lavish lifestyle. He’s the owner of Wilzig Castle, an estate in Water Mill near Southampton, known for throwing legendary summer parties. It’s rumored he once paid a woman $5,000 to get his name tattooed on her left buttock.

He also formed a charity called the Peaceman Foundation.

“The Peaceman® Foundation is a private foundation that I established to battle hatred and violence – especially against those who are perceived as outsiders – and to treat those suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D.), a serious condition caused by a reaction to hatred or violence.

I am donating all of my recording artist royalties from my album sales to The Peaceman Foundation, which will distribute the funds to charitable organizations that battle hatred and violence against those perceived as outsiders and to those that treat P.T.S.D. I want to help save countless lives by preventing hatred and violence from happening in the first place and by keeping victims of hatred and violence from committing suicide”.

The Peaceman Foundation has supported numerous other charities, such as ACE New York, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth, Museum of Jewish Heritage, and PTSD United.

Find Sir Ivan HERE.

Reneé Rapp – Deluxe EP

Yesterday, the singer, actress, and Broadway star, Reneé Rapp, released a deluxe edition of her first EP Everything to Everyone.

The young starlet got her start by winning Best Performance by an Actress at the Jimmy Awards, formally known as the Nation High School Musical Theater Awards. These awards, given annually, recognize musical theater performances by high school students in the United States.

In September 2019, she made her Broadway debut as Regina George in MEAN GIRLS, a musical adaptation of the iconic 2004 movie. After nearly a year in the role, Broadway went dark due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She has since transitioned into on-screen acting, starring as Leighton Murray in The Sex Lives of College Girls, an HBO Max comedy series released in 2021. In the show, written and produced by comedian Mindy Kahling, Leighton navigates her sexuality while trying to portray her preppy, put-together persona.

Her debut EP, Everything to Everyone, was first released in November 2022, just before The Sex Lives of College Girls’ season 2 premier. Everything to Everyone, originally containing 7 songs, now boasts 2 new tracks: “Bruises” and “Everything to Everyone (Extended Version).” The EP explores Reneé’s vulnerability, sensitivity, and love life- It’s not fair, I’ve got acetone for veins. I’m so sensitive, just one touch and I feel pain. “Bruises.”

In December, Reneé was named the MTV Global PUSH Artist of the month. With around 5 million listeners on Spotify monthly, as well as multiple TV performances, it’s safe to say her musical career is off to a booming start.

Find Reneé here: