In the Nō

Purpose Driven Sisters

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 22:34:06 GMT

Purpose Driven Sisters rocked the runway at Nō Studios on February 26th

PDS's purpose is to create a safe space for young ladies to focus on positivity while building sisterly relationships through empowerment, encouragement, and education. The name Purpose Driven Sisters was created because Ryann believes life is about purpose and you should be driven to achieve the things you desire in life.

Critical Content IDA Documentary Award Winners

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 17:37:29 GMT

The IDA Documentary Awards is the world's most prestigious event dedicated to the documentary genre, celebrating the best nonfiction films and programs of the year. It seeks to represent excellence in the documentary field from around the world, by emerging and established documentarians.

Flee, Summer of Soul, and FAYA DAYI — three films featured in Critical Content 2022 — have won awards in this year's IDA awards presentation. Flee (dir. Jonas Poher Rasumussen) won in the category of Best Feature; and FAYA DAYI (dir. Jessica Beshir) took home the award for Best Cinematography, a fitting prize for the stunning film. Summer of Soul (dir. Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson), Questlove's directorial debut, walked away with the most awards of any film recognized in the awards, winning Best Director, Best Music Documentary, and Best Editing.

This January, Nō Studios Founder and Oscar award-winning filmmaker, John Ridley spoke with the directors of the three films during our three-day virtual film event. All of the conversations can be found at the link below.

Making Memories Last with Live Streaming

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 21:12:32 GMT

Nō Studios Production Manager, Will Rose, breaks down the benefits to live streaming your event.

Archive and Elevate with Live Streaming

Just about everything has been online over the past few years. As excited as we all are to return to in-person events, live streaming your event remains extremely valuable.

Memories and Assets

Time really flies when you’re having fun — have you ever attended a live event, wedding, or concert and had an incredible time, only to realize the whole experience passed you by faster than you could blink? Have you ever wanted an instant replay of those incredible moments?

When you stream your event, you not only have an archive of the occasion, you have a valuable asset! You can then use the recording as a promotional tool, a marketing material or a full length replay.

Reach a Wider Audience

The broad reach of the internet is no secret in today’s world. When you stream your event, you can connect with new audiences, community members, donors, and clients never before possible.

Not Everyone is Eager or Able to Return In-Person

Some people are still waiting it out before going back to in-person. Whether out of an abundance of caution, health concern, or another reason, the at-home audience is here to stay. As event hosts, you want to be inclusive, and offer your experience to your entire audience — streaming lets you do just that.

Streaming is Here to Stay

We are all eager to get back to in-person events, well at least most of us are. The reality is, that even when we do, streaming has an undeniable value in today’s content landscape.

Whatever type of event you host, be it a wedding, fundraiser, arts performance, or something completely unique, streaming allows you to catalog your event, reach new audiences and include everyone.

When you decide to broadcast your next event, Nō Studios’ in-house Production Services department can help you bring the experience to the next level.

CBS 58: 'Check out Nō Studios’ open house, and saké, this Saturday in Milwaukee'

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 21:01:32 GMT

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58): It'll be a welcoming atmosphere this Saturday at Milwaukee's Nō Studios. There will be an open house from noon until three at this collaborative workspace and social community center-- created by Academy Award screenwriter and Wisconsin native John Ridley.

Organizers say the event is a great way to see what the venue has to offer. Amenities include a co-working space, a state-of-the-art screening room, a performance stage, a café bar, a gallery and a rooftop lounge. The big focus will be on the alcoholic beverage with Japanese origin, saké.

Aside from all of the food, drink and networking at the open house, there will be a 10-inch plant giveaway from Milwaukee's first and only Black and Brown-owned plant shop.

To find out all the details about the event or what Nō Studios has to offer in general, just click here .

Our Saké Residency and the History of 'Nō

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 20:23:31 GMT

We are thrilled to host saké sommelière, Jessica Joly from Saké Discoveries in New York City. Ms. Joly will be joining us for a weekend residency from February 11-13 , guiding a series of events including dinner and brunch pairings, tastings, discussions and informal workshops. Nō Studios will be active both in our venue and at Anime Milwaukee, where we will provide Uber service from the Wisconsin Center to our location. See the full calendar in HERE .

We organized this residency because it connects us to our origin story, and we want to make saké more accessible. Nō Studios was inspired by an admiration for East Asian culture. This influence is evidenced in the word Nō 能, which is the sino-japanese root word for "skill" or "talent," and in our interior design, which evokes elements of the Asian aesthetic. In 2020, we extended our relationship with East Asian style to The Skyline Bar + Lounge by curating a saké selection for the beverage menu. We are excited to share the rich history, craftsmanship and saké varieties with the Milwaukee community.

I hope you can join us!

In the Nō with Dr. Donte McFadden (of Black Lens)

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 23:23:13 GMT

Donte McFadden, photographed by SHOTBYBASI

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Donte McFadden is the Senior Associate Director for Undergraduate Research and High Impact Practices for the Educational Opportunity Program at Marquette University. His primary role is serving as the Director of the Ronald E. McNair Post baccalaureate Achievement Program. Dr. McFadden obtained his PhD in English with an emphasis in Film Studies from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in August of 2013. Since 2014, he has been a Programmer for the Black Lens Program as part of the Milwaukee Film Festival. Black Lens showcases new and classic films by African American filmmakers, and 2022 marks its ninth year.

We spoke with Donte McFadden about the importance of Black History Month and all of the programming MKE Film and Black have planned for the month. We're happy to say the programming kicks off with The Creative Collective: A Film Showcase, Panel Discussion, + Networking Experience at Nō Studios, taking place Tuesday, February 1st from 6-8pm

Learn more about the event and MKE Film's full slate of programming here .

—

Nō Studios : Can you tell me a little bit about what Milwaukee film and Black Lens have planned for Black History Month this year?

Donte McFadden: So for Black History Month, Milwaukee Film and Black Lens, we have a slate of screenings and events that will take place throughout the entire month of February. In terms of events, we kick it off with what we're calling the Creative Collective panel discussion and networking mixer. For the panel discussion, we have reached out to people who are emerging artists, creatives and entrepreneurs — and they'll be talking about the sources for their creativity, how they establish themselves as entrepreneurs. The panelists will include Nyesha Stone, she's the founder of Carvd N Stone and an emerging filmmaker; Michael Harris of MKE Expanded; Marquise Mays, who's a filmmaker — some people may be familiar with his film the heartland; and the conversation will be moderated by Lexi Brunson, Editor in Chief of Copywrite Magazine. And then we'll have some networking activities and music provided by DJ Lolo.

Another event that we will have is what we're calling the honest truth, and this will coincide with our Black Love through a Black Lens shorts program. It is a conversation between reality TV star Sheila Marie (featured on VH1's Love and Hip Hop) and Dr. Kirsten Warner, who is a professor at University of Alabama who specializes in communications in media. They're going to talk about the depiction of love and relationships among Black people.

Additionally, we're going to have an 80s and 90s Black Movie Trivia Night — and this is just one of those events where we want to have some fun activities. So while we think that the Creative Collective panel will be a good time, while we think the Honest Truth conversation will be a good time, you know, this will be a friendly competition among people to talk about, some of their favorite movies from the 80s and 90s that are either from Black directors or with a predominantly Black cast, and we're going to, they're going to compete to see who knows the most about it.

Lastly, we're going to have a reception following the screening of Sankofa at America's Black Holocaust Museum, that will be part of their opening weekend.

And how about the films? Of course that' a big part of the programming as well.

So as far as the film's we are going to begin with the film Zola. It's directed by Janicza Bravo and was originally released in 2020, at the Sundance Film Festival. It kind of flew under the radar and what Milwaukee film, whether it's to our festivals, whether it's to our year round programming, whether it's to our staff picks, or any kind of special programming that we have — if there's a film that we love, and that not enough people have seen, we usually try to create the excuse to do so. I think that was the case with Zola. It's about a young black woman who was encountered by a young white woman to go to different parts of the country to dance at some clubs and earn some money, but little does this young black woman know, she's being lured into a human trafficking ring. The story is told through the eyes of a Black woman by a Black woman director.

We're also going to show the documentary, The One and Only Dick Gregory, that features the life and career of the comedian and activist. I think it's an important overview of a public figure who gave so much not only through entertainment, but what he offered for communities of color, particularly Black communities. As well, we'll have a shorts program, Black Love Through a Black Lens. This is a collection of six short films by Black Filmmakers exploring the topics of love, relationships, and self-worth in terms of identifying themselves as Black people.

Additionally, we'll show Citizen Ashe — a documentary about the life and legacy of tennis player and activist Arthur Ashe. Lastly we'll be showing the film Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America. This film was initially shown during the 2021 Milwaukee film festival as a virtual offering, and its distributor is now distributing the film nationwide. It's exciting to have Milwaukee Film, Black Lens in particular, show this film as part of the theatrical run at the Oriental theater. It's a very intricate examination about race relations in racism throughout the existence of the United States by Jeffery Robinson. Interspersed with this talk that he gives are moments where he goes to different parts of the country to look at, you know, some of the monuments, look at some of the ways in which people are upholding of legacies of histories that reflect acts of racism. It's interspersed, you know, within his talk, how he's responding to these moments personally — and I think it's heart-wrenching. I think it's engaging, and I think it's very informative. Not in the sense that people are feeling lectured to, but it will compel people to recognize why is it important to not only know, but to confront the history of race and racism in America.

We're also having a short program called Family Matters, the first time Black Lens has created a short program that is dedicated to audiences between the ages of eight to 18. These are going to be some short films that the entire family can come and enjoy.

We're also going to show the film the Loyola project, this is a documentary about the Loyola Chicago basketball team. Back in 1963, this was the first team to win the NCAA championship with a starting five that was primarily Black. The film that will be showing after that is Sankofa, a 1993 film about a model who is on a photoshoot on the Cape Coast castles of Ghana, where the Door of No Return is located. That's where enslaved Africans were placed on ships and sent to various parts of the world. While she's on the shoot, she is transported from where she is in Ghana, to the period of antebellum slavery in America, where she witnesses firsthand the brutality of slavery, and also the importance for enslaved Africans to create community, to support one another, and to instill the sense of resiliency and resistance in one another. So that's pretty much Black History Month in a nutshell.

"At what point was there going to be a turning point that this country would be honest about tackling racism and improving race relations? In what ways has that regression taken place?"

How were the four guiding themes — Black Perspectives, Black Love Through a Black Lens, Black Genealogies, and Black Remembrances — for the programing decided?

So usually, there's about one or two films in the week that were the guiding force for how we created each theme. With Black Perspectives. I think having the Creative Collective panel, obviously, you're getting a variety of perspectives of local creatives. And then in addition to that, Zola, being this absurd comic take, you know, about a topic of serious human trafficking motivated creating the theme of black perspectives, just presenting the breadth and depth of black experiences.

Then Black Love Through a Black Lens, much of this coincides around the time of Valentine's Day. For the last three years, when we've done programming for Black History Month we've always wanted to find short films that offer engaging and interesting explorations of, what it means to be in love. What does it mean to love yourself? And also, given the conversation that will take place between Sheila Murray and Dr. Kristen Warner, that's got to be an exciting conversation in and of itself to see from what vantage points they come from and what kind of insights they offer to that topic.

Black Genealogies, you know, that was motivated largely by the fact that Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America is the film on that is featured that week. It's a genealogy of racism and race, particularly the existence of people of color — notably Black people in America. It's just pretty much getting down to the heart of how did things get to be the way that they are? At what point was there going to be a turning point that this country would be honest about tackling racism and improving race relations? In in what ways has that regression taken place?

Black Remembrance is mainly guided by the film Sankofa, given the theme of the film is to revisit one's past to understand the sacrifices that one's ancestors had to give in order to create a better life for someone else. Now, in the case of Sankofa we're talking about Africans who are demonstrating resistance, and resiliency in the face of enslavement — the sacrifices were not voluntary. The lead character in the film, she has to see this firsthand, you know, to understand that what may appear to be a backdrop for a photoshoot actually has a much deeper history that directly connects to her than she thinks. Also, in terms of Black remembrance, the fact that we're talking about The Loyola Project and we're looking at sports as a gateway into looking at race relations in America, I think is also important. Notably, tied to the sense of remembrance from a local standpoint, the reopening of America's Black Holocaust Museum is really important to the city of Milwaukee. It's important to this country, and Back Lens is honored to have the screening of Sankofa coincide with the grand reopening of the museum, and we're honored to be partnering with their efforts.

America's Black Holocaust Museum, located in Milwaukee's Brewer's Hill neighborhood

That all sounds amazing. Is there a film that you're personally especially excited to be screening in the lineup?

So I do have a couple. As a programmer for Black Lens, I certainly want to have a balance of films that will attract people to the theatre, simply because it's a familiar topic, or there's probably a filmmaker or an actor that someone is familiar with. But I also like to present films that may challenge an audience in how they engage with cinematic storytelling. Some people may want a linear way of how a story is told on screen, and there's some filmmakers that we bring into the Black Lens programming, whether it's for the festival or for year-round programming, that challenge that.

I think two films that are welcome challenges to the audience that we're bringing for Black History Month are Zola — which, like I said is this is absurdist comic comedy that's from the perspective of a black woman from a black woman director. I think it's really interesting and I'm just curious to see how audiences respond to that. And then Sankofa is also something that I'm looking forward to people to seeing. This is, I have to say one of the most unflinching depictions of slavery presented on screen. Haile Karima has a lasting legacy as a filmmaker with uncompromising vision of how he wants to tell stories of Black people on screen from all parts of the world, and Sankofa is a central part of that legacy. I think, as he would put it, this is not a film about slavery as much as it is a documentation of the resilience and resistance of people of African descent. It's really exciting that I'm able to put together a program and showcase the work of someone whose work I followed closely for decades.

Sankofa 414-226-6516. Written by Haile Gerima

"I think, as [Haile Gerima] would put it, this is not a film about slavery as much as it is a documentation of the resilience and resistance of people of African descent."

What do you hope that attendees and the city of Milwaukee as a whole will take away from this month long celebration and programming?

I hope they take away a few things. One, I hope they come to see this as a kickoff for the kind of programming that Black Lens is going to be doing throughout 2022, and that it really gets audiences to think of ways in which the work of Black filmmakers are being showcased, not just in the month of February, but throughout the year. I think it also presents some how there is quality Black History Month programming being presented in the city. Myself and my colleagues in Milwaukee film, we put a lot of heart and soul into creating screenings in events that people will find engaging and will be quite excited about. Not only will they learn something, but they also have an edifying experience.

Another takeaway that I hope people get from Black History Month with this program is that it also gets them excited about supporting Black creatives and Black institutions here in Milwaukee. I think The Creative Collective panel is the kind of work that Black Lens has long been doing in terms of highlighting what people are doing in the city. I think it's also quite poetic, for lack of a better word, that within our Black History Month programming we have the opening of a local treasure, America's Black Holocaust Museum. I hope people get is not only are they learning more about the work local people are doing through their artwork and through the institutions they provide for the city, but, through Black Lens, they see that we're building partnerships with these people, and this is something that they should look out for throughout 2022.

Click here to learn more about MKE Film's Black Lens Black History Month programming.

Playbill: Black No More Musical, Starring Tariq 'Black Thought' Trotter, Lillias White, Brandon Victor Dixon, Begins Previews January 20

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 17:12:06 GMT

The New Group's world premiere of Black No More —the new musical inspired by George S. Schuyler’s 1931 Afrofuturist novel of the same name set during the Harlem Renaissance—begins previews January 20, one week later than previously announced due to COVID-19. Opening night is now February 15.

The musical, originally announced for fall 2020, tells the story of Max Disher (Dixon), who’s eager to try the mysterious machine invented by Dr. Junius Crookman (Trotter) that guarantees to “solve the American race problem" — by turning Black people white.

Black No More features lyrics by Trotter; music by Trotter, Anthony Tidd, James Poyser, and Tony winner Daryl Waters; and a book by John Ridley, as well as music supervision, orchestrations, and vocal arrangements by Waters. The staging also has music direction and dance arrangements by Zane Mark, scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Qween Jean, lighting design by Jeff Croiter, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, wig and hair design by Nikiya Mathis, and casting by The Telsey Office's Rebecca Scholl and Kristian Charbonier.

Get tickets here .

The Wrap: John Ridley Explores the Art of Documentary Filmmaking With Industry Insiders for ‘Critical Content’ Series (Video)

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 17:01:23 GMT

"Writer-director John Ridley discussed the ins and outs of documentary filmmaking with industry insiders for his ‘Critical Content: Stories That Matter’ documentary film event.

Ridley, who took home an Oscar for adapting “12 Years a Slave,” sat down with Flee director Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Faya Dayi director Jessica Beshir, and Summer of Soul filmmaker Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson. With regards to the animated movie Flee , Ridley admitted the film hadn’t been on his radar.

'I was not aware of Flee, ' Ridley said. 'Someone pitched it to me and they said, ‘it’s — in short — it’s a film about immigration.’ But the film is about so much more than just that and there’s some things even in this conversation, I’d love to keep just a little bit arcane because I really believe people need to see this film and they need to feel it.' "

Rewatch Critical Content events here .

Nō Studios featured on TMJ4's 'Hidden Gems' Series

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 22:44:39 GMT

Nō Studios has been featured on Cassandra's Hidden Gems, a series on TMJ4 News wherein host Casandra McShepard shines a spotlight on noteworthy locations and organizations in Milwaukee.

In the Nō with Jessica Joly

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 00:03:42 GMT

Image courtesy of Jessica Joly

Born to a Japanese mother and an American father, America’s first “Miss Sake USA” Jessica Joly is no stranger to navigating multiple cultures. Moving between Japan and California at a young age, she developed an appreciation and knack for how to understand, navigate, and bridge cultural divides. Developing a love for Japanese food, drink and culture from her early years in Tokyo, Ms. Joly hoped to share this once she moved to New York, and naturally found a home in the hospitality industry in NYC.

She has since gained impressive experience from both classic and contemporary establishments including Soba Totto, Bohemian, SakaMai, Ippudo, Patisserie Tomoko and Tokyo Record Bar. Joly regularly hosts her own popular sake event at SakaMai, a quirky experience she created to make sake more accessible for the US audience. She features select sakes paired with seasonal dishes, and explains these bottles through a corresponding soul music track for a true “east meets west” evening. Not only the inaugural winner of Miss Sake USA, Joly is also an International Kikisake-Shi (Sake Sommelier) WSET Level 3.

Jessica will be in from New York for a special saké residency at Skyline Bar + Lounge, February 12-13. The weekend will feature saké tastings, food pairings, open houses, anime film screenings, and more. Learn more here .

—

Nō Studios : Saké consumption has been on a consistent rise here in the US in recent years, but it's still something that a lot of people may have not yet been introduced to. How would you inspire someone who has never had saké to give it a try?

Jessica Joly: I think this is something that I deal with every day, whether that's a you know, at an event or, at a restaurant, but my whole thing is saying: "wow, sometimes maybe these people had a stigma or a bad experience — or maybe they've just never had saké before". My first thought is to ask them, what do they normally drink? What is your go-to? Is it Chardonnay? Is it Pinot Noir? Do you love whiskey on the rocks? By understanding a person's palate, and what they enjoy, I can recommend something to them.

So let's say they love whiskey, they love something that's obviously a little bit more powerful. I'm going to recommend a style of saké that has a little bit more boldness and a little bit richer texture, maybe a genshu. Genshus are undiluted sakés that are a little bit heavy on the alcohol. I always say there's something out there for everybody. That's how I can guide people to give it a try — and I think I'm pretty convincing.

Between Saké Discoveries, Soul of Saké, working as a Saké sommelier, and being crowned the first ever Miss Saké USA, you are working with saké in so many capacities. What keeps you interested in saké?

Growing up as a Japanese American and living here in the US and in Japan, I knew that I wanted to have a voice that represented my cultural background and my heritage. For a long time I struggled with what that was — if it was fashion, or if it was food. Then I discovered saké and had that experience; seeing the brewers and the producers.

When you experience it firsthand, you get to meet the people who hand make this product and dedicate their lives to make this beverage. I felt that those stories weren't being told. That was that revelation in the sense that I was like, "wow, I can be the voice, I can be that bridge". I can share those connections and stories that sometimes gets lost in translation. I can tell people those emotional connections, and the stories, and what I've seen, and now I've found my voice and my calling, and I'm doing it every day.

"I've found my voice and my calling, and I'm doing it every day."

You’ve already done so much working with saké, but is there anything left for you that you’d still like to do?

This is such a tough question. I think, the coolest thing to ever do — I would love to go as a guest saké sommelier to the White House and serve saké. Whether that's a dinner, or an event, or a special occasion, that's the ultimate dream. Something fun that I would really love to do is, you know, Disney World is full of imagination. I love Star Wars. I would love to go to Disney World where they have a flower festival each year. I work with a producer called Amabuki that makes saké with flower yeast, and I'd love to be a part of that festival at some point in time. I just think it makes so much sense. Disney World is just full of imagination and that would be a really fun thing to do. I think I could do that in the near future.

Both sound so great. I'm excited to see you at the White House for sure. I'm definitely excited to get my ticket to Disney when I hear you're there.

It's really cool. Disney World has so many fun events and they have different representations of different kinds of spirits and booze obviously. They do have saké in the Japan area, but the flower festival is a really fun event. I haven't been yet but I've heard about it and I've researched it. But I just thought that's super cool. Like, what a great way to introduce saké to a special place like that.

Image courtesy of Jessica Joly

Here at Nō Studios we are trying to make saké more popular in the Milwaukee community — what piece of advice would you give us, or to anyone working to steward saké?

I think the most exciting thing about you guys is that you are setting the stage and you are at the forefront. I mean, we've been working on this project with you for almost a year. We started talking during COVID, and you guys are up and running on the rooftop — the space is amazing. I honestly think that in itself, you're making saké more accessible and you're making a space where saké is the destination. I think what's really important is that when people go to Nō Studios, they already have a connection, like "oh, hey, they are known for saké and they're doing some fun things". I also think it'll be fun — if you're not yet doing it — in the near future, to offer different ways to enjoy saké. I think sometimes people just think, "oh, maybe I have to enjoy it at a certain temperature, or it has to be chilled" and I think it's breaking those barriers and saying you can have ice with saké, you can have it with club soda, you can have it at a wide range of temperatures. You guys are building that consumer, you're educating them, you're creating an experience. So again, you're creating a destination, and I think that's most important. People want something that's outside of the box; an experience that they can Instagram and you guys are creating just that.

"... you’re making saké more accessible and you're making a space where saké is the destination"

Our motto here at Nō Studios is “socialize with purpose”, and that’s something we try to bring into all that we do. What would “socialize with purpose” mean to you and what you do?

When I read that it just resonated with me. We're all here for a purpose, and when you socialize, I think it's, it's the emotional connection that we have with like-minded people. Again, I'm going back to this as the experience, and you guys are setting that stage at Nō Studios, you know — ahead of the trend, creating these experiences. When I go there and I get to meet these people, we're going to create this new journey, this adventure, for people who want that. That, to me, is so important because I'm able to educate, I'm able to talk about my passions, and hopefully the others — if that's the team members that you guys work with, or if it's the consumer, or if it's just some random person that happens to walk in — they are going to take something away from that. It's so meaningful, it's so purposeful, and it's something that you don't find everywhere. I'm so excited to experience that in February when I go.

So February, you'll be here and we're excited. What can we expect from your tasting?

For this specific experience, we want to go outside the box and maybe do some fun things. Whether that's doing some blending, maybe doing different temperature variations — just simple and fun ways to enjoy saké. And at the same time it should be fun! I want people to have fun, have a great time, and also feel like they've taken something away from that. So we're going to do some fun and different things, some things that maybe we haven't done before, so I think it'll be really exciting. You have to stay tuned.

Stay tuned. Love that.

Image courtesy of Jessica Joly

Click here to get your tickets to Jessica's saké residency at Skyline Bar + Lounge,

February 12th + 13th, 2022.

John Ridley writes and directs 'Shirley' starring Regina King

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 18:17:14 GMT

Nō Studios Founder, John Ridley has written and directed the film following Shirley Chisholm's 1972 presidential campaign, and is based on her life story rights through an agreement with her estate. According to Film Cincinnati, the movie will provide an "intimate, behind-the-scenes portrait of the ground-breaking political leader during a seminal period in modern American history."

John will also serve as a producer on the film, along with Regina King, Royal Ties Productions and Participant.

Additional coverage:

'‘Shirley’: Lance Reddick, Lucas Hedges, André Holland, Terrence Howard & More Board Regina King Film As It Heads To Netflix', Deadline

'Regina King explains why her new role is like nothing she's done before' , ABC News

'NEW MOVIE ABOUT SHIRLEY CHISHOLM STARRING REGINA KING BEGINS FILMING IN CINCINNATI' , Because of Them We Can

'Oscar Winner Regina King Filming New Movie, 'Shirley,' in Cincinnati' , Cincinnati CityBeat

Nō Studios' Lisa Caesar Discusses Creating a Downtown Destination for Artists and Activists

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 18:39:53 GMT

"We just want to support connections between people. I think what we’re really hoping to achieve is the dismantling of barriers whether they be physical barriers. We invite everyone into our building regardless of what they look like or their demographic or who they are, but we also want to dismantle emotional and cultural barriers if those barriers are preventing people from collaborating and working together."

Lisa Caesar is the Chief Operating Officer for Milwaukee’s Nō Studios, an artistic and creative event space in Downtown Milwaukee for creatives, community activists and others to engage and interact. She resides in Westchester, NY with her husband, three children and a labradoodle named Darcy. While in New York, Caesar took the time to talk to the Shepherd Express about Nō Studios.

In the Nō with Willa C. Richards

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 00:31:09 GMT

Milwaukee-native Willa C. Richards is the author of The Comfort of Monsters , and our next guest on Community Curated. She is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop where she was a Truman Capote Fellow. Her work has appeared in The Paris Review and she is the recipient of a PEN/Robert J. Dau Prize for Emerging Writers.

Ahead of the episode, we talk with Willa about setting her debut novel in the midst of Jeffery Dahmer, Milwaukee's influence on her path as a writer, and parallels she sees between the missing persons cases of thirty years ago and those of today.

—

Nick Drain: Why was it important for you kind of being someone from Milwaukee to set, um, a story here and then why was it so important for you to tell this story specifically with maybe your first story about Milwaukee?

Willa C. Richards: I really wanted my first novel to be set in Milwaukee. Growing up, I would often see the Midwest portrayed as either Chicago or corn fields — it's kind of like those two extremes. I didn't see a lot of portrayals of the city. You could watch TV and film and sort of get the idea that like the middle of America doesn't exist, so it was really important to me to portray the city. I love Milwaukee. It has a lot of problems to be sure, I don't think there's an American city that doesn't, but I think it's also a really unique city. It has a really rich history and a lot of unique character, so for me that's just a rich setting for a book in general. As well as the fact that I, I just really loved the place. So, I think that was kind of a no-brainer.

The fact that I ended up setting it in 1991 came as I was drafting the book; It wasn't something that I knew right away. I didn't know that it was going to be set in '91. My marketing and publicity people have called it the Dahmer summer because he was murdering people from the seventies through ’91. I was wanting to write a book about a missing persons case, and I was thinking a lot about, you know, the reasons that some of these cases go cold so fast. One of the things that occurred to me really quickly was that 'smaller cases' get subsumed by larger ones — whether it is media attention or law enforcement resources and then those smaller ones don't get the attention that they need to get solved.

So, I was just thinking a lot about what was the biggest criminal investigation in Milwaukee's history, and that was the Dahmer crimes.I started sort of thinking about layering my fictional story on top of this real one and that produced a lot of sparks for me. Once I dug into the research and sort of like looking at that era, it was so rich. It encapsulated all of these issues that I was already interested in exploring in the fictional version — relationship between law enforcement and media, media and the community, and community and law enforcement.

What was your research process in writing the book like?

It was a really long process. This book probably took me five years to write. The research was kind of a dark and lonely journey at times, but it also was really invigorating and it really pushed me to keep going with the project, and everything I learned just made me want to write the book even more.

Once I sat down and was like: 'okay, this is where I'm going to set the book, this is the era', I just knew I had a lot of work to do, and I wanted to try to be really organized and deliberate. There's so much sensational material about crimes and I wanted to get beyond that stuff and beyond the pop culture narrative of what happened. People that know about [the case] know the gore, the cannibalism, right? I wanted to just get beyond that stuff and get to the basic facts of the case. My first thing was just figuring out: what happened, when, who were the main players, who is involved. Beyond this guy, but like who was his lawyer, all of these sort of things.

After that, I just was really interested in learning about what people were saying about these crimes, like what sort of discourses were popping up in and around the crimes themselves. I went back to the Milwaukee Journal — now the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel — that sort of broke the case. They were a great resource, but they also did a lot of what we call victim-blaming today. They would release the victims' criminal records, they would sort of use this like racist and classist language to describe the neighborhoods, so I tried to find counterweights to that. I looked at some of the gay newspapers at the time. Particularly, The Wisconsin Light, was doing a lot of reporting from within the community, like hearing from the leaders of the communities that were most effected, and that stuff was a really good counterweight. I was just trying to get a sense of what people were saying, and then sort of, what did it mean beyond what they were saying? What was going on there?

There's an aspect of the intersections of race and of queerness in the way Dahmer history unfolded and the way that it continues to unfold. In reading your essay [Fictionalizing a Dark Chapter in the History of Milwaukee Policing], I was floored by a lot of the things that were happening in the Milwaukee police department at the time. Obviously it's not the focal point of the story that you're telling, but how does the book respond to that? How is it that you sought to respond to that without making the story center around it?

That was such a complicated writing problem for me. When I sat down to, write the book, it was really about the sisters, and the narrator who has a very, very close relationship with her sister. Her sister goes missing and it's — it's sort of the fallout. For me, the emotional heartbeat of the book is the fallout for her dealing with that. Like, what does long-term grief look like when you have no answers for so long? Really cheery stuff [laughs]. But that background material – I think they really inflected one another in interesting ways, and that was sort of my goal. I didn't want to use it to have shock value or to draw readers in. I wanted to use it to point out all the different ways that institutional failures are so connected.

We all move through these institutions. It's inescapable that we're moving through the same institutions in a lot of ways, and these failures have ramifications that go beyond just one family or one community. I think that was one of the larger scope things that I really wanted to show was the ways that — in this particular story — police ineptitude runs the gamut; it can affect everyone. That was important to me.

"The emotional heartbeat of the book is the fallout for her dealing with that. Like, what does long-term grief look like when you have no answers for so long?"

Did that influence your decision to make the driving characters sisters, or did that come from a more personal place?

I think that was from a personal place. I think just having such a big family and being really interested in sisterhood and what that looks like as you grow. But I will say, from a thematic point of view, I was also very interested in believability; and especially believability as it interfaces with law enforcement, and why so many women's stories seem so automatically suspect to law enforcement. I think that's an example where that's a theme that I was sort of working with specifically with my narrator, who is sort of dismissed by the lead detective on the case. I juxtapose that with a very famous story in Milwaukee that happened with Glenda Cleveland, who is the woman who called the police on Dahmer. She said this is a dangerous situation for this child [Konerak Sinthasomphone] that's involved, and she and her daughters were not believed by the police. They were, you know, dismissed essentially. I think that was definitely a thematic element of the book that was important to me, why so often are women's stories like dismissed or seen as suspect automatically instead of given the opposite sort of treatment.

A young Willa with members of her family. Courtesy of Willa C. Richards

That was kind of my immediate thought when I learned that like the characters were sisters. When I read that, I was like, "oh, this makes total sense, this is so incredibly believable that this might play out in this way". I thought: how do you position a character in a situation where maybe they don't have access to the institutional resources that should be helping them in this situation because of who they are, but then also give them such a driving force about why, without those resources they're still going to act. Making them sisters seemed like a really, really brilliant way to position the story.

Yeah — and there's so many of those stories. What's really sad is when I was doing a lot of the missing person research, there are a lot of sisters out there that are still like fighting and they're still trying to be heard. You hear these stories and they just like map right onto one another; of them saying like 'her intimate partner — whether it's boyfriend, ex boyfriend, whatever — is a problem. Can you look into him into him?' And they'll be like, 'yeah, we'll see. I think she's probably fine' but missing these really crucial familial keys. Who knows this missing person better than their family? So often it seems like that they're dismissed at these sort of like really crucial moments.

What parallels might you see between the current Gabby Petitio case and the kind of the story that you are telling, or the time of the story that you're telling?

This is just such a fraught situation in general. It's been challenging for me not to binge all of the stories, and I'll admit I read a fair amount of them more than I'm proud of. Obviously this is a tragedy. It sounds like now two young people have lost their lives, and so that is just a tragedy. There's that to contend with on its own and on its own terms.

In a larger sort of societal scale, it kind of feels like a litmus test for the media in a way of like, here's this case, how are they going to respond? In a lot of ways, the response has been a bonkers media circus which is what we've seen in a lot of other situations. I think the Dahmer case is a perfect example where the city of Milwaukee became a media circus. The national and even international attention that that case got was, in some ways, very bad for the city and bad for the case. They harassed witnesses, they stole documents, they were harassing families.

I think you're seeing a similar thing with this case too. What I think is interesting this time is it does seem like there are these gestures towards acknowledging "missing white woman syndrome". Now we know that we're giving disproportionate attention to this case, so you'll see that they'll put little links to stories about the disproportionate violence that's inflicted on indigenous people or indigenous women, specifically. I mean, maybe that's something, you know. I think it just shows so starkly the disproportionate attention that, you know, this case gets, but that isn't to say that it doesn't deserve attention. I think in some ways it shows like where the media's values still lie and what they think our consumption habits are. I mean, with the [Milwaukee] journal at the time of the Dahmer case, that was the record high circulation for the Milwaukee journal when the case hit. They were a struggling newspaper, they were sinking like many newspapers at the time, and that case helped save them. It's, it's really, really messy.

We're all complicit in our consumption habits, and I think part of it is doing the step that they're taking now, sort of acknowledging where our own biases in coverage and how we contribute to those biases. I think that's really important, but I don't know what the answers are. I think it's shown that we're not there. We're definitely not there yet. I think there's a big difference too, between reporting on something and becoming obsessed with something, and it definitely seems like in the same way that the Dahmer story unfolded, this became an obsession for the media. I don't think that's very healthy at all.

I think the obsession over her case has been problematic. But I do think one part that's important, and that I wish was discussed a little bit more is something I highlight in my book, is the fact that intimate partner violence is one of the most dangerous things for women in America. I point out in my book that the majority of murdered women are murdered by an intimate partner, former partner, someone they knew, a man that they knew. A lot of times in the US, we focus on these like random acts of violence you know — whatever random serial rapists, or, you're assaulted by someone random when you're out, and then we have a harder time talking about the fact that the most dangerous place for a woman is in her own relationship.

I think this case is a good example of how with the social media angle of like, "look how shiny this person's life is" there's so much going on that's not in the pictures. I think it would be great if we could help one another to see these things more clearly, and to see the signs of these things more clearly, and have this space where it's okay also to talk about them.

"I think there's a big difference too, between reporting on something and becoming obsessed with something"

I think a novel like this coming at this time is really valuable in addressing that space. To come back to your upbringing in Milwaukee, how do you feel that Milwaukee influenced the kind of writer that you are today or influenced your path, even becoming a writer?

It's been an interesting journey for me because I have gotten some questions like, "oh, well you say, you love Milwaukee, but then you write this book and it's, you know, shining light on one of the darkest histories. And like...

Criticism or critique is an act of love — it definitely can be.

Yeah. I was raised by two former hippies, so for me, criticism is like the only form of patriotism I really feel comfortable with, you know? One of the ways I've contended with that is like talking a lot about how valuable, like growing up where I did and the education I had was for me as a writer. I was born in the city of Milwaukee. I went to school in Wauwatosa and then in Brookfield, and my education was excellent. When I was a kid growing up I went to the symphonies, I went to plays, we went to the museums, it was really important to have those art resources specifically. My parents were both professors at UWM, so I spent a lot of time on the east side and I was just like always invigorated by the lakefront and Brady street and all of these areas. Those were big creative sources of inspiration for me.

There are two big things in terms of art that I think were really important to me. When I was in elementary school, I had this like opportunity to go and spend the day at the Milwaukee art museum. All I had to do was like pick one piece of art and then produce a piece of writing based on that piece of art. So I just got to spend the whole day wandering around the museum by myself. I just holed up in this random space and just wrote for the whole day — and it was, it was amazing. It wasn't like "ok now we're going to critique your writing and we're going to workshop it", it was just to produce some writing.

That experience was really valuable to me. It was work, but it was one of those like process oriented experiments that was so valuable to me as a very young writer. And I was like, "wow, this is so fun" you know? I think that's just like so important for young artists to have that experience.

I was also in the Milwaukee symphony orchestra starting from when I was really little. It was a really challenging experience, but it was really awesome. I think there's a lot of fluidity between art forms, and it taught me a lot of discipline that I was then able transfer into writing. That was a really formative experience for me too.

It really sounds like those childhood experiences really laid a foundation. I mean, amongst a myriad of other things that you mentioned, but those two kinds of childhood experiences really hand in hand and kind of setting the stage. Yeah.

Yeah

That's amazing.

Tune in to Community Curated on Tuesday, November 30th to continue this conversation with Willa C. Richards and Cree Myles, and purchase The Comfort of Monsters here .

In the Nō with Mac Antigua of Imagine MKE

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 21:41:03 GMT

Nō Studios Organizational Member, Imagine MK E specializes in bringing together Milwaukee's leaders in the arts, business, and civic communities — guided by a shared agenda that is rooted in the belief that arts and culture have the power to transform Milwaukee. Imagine MKE believes that having our city’s artists and arts organizations at leadership tables and regarded as key partners will create a thriving, inclusive, and vibrant city where our friends and neighbors have a healthy and vibrant place to live, work, and create.

We met Mac Antigua, Imagine MKE's Senior Director of Collective Impact, in ou r space for a few quick questions.

What is your name, and what do you do?

Mac Antigua, Senior Director of Collective Impact at Imagine MKE.

What is your favorite part about what you do?

I love holding space for people to come together, and to find a way that they can make a powerful contribution towards making Milwaukee an arts driven city that’s inclusive and vibrant. It’s not just the artist’s or the creative’s job to do that, everybody has a role. My job at Imagine[MKE] is to create — either in real time meetings, or the overall architecture of engagements — support for people to do that.

What does Socialize with Purpose mean to you?

What ‘Socialize with Purpose’ means for me is that we are all wired with values that guide us — that are our north star. I imagine that when you say socialize, that when you’re with people, that that’s front and center. Not that I have to wear a sandwich board that has my values on it, but that we’re able to be vulnerable with each other, that we share what drives us, what inspires us, and hopefully that we act accordingly. I think that what ‘socialize’ means is that we’re willing to be public with it, or find places that affirm, or invite us to visit that — and maybe hold ourselves accountable, hopefully that we’re meeting our values.

Nō Studios Organizational members get discounted private event rentals, access to our rooftop and online community, and special marketing. Learn more about organizational memberships here .

In the Nō with Jeremy Fojut of Newaukee

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 21:40:15 GMT

The Urban Spaceship Conference explores the intersection of people and place and does a deep dive on top trends, and future ideas, in urbanism .

This year, the conference will examine the future of cities in a post-pandemic world. The conference focuses on holistic solutions, national trends, best practices, and success stories that lead to action plans and spark ideas in the world of urbanism.

The Urban Spaceship Conference will feature national and local speakers in urban planning, architecture, housing, development, transportation, placemaking, government, economic development, historic preservation, construction, design, sustainability and many more that have implemented practices and tactics in their own communities and across the country.

Here, we asked Jeremy Fojut — Co-founder and Chief Idea Officer of Newaukee — a few questions about the upcoming conference and the impact of urbanism . Join us November 9th in-venue for Urban Spaceship 2021 . To register and learn more, click here .

Urban spaceship is described as an “urbanism conference that explores the intersection of people and place.” Before this event I can’t say that I’d ever encountered that word before, how would you define urbanism?

I think it’s the way we interact with the built environment, it’s pretty simple. How people move around cities, how people interact with infrastructure, social infrastructure, all of the things that make cities, and towns — I wouldn't think of urbanism as a big city thing only. Urbanism is kind of a catch all term for policy, transportation, development, and city planning.

There isn’t a social or physical space that has not been drastically changed in the past 18 months. From your perspective, how has this shifted the focus/goals of urbanism? Have there been new things that have come to the forefront for the field?

We realized how important community is, and we realized how city-building has developed to isolate us. I think we realized that we’re more lonely than ever because of the way we’ve designed cities, and I think we’re continually doing that.I mean we’re already in a silent pandemic of 61% of Americans saying they’re lonely or socially isolated; that’s a pretty significant number, and that was pre-pandemic.

So why are we like that? We’re like that because we are now in a car alone more than we ever have been in human history. Instead of having micro-interactions when you walk down the street to your local store or your local services, you’re getting that delivered, or you’re driving to it. We’ve built communities into suburban clusters that aren’t next to anything. And if we keep designing ourselves out of it, if we keep designing people out of cities, we have less interactions. So, what the pandemic hopefully showed us is that we crave human connection, and that we can take how we design for people a lot better.

I think most people —myself included — never give much conscious consideration to how city-planning impacts their lives. Beyond gentrification and red-lining, it isn’t much of a topic in the general cultural consciousness. Why should the average individual be aware of urbanism?

It should be on everybody's radar, because what people don't realize is that the way we invest in the built infrastructure of our city and how we navigate the city is what people come back to as “quality of life”. So when we say something like: “It’s a great place to live, work, and play”, well that might be for you, because you live in a community that has those features and those services, but if we truly want to create a city where more people feel something like that, we have to be really cognizant of how this happens everywhere. The way we build and plan a city really impacts every community, and if we don't have our eye on it then we're going to be super inefficient, and that’s where you’ll see inequities.

I pulled this up on Twitter the other day. You have the Brewery district where Nō Studios is located, and there’s very nice roads, it’s very small and built for people. When you go across the freeway, not even a couple blocks away, to the King park neighborhood — the infrastructure is in disarray. It’s almost a gravel road in some places. The biggest inequity is in how we build our cities, and how we use public powers to do that.

And you’d probably say that goes on to impact many other relationships — is that true?

Yeah, it’s a big part of how you move around a city. Most people don’t actually navigate their city, like some are really curious about it, but most people stay within their 3-5 miles unless they’re commuting to work. What you’re seeing in the world right now, with people leaving their jobs and what people are calling “the great resignation”, it’s because people are sick of the commute. They don't want to have that big commute, but we’ve designed everything to be a commute. I think now people are showing that it doesn't make them happy anymore.

I see a lot of significance of an urbanism conference being hosted by an organization that is based in Milwaukee — a city that was reported as the most segregated in the country in 2019. Is this something of consideration when it comes to structuring the event?

One of the last sessions of the day is “10 Urbansim mistakes that Milwaukee made, and how to fix them”, redlining being one of the most significant. We don’t technically do that anymore — we don’t redline — but we still pay the price. You can see how neighborhoods shift from block to block. The conference used to be the “empty storefronts” conference, but it has shifted to this catchall Urbanism conference as urbansim has become more and more crucial to how we build cities for people.

You can think of Holton avenue like a zipper, and on one side you have this flourishing neighborhood of Riverwest, and on the other side you have this impoverished neighborhood of Harambee. You can see where things have been redlined in the past that still impact us today, so it's a huge issue. We did a topic on that at a previous empty storefronts conference a couple of years ago, but we don’t have a specific topic for this year.

I was surprised to see a discussion centered on art-making in last year’s Urban Spaceship lineup, as it had never occurred to me that there is an intersection between the two. What is the value of art in the worlds of urbanism and placemaking?

I think the best way an artist can participate, or the most common, is beautification through artwork. I think that is stage one. I think the next stage that we haven’t seen yet, or have seen a little bit of — but in Milwaukee we haven't seen any of, is how do we have artists build social furniture? It’s: “how do we have artists build what an intersection would look like?”

We notice that what slows traffic is something that’s eye-catching — it just slows down. So if people slow down in certain areas and their attention is grabbed by something, it’s safer for everyone else. Art plays a big role in how people navigate cities and I think we’ve only just touched the surface. A lot of it is murals, which are this beautification effort, but we can go so much deeper if you can pair an artist with an architect with a city planner, and have that perspective of building cities through an artist's eye; the perspective that most engineers probably don't think about.

Specifically on this point of social isolation, I know that’s obviously a huge problem to try to address, but what might be the first thing you think we could do to address that silent pandemic, as you called it?

The new movement is 15-minute cities, so everything should be within 15 minutes of your community for services. If you look across Milwaukee, that is few and far between. If you’ve ever looked at the city from a pure neighborhood standpoint of traffic speed and how we’ve built it, we’ve actually built the city to pass through as quickly as possible — but not to experience it. You can see the areas where we’ve actually made some significant improvements in building it for people. You think of the Third Ward, you think of where Nō Studios is in the Brewery district, and the environment is different. What do you get when you see places built for people? You see more development, more people, more services, and it grows. Think about the difference in the south side of Milwaukee and how small the streets are, and then you think about the north side where you have Silver Spring, Teutonia, Hampton — everything is designed to get you through the neighborhood quickly. When you do that, you actually don’t build a community, you build a freeway.

So, the best thing we can do is that when we have the opportunity to re-do a street, it’s that people come first and cars come second. People in the neighborhood should be the priority of how we plan these neighborhoods, not how fast someone will get through it. That’s an absurd way we’ve done things. That’d be the first thing I’d do, and then I’d focus on building new neighborhoods and new developments, so that there’s enough services for people to walk to.

Our motto here at Nō Studios is ‘Socialize with purpose’. What would that mean to you and what you do?

Everything about this conference is purposeful. One of the segments is “how do we design cities for all ages and all abilities” — that’s a purposeful statement, and that’s a purposeful; statement, because we don't do that. When we plan a city, we generally build for people of our own age. When we do that, we actually build out and push out people that are of other age groups. When you think of Milwaukee, where is there any place downtown that’s for kids?

Wow, yeah

There’s like one park downtown. We have taken the fun and the play out of a city by not focusing on building for all ages and all abilities. So everything about this conference, each segment is delivering purpose in that specific topic. In curating this event, we can’t get to everything. We only have limited space for things that we want to talk about, but everything we’ve done has been curated to push forward a point of how we change cities for the better.

Join us for Urban Spaceship on Tuesday, November 9th. Learn more and register here .

'The Joy of Saké' with Tarik Moody

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 22:11:37 GMT

Images courtesy of SHOTBYBASI, and Boutique Photographer

Tarik Moody is a saké scholar, and Digital Director & Host at 88Nine Radio Milwaukee, and was very recently announced as the Program Director for 88Nine's new Urban Alternative channel.

In one word, Tarik is passionate, and his passion crosses all of his interests. From music, to technology, and most recently into the world of saké, Tarik is always looking to increase the visibility and accessibility of the things he loves for communities that are underrepresented in them.

In 2018 he created 88Nine Labs, the mission of which is to make the Milwaukee tech and startup scene more inclusive for underrepresented communities through talks, hackathons, and more. Additionally, he hosts 88Nine's Diverse Disruptors, a podcast highlighting innovators who prioritized inclusivity in their work. Recently, Tarik has begun a journey to learn more about saké and hopefully start his own saké brewery by the time he turns 50. He began with a course from the internationally known sake expert John Gaunter and emerged a certified sake scholar. He hopes to make sake more accessible to more people especially for a diverse population.

Here, I asked Tarik a few questions about his love for, and journey through saké. Tune in for Community Curated , Tuesday, 11/2, on WISN12, nostudios.com , or join us in-venue to learn more about the joys of saké.

Saké has become increasingly popular across the US, though it’s current level of visibility is something that is a recent development. I think it's safe to say that you were ahead of that curve here in Milwaukee — so what first attracted you to saké? And what about sparked the passion you have now?

Basically last year, during the pandemic, I was sitting there — you know everyone is self-reflecting during the pandemic — so I started self-reflecting about something I wanted to do that separates me from my professional job. I got to thinking that I always loved saké growing up. When I first had saké coming out of college, I became a fan of it. This was like the late 90’s, and I’ve always been a fan since then. Even when I was in Minneapolis, I DJ’d at a sushi bar just so that I could get free saké and I always joked that I was going to have my own saké brewery, and now I’m trying to take that journey to have my own brewery.

I know that you have long-term plans of opening your own saké brewery — can you talk about that and your aims in doing so? What would be some of the core tenets of Tarik’s saké brewery?

One of my focuses of opening a saké brewery is… that’s an interesting question. Before I start a saké brewery, or even start the process of learning to brew saké, I wanted to learn the knowledge of saké itself. It is a very — probably one of the most versatile, most complex alcoholic beverages in the world, and I don’t want to jump into brewing without truly understanding and respecting the history and culture behind saké. That’s why I’m on this journey. I set a goal to start brewing by the time I turn 50, which is in about 2 years from now.

In the meantime I’m trying to do everything to learn all I can about saké, and I learn new things every week. I took a course last year, all of January. A six hour course every weekend, and I still don’t know a lot now. I listen to podcasts, I read a lot of books. I buy probably $200 worth of saké to try different ones, just to understand the process, understand the culture, understand the breweries in Japan and even in the United states.

As far as my saké, I have a dream to call it Yasuke — which is the name of the first foreign-born samurai from Africa. There's an anime series about it. I thought it’d be kind of interesting to call it Yasuke saké, in reference to being a foreign-born African-American in saké. All I want to do is make it, and make it in the tradition and respect the culture of the saké, but also add things that I have always been inspired by, and what I’ve learned being in Milwaukee and my whole life.

All I want to do is make [saké], and make it in the tradition and respect the culture of the saké, but also add things that I have always been inspired by, and what I’ve learned being in Milwaukee and my whole life.

If you had to explain the experience of making saké to someone who had never encountered it before?

I’ll simplify it for you: there are 4 main ingredients for making saké. There’s water, of course, there’s rice, there's an ingredient called koji, and then yeast.

The first process involves collecting the rice, but beyond collecting the rice you have to mill it down or polish the rice to a certain ratio to get certain flavors and certain aromas. So the rice is polished at different levels, the higher the polishing rate, the longer the process is to make the saké and the finer the flavor. For example, if you polish a rice down to 50% or higher you get a saké called Daiginjo, which is kind of a premium saké that gives you more floral and really delicate flavors.

Once the polishing is done, you develop a mash by taking the rice, steaming it, and once the steaming is done you add the koji. Koji is the magical ingredient. It is kind of like a bacteria, a spore that you put on it to allow the rice to transform into sugar. Then the yeast you add to it allows it to become alcohol. Once that happens, you have the mash, you let it age for a while in the barrels, and then you press and bottle it. That’s basically a very simplified version of making saké.

You’ve spoken on having a personal goal of introducing saké to populations who may not have the same cultural or physical access to the Japanese product and culture as others here in the US, why do you feel this is important?

I just see it the same as being introduced to wine or whiskey, or any beverage, right? Wine did not come from America, beer did not come from America, so it's the same thing. I feel like saké has been perceived only as something you drink at a sushi restaurant served hot, and that — in a lot of people’s experience — has been bad, or they haven't really liked it because of that experience.

I want to show the rich culture of that beverage. It’s over 2000 years old, per say, about 1000 years in the form it is now — but saké is a beautiful beverage and the magic of making it is all about technique. Beer is all about ingredients, the hops and different types of stuff, but saké is all about skill, technique, and craft. I want to show how wine is versatile with meals, I want to show how saké is just as, or even more versatile than wine.

Though it is on the rise, I would say that saké is still a niche product here in the US. If there was one thing that you could say to someone who’d never had saké, why would you recommend it?

I would recommend it not only because it's alcohol and people like drinking, but there is such an amazing tradition and culture behind it. You know, most beverages don't really have a tradition and culture — it’s “here's a beer, drink it, here’s a wine, drink it”, you know? People always ask: “why is it always such small glasses for saké?” It’s like, it's a social drink! You have a round in circles, and you never pour for yourself, you pour for somebody else. The reason you keep it small is because it keeps conversation going, you loosen up over time.

I think that’s why I would recommend it. Not only because there’s the amazing quality and craft of saké, and the amazing flavors you can find with so many types and so many grades of saké, but for just the social aspect of it and the social traditions behind it. I think it makes it really interesting to enjoy.

Tune in to Community Curated on Tuesday, November 2nd to learn more about saké, and join us for a guided tasting with Tarik November 14th .

In the Nō with Morelys of CASA

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 03:51:38 GMT

Video editing: Derek Schmitt

Founded in 1986 CASA was established by activists opposing U.S. interference in Latin America and the funding of military and paramilitary assaults on the communities of Central America. From humble beginnings, CASA has grown to become the largest grassroots immigrant advocacy organization in the Mid-Atlantic region and continues to organize through their large base of lifetime immigrant, Latino, and working class members.

CASA Adelante will celebrate the courage, power, and accomplishments of their 120,000+ immigrant and working class members from over 140 countries across 46 US states. Speakers will include John Ridley, Oscar-winning Screenwriter and Nō Studios Founder; Brandon Scott, Mayor of Baltimore; Chris Van Hollen, Senator of Maryland, CASA Members; and more.

Here, we spoke with Morelys, a CASA member, to learn a bit more about her involvement with CASA.
Interview has been edited for clarity

How did you first become involved with CASA and why?

I first became involved with CASA through the Mi Espacio program, which was an afterschool program that I used to go to. They used to help me with my homework and things like that, but then later on I started to get invited to these events and I realized that this was something that I’ve always been interested in, but I never knew where to start. That program specifically was the one that opened the doors for me. I’m also super thankful about that program because they helped me find out how I should go to college, and how undocumented immigrants are able to go to college. Right now I am preparing to move to campus in August, and it was all thanks to that program from CASA.

That’s a beautiful story. Where are you going to university?

I’m going to the University of Morgan state in Baltimore.

Amazing, so not too far — that’s fabulous. What does it mean to you to be a CASA member?

Me being a CASA member is to be a part of a community – A community that I love, that I feel accepted in, that I feel that listens to my voice, that I feel that I’m not the only one. Being a member of CASA really just means being part of a community that loves me.

That feels like a warm hug, what you just said. I love that. Thank you

Tune in and take part in CASA Adelante! on Wednesday, October 20th.

In the Nō with Chris Barry of CMMA

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 20:49:28 GMT

Communications Media Management Association (CMMA) is the premier professional organization for communication media managers. For more than 70 years, CMMA has provided professional development and networking opportunities through conferences, regional meetings, publications, and technology-based events for their members — most of which are Fortune 500 companies.

This year, the annual CMMA conference is being held in Milwaukee. As a part of this conference, Nō Studios is hosting the annual Bijou event in our Gallery. This event will showcase CMMA member creative assets - and will be live streamed from our performance stage. As well, we are offering the opportunity to present for 2-3 members of our community. Additionally, Nō Studios members are invited to attend the event and network.

Here, we asked Chris Barry — Senior Director and Group Creative Director of Yellow Tag Productions at Best Buy, and CMMA member — a few questions about CMMA and all that they do. Join us October 4th in-venue and online in for the CMMA Bijou Networking event and Show case. To register and learn more, click here .

Can you tell us a bit about the Communications Media Management Association? How would you describe the group and what is its mission?

CMMA is a not-for-profit association of leaders from Fortune 500 companies, academic institutions, government agencies and faith-based organizations who manage creative content production for their organizations. The mission is professional development! We are a close-knit group who share best practices, watch each other’s work, support each other and look out for each other as we navigate the critical issues facing our teams. This includes subjects like creative inspiration and innovation, developing our teams, managing through turbulent times, understanding and taking action on diversity, equity and inclusion in our organizations.

How would you describe the typical CMMA member? What kinds of companies do they represent, and what types of work do they do?

A typical member is a seasoned pro who has worked their way up the professional ladder into a leadership role in some of the country’s largest and most successful organizations. We come from many industries including manufacturing, health-care, finance, banking, retail, technology and pharmaceutical but also universities, government and other types of organizations. We are content creators, from video and live event production to print and website design to communications, photography, and social media strategy.

Having been in existence since 1946, has the core mission of CMMA changed with developing technologies?

CMMA has always been about staying up to date on creative and technical innovation and managing teams who create content, but increasingly over the last 5-10 years it is also about navigating socio-economic and cultural impacts to our organizations and how we can educate ourselves on these fronts, be thought leaders and problem solvers.

In a time where social and political issues are such a focus in our community consciousness, and individuals find it more and more important that the companies they support are in alignment with their personal beliefs, it seems that if there was ever an important moment for a media specialist — this is it. What do you think the role of a media specialist is right now? Do you find your job more or less challenging in this moment?

Communications are crucial in any organization, especially in an environment of challenge and change as we’re seeing in the U.S. and around the world today. Video in particular is the “coin of the realm” in our world, and it is ubiquitous in most of our organizations. It’s the most human and emotional form of art and communication. The more we can stay up to speed on vanguard technologies and approaches to authentic storytelling, the more we can communicate effectively and with a human heart to move the dial for our organizations.

Why was Milwaukee chosen as the location for the national conference this year?

Milwaukee is a vibrant and diverse city with a great culture and history that represents the heart of the Midwest. It’s also a beautiful location with great architecture, right on Lake Michigan with an exciting downtown and many other cool neighborhoods. We have members who reside in Milwaukee (Kohl’s) and in greater Wisconsin, as well is in Chicago and around the middle of the country, so it’s the perfect location for our National Meeting.

Join us for the CMMA Bijou Networking event and Showcase on Monday, October 4th. Learn more and register here .

5 Questions with Courtier House

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 14:41:51 GMT

All images courtesy of Courtier House

Courtier House is a Milwaukee-based public relations company focused on strengthening the success of creative & entrepreneurial professionals through entertainment events, press events, & networking . Every week, Courtier House partners with us for Skyline Rooftop Poetry, a popular open-mic series as a part of Nō Thursdays.

Here, we spoke with the executive members of Courtier House — Xzavier Antonio (owner), Jeff McAlister (CEO), and Niyoka Winston (Chairman and CFO)— about the organization, their series at Skyline, and the power of poetry. Tune in for Community Curated , Tuesday, 10/5, on WISN12, our website, and in our venue to learn more and experience our new media format.

How did you all become involved with Courtier House?

Jeff: My company FashionSense, inc. started a relationship with Xzavier, the owner of Courtier House, by styling him. At the time, he hosted a poetry night in 2016, and we developed a professional relationship that turned into a marketing partnership — and I was later selected to be CEO.

Niyoka: Xzavier and I are great friends who share a lot of the same ideas about empowering people. Through our friendship and seeing each other’s work in the community to empower people, I saw the leadership skills in him, and he saw the leadership skills in me. Because of the trust he placed in me, one day, he asked me to be the chairman and CFO and because I believe that as a PR company we can empower the community — and because I knew I could help him push his dream further — I accepted the roles.

Xzavier: In my time as an entrepreneur, I realized the biggest complaints amongst entrepreneurs are “support and exposure.” Support, I’ve gained through relationship building and through the exposure that I’ve gained as an entrepreneur using marketing skills I’ve learned. One day, I looked at all my skills and wanted to know what could I do that would use everything I know. Those skills include, poetry, singing, public speaking, digital and visual content creation, marketing, press release writing, community organizing, event planning and so much more. I realized, I, and many others, could be influencers and change agents for a lot of entrepreneurs, including creative professionals. I realized we could spread information through the powerful tool in Public Relations - that is, having relationships through a network of professionals and people.

With so many kinds of creative expression that can be found in our city, why is poetry important to

Courtier House?

Xzavier: We have an interest in all art forms, and for us, poetry allows everyone to say exactly what they wanna say and be heard. Unlike painting, and the hook in a R&B song or rap song, the lyrics are usually straightforward. Not all poetry is like that, but most of the time, what a writer says doesn’t need interpretation.

Niyoka: If nothing else, it’s an interactive platform between the speaker and the live-in-person audience, that opens the door to constantly create new culture and conversations that lead to relationships.

What about the Skyline Rooftop Poetry series inspires you?

Jeff: It’s an inclusive atmosphere and the more people we can get into a safe and welcoming space, the more effective we can become as a company, and the more effective that people in the space can become in society.

Niyoka: It inspires me that so many others are Inspired. They’re inspired to write, recite, connect with the community and so many have come to me to find out what they can do to be more involved with Courtier House. That says they see value in the event, in the company and in both the people organizing and witnessing the event.

What would you say to someone who has never been to a Skyline Rooftop Poetry night? Why should they come, and what do you hope they will leave with?

Xzavier: There are meaningful things happening in as little as 2 -3 hours. Poetry is like therapy. The applause and socializing during and after provides a sense of celebrating. We are celebrating each other every time we come together. It’s a great venue, a great view, and a great time with great people.

Jeff: It's a different experience each week, so you will not get a "cookie" cutter experience. You have to show and experience the organic movement that takes place!

What does 'Socialize with Purpose' mean to you?

Xzavier: Many people socialize to escape something but the motto "socialize with purpose” gives people what seems to be a chance to create intentions while being social. It sounds like being intentional and socializing to move towards something, rather than to escape anything. Together, we’ll run towards community, creativity and entrepreneurial ability.

Catch Skyline Rooftop Poetry with Courtier House every week as a part of Nō Thursdays, and tune in to Community Curated on Tuesday, October 5th.

Skyline Saké of the Month: Joto One Cup

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 04:10:04 GMT

A fun take on the classic cup saké, now available at Skyline Bar + Lounge.

Cup sake, which comes in individual servings, can be a bit tricky to find in the US but we're offering a great one for September's saké of the month — the Graffiti Cup Honjozo by Joto.

Founded in 2005, Joto’s mission is to serve as a bridge between Japanese artisanal saké and the American market. They aim to bring the world of artisanal saké to life without “dumbing it down,” “Americanizing it,” or just making it cheesy.

Joto is Japanese for “highest level” and describes the makers of Joto saké and their aspirations as an importer. Joto exists as the he exclusive importer for multi-generational, family-owned breweries whom they identify as being of that standard. Located throughout Japan, their jizake (local) breweries produce saké in small batches with locally-raised indigenous rice varieties, offering flavors and styles ideal for a range of cuisines.

Joto bottles feature English-language labels with producer names, locations, and helpful tasting notes, and as a company Joto conducts educational seminars and events throughout the country, all in service to offer a unique journey into the heart of the world of sake.

The Graffiti Cup Honjozo sake is made by Marumoto Brewery, in Okayama Prefecture. The brewmaster and president, Niichiro Marumoto, is known for his creative approach to sake making; from growing his own sake rice right outside the brewery to pioneering the science of Sparkling Sake. The Joto One cup is another example of Marumoto’s expertise in combining tradition and innovation in one delicious sake. This one-cup sake is the best selling one-cup sake in Okayama prefecture, and with packaging designed by the Japanese graffiti artist, Shiro, Joto One Cup shows old and new Japan in one.

TASTING NOTES

Light and fresh, notes of juicy green grape and watermelon.

FOOD PAIRING

Serve chilled or warmed. Great with bar snacks like salted nuts, potato chips, and bacalao.

Rice : Akebono & Yamada Nishiki Rice
Yeast : #1401
SMB : 70%
SMV : -2
ABV : 15%
Acidity : 1.3
Shubo : Ko-on-toka
Pressing : Yabuta
Pasteurization : Twice

Stop by Skyline to try Joto One Cup Saké today.

The New State Resource Fair Recap

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 03:35:18 GMT

A day of community engagement and support, public health awareness & fun! Rewatch the livestream here .

This month The New State partnered with a number of local public schools, organizations, and healthcare professionals, to put on a Public Health Resource Fair & School Supply Giveaway — a day centered focused on community education and support. The event was an indoor and outdoor festival that invited the Milwaukee community to participate in a day of community engagement that was both fun and informative.

The event began with a panel discussion, hosted by Demonte Dismuke (SaintA), and featuring notable figures across the Milwaukee arts and justice communities. The panel featured David Crowley (Milwaukee County Executive), Kenneth Ginlack (Director of Outpatient Programs with MKE County BHD), Shannon Ross (The Community - Executive Director), Dominee Meek (Juvenile Justice Reform), Baby Shade (Artist), Ja Lotto (Artist), Tearman Spencer (Milwaukee City Attorney), Ray Nitti (Urban Underground Alum & The Corridor Development).

The panel discussion was followed by the distribution of school supplies for students preparing to start the upcoming school year, and the day culminated with musical performances by a number of local up-and-coming musical artists. We reached out to The New State to hear their thoughts on the event, and you can read what they had to say and view photos from the event below.

" I feel this event was a great success. Everything that we wanted to accomplish with this event — we did ; school supply giveaway, partnership with public schools, partnerships with other local organizations, partnering with healthcare professionals and establishments, having an honest discussion internalizing where Milwaukee is as far as public health, creating a platform for artists to showcase talents and practice on a professional stage, supporting local vendors, provided information for resources available in Milwaukee and how to access it, captured the performances for the artists to have professional content to use, and hosted the panel discussion that will live online for others to watch and think about our city's Public Health and how they can get involved to better Milwaukee as a whole.

One hour was certainly not enough time to develop strategies and plans, however this proved that when people come together and think about our surroundings we all can see similar issues from many different perspectives. And once we all agree that there are these underlying issues, we can work together on repairing what may be broken within our communities and existing policies. It's really exciting for me to have experienced this, and I'm looking forward to an ongoing conversation through future events and panels".

"I must admit we took a page out of Near West Side Partners 3 day virtual symposium event led by their Executive Director Keith Stanley earlier this year. At that event they really brought the community together to discuss the current state of the neighborhoods, and what the collective thought was necessary to improve the community in which they live. Breakout sessions, and 3 days of interaction produced an action plan/road map that can be a guide for the future on what should be the focus as the community continues to develop and build forward".

"For us, The New State, this event was really a first conversation in hopes of taking similar steps — and that's why it was so important for us to get the individuals we did on the panel. Learning from Milwaukee residents, artists, government officials, community leaders, other organizations on challenges we face as a City, and how to navigate to plan and make change for the better for our future generations. Other than that it was a fun time, and felt really good to give back".

Thank you, The New State.

Watch the panel discussion here .

Skyline Saké: The House of Suntory

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 19:37:19 GMT

A heritage Japanese whisky and spirits distillery, now available at Skyline Bar + Lounge.

Founded in 1899, The House of Suntory was built on the dream of it's founder, Shinjiro Torii. E mbodying the harmony that exists between Japanese nature and Japanese people, The House of Suntory is a unique fusion that establishes Suntory Whisky as not only a product, but an art form.

Torii was born in the Meiji Period, when Western culture and civilization suddenly flowed into Japan. Ending his schooling at age thirteen, Torii entered into an apprenticeship at a pharmaceutical wholesaler in Osaka that carried Western liquors. There he engaged in stylish Western pursuits and mastered techniques of mixing, then developed a discriminating palate and nose. He mastered techniques of mixing and blending through his teenage apprenticeships. In the year 1899, Shinjiro Torii went independent, renting a modest house where generations of pursuit of a dream all started.

In 1923, Shinjiro Torii envisioned a whisky filled with the essence of Japanese nature and hand-crafted by artisans through a patient process of enhancing the work of nature. He dreamt of creating subtle, refined, yet complex whisky that would suit the delicate palate of the Japanese and enhance their dining experience. Though initially inspired by traditional Scottish whisky, Torii envisioned a Japanese approach by choosing a terrain and climate completely different from those of Scotland. Torii chose the region of Yamazaki, on the outskirts of Kyoto as the birthplace of Japanese whisky.

Suntory Whisky is Japan's first whisky and is unique from other whiskies due to the purity of the water used in production, the distinct four seasons in which the whiskies mature, and the Art of Blending which produces the signature subtle, refined and complex flavor.

Born from the Japanese way, speaking to the soul and awakening our senses, taking us back to where it all began. Suntory Whisky embodies the harmony that exists between Japanese nature and Japanese people and is the fusion of the delicate forces of Japanese nature itself combined with the passion and precision of the best Japanese artisans.

Skyline Bar + Lounge carries three products from The House of Suntory, the Toki Whisky, Haku Vodka, and Roku Gin.

Toki Whisky:

With toki meaning "time" in Japanese, this whisky is concept rich in meaning the world over, but particularly in Japan where respect for tradition and reinvention sparks a powerful creative energy. Inspired by that interplay, Suntory Whisky Toki brings together old and new — the House of Suntory's proud heritage and its innovative spirit- to create blended Japanese whisky that is both groundbreaking and timeless.

Haku Vodka:

Made with 100% Japanese white rice, the name Haku® means “white” in Japanese. The word can also be read as “brilliant” – a tribute to the craft of mastering a clear, clean, and luminous vodka. Filtered through bamboo charcoal, Haku® has an unparalleled soft, round, and subtly sweet taste.

Roku Gin:
In Japanese, Roku translates as the number six. Inside every bottle of Roku Gin, you will find six very special botanicals that are sourced in Japan. These represent Suntory’s commitment to only use the best ingredients harvested from the best growing areas in Japan. Every aspect of Roku Gin is crafted by Japanese artisans with a centuries-old tradition of meticulous attention to detail.

Not only are Roku Gin’s ingredients of the highest quality, many are also uniquely Japanese and, therefore, best understood by Japanese artisans. Suntory’s mastery of this process is the result of extensive experience gained over decades making gin. Suntory developed its own multiple distillation process as a result of the special features each botanical brings to Roku Gin’s perfectly balanced mix.

Stop by Skyline to try The House of Suntory today.

5 Questions with Shannon Ross of The Community

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 14:52:01 GMT

All images courtesy of The Community

Shannon Ross is the Executive Director of The Community , which he founded with invaluable outside support in 2014 while he was serving a 17 year prison sentence. Since his release September 2020, Shannon is also a grad student at UW-Milwaukee, a community fellow with the Wisconsin Decarceration Platform, a member of Unlock Higher Ed, a small business owner, & a grateful father-to-be.

Here, we asked Shannon 5 questions ahead of the ' Correcting the Narrative ' event on August 31st.

What is The Community?

The Community is a 7-year-old nonprofit that addresses the effects of the criminal legal system with two arms: Pre-entry and Correcting the Narrative. Pre-entry leverages our ever-growing connection with half the Wisconsin prison population (with access to over 30,000 more incarcerated people nationwide) to provide them with every type of resource, encouragement, and now training to return to society as successfully as possible. Our Correcting the Narrative campaign showcases the successes, humanity, and agency of people with criminal records. Ultimately, we seek to bring society and the system-impacted community exactly where they need each other to be.

What is one thing you hope to be able to bring into the world through your work with The Community?

We hope to foster stronger communities all over through innovative, widely collaborative, human-centered efforts to access the untapped talent of people with criminal records and the untapped empathy and understanding of society towards system-impacted people.

What is the most rewarding part of the work you do?
Knowing we are taking big swings at the roots of issues plaguing our communities, and working with incredible human beings who want to address these issues in ways that revolve around lived experience, technology, art, humility and high-quality data. I am immensely grateful for Adam Procell, Eli Rivera, Ruben Gaona, and Kaleigh Atkinson for the great groundwork we've laid the past year and the comprehensive scalable model we are building.

You’ll be a part of the upcoming Correcting the Narrative event, which is centered on innovative approaches to cri minal justice reform. Why should people come to this event?
People should come to this event because we will cover — in the presentation and Q and A portion — why the criminal legal system is destructive to EVERYONE in society, why our current approach to dealing with people who violate the law is the equivalent of throwing our wallets at scary noises in the dark, and an innovative, widely-collaborative, effective way of addressing the problem.

What does it mean to ’socialize with purpose’ (our motto) for you?

As a natural introvert who simply plays an extrovert on TV (so to speak), socializing with purpose has always been my strong inclination. I don't have to get something out of any given social encounter, but I don't want any to just be acts of boredom or thumb-twiddling. Having spent 17 years in prison, I understand the value of time and we all have only so much in this life to spend as fruitfully as possible each day. So when I socialize, I want to come away feeling like I really know the person I just spoke to and how we can help each other's journeys and leverage each other's strengths far beyond our fears and weaknesses.

Join us for a live presentation and Q+A with Shannon Ross, Judge Derek Mosley, Adam Procell, Eli Rivera, and Ruben Gaona in ' Correcting the Narrative '

TMJ4: MPS Foundation celebrates graduates at Skyline Lounge

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 22:54:01 GMT

MPS Foundation celebrates graduates receiving $200,000 in scholarships

With the start of the school year around the corner, the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation recognized the 2021 scholarship recipients.

Tuesday evening, 27 students and their families filled the Skyline Lounge to meet the donors of the scholarships and celebrate their achievements.

Hundreds of students applied and 27 were chosen to receive the scholarships, totaling a record-breaking $200,000. The scholarships range from $500 to $20,000.

Nō Thursdays Poetry Recap

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 21:30:43 GMT

A recap of our weekly poetry open mics, every Thursday in partnership with Courtier House

Photos by IG: @rb.photo.video

Each Thursday begins with co-hosts Kim (left) and Spitfire (right) taking the stage to introduce the event and kick the night off. They keep the energy loose and fun with cheers and playful roasts for the performers throughout the night.

After that, the poets take the stage. This is an open-mic so all are welcome to perform, and Kim and Spitfire will usually rotate between new performers and old favorites in the performance order.

The vibes are *immaculate*.

And every poetry night is followed by a DJ set from one of our rotating DJs.

Join us every week for a night of poetry and a popping dj set as a part of Nō Thursdays, running from 7:00p – 12:00a. Entry is free before 9:00pm, and there are drink specials all night. Visit our events page each week for all info and to see which DJ will be performing.

In The Nō with Alesia Miller of Soul Brew

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 15:54:54 GMT

Alesia Miller of Soul Brew. Courtesy of Soul Brew LLC.

"When you mix passion and purpose, you can't fail"

Every Valentine’s Day, Americans spend tens of billions of dollars on chocolate, jewelry, and fancy dinners. With this statistic in mind, it might be hard to believe that one of the best gifts one could give on this most pink of holidays is kombucha. On February 14th, 2019, with the help of her family, Alesia Miller gave herself that gift; she incorporated Soul Brew LLC — the first Black-woman owned kombucha company in Milwaukee. Unlike a typical Valentine’s love story, Soul Brew was born from a place of necessity. Alesia’s earliest passion in life was singing, and after 20 years teaching music and working as an educator nurturing the talents of others, Alesia found herself borderline diabetic, and facing surgery which could potentially threaten her own ability to sing.

It was with this realization, and the support of her mother and sister, that Alesia began brewing her own Kombucha as an alternative to sugary drinks. Fitting to this unconventional love story and to any instance of someone trying something new, the Soul Brew that produces delicious flavors like Ginger, Mango, Peach ; Teacher’s Aide ; and Black Lives Matter (Blackberry, Lemon, Mango) , wasn’t born in a day — it took hard work, creativity, and total dedication. “You can’t have a plan B — because if you have a plan B, it becomes your plan A the moment shit gets rough”.

Alesia left teaching, and committed her life to helping people take ownership of their own health through Soul Brew. She began by mixing the first batches in her kitchen, experimenting until she landed on one flavor, and then another, and then another; working until she had an assortment of attractive flavors that she could take to market — and take them to market she did. Soul Brew has grown rapidly, going from Alesia’s home kitchen, to brewing in the basement at The Tandem, to having its own facility where Soul Brew produces kombucha in runs of up to 600 gallons at a time. But despite all of the success that Miller has found in running her business, she still sees herself — and Soul Brew in turn — in the role of a servant looking to empower everyone who purchases a bottle of ‘booch.

“I really hope that they are feeling triumphant, that they’re taking ownership of their own health. Our tagline is ‘creating culture for better health’. I can’t do that by myself”, keenly aware of her clever play on words. “In order for us to create the culture I have to create a community. I want people to take ownership — our website is “ my soulbrew.com”

At the very core of Soul Brew is its ability to connect with people and to make personal health efficacy accessible, and Alesia has big plans for the company. Eventually, she plans to bridge her two passions and use Soul Brew as a means to platform musical artists and eventually open a facility large enough to not only produce Soul Brew, but to be able to help other entrepreneurs begin their own businesses brewing a myriad of products. For herself — Miller hopes that she is creating a legacy and facilitating the ability for her children to chase their passions in a similar way that she has, and to afford them the opportunity to be able to see them come to fruition. “When you mix passion and purpose, you can’t fail”.

Pick up a bottle of Soul Brew at Cafe Nō Today!

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Nō Studios PhotoMKE

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 16:44:29 GMT

Nō Studios PhotoMKE

Nō Studios today announced a call for photographers to be featured in its first annual PhotoMKE festival in early September. Nō Studios PhotoMKE will activate six Milwaukee neighborhoods – Clarke Square, Harambee, Layton Boulevard, Lindsay Heights, Metcalfe Park and Muskego Way – with outdoor photo galleries. The galleries will feature photography from residents representing what love, beauty, resilience and happiness looks like to them, where they live. By inviting locals to reclaim and represent their communities through visual art, Nō Studios PhotoMKE aspires to affirm the value of these Milwaukee neighborhoods through the lens of those who live there.

Photo submissions are due July 31. For information on how to submit a photo, visit www.nostudios.com/photomke .

MEDIA COVERAGE :

OnMilwaukee

Nō Studios seeks photographers for Photo MKE neighborhood galleries

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: July 19 to July 24

Nō Studios Artist Grant – Music Recipients

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 20:13:44 GMT

Nō Studios Artist Grant – Music Recipients

MILWAUKEE, Wis – June 22, 2021 – Today, Nō Studios founder John Ridley announced that the first round of funding has been awarded from its recently established Nō Studios Artist Grant Program . The program, entirely self-funded by the Nō Studios collaborative, has pledged to give up to $100,000 annually to support Wisconsin artists, especially those in historically underserved populations, to help them realize the completion of their artistic endeavors.

The first round of recipients are six Wisconsin musicians who will receive a total of $25,000, including: KoBe, Browns Crew, Sypher Lady X, BriJon, WebsterX and Cam Will.

Future awards will be given quarterly to Wisconsin-based creatives working in a range of disciplines including, but not limited to, visual arts, photography, music, film, dance, fashion, poetry, creative writing and performance. The program is committed to distributing up to $25,000 quarterly to qualifying artists with special consideration given to those identifying as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, female or female identifying, disabled and/or veterans. Individual recipients are eligible to receive grants up to $10,000 each.

“It’s very exciting for us at Nō Studios to celebrate and support six Wisconsin based musicians who are not only talented but using their voices to uplift their communities,” said Nō Studios founder John Ridley. “Our hope is that these grants empower these individuals to take their artistic expression to the next level. I look forward to seeing what they create and how they continue their work as change-agents.”

See Artist Profiles HERE !

MEDIA COVERAGE :

Milwaukee Mag
Nō Studios Begins Awarding Grants to Wisconsin Artists

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Nō Studios awards first round of artist grants

Shepherd Express

Nō Studios Awards Grants to Local Musicians

Women in Sports Management Coverage

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 19:24:19 GMT

Nō Studios hosts Women in Sports Management

On Tuesday, June 15 from 12-2 p.m. Nō Studios hosted a special interview and book signing with Katrina Adams - Author, 'Own the Arena', global speaker, sports analyst, and leader.

Following the book signing, Nō Studios partnered with the Milwaukee Bucks to host an in-venue and live streamed discussion between Katrina Adams, former CEO & President of the USTA and Raven Jemison, Executive Vice President of Business Operations with the Milwaukee Bucks. The discussion will be moderated by Zora Stephenson.

REWATCH LIVE EVENT HERE !

MEDIA COVERAGE :

CBS 58

Bucks, Nō Studios host women in sports management discussion with Katrina Adams

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

'There's not a place that I don’t belong:' Women of color take leading roles in sports management

Urban Milwaukee

Nō Studios Hosts Women in Sports Management Talk with Katrina Adams; Milwaukee Bucks Executives Raven Jemison and Zora Stephenson

Nō Studios Opens Skyline Bar + Lounge

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 22:37:38 GMT

Introducing Skyline

Nō Studios today announced the opening of Skyline Bar + Lounge in the heart of Milwaukee’s Brewery District. Situated on the top floor of Nō Studios, Skyline features a stunning glass enclosed bar and lounge with unobstructed views of the city, in addition to two outdoor rooftop patios. Unique in Milwaukee, Skyline will offer a curated sake collection.

“There’s really nothing like this in Milwaukee,” said John Ridley, Nō Studios founder and CEO. “The panoramic views offer a different, must-see perspective of the city which can be enjoyed from inside or the outdoor patio areas.”

Skyline’s décor includes lounge couches, high top cocktail tables and professional lighting to set the mood. In addition to a full bar beverage selection, Skyline will focus on sake, a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice. The menu includes a wide range of sakes, sake flights and sake cocktails.

“By design, Nō Studios has always reflected the influence of East Asian culture,” said Ridley. “The word Nō, or 能, is the sino-Japanese word for skill or talent, and an East Asian influence is evident in our building’s interior aesthetic as well. With Skyline Bar + Lounge, we’re hoping to extend that cultural influence through the introduction of a curated selection of sakes.”

To introduce the sake experience to Milwaukee, Skyline is hosting a series of tastings, discussions and events with experts and admirers of the beverage both in Milwaukee and across the country. As part of that effort, Milwaukee's own Tarik Moody has partnered with the organization as Nō Studios’ resident sake scholar and enthusiast.

"I have always been fascinated by sake since I first tasted it during college at Howard University,” said Moody. “Last year I decided I wanted to learn more about the culture of sake, so I took a Sake Professional Course, and now I'm a certified sake professional. This is the beginning of a three-year journey to learn all I can and hopefully one day brew my own sake. I’m excited to partner with Nō Studios to share my passion with others."

Upcoming events will cover the rich history of sake and include sampling of its many varieties and pairing possibilities, including Japanese inspired tapas. The first in-venue tasting on May 8 during the Nō Studios Makers Market has sold out. Additional in-venue tastings will take place June 12 and July 10 at 6 p.m.

Skyline will feature a different sake each month and offer unique specials. Sake bottles to-go are also available for purchase online. Skyline is open to the public Thursday through Saturday from 5 – 11 p.m. Members have additional access Monday through Wednesday and Sunday from 8 – 10 p.m.; and Thursday through Saturday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

MEDIA COVERAGE :

OnMilwaukee

Sake-focused Skyline Bar + Lounge opens atop No Studios

Milwaukee Magazine

Milwaukee’s Getting a New Rooftop Bar With a 360° City View

BizTimes Milwaukee

Nō Studios to open sake-focused rooftop bar and lounge on May 8

Urban Milwaukee

Nō Studios opens Skyline Bar + Lounge

CBS 58

Nō Studios to open Skyline Bar + Lounge in Milwaukee's Brewery District -- featuring 360-degree views

Greater Milwaukee Today

Milwaukee’s Skyline Bar + Lounge offers 360-degree city views

WISN12 News

No Studios on WISN-MKE (ABC) - Milwaukee, WI

CBS 58 Morning News

No Studios on WDJT-MILW (CBS) - Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Business Journal

See the sake-focused Skyline Bar + Lounge opening at No Studios: Slideshow

CBS 58

Nō Studios to open Skyline Bar + Lounge in Milwaukee's Brewery District -- featuring 360-degree views

Milwaukee Independent

Nō Studios Opens Rooftop Bar and Lounge with Views of Milwaukee and Collection of Curated Japanese Sake

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Nō Studios in Milwaukee is opening a rooftop bar and lounge featuring sake flights and cocktails

Greater Milwaukee Today/Waukesha Freeman

Milwaukee’s Skyline Bar + Lounge offers 360-degree city views

Celebrating 2021 Oscar Nominations

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 15:58:53 GMT

Nō Studios featured filmmakers nominated for 2021 Oscars
Rewatch nominated filmmaker Q&A's presented by Nō Studios below:

'One Night in Miami' Directed by Regina King nominated for: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

'Time' Directed by Garrett Bradley nominated for: Documentary Feature

'Collective' Directed by Alexander Nanau nominated for: Documentary Feature + International Feature Film

'A Love Song For Latasha' Directed by Sophia Nahli Allison nominated for: Documentary Short

Nō Studios Launches Artist Grant Program

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 23:43:23 GMT

Announcing: The Nō Studios Artist Grant Program

Nō Studios is partnering with gener8tor to distribute up to $100,000 in annual grants to Wisconsin creative professionals!

Supporting Wisconsin-based creatives working in a range of disciplines including visual arts, photography, music, film, dance, fashion, poetry, creative writing, and performance, any artist living and working in Wisconsin can apply.

Up to $25,000 in Artist Grants will be distributed in quarterly installments in grant amounts of up to $10,000 per recipient. A jury of creative professionals from outside Wisconsin will be engaged to review applications.

In describing the program, John Ridley stated, “Nō Studios is creating a fund to award grants to Wisconsin-based artists, especially those from marginalized communities, to support them in the completion of their projects. Importantly, Nō Studios is self-funding this program so as not to put pressure on existing artist initiatives but, instead, to add resources to the Wisconsin creative community.”

Gener8tor is organizing a series of webinars and office hours to explain the grant application process, and The Nō Studios Artist Grant applications will be accepted beginning in March 2021.

Further highlighting the importance of the Nō Studios venture and his commitment to its success, during a recent interview with gener8tor co-founder Joe Kirgues, Ridley stated, “The investment in Nō Studios has been the best investment, outside of my own family, that I’ve made in my life.”

We look forward to enacting this new initiative with you and for you!

Media Coverage:

John Ridley's Nō Studios launches $100K grant program for Wisconsin artists - ABC WISN12 NEWS

Nō Studios Plans to Give up to $100,000 to Wisconsin Artists - Milwaukee Magazine

John Ridley's No Studios announces $100K grant program for Wisconsin artists - CBS 58

Milwaukee's No Studios pledges $100K annually to support Wisconsin artists - Milwaukee Business Journal

Post from Community: Nō Studios launches artist grant program - Milwaukee Neighborhood News

John Ridley's No Studios announces $100,000 in grants for Wisconsin artists - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

John Ridley Launches Nō Studios Artist Grant Program to Help Wisconsin's Creatives During the Pandemic - Milwaukee Independent

No Studios creates grant program to support Wisconsin artists - OnMilwaukee

Nō Studios offers grants to help artists get back on their feet - FOX6 News Milwaukee

John Ridley’s Nō Studios Launches Artist Grant Program - EURWEB

Academy Award-Winning Writer John Ridley Puts His Spin On Beloved Comic Book Characters

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 18:47:14 GMT

NPR's Here & Now

John Ridley, an Academy Award-winning screenwriter, is known for serious films like "12 Years a Slave."

But he also loves comic books, both as a reader and writer. He created the “American Way" back in 2006 as well as its sequel, and now he's putting his own spin on the heroes of the DC Universe.

'John Ridley creates the first Black Batman'

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 18:43:05 GMT

ABC NEWS

"When you see what it is you're missing...you realize that representation does make a difference."

Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridley has teamed up with DC Comics on two new projects that reimagine classic superheroes in diverse ways.

Under the Mask, the Next Batman Will Be Black

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 01:37:47 GMT

THE NEW YORK TIMES

In a new comic written by John Ridley, who wrote “12 Years a Slave,” the new Batman will be revealed as Tim Fox, the son of a business associate of Bruce Wayne.

Fans of DC Comics have been told for months that a new Batman will premiere in January. They were also teased that underneath the costume of the new caped crusader would likely be a person of color. The identity of the new hero was revealed on Thursday when DC released a cover of the second issue of the new comic: he is Timothy Fox, one of the sons of Lucius Fox, a business associate of Bruce Wayne, the original Batman.

THE OTHER HISTORY Revisits the DC Universe Through New Eyes

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 21:27:14 GMT

NERDIST

In 1935, National Allied Publications released New Fun Comics —the spark that would become the raging pop culture inferno DC Comics. Since then, the home of Superman , Batman , and Wonder Woman has changed the world.

N ow, Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridley (who wrote 12 Years a Slave and Three Kings) is putting in the work to reshape how we see the stories that have made DC Comics what it is today through the eyes of some of its most famous heroes. Alongside artists Giuseppe Camuncoli and Andrea Cucchi, Ridley breaks new ground with the transgressive and experimental series The Other History of the DC Universe.

John Ridley reveals what he can about Black Batman and ‘The Other History of the DC Universe’

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 17:42:01 GMT

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Most may not equate “12 Years a Slave” or FX’s “American Crime” — two seriously dramatic projects — with DC Comics, but it’s all a matter of perspective.

Specifically, the perspective of John Ridley, the Oscar-winning writer and TV creator whose “12 Years a Slave” took the point-of-view of a freed Black man made to live as a slave. Ridley has actually written for DC periodically since 2004 — including “The American Way” comic book series and the animated movie “Justice League: Starcrossed.” Now, however, he’s brought his signature skill for envisioning situations from a different vantage point to “The Other History of the DC Universe,” a five-issue series focused on some of DC’s lesser-known characters: Jefferson Pierce (Black Lightning), Mal Duncan and Karen Beecher-Duncan (Bumblebee), Renee Montoya (The Question), Katana and Anissa Pierce (Thunder). John Stewart (Green Lantern), the first Black superhero in the DC Universe, shows up too.

The characters, all heroes of color, are some of Ridley’s favorites in the DC superhero community.

Director John Ridley Discusses Janet Hubert’s Comments About Leaving 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 03:45:54 GMT

THE REAL

Director John Ridley Discusses Janet Hubert’s Comments About Leaving 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'

NY TIMES: Inside the ‘Other History’ of Comic Book Superheroes

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 01:51:08 GMT

Inside the ‘Other History’ of Comic Book Superheroes

In an interview, John Ridley, the acclaimed screenwriter of “12 Years a Slave,” talks about his new comic book series, nonwhite superheroes and why representation matters.

'Five stories of hope': Inside 'The Other History of the DC Universe'

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 20:18:03 GMT

DC COMICS: MSNBC's Morning Joe Coverage

MORNING JOE 'Five stories of hope': Inside 'The Other History of the DC Universe'

Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridley is out with a new five-issue bimonthly comic series 'The Other History of the DC Universe,' and he returns to Morning Joe to discuss.

The New Group Off Stage x Nō Studios

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 20:10:20 GMT

The New Group Off Stage in association with John Ridley’s Nō Studios

The New Group Off Stage features theatrical expressions in different media. This new venture develops and presents original projects at the intersection of art and social engagement, and explores the possibilities of cross-pollination among forms.

Projects will begin production in 2021 and will be available as they are completed throughout the year. Release dates and streaming information will be announced in the future.

ONLINE COVERAGE:

BROADWAY.COM

November 20, 2020

“Ethan Hawke, John Leguizamo, Brandon Victor Dixon & More Set for New Group Off Stage Projects,” by Lindsey Sullivan.

BROADWAY WORLD

November 20, 2020

“Ethan Hawke, John Leguizamo, Brandon Victor Dixon & More Featured in The New Group Off Stage's Upcoming Programming.”

PLAYBILL

November 20, 2020

“Brandon Victor Dixon, Chloë Sevigny, Donja R. Love, More Tapped to Present New Digital Works at The New Group,” by Dan Meyer.

SEATTLE.BROADWAY.COM

November 20, 2020

“Ethan Hawke, John Leguizamo, Brandon Victor Dixon & More Set for New Group Off Stage Projects,” by Lindsey Sullivan.

John Ridley talks social justice and upcoming DC comics series

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 19:25:21 GMT

DC COMICS: GOOD DAY LA Coverage

John Ridley talks social justice and upcoming DC comics series

T he Oscar winning screenwriter of "12 Years a Slave" is diving into DC with "The Other History of the DC Universe".

John Ridley on Representation and Building Bridges

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 21:22:59 GMT

Meeting in Middle America with Steven Olikara

In the latest episode of “Meeting in Middle America,” host Steven Olikara interviews award-winning screenwriter John Ridley, who won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for “12 Years a Slave” in 2014. Ridley is also the owner of No Studios, a collaborative workspace and artistic community based in Milwaukee, where Ridley was born. In their discussion, he and Olikara touch upon the recent election as well as the current state of political discourse in America. They also highlight the importance of art in helping people connect with one another, and Ridley shares his perspective on representation in Hollywood. “Meeting in Middle America” is a collaboration between the Lubar Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee and WisPolitics.com/WisBusiness.com. Sponsored by WAGET and Bridge & Build.

'Other History of the DC Universe' gives a 'voice' to diverse characters

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 21:08:53 GMT

DC COMICS: UPI Coverage

'Other History of the DC Universe' gives a 'voice' to diverse characters

"This is less about changing the DC Universe. It's really about embracing the DC Universe -- embracing these characters," Ridley said during an interview with UPI. "Giving a singular voice to these characters who oftentimes did not have very singular or particular voices."

“'WE WANT TO INSPIRE PEOPLE': JOHN RIDLEY ON THE OTHER HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE”

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 21:04:48 GMT

DC COMICS: SYFY WIRE Coverage

“'WE WANT TO INSPIRE PEOPLE': JOHN RIDLEY ON THE OTHER HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE,” by Matthew Jackson.

The first issue of The Other History of the DC Universe , the new DC Black Label series launching this week from writer John Ridley and artist Giuseppe Camuncoli and Andrea Cucchi, makes it very clear that the word "history" is there for a reason. The five-issue series is inspired, in part, by the two-issue History of the DC Universe series from Marv Woflman and George Perez published in 1986, and as a result it's a detailed, expertly crafted walk down DC Comics memory lane.

John Ridley gives a diverse and honest look at DC in The Other History of the DC Universe

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 20:59:48 GMT

DC COMICS: GAMES RADAR Coverage

John Ridley gives a diverse and honest look at DC in The Other History of the DC Universe

The writer of 12 Days a Slave grapples with DC history and provides a new point of view in The Other History of the DC Universe

The Other History of the DC Universe Tells a Different Black Lightning Story Than You’d Expect

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 20:51:32 GMT

DC COMICS: DEN OF GEEK Coverage

The Other History of the DC Universe Tells a Different Black Lightning Story Than You’d Expect

The Other History of the DC Universe is John Ridley's big prestige Black Label DC series, but it's not quite the comic you would expect from the name.

John Ridley tells us that the Batman in his miniseries will be Black

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 20:36:57 GMT

DC COMICS: DOWNLOAD VENN Coverage

John Ridley tells us that the Batman in his miniseries will be Black.

"In a big win for representation" - The Download Venn

New Perspective: John Ridley dives into The Other History of the DC Universe

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 20:28:46 GMT

DC COMICS: ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY Coverage

New Perspective: John Ridley dives into The Other History of the DC Univers e

Screenwriter John Ridley offers a new perspective on the DC Universe in a long-awaited comic book series.

Filmmaker John Ridley tackles racism, equality in new comic book series

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 20:24:55 GMT

DC COMICS: PIX 11 Coverage

Filmmaker John Ridley tackles racism, equality in new comic book series

Oscar-winning writer, director and Nō Studios founder John Ridley is working to encourage others to fight for justice through discussion and his own written work. His new five-issue mini-comic book series, 'The Other History of the DC Universe,' reframes iconic moments from DC history—looking at them instead, through the eyes of superheroes representing traditionally disenfranchised groups.

John Ridley Talks Black Lightning's Relationships in the Other History of the DC Universe

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 20:20:31 GMT

DC COMICS: CBR Coverage

John Ridley Talks Black Lightning's Relationships in the Other History of the DC Universe

CBR talked with The Other History of the DC Universe writer John Ridley about Black Lightning's relationships with Superman, John Stewart and more.

John Ridley on How The Other History of the DC Universe is Coming at Just the Right Time

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 19:59:23 GMT

DC COMICS: SYFY WIRE Coverage

“JOHN RIDLEY ON HOW THE OTHER HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE IS COMING AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME,” by Justin Carter.

The Myth of Happy Endings, John Ridley’s art about unsolvable problems

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 19:54:30 GMT

DC COMICS: THE FLASHPAPER Coverage

From his Academy Award-winning screenplay for 12 Years a Slave to his Emmy Award-winning television series American Crime, John Ridley’s work always investigates how we treat people as both communities and individuals.

His latest project, The Other History of the DC Universe, reimagines superhero storytelling by focusing on characters from disenfranchised groups. It’s an excellent example of how art can engage with meaningful issues, and it helps frame Ridley’s conversation with Mark Blankenship, The Flashpaper’s editor, about the future of American justice.

On The Red Carpet's Karl Schmid caught up with Oscar-winning writer John Ridley

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 19:32:48 GMT

DC COMICS: ON THE RED CARPET Coverage

"The Other History of the DC Universe" from DC Comics is out Nov 24. On The Red Carpet 's Karl Schmid caught up with Oscar-winning writer John Ridley to learn more.

SJS 2020: Art Activated Coverage

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 19:24:17 GMT

October 15th - 18th

The Nō Studios Social Justice Summit: Art Activated 2020

Coverage on SJS 2020 below - please click the bolded links below to read more

Urban Milwaukee

"WISN 12 Partners With Nō Studios to Present Community and Policing Panel"

Wisconsin Network for Peace, Justice & Sustainability

"Working together to create a peaceful, just and sustainable world."

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

"5 things to do and know the weekend of Oct. 16"

Milwaukee Magazine

"How to Make the Most of the Virtual Milwaukee Film Festival"

Yahoo News

"Social Justice Summit to focus on changes John Ridley hopes to see in home city"

WISN12 News

"WISN 12 Project Community: A Panel on Community & Policing"

SJS 2020 LIVE with Zed Kenzo

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 20:47:50 GMT

Discover a bit about our SJS 2020 LIVE Performing Guest, Zed Kenzo!

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Venmo: @Zechaeiah-Ruffin

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

Unique, captivating, fun and ethereal. Very engaging.

2. What's the best part of your job?

I can be myself and express who I am freely. I think I open people's minds.

3. How are you involved in social justice?

I have always been very vocal about social justice issues. I show up whenever I can, I do my part and support people who have the same morals. I naturally lead as much as I can but I also know when is my time and place to do so.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

By speaking on issues and topics that matter and showing up to support any thing that is for the people. Connecting with like-minded people is essential.

BIO: I am a Milwaukee born artist and musician. I live and work in Milwaukee- as far as things I'm proud of is I have a lot of support in my community. Last fall I won an award for best EP via radio milwaukee which felt like a huge acknowledgement. I just want to keep making music and working hard and inspiring people through my art.

Join us for a LIVE performance with Zed Kenzo

at the Nō Studios Social Justice Summit: Art Activated.

SJS 2020 LIVE with Q the Sun

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 20:43:08 GMT

Discover a bit about our SJS 2020 LIVE Performing Guest, Q the Sun!

Contributions can be made directly to the artists PayPal: info@nostudios.com or CashApp: $qthesun

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

A musical explorer looking for connections in unexpected places.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Making music everyday and working with people.

3. How are you involved in social justice?

I work with young people everyday and put my efforts to educating people about history and different cultures. I bridge communities through music, dance, and performance.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

With my phone and laptop :)

BIO: Kiran "Q the Sun" Vedula is an Indian-American composer/songwriter who combines hip-hop and experimental electronic music with traditional folk influences from around the world. For the past 15 years, he has been working closely with top notch artists and organizations in Milwaukee, nationally, and abroad. He creates compositions, performances, and youth programs that are entertaining, emotional, and culturally relevant, with a focus on studying history and building community.

Join us for a LIVE performance with Q the Sun

at the Nō Studios Social Justice Summit: Art Activated.

SJS 2020 LIVE with NilexNile

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 20:36:39 GMT

Discover a bit about our SJS 2020 LIVE Performing Guest, NilexNile!

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Cash App: $NilexNile

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

NilexNile is an up and coming HipHop Music Artist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With dreams of being a positive change in hiphop, Nile has been having a breakout 2019 releasing his new body of work titled “Treason Youth” and soon after "Forest of Giant" in 2020 continuing to grow as the artist he’s meant to be. Being such an amazing performer, Nile shows much promise in the future.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Best part about my job is i get to meet new people and grow all the time.

3. How are you involved in social justice?

I've participated in a few protest around Milwaukee and help uplift and inspired many to stand up for there rights while being safe doing so.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

I try speaking through my music as a Black African American in todays society dealing with these unjust crimes hoping to be relatable to my people and many who's also going through things such as racial profiling and police brutality.

BIO: I'm currently unemployed, But I was the first artist in Milwaukee to perform on the Hop (Moving train car downtown) and it made the news. Also I performed last year at turner hall with artist like "Webster X and Ishdarr" on the bill.

Join us for a LIVE performance with NilexNile

at the Nō Studios Social Justice Summit: Art Activated.

SJS 2020 LIVE with Mudy

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 20:32:05 GMT

Discover a bit about our SJS 2020 LIVE Performing Guest, Mudy!

Contributions can be made directly to the artists PayPal: info@nostudios.com

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I would like to describe myself as a versatile artist. The pronunciation of my name entails what you can expect from me musically, in my opinion. My name is Mudy (pronounced Moody), and I offer mood swings lol.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Connection. My passion and driving factor for music is the connection it allows me to make with the outside world. I can be seen as standoff-ish typically, but music makes me open and makes people see me as more approachable typically.

3. How are you involved in social justice?

By speaking up and speaking out. As a black woman, I have faced the adversities of being painted in a negative or aggressive light simply due to the color of my skin. As I stated before, I have always been verbally expressive. When something is happening that I may consider to be incorrect or an opportunity to enlighten another person, I make it my business to call it out.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

By speaking with the intention to teach and be taught. If you go into a conversation or situation expecting that your social stance is the only social stance, you have miss the purpose of having a conversation. I enjoy learning from others as much as I enjoy allowing others to learn from me. We all have something to offer/input.

BIO: I am a Milwaukee Native that has taken interest in verbal expression for as long as I can remember. I released my first single in 2018 and have been growing and evolving as an artist ever since.

Join us for a LIVE performance with Mudy

at the Nō Studios Social Justice Summit: Art Activated.

SJS 2020 LIVE with WebsterX

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 20:23:25 GMT

Discover a bit about our SJS 2020 LIVE Performing Headliner, WebsterX!

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Venmo: @okaybet or Paypal: info@nostudios.com

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

Experimental.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Making the music.

3. How are you involved in social justice?

Black is Beautiful Bike Ride

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

Being present.

BIO: Sam, who he will introduce himself as, also known as WebsterX, is a recording artist from Milwaukee, WI. WebsterX delivers a sound that rides a fine line of genre, toying with elements of hip-hop/rap, indie rock, electronic and pop. His career began to blossom nationally after the release of the song and video for "Doomsday" in 2015. Shortly after, he became a blog favorite playing shows and festivals alike opening for Earl Sweatshirt, D.R.A.M, Lupe Fiasco, Tory Lanez, and more. Only growing from there, in spring 2016 he found himself on his first headlining tour through the midwest. Following the 2017 release of his debut album "Daymares" he embarked on a national headlining tour, capping it off with a statement show in his hometown Milwaukee, WI. Spreading positivity through his community WebsterX is a co-founder of a creative focused, youth organization called Freespace and a board member of an all ages hub and music venue called The New State. Impressive national press coverage, radio play and award winning music videos have put the spotlight on WebsterX as he continues to see his vision become a reality.

Join us for a LIVE performance with WebsterX

at the Nō Studios Social Justice Summit: Art Activated.

BACKSTAGE with Theatre Choreographer Sam Pinkleton

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 21:52:04 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Backstage guest, Sam Pinkleton!

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

Curious, joyful, easily distracted, relentless, rambunctious, committed to the absurd, jumpy, pokey, lowbrow, probably exhausting.

2. What is the best part of your job?

Bringing people together.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Don't be an asshole. Write thank you notes. LISTEN. Ask questions all along the way.

No great work comes solely from you, it comes from the space you've created between you and your collaborators, or you and your audience.

Know your power + use it relentlessly to create joy + ACTUAL opportunity for others, particularly those who do not have a seat at whatever table you happen to find yourself.

Asking people to have a nice time is an incredibly high-stakes ask.

Never forget that - fundamentally - you make singing and dancing happen AS YOUR JOB and that is a complete, ridiculous, dizzy joy that could disappear at any moment.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

In work + life, I try to spend time with people who are a lot smarter than me, who have entirely different lived experiences, who grew up different places, who have different ridiculous stories from childhood, who don't look or sound anything like me, who are experts on things that i know one or zero things about, who are much much older or much much younger than me.

And right now, don't think for a second you're going to have an interaction with me that won't begin and end with questions + accountability about voting.

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/41267

Join us for a conversation with Sam Pinkleton
virtually on Wednesday, November 11th at 4pm

PLUG IN with rapper Shadi

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 21:26:32 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, Shadi!

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Paypal:

https://www.paypal.me/shaddye01

RSVP:

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

Although i primarily do rap i like to just label myself as an artist because i dabble in everything. I listen to hip hop, country, jazz, techno, rock, etc and they serve as large inspirations in my music. Ive always though i was different in the way i processed music. I gain inspiration from literally everything from cartoons, the news, my friends, books, etc.

2. What's the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is how free it is. Music is a career that can be done anywhere at anytime with anybody. There are no rules to music, no dress code, no limit on what can and can not be said, no discrimination based on race, gender, sexuality, etc. Anybody can do it and thats why i love the community so much. Music also has the ability to create emotions and feelings in people that simple conversation couldn't do, i communicate best through my music.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Don't try to fit yourself in a box but start out with something. Work from where you started but don't limit yourself to that area. Most people would consider a lyrical rapper, which i am, but sometimes i don't want to be lyrical. Sometimes I don't want to rap, maybe on day I want to do both, why not.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

I take my music everywhere i go, literally. I carry my flash drive with me everywhere because you never know when you might need to use it. Music is communication and you never know when someone may need someone to talk to. I use my music for activism, comfort, and teaching whether it be myself or others. That is how I socialize.

Join us for a LIVE performance with Shadi

on Friday, September 18th at 6pm

via Nō Studios Unplugged Live on Youtube, our website

+ in-venue with a limited seating capacity (masks required).

PLUG IN with rapper Zed Kenzo

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 21:13:52 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, Zed Kenzo!

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Venmo:

Zechariah-Ruffin

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I would describe myself as self-owned, ethereal and eccentric. High energy, vibrant but hypnotizing. A unique individual with an effervescent and youthful energy and aesthetic.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Being able to fully express myself and be myself at all times. Being able to have autonomy and define who I am and make decisions for myself. I love music and art with a passion and I am grateful to continue on and be given opportunities to showcase myself and also allowed the room to grow and challenge myself as an artist.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Make sure you don't let anyone stray you away from who you genuinely are. It's okay to ask for help and it's totally fine to not know everything or have all the answers. Be patient and stay consistent. Giving up will never get you to your goal. Find mentors you trust and only keep people around you that uplift you and want you to succeed.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

I socialize with purpose by only engaging with people in a genuine manner. I don't care what kind of "opportunities" someone can give me, if the vibe and the connection is not there, that's a wrap. Someone can be kind and polite but small talk does nothing for me. Never force interactions.

Join us for a LIVE performance with Zed Kenzo

during the Nō Studios Social Justice Summit in October 2020.

John Ridley On Processing Yet Another Shocking Police Shooting

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 20:58:42 GMT

‘12 Years A Slave’ Screenwriter John Ridley On Processing Yet Another Shocking Police Shooting & Protest Aftermath: Guest Column

Nō Studios Founder, John Ridley questions us all, what did you do today?

Read more here

PLUG IN with soulful R&B singer Darro Woods

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 20:20:31 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, Darro Woods!

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I am a soulful R&B singer.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Helping people.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Stay true to yourself because REAL music can’t be denied.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

By motivating, educating and guiding in the right direction.

Contributions can be made directly to the artists PayPal: info@nostudios.com

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/39749

Join us for a LIVE performance with Darro Woods
on Friday , September 25th at 6pm

via Nō Studios Unplugged Live on Youtube, our website

+ in-venue with a limited seating capacity (masks required).

IN CONVERSATION with historian + journalist Rick Perlstein

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 20:11:43 GMT

Discover a bit about our In Conversation guest, Rick Perlstein!

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

As a historian, my job is to represent the world as accurately as possible, using documented fact, but as a writer my job is mind control: to seduce the reader, moment by moment, into surrendering their perception of reality, their sense self and other, and indeed the passage of time itself, to the world my words create. But the most important job is to activate in my readers higher sense of citizenship: to grasp how our national community has come to be, to better wrench it toward justice.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Connecting with readers, especially when they let me know how my work has helped them better understand the world.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Tell the truth as you see it without fear or favor, and devil take the hindmost.

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/39748

Join us for a conversation with Rick Perlstein + John Ridley
virtually on Tuesday, September 22nd at 4pm

BACKSTAGE with multimedia artist Tijay Mohammed

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 20:08:24 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Backstage guest, Tijay Mohammed!

Follow Tijay Mohammed at https://artoftijay.com/

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/39319

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

My art is informed by personal and community stories incorporating historical references. In my multimedia site-specific installations and workshops, I create group portraits by assembling day-to-day objects (Fabric scraps, metro cards, jewelries, photographs, stories, etc.) into symbolic engaging discoveries, whilst communicating their hopefulness in a new life which might have been overlooked, forgotten or no longer valuable to their possessors or communities. I honor their history, previous breathes, journey and DNA through the process of reuse in addressing immigration, social and gender issues.

2. What's the best part of your job?

The process of research and experimentation is the best part of my job. My interactive process demonstrates a commitment to community, self-love and appreciation of history and culture informed by a complex view of the African and African American experiences inspired by the Ghanaian Adinkra symbol “Sankofa” which means learning from the past for a prosperous future.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

The best advice that I can give to someone who is exploring my career is to always do it for the love for humanity and be honest to yourself in both private and professional life.

Like Nelson Mandela said, “It is in your hands, to make a better world for all who live in it.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

I socialize with purpose by seeing art in all of my encounter.

Join us for a conversation with Tijay Mohammed
virtually on Wednesday, September 2nd at 4pm

PLUG IN with neo-soul rapper Shle Berry

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 20:01:00 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, Shle Berry!

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I would describe myself as an alternative, Neo-soul, rapper.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Connecting with people and leaving a positive impact.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Continue to challenge your "why" because that's what pushes you through the roadblocks.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

By going out with the intent to listen and get to know someone new... or get to know someone better. Socializing with purpose is courageous, because you have to put yourself out there. But vulnerability is the key ingredient to connection.

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Venmo: @shleberry

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/39320

Join us for a LIVE performance with Shle Berry
on Friday , August 28th at 6pm

via Nō Studios Unplugged Live on Youtube, our website

+ in-venue with a limited seating capacity (masks required).

Black is Beautiful II

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 20:51:07 GMT

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16TH 2020

On August 16th, Black is Beautiful II took the streets of Milwaukee with over 3,000 people on all types of wheels to stand for all Black lives!

Nō Studios is honored to have contributed to this incredible events after celebration and to call Milwaukee our city!

Learn more about Black is Beautiful in the articles below..

https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/music/414-226-6516/milwaukee-artists-bringing-back-black-beautiful-bike-ride/414-226-6516/

https://milwaukeerecord.com/city-life/websterx-talks-amplification-sundays-black-is-beautiful-volume-ii-ride/?fbclid=IwAR1uGRLmdS0WIHiNmAbFfTZSVPep51BWuiflE4qtxc8Ke-S4CwoaUHgXHhw

https://onmilwaukee.com/raisemke/articles/gogedders-black-is-beautiful-ride.html

Aviva Feuerstein Speaks on CPU Shaping Her Perspective

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 20:22:31 GMT

"Former child soldiers taught me how to heal when death comes too soon..

Our bodies aren't meant to hold onto anger and bitterness. If you had to watch a loved one die alone, give yourself permission to heal"

Nō Studios Member + friend, Aviva Feuerstein makes a difference through her words in USA Today.

"If you've lost a loved one to coronavirus, or any other premature death, what I learned from a group of Ugandan children playing soccer might help you heal.

When I arrived in Africa the summer of 2014 to volunteer at Children of Peace Uganda (CPU), a rehab center for former child soldiers who escaped from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), I saw dozens of children and teenagers playing soccer and laughing together in a lush green pasture. “These must all be the former child soldiers,” I thought.

But I soon discovered that only half of them were former child soldiers. The other half were children whose loved ones were killed by the LRA, some by the very children they were playing soccer with. I was stunned."

John Ridley's Epic Exploration of DC's Marginalized Heroes

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 16:03:14 GMT

'John Ridley's Epic Exploration of DC's Marginalized Heroes Is Finally Coming Out This November' - iO9 GIZMODO

"DC Comics has spent a couple of years teasing Oscar-winning writer John Ridley’s return to the DC universe after his thrilling Vertigo series The American Way with Georges Jeanty. It’s set to be an altogether intriguing one as an analytical exploration of the publisher’s swath of minority characters. Now, we finally know it’s just a few months away.

DC confirmed that The Other History of the DC Universe—written by Ridley, and featuring art from Giuseppe Camuncoli and Andrea Cucchi, and colors by José Villarrubia—will kick off in November, releasing as a five-issue bi-monthly series in the company’s Black Label line. Camuncoli will also do cover art for the series with Marco Mastrazzo, alongside variants by Jamal Campbell."

READ MORE HERE !

John Ridley Interviews Playwright David Henry Hwang

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 00:03:04 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios guest, David Henry Hwang!

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I am a playwright who also works in TV, film, musicals and opera.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Using writing to explore and come to a deeper understanding of my own identity, and the worlds in which I live.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

The thing that makes you unique and idiosyncratic and weird is your gift as a writer.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

I like to spend time with people who help me learn and expand my vision.

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/39181

Join us for an intimate conversation with David Henry Hwang and John Ridley
On Thursday, August 27th at 4PM CT virtually, for Nō Studios Wine Down.

BACKSTAGE with Intimacy Director Claire Warden

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 23:38:10 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Backstage guest, Claire Warden!

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I am a warrior and a human, with much to learn and much to share.

2. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Have the courage to deeply and ruthlessly examine WHY you want to do this work (Intimacy Direction). And keep examining it as you go. There is time, I promise. Move slowly and with purpose. The longer it take the deeper it will be.

3. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

Listen like that's the prize and engage with as much courage as respect. Allow curiosity about others to be your drive and you will have the best time!

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/39179

Join us for a conversation with Claire Warden
virtually on Monday, August 31st at 4pm

PLUG IN with multi-instrumentalist Ryan Alexander

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 00:01:39 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, Ryan Alexander!

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I'm a mixture of Hip-Hop, R&B, and Soul. The genre I like to put myself in is, New Wave Soul. I mashup my personal life stories, over my chord heavy production, with a dope beat to go along with it. Influences include, Marvin Gaye, Dwele, Tribe Called Quest, Nas, and many many more!

2. What's the best part of your job?

Seeing the reactions of the crowds (large or small), and feeling their energy. Truly miss this the most, since we've been on quarantine. Nothing like having people in a room for one purpose: the music. We can reach so many people that we may never meet, and make major impact on their lives. The music lovers are the best part.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Don't ever quit! Persistence is the key. We're all getting better everyday, and as long as we put in diligent time and effort, success will meet you at the end of your journey.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

My purpose when socializing is to first, remember their name, and connect it with something that I can relate it to. Then I make sure to connect with them via social media, or whatever is comfortable. These relationships tend to build over time, and usually leads to mutual support down the line. You never know who someone may become, so it's always important to socialize with purpose!

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Venmo: @RA222

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/38886

Join us for a LIVE performance with Ryan Alexander
on Friday , August 7th at 6pm

via Nō Studios Unplugged Live on Youtube, our website

+ in-venue with a limited seating capacity (masks required).

Creative Boss Ayodele Casel in NYTimes + Dance Magazine

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 17:03:31 GMT

Nō Studios is thrilled to welcome such an empowering force to our virtual event series! In leading up to the event, please check out these amazing features of Ayodele Casel.

New York Times " They're Used to Tapping. Now they're talking "

Dance Magazine " Ayodele Casel Is Proving Tap's Power to Speak to Social Justice—and Spark Serious Joy "

Join us Thursday, July 30th at 6pm CT for a conversation with Creative Boss Ayodele Casel and Nō Studios Founder, John Ridley.

RSVP HERE!

PLUG IN with soul-rooted musician Steve Burks

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 16:46:51 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, Steve Burks!

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I'm a soul-rooted musician. 20+ years in gospel and lyrical hip-hop.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Connecting with people through music!

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Quincy Jones' advice: study the music of artists you love, and you'll find your own style; you won't sound like them. I'll add, perfect your craft, and be clear on the separation between art and commerce. Bruce Swedien said, "Money doesn't talk to music, and music doesn't talk to money."

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

I seek out likeminded people, ideologically and artistically, and 9 times out of 10, mutual purpose takes care of itself.

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Paypal: paypal.me/SteveBurksMusic

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/38951

Join us for a LIVE performance with Steve Burks
on Friday , August 14th at 6pm

via Nō Studios Unplugged Live on Youtube, our website

+ in-venue with a limited seating capacity (masks required).

BACKSTAGE with Stage Manager Beverly Jenkins

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 16:45:45 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Backstage guest, Beverly Jenkins!

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I'm a nurturer.

2. What's the best part of your job?

I enjoy making the artistic and technical elements of the show work together to create the picture the creative team imagined.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

If you don't love it, don't do it.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

Some things I do to socialize with purpose is to go out to dinner with other stage managers; attend union seminars and meetings, participate in benefits and charitable work.

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/38887

Join us for a conversation with Beverly Jenkins
virtually on Monday, August 10th at 4pm

BACKSTAGE with Music Licensing Executive Rashad Richardson

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 16:43:24 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Backstage guest, Rashad Richardson!

Follow Rashad Richardson at https://www.maddenflowentertainment.com/

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/38954

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I'm not sure that I can call myself an artist. I'm more so the person that sends positivity and motivation to the artist. You could call me an enabler? I've been able to get a shy, very talented producer to step out from behind the boards and rap about donuts for an upcoming donut documentary. I take pride in inspiring that 'out of the box' creativity and getting the most out of everyone.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Landing a sync placement on behalf of my artists roster and eventually seeing their work showcased in visual media!

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Set up informational interviews with the people who are currently working your "dream job/role".

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

I try my best to not approach people in an opportunistic manner. Instead of trying to see what they can do for me and my brand, why not see what we have in common first? From there , maybe I can add some valuable input on the subject matter and then the conversation may evolve into networking. If not, then at least I've had a great conversation.

Join us for a conversation with Rashad Richardson
virtually on Monday, August 24th at 4pm

AT HOME: Traditional Chai + Storytelling w/ Bela

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 16:34:44 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios At Home guest, Bela Suresh Roongta!

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

My art is my East meets West. I draw in the tradition of East Indian henna, the art of my ancestors and am experiencing, living and creating as much as I can— in my head and in my heart, on paper and with pen. I draw, write, and curate experiences that honor my roots and culture, captures the beauty of the human spirit and tells of our collective experiences, the times we live in, and our connection to each other.

2. What's the best part of your job?

As a henna artist, I am at my happiest when I can take someone’s hand in mine and share my love of this ancient art form that has so inspired my art with them. As a visual artist and writer, I am happiest when my story touches theirs. This sharing of cultures and story, this human connection brings me home and gives me the most joy.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Find your voice, trust and stay true to it. Take risks. When I left my career as a lawyer to travel and live in India for six months in search of my roots I had no idea I would be the artist I am today. Be open to everything. And don’t stop.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

Listening— I believe that it is in each others stories that we find our own beauty and the way forward to something better.

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/37720

Follow Bela's Journey:

https://belasuresh.com/

https://www.instagram.com/belasuresh/

https://www.facebook.com/bela.roongta

Read more from Bela:

https://belasuresh.com/mystical-and-enchanting/

https://belasuresh.com/the-medicine-chest/

https://belasuresh.com/making-chai-finding-home/

https://blog.thepfisterhotel.com/

Join us for a At Home experience with Bela Suresh Roongta
on Wednesday, July 22nd at 4pm

PLUG IN with composer + songwriter Q the Sun

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 19:28:49 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, Q the Sun!

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

A musical explorer discovering connections in unexpected places.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Working with people, especially young people. Being able to make my own schedule and choose what I want to work on.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Find out who you are and be true to that without compromise. Be patient. Don't stop creating ever.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

I'm always looking to learn something new from the people I meet; I love making memories. Making music and collaborating with artists and organizations is how I socialize with a purpose.

Follow Q the Sun at @qthesun_

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Paypal: info@nostudios.com or CashApp: $qthesun

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/37895

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

Join us for a LIVE performance with Q the Sun
on Friday , July 17th at 6pm

via Nō Studios Unplugged Facebook Live

PLUG IN with composer + producer Michael Sodnik

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 19:18:12 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, Michael Sodnik!

Follow Michael Sodnik at @michaelsodnik

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Paypal at info@nostudios.com

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/37536

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I describe myself as being excited about collaboration. Music is so much more enjoyable when you can experience it with other people. I also value growth. I want to keep reaching a new level of artistic development.

2. What's the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is being able to share my music with the world. The collaborative process is also exciting because everyone adds their own style.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Have fun! Connect with as many people as possible. It's all about community.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

I socialize with purpose through my lyrics. I think there are themes in my music that everyone can relate to including love, heartbreak, and the state of the world. Creating relatability helps people realize that we can all connect with each other on some level.

Join us for a LIVE performance with Michael Sodnik
on Friday , July 31st at 6pm

via Nō Studios Unplugged Facebook Live

BACKSTAGE with Executive Director Darrien Michele Gipson

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 22:01:16 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Backstage guest, Darrien Michele Gipson!

Follow Darrien Michele Gipson at https://www.sagindie.org/about/staff/

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/37478

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I am a supporter of the arts.

2. What's the best part of your job?

I love that I spend my days helping people realize their dreams. As a development executive, I rarely got to say YES to people. Now, I say Yes 95% of the time. And I meet so many amazing, inspiring filmmakers and content creators. My job is to find ways to make this industry better and I take that very seriously.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Be passionate about what you do. I travel over 80 days a year, a speak on panels, I talk with filmmakers. All of that can take a toll on your life, your body and your family. But I cannot imagine working in any other industry; I love it, even when I hate it. If you don't feel that way about THIS industry, you should save yourself the heartache and get out now.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

I feel like all I do is socialize with a purpose. Luckily, my purpose is just to let people know that I'm there to help them. I am not selling anything, my services and that of my company are FREE. So when I tell someone to call me, it means something; it means I think I can make their lives easier. But, it's not all work. I give some epic Film Festival parties! And I just like hanging with creators - they are my people.

Join us for a conversation with Darrien Michele Gipson
virtually on Wednesday, July 8th at 4pm

WINE DOWN with Professional Choreographer Ayodele Casel

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 20:13:55 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Wine Down guest, Ayodele Casel!

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/37418

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I would say I’m an artist who leads with joy, curiosity, integrity, authenticity, and am fiercely committed to telling stories that speak to my identity and culture.

2. What's the best part of your job?

The best part of my work is the opportunity to share my joy with everyone, to educate audiences on the legacy of the art form I represent, and to illuminate the artists who came before me. I get to bring their memory into my journey. I am my ancestors' wildest dreams.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Educate yourself. Be disciplined. Work with integrity. Stay open. Explore all of your creative potential.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

By staying present and staying in full gratitude with everyone I interact with, whether I know them or not.

Follow Ayodele Casel at http://www.ayodelecasel.com/

Join us for an intimate conversation with Ayodele Casel
On Thursday, July 30th at 6PM CT virtually, for Nō Studios Wine Down

AT HOME: Time to Write with Kim Suhr

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 18:48:48 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios At Home guest, Kim Suhr!

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/37294

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

Follow Red Oak Writing on Facebook!

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I use my writing to explore the experiences, motivations, hopes, and dreams of those who are different from me. Through living in someone else's skin awhile, reader and writer alike exercise their empathy muscles and get a more expansive view of what it means to be human. It's all about connection.

2. What's the best part of your job?

As a writer, the best part is when a reader tells me I have moved them or helped them see something in a new light. As a writing coach, the best part is when another writer achieves their dream, whatever that may be.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

The words aren't going to write themselves, but if you show up and listen, they will come through for you every time.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

When we host events, Red Oak makes a donation to a local organization doing good work in the community, and we pass a hat to encourage our guests to do the same. Now, with virtual events, we share a link to the organization of the evening in hopes of amplifying our own giving.

Join us for a At Home experience with Kim Suhr
on Wednesday, July 15th at 2:30pm

PLUG IN with singer-songwriter Ben Harold & The Rising

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 23:30:19 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, Ben Harold & The Rising!

Follow Ben Harold & The Rising at @benharoldmusic

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Venmo at @Ben-Harold-person

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

We define our sound as Rock, Folk, Soul. Our style is along the Rock, Folk, Americana vein with more Rock/Soulful sung lyrics.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Being a part of that mystical force that is music--turning deep feelings and longings into a sound that says it better than words and somehow connects with people no matter where they come from and no matter what they are going through. How can anyone hold that in their hands? It's like having mutant powers or something haha. And it awakens the soul and fills up the tank in my chest.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Work hard and don't be a dick.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

You have to put people first. When asking how do I do this? or what do I do when I do this? Will my socializing put them at any risk?--then it's not worth it. Will my words build them up or just add more noise to the ethos? It's good to have friends around you with solid judgement that you can run things by before executing those things. If you're going to do something it cannot be about you, fame or posturing and ask if you are even the best voice for this. Be genuine, authentic, and necessary.

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/37021

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

Join us for a LIVE performance with Ben Harold & The Rising
on Friday , July 10th at 7pm

via Nō Studios Unplugged Facebook Live

‘Let it Fall’ | The Encore Presentation airs Tuesday at 8|7c on ABC

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 18:46:17 GMT

‘Let it Fall’ | The Encore Presentation airs Tuesday at 8|7c on ABC

Amid historic upheaval across the nation around issues of race and policing, ABC will present an encore presentation of John Ridley’s critically acclaimed feature-length documentary that examines the 1992 uprising in Los Angeles after the verdict was announced in the Rodney King case.

“Let It Fall: Los Angeles 414-226-6516” gives viewers crucial insight into one of the most significant, defining incidents in the history of race relations in this country at a time when it is so important to understand what events have led to the current national crisis. The encore presentation of “Let It Fall” features a special introduction and message from John Legend on Tuesday, June 16th at 7PM CT on The ABC Television Network.

“I deeply appreciate ABC devoting broadcast air time to this encore presentation of ‘Let It Fall,’” said director and producer John Ridley. “The power of ‘Let It Fall’ lays in the fact that it is an oral history by those with a lived experience. In these times, I think it’s critically important to hear from those who've survived the past, and have chosen to share their stories in hopes we may all yet arrive to a better place.” - John Ridley

Join us Tuesday, June 16th at 7PM CT on ABC for an encore presentation of “Let It Fall: Los Angeles 414-226-6516”

Watch the official trailer below..

HBO Max Pulls ‘Gone With the Wind,’ Citing Racist Depictions

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 18:18:40 GMT

HBO Max Pulls ‘Gone With the Wind,’ Citing Racist Depictions in New York Times.

HBO Max, owned by AT&T, pulled the film on Tuesday, one day after John Ridley, the screenwriter of “12 Years a Slave,” wrote an op-ed in The Los Angeles Times calling for its removal. Mr. Ridley said he understood that films were snapshots of their moment in history, but that “Gone With the Wind” was still used to “give cover to those who falsely claim that clinging to the iconography of the plantation era is a matter of ‘heritage, not hate.’”

Read here

Interview on CNN with John Ridley regarding 'Gone With the Wind' pulled from HBO Max - Watch here

"Nobody is saying take this away,” says Academy Award-winning screenwriter John Ridley about HBO Max temporarily pulling “Gone With the Wind” from its library due to “racist depictions.”

“If it can’t stand up to the context, it should never exist.”

John Ridley Offers HBO MAX Perspective in LA Times

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 22:54:41 GMT

Op-Ed: Hey, HBO, ‘Gone With the Wind’ romanticizes the horrors of slavery. Take it off your platform for now by John Ridley in LA Times.

"At a moment when we are all considering what more we can do to fight bigotry and intolerance, I would ask that all content providers look at their libraries and make a good-faith effort to separate programming that might be lacking in its representation from that which is blatant in its demonization." - John Ridley

Read here

John Ridley Finds Inspiration From Young Protesters

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 21:10:27 GMT

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to screenwriter, show producer and novelist John Ridley about the unrest in America over the killing of George Floyd, a black man in police custody in Minneapolis.

"You know, the Founding Fathers used imperfect English, you know, in order to form a more perfect union, perfect as in absolute, you know? You can never have a more perfect union. But ironically, you know, they gave us a task to try to achieve - to be our best selves. And it is a never-ending quest." - John Ridley

Listen here !

Finished in Four with John Ridley

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 20:43:53 GMT

Finished in Four — A 4-Week Screenwriting Challenge with John Ridley presented by Seed&Spark

The hour-long livestream conversation originated as an idea that John brought to Seed&Spark from his desire to encourage artists and creators to be as vibrant as possible in the next month of quarantine: “If you've got four more weeks of lock down, how can you set goals for yourself?”

Watch a replay and read John's top tips for a disciplined writing practice here !

PLUG IN with indie pop trio Before Nitrogen

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 22:03:38 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, Before Nitrogen!

Follow Before Nitrogen at @beforenitrogen

Contributions can be made directly to the artists request of donating any audience contribution to Milwaukee's own MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=PZlbiwcb3BrsBS-Xs8n4v7uIMRDzRFSDiTspL6AznZFojE7Ombf7yIxTDvTaNc9ywjK7E0&country.x=US&locale.x=US

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

Imagine if James Taylor was produced by Owl City.

2. What's the best part of your job?

We LOVE playing live shows - it's where we really get to interact with the audience and bring them into the action! With live shows on hold, we are currently dreaming up ways to improve and make the next round of live shows even better...

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Really think about what you want to say and why. And once you know that, get together and PRACTICE!

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

As a band we try to make sure that everything we release is in line with our message of "Hope is Not Lost." We are always seeking the light at the end of the tunnel!

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/36351

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

Join us for a LIVE performance with Before Nitrogen
on Friday , June 19th at 6pm

via Nō Studios Unplugged Facebook Live

BACKSTAGE with Content Creator Matt Hamill

Thu, 28 May 2020 20:58:48 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Backstage guest, Matt Hamill!

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/36224

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I use visuals and sound to help convey an emotional journey to an audience.

2. What's the best part of your job?

I’ve been fortunate to work on projects with some of my all time favorite filmmakers. I learn something new about the collaborative process every day. It’s like going to film school from a different perspective over and over again.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Learn as much as you can with the tools and tutorials at your disposal online, using Adobe Premiere or Avid. Organization is key to starting out as an assistant editor. Be willing to put in the hard work and dedication. It will not go unnoticed when the opportunity arises for you to move up.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

It’s all about community, whether professional or personal. Supporting one another and sharing ideas for the greater good enhances all of our lives. I’ve learned a lot from some generous people along the way, and take pride in doing what I can in return as an advocate for others.

Work highlights: www.matthamillmedia.com

Join us for a conversation with Matt Hamill on
Thursday, June 25th at 4pm via Zoom video chat

WINE DOWN with Brazilian Photographer Driely Carter

Thu, 28 May 2020 18:48:48 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Wine Down guest, Driely Carter!

Follow Driely Carter at @drielycarter or http://drielys.com/

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Venmo at @driely-schwartz

RSVP: TBA

FB: TBA

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

Avoid descriptions, they can never put you in a box that way.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Traveling.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

There is no meaning to anything, all it matters is how you feel.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

I am extremely anti-social so I may not be the best person to answer this.

Join us for an intimate conversation with Driely Carter
Date to be announced

via Zoom for Nō Studios Wine Down

PLUG IN with surf-rock musician Fellow Kinsman

Thu, 21 May 2020 21:44:42 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, Fellow Kinsman!

Follow Fellow Kinsman at @fellowkinsmanmke

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Venmo at @Nate-Kinsman

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/35902

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I just like to play around with sound. No real system for creating music. If I get a wiff of an idea, I'm just going to slap something together. Theres no boundaries in the creative process, its a perfect little mess of Indie/surf/honkey-tonk/disco. Thats why i say i play “Goth Disco Party Jams”. Cuz that could be anything.

2. What's the best part of your job?

I love performing and the writing process, but honestly the best part is all the great people you meet along the way. I hate the term networking as a musician. I don’t want anything from them, but I am in awe and admire their talents and abilities. There is so many gifted and amazing people that are inspiring and contagious to be around. Having support for your music and pushing you creatively. To the people that stop you to say hi. It all fuels the energy and excitement of what you choose/ get to do everyday.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Just be your authentic self. If you love doing it, by all means do it. It's a tough road, and takes a lot of dedication and energy. Trial and error, has defined my career. It's what steps you take to recover to potentially fail again, and thats okay. You are not a number or a statistic. Not everything will go as planned, but passion and love rules over everything. So go live your best life.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

Be present, be you, and the people that want to talk to you, are the ones you want to be with. Small talk is bullshit, find something you have in common. Like i’ve had conversations less than 30 seconds with a stranger, and I still remember to this day. There’s not enough time in life to have meaningless conversations.

Join us for a LIVE performance with Fellow Kinsman
on Wednesday , June 10th at 6pm

via Nō Studios Unplugged Facebook Live

PLUG IN with lyrical musician Father Sky

Thu, 21 May 2020 21:25:34 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, Father Sky!

Follow Father Sky at @fatherskymusik

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Venmo at @deutsch108

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

Well, I try not to describe myself as an artist - is that a typical artist answer? Descriptions and identifications tend to completely miss the truer nature of any given subject. I am a human being who plays with music - and music is all there is. Chew on that for a while! At the end of the day, music helps me point at that part of me I’m trying to fulfill. It is an activity that serves as a catalyst for joy. That joy helps me better navigate this great mystery we have all been hurled into. So, while here, play with music, cultivate joy and be kind to yourself and others. That is me as an artist.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Cultivating and sharing joy through music.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Do everything you can, be fearless, follow your heart.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

Connecting with people who share my values and genuine care for goodness.

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/35575

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

Join us for a LIVE performance + Q&A with Father Sky
on Tuesday, June 23rd at 6pm

via Nō Studios Unplugged Yelp Virtually

Milwaukee Business Journal: Best Renovation - Office

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Wed, 20 May 2020 20:24:02 GMT

The art of collaboration: Nō Studios • Category: Best Renovation - Office

"The Milwaukee Business Journal's Real Estate Awards are a chance to recognize the projects — and the people behind them — that improve our region and continue making this a great community to live, work and visit. And 2019 was a banner year for the real estate industry in southeastern Wisconsin as evident by the 19 projects we have selected as a award winners."

Read more!

"Creators of Color Fear Coronavirus.."

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Fri, 15 May 2020 16:39:39 GMT

Some creators of color fear coronavirus will be major setback in TV’s diversity push - Los Angeles Times

“People want happiness and escapism — of course they do,” he said. “But in this environment when there are 400,000 scripted shows on the air, it breaks my heart that most people won’t have the wherewithal to go after something more complicated.” - John Ridley

Read more!

BACKSTAGE with Cultural Journalist Vikki Tobak

Tue, 12 May 2020 17:34:04 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Backstage guest, Vikki Tobak!

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/34261

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I’m a journalist, author and storyteller.

2. What's the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is being able to ask questions and also collaborate with great photographers visual artists to tell stories.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Don’t worry about gatekeepers - Always ask yourself ‘why not me?’ and just do the thing you are passionate about.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

It means connecting and collaborating with like-minded, open people – with a shared intention to disrupt the status quo and create something that’s needed in the world.

Join us for a conversation with Vikki Tobak on
Wednesday, May 27th at 4pm via Zoom video chat

MUBI Recommendation by John Ridley

Tue, 05 May 2020 22:13:13 GMT

Introducing the Nō Studios Cinema Club

It's no secret that we're big fans of movies around here so we're launching a monthly curated pick

of something you may have missed or just have to see. We look forward to showing these in our

screening room in the future but, for now, let's watch at home, together.

Our first pick is from our founder John Ridley -

I wanted to take a moment to give my personal recommendation to one film in particular: Beanpole . As a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ International Film Committee, I had the opportunity to see this incredible film earlier this year. Directed by Russian “wunderkind" Kantemir Balagov, Beanpole took home the awards for Best Director and the FIPRESCI Prize at Un Certain Regard in Cannes 2019, the film is "an entrancing immersion into post-war turmoil and a towering ode to female resilience.” Please join me in watching, or re-watching, Beanpole streaming exclusively this month on MUBI.

For Beanpole details see https://mubi.com/films/beanpole .

For more information regarding the MUBI streaming service and Nō Studios membership, e-mail info@nostudios.com .

Become a member today with NŌ CONNECT at $5/month.

PLUG IN with choreographer + teacher Wanyah Frazier

Tue, 05 May 2020 20:31:24 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, Wanyah Frazier!

Follow Wanyah at @wanyahlf

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Venmo at @Wanyah-Frazier

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/34043

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

Experimentative. I truly believe that we have the most in-depth and impactful learning through trial and error. We have to fail to understand how to succeed. For me, that often means throwing myself in the deep end and figuring out how to swim. The process can be rough but you learn so much about yourself and gain a very real/accurate idea of what you're capable of. Experiment enough and you begin to surprise yourself with skills you never would have thought you had.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Watching the pieces come together. The journey from concept to completion is an arduous one. We love what we do, and we love the process but it does take it’s toll. However, the satisfaction at watching a piece come to life is beyond amazing. Whether it’s a single dance routine, a full production or the final run through during class, the feeling remains the same.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Stay open and willing to try things that are outside of your "expertise" or comfort zone. More than half of the opportunities that I’ve had had were not in my initial career plan. However, they've helped push me further along than I would have ever imagined at the time. The same experimentation that we use in the studio applies to our everyday lives. Keeping that willingness to "play" will benefit you in the long run.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

To be honest, I am a secret introvert. So most of the socialization that I do has to have some type of meaning for me to truly engage. The concept of socializing with purpose, to me, means engaging with the intent of progressing. Our goal in that moment is moving forward, whether it be in a deeper understanding between peoples, or kickstarting the next social change movement. Socializing with purpose should lead to action and tangible change, if not it’s just arbitrary social blather.

Join us for a Salsa 101 Lesson on
Wednesday, May 13th at 6pm
via Nō Studios Unplugged Facebook Live

PLUG IN with multi-instrumentalist KLASSIK

Tue, 05 May 2020 20:21:29 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, KLASSIK!

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

Passionate, intentional, ambitious and soulful.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Being able to use my gifts to creatively articulate and document the vast spectrum of emotions and experiences we all share.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Define your own success, and always be keen to move intentionally within your purpose.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

I socialize with purpose by prioritizing my listening skills. In order to communicate most effectively and beneficially, higher levels of awareness, compassion and understanding are achieved through one’s own ability to digest and engage with the information around you.

Follow KLASSIK at @iamklassik

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Venmo at @Kellen-Abston

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/34725

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

Join us for a live experience with KLASSIK on
Saturday, May 30th at 6pm
via Nō Studios Unplugged Facebook Live

BACKSTAGE with Executive Producer Shea Kammer

Mon, 04 May 2020 20:07:25 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Backstage guest, Shea Kammer!

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/34878

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I recognize that filmmaking is ultimately a creative endeavor, and that all producing decisions should be made with the artistic vision of the film in mind, whether it is budgeting, casting, scheduling, or selecting crew.

2. What's the best part of your job?

I have spent thousands of days working in film production, and literally no two days have ever been alike.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Demonstrate excellence and people will see beyond the limits of your experience.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

It means being kind to all around you, no matter what their role or position. It will pay back dividends, both professionally and in life!

Join us for a conversation with Shea Kammer on
Thursday, May 14th at 4pm via Zoom video chat

PLUG IN with movement scientist Swasey

Mon, 04 May 2020 19:57:59 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, Swasey!

Follow Swasey at @artofswasey

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Venmo at @Sam-Swasey

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/34985

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

Best way for me to describe myself as an artist is a Movement Scientist. I’ve always been fascinated by what our body is capable of and could never stick to one thing! Which is why I got good at different styles of dance and acrobats, just so I can mix it all together to create my own one of a kind movement!

2. What's the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is simply that it’s so physical! Not only do I get to turn my body into a canvas I get a workout while doing it.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

I have two pieces of advice.

1. GET INVOLVED! Find people in your area or events to go to but meet others in the dance world! It’ll help you and make your journey more fun!

2. Never stop Learning! It can get hard at one point when you’re doing it full time but never stop learning new moves or creating your own!

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

I socialize with purpose by really trying to get people to follow their own passions. I want people to learn to be more self-aware so that they know what passion of theirs to follow and pursue. Following your passion is always difficult but is consistently satisfying!

Join us for a live experience with Swasey on
Thursday, May 21st at 6pm
via Nō Studios Unplugged Facebook Live

PLUG IN with singer-songwriter Will Rose

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 18:01:34 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, Will Rose!

Follow Will Rose at @willrosedrums

Website at www.willrosemusic.com

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Venmo at @William-Rose-23

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/34167

FB: www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

Writing songs best categorized as alternative hip hop, I draw from a broad background of styles and influences. Mac Miller, Glass Animals, The Black Keys and more have all impacted my songwriting. Creating songs and writing lyrics is the way I tend to make sense of the world, often when it's difficult or confusing. My background as a drummer definitely shapes the way I write and produce songs as well.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Getting to do what I love more than anything and connecting with people while doing it. I create music to interpret the chaos of my own life, and it's really powerful when doing so can bring meaning to listeners.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Being a musician requires a lot of patience and perseverance, try and remember why it is you love what you're doing.

Keep creating without expectation and try to remember to have fun. Read 'The War of Art', that's my best advice. In it the author says that to be an artist is to subsist on a diet of doubt and suffering. That sounds a bit extreme, but I'm trying to find the lie. Doubt is part of creativity, and to incorporate, overcome and reconcile those questions is the great challenge of being a creative person

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

In light of recent events, I think we are all redefining the importance of community and socializing. What we once took for granted has become a more precious commodity overnight. That said, being purposeful in our daily interactions and how we socialize is all the more relevant. Being intentional and conscientious isn't necessarily innate, it's something you work to foster within yourself. Ideally, we are all working to make our actions have the most positive impact on the community, and collectively overcome life's greatest challenges.

Join us for a live experience with Will Rose on
Saturday, May 9th at 6pm
via Nō Studios Unplugged Facebook Live

BACKSTAGE with Theater Critic Mark Blankenship

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 19:02:49 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Backstage guest, Mark Blankenship!

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/34435

FB: www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

More than anything, I want my work to be an act of boisterous community building. Whether I'm hosting a podcast, conducting an interview, or writing a feature, I always want to cultivate "rigorous thinking is a casual voice," because I believe that we all benefit from welcoming conversations about art and culture. The more we understand about our own aesthetic values -- and the more we all feel empowered to explore those values -- the more we understand about ourselves.

2. What's the best part of your job?

I love that my job lets me talk to people. The people I interview are constantly teaching me new ways to see and think about the world.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

If you want to write or talk about culture, it's vital to understand the voice you want to use. Who is your ideal audience? What is the tone that best lets you express yourself? Let the answers guide your choices about the work you create and the places your work is distributed.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

This is the first time I've encountered the phrase "socializing with purpose," and I love it. To me, it suggests trying to create opportunities for people to engage with each other, so that everyone feels welcome to both speak AND listen.

Join us for a conversation with Mark Blankenship on
Thursday, May 7th at 4pm via Zoom video chat

BACKSTAGE with Film + TV Editor Colin Rich

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 21:55:30 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Backstage guest, Colin Rich!

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/34114

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

As a film and television editor, I interpret footage to build a compelling emotional journey.

2. What's the best part of your job?

Two things. Firstly, adding a layer to the project that can only be done through editing. That is to say, elevating what has been written and filmed through the art of editing. Secondly, finishing a cut! Before the cut is finished, it's just footage. After the cut, it's a complete movie, episode, or video.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Firstly, stay curious. Secondly, be open and patient. Thirdly, advocate for yourself.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

Socializing with purpose means taking our most precious and unique assets: our personality, imagination, expertise, experiences, point-of-view; and using them in a way that reaches out to others.

Join us for a conversation with Colin Rich on
Monday, May 11th at 4pm via Zoom video chat

PLUG IN with musician + engineer Cullah

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 21:14:30 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, Cullah!

Follow Cullah at @cullahmusic

Website at https://www.cullah.com/

Contributions can be made directly to the artist at http://cullah.com/tip

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/33793

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

l've been calling myself a "sonic autobiographer" lately. I have been releasing an album on my birthday since 2006. I am a multi-disciplinary musician, artist, and engineer. I believe in an open and free culture through concepts like Creative Commons. I come from a background of music, technology, and storytelling. Much of the classifications of my music changes from year to year, but my main focus is on a holistic exploration of self through art and storytelling.

2. What's the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is connecting to and sharing the experience of music. I love it when people find their own meaning in my stories and songs; when I can be a part of someones self discovery. It's a really powerful feeling. I absolutely adore all the amazing artists who use my music and use it to create beautiful new art!

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

Never stop. Keep going. It's a marathon not a race. Art is at its most powerful when it is honest and has integrity. You have to stay honest to yourself primarily, then secondarily focus on how you can communicate it effectively. The artists role is a sacred and purposeful vocation. It is not simply a career. Careers are material and die with us in flesh. The deep desires within our hearts, mind, and soul is an infinite perpetuation of the divine human spirit. We, as artists, are tasked with connecting ourselves and our brothers and sisters with this spirit through song.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

What brings value to our lives is the relationships we hold, not the money we carry. Socializing with purpose means being a part of a community with intention. It means sharing the abundance of resources and talents we all hold for mutual benefit

Join us for a live experience with Cullah on
Monday, April 27th at 12pm
via Nō Studios Unplugged Facebook Live

PLUG IN with singer, songwriter LaFond

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 21:02:53 GMT

Discover a bit about our Nō Studios Unplugged guest, LaFond!

Follow LaFond at @lafond_

EP at https://lafond.bandcamp.com/

Contributions can be made directly to the artists Venmo account at @KateLafond

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/34105

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/414-226-6516/

1. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

I would describe myself as going with what feels natural. I've found myself stepping outside of my comfort zone a lot in my career as an artist, and as much as that has helped me learn and grow, I realized that as an artist, I thrive when I am doing what I know. I write best when I write from experience. If you ask any person in my life a personal question about myself they won't be able to come up with much, because I don't particularly like sharing my secrets. But if you listen to my music I spill my heart. You will learn more about me from a song than you will from a conversation with me. I think that's what works best for me. I'm honest with my music. I speak the truth that's too scary to say out loud.

2. What's the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is working alongside people who are truly passionate about what they're doing. Knowing that someone does this, not to pay bills, but because they feel it in their bones that it's something they have to do is the most incredible thing in the world. I love meeting and collaborating with other artists because it's the only time when people aren't showing face and aren't pretending to be something for the world. Art breaks down those walls.

3. What's the best advice that you can give to someone who is exploring your career?

The best advice I can give to people who are just starting out is to make as many friends as possible that work in the same field that you do. You never know who you're talking to and what that connection can turn into. Talk and work with as many people as possible until you find something that fits right. When you limit yourself to your circle of friends, it becomes redundant. Your work will show that. Explore as much as possible. Travel. READ. Leave the house. Write everything down. The more experience you have to draw from, the more inspiration you have for your art.

4. What does socializing with purpose mean to you?

I think my answer above is socializing with a purpose. Make friends, open up and exist amongst creatives. Having a conversation with a visual artist might lead you to think about color theory which might lead to a song about the way that the blue in the lake fades as it reaches the shore. The more you talk and interact the more your brain expands and is able to do more. But on the other side, don't treat every conversation like a sales pitch. The best partnerships start as friendships.

Join us for a live experience with LaFond on
Friday, May 15th at 6pm
via Nō Studios Unplugged Facebook Live

Featured on "Around the Corner with John McGivern" on PBS

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 14:52:31 GMT

Explore our neighborhood, the Brewery District, and our building in the latest episode of Around the corner with John McGivern ( aired April 9th, 2020).

Our Commitment to Our Members

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 15:00:39 GMT

A letter to our members from Nō Studios CEO John Ridley

Be Pragmatic, Not Just Positive

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 17:11:17 GMT

What do you do when the essence of your business is the opposite of social distancing?

"Don't feel a burden to be positive. It's more important to be pragmatic", recommends Lisa.

Having lived through 9/11 and the credit crisis, Lisa reflects on the fact that all challenges have a beginning, middle and an end. "The recovery is inevitable," Lisa reminds us. "It's not IF. It's WHEN". And with that, Lisa is making decisions not just for today, but for how she wants Nō Studios to emerge stronger on the other side.

Lisa shares how she's reworking the No Studios business model, what gives her inspiration during challenging times and how she's maintaining her sanity by sticking to a routine.

Watch Beth Ridley with The Brimful Life podcast below as she hosts a special Coronavirus edition to interview our Chief Operating Officer, Lisa Caesar.

‘Black No More’ Musical From John Ridley & The Roots’ Tarik Trotter Sets Off Broadway Premiere

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 21:07:31 GMT

'Black No More', a new musical by 12 Years a Slave screenwriter and American Crime creator John Ridley and The Roots’ Tarik Trotter (aka Black Thought), will launch The New Group’s 414-226-6516 theater season at Off Broadway’s Pershing Square Signature Center.

Read more!

Vinter Sköl Musik Festival

Thu, 20 Feb 2020 17:20:57 GMT

The Brewery District celebrated the nearing end of winter with a first edition Vinter Sköl Musik Fest on Saturday, February 15th. Held in the beautiful, historic Brewery District, the Nordic-inspired winter celebration showcased an impressive lineup of music, vendors, beer specials, tours and a variety of food options at several locations.

Nō Studios line up was sponsored by: FM 102/1 and B93.3

5:30 p.m. Cherry Punch

6:15 p.m. Brewtown Brewgrass

7:00 p.m. Deep Junk

7:40 p.m. Mario Lanza

8:40 p.m. The Young Revelators

9:40 p.m. Mic Kellogg

10:40 p.m. Lex Allen

Thank you for hanging out with us, our friends in The Brewery District and supporting amazing local artists!

Photographs by: Brea Graber

Tenant Spotlight: Independent Studios

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 22:35:22 GMT

With a bright red ceiling, bamboo wall, and records stacked high, Independent Studios has a lot of personality behind their nearly 30 years of expertise in post production. Founded in 1991, Independent Studios is a video and audio post-production facility specializing in Video Editing, Music Composition, Sound Design, Motion Graphics, Animation, Visual Effects - essential services needed to craft a professional, finished product for commercials, film, and radio.

We met with Business Manager, Trish Sheppard and Founder + Sound Designer, Randy Bobo, who moved from Northern California with just a 3 year business plan, to learn more.

What is Independent Studios?

RANDY: We are a post production company. So what does that mean: if you’re making a movie, you shoot things on location – that’s the production. When that’s all done, somebody has to put it together because it’s not done in the camera, and that’s where we come in. So we do editing, video editing, sound track (which is how I started, I’m an audio person), audio conforming, music editing, and sound design. We put it all together so when we’re done here, you have a finished product. We work on films, television programs, radio, podcasts, commercials- anything you can see or hear that moves and sounds like something, we can do.

Why did you move to Wisconsin?

RANDY: I usually tell people witness protection, *ha*, no - to start a business! It is very expensive in San Francisco, and I would have been competing against my mentor and friends and would have stayed where I was (career growth wise). I come from a family of entrepreneurs, so I wanted to give it a shot. You don’t regret failure, you regret what you don’t try. So, we tried it and Milwaukee has been very good to us…. except for the weather.

You said you started off in audio, how did you get into doing the full spectrum of editing?

RANDY: About 3 or 4 years after the studio started, a local director was working on a year long project and he bought an editing system. This was back in the 90s; they were very expensive, almost $100,000. He finished the project, and now he’s got this thing, this editor, "What am I going to do with it?" He came to us with an editor we had already been working with, and they founded their own company called Independent Edit. They did the visual side and we at the studios did the audio side, and then we grew like that for 27 years. We were two companies that worked closely together, though most people didn’t know we were two companies. The person that ran the editorial side, last year decided he wanted to retire- which meant closing Independent Edit; and I didn’t want to. So, I took it over. We combined it, and now we are one company: Independent Studios.

How many employees do you have?

RANDY: We moved (locations) and streamlined quite a bit, so we are at 6 employees now and were as high as 13 at one point, but the market has changed.

How is your new office at Nō Studios different than it was on Jefferson St.?

RANDY: This is so different than our other space, our other space was very old looking, plaster walls, really bright colors. The red ceiling bings some color into the space, but this is much more modern.

TRISH: But we brought a lot of furnishings with us, some custom built pieces that we had to dismantle. When we moved in here, we needed specialized audio rooms and general contractors weren’t used to doing this kind of work. [Sound control room pictured below]

Can you tell me about the control room?

RANDY: The front of the control room is soft, so it absorbs sound. The back of the control room needs to be diffused so that the sound just doesn’t hit it and bounce right back at you, it scatters. So that’s what this (bamboo) does. Then the ceiling has got all the base traps and diffusions that go up 14 feet. Same idea where the sound goes up and doesn’t come back.

What inspired this company?

RANDY: This is all I’ve ever done, I started out doing live and theatrical sound design for the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. But when you start having a family, theater doesn’t pay a lot unless you go to New York. So I found post production and really liked it. I was staff engineer for almost ten years at a studio in San Francisco. Yeah, I really haven’t done anything else.

TRISH: Magic Castle…

RANDY: Oh god yeah... Out of college in California, of course, you’d go to LA if you want to do stuff, or at least I thought. So I went down there. Being a northern California boy, that’s hard to do. But I was out there and worked for a music park, I worked with Merv Griffin Productions on Jeopardy! for a while, and I was a host at the Magic Castle, which is a magicians club. It’s still there, but you have to be invited to go there. And it turns out, I was there when... this was like 1979... the old Vaudeville guys were still alive, and they’d go there and they liked me for some reason, and I couldn’t figure out why. And one day, one of the other guys brought me into the library (they have a huge library of magic books, it was incredible) and he said “Look at this, this is the bible of coin trick, look who wrote it,” and the guy’s last name was Bobo. So they thought I was related to him, which I probably am?? I was in. I was too young to appreciate it though, I had no business doing it. Driving in a tuxedo with the top down through Hollywood.

What does an average day look like?

Ha, every day is different, um, I tell my employees that every job is an exception, and if you’re not used to being able to juggle like that or surf on the job wave like that, this is not the career for you because just about every job is an exception; Nothing is standard. You have to think on your feet, be very flexible.

Any advice for those wanting to get into post-production?

Run away… um uhhhh. Network, network, network.

You don’t necessarily have to go to film school, which maybe is a good thing. I think a good cultural literacy background is important because the subject matter of what we deal with is all over the place and you need to be able to relate to it and suggest ideas, have some sort of touch stone on the projects. You need to have a wide net. The nice thing about post is that it is absolutely not gender specific, race specific, you know, it just doesn’t matter. There are no limits on who could be here. I know a sound designer from Berkley who has done stud for Berkley Reparatory Theater for years and film and things, and he is paraplegic, it doesn’t matter. It’s can you do the job; nobody cares what you look like or dress like, it’s just can you do the gig -and that’s what’s great about it.

The Red Carpet Viewing Party

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 21:29:44 GMT

Nō Studios on the red carpet in celebration of The Oscars 2020 | 92nd Academy Awards

On Sunday, February 9th at 5pm Nō Studios celebrated the 92nd Academy Awards with members, tenants, and a variety of other community members.

The event started with live music by The Sunkin Suns - a Funkadelic Jazz Trio from Bayview, Wisconsin. Next Medusa Monologues gave us a preview of their upcoming show - a collection of multimedia productions that showcase the talent of Milwaukee-area womxn artists of all ages.

Nō Studios offered guests a champagne welcome, their very own red carpet, paparazzi, wine tasting by Bright Cellars and light hors d'oeuvres by The Cheese Tray Gay. And to top it all off, guests were able to fill out their own nomination ballot - those who guessed the most correctly won an Oscars trophy and beverage on us!

WISN 12 NEWS covered the entirety of the event - watch the live broadcasts back from 5pm and 10pm that evening as well as the Facebook livestream to experience it for yourself.

Thank you to all who came out for the party!

Nō Studios Salsa Night

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 20:05:54 GMT

On Friday, January 24th Wanyah Wanyah Frazier and Debrasha Greye of WoLF Studios taught an energetic and easy to learn Salsa lesson in the Nō Studio’s Rooftop Lounge!

Before and after the lesson, we enjoyed some mingling with each other, an open dance floor and a fabulous margarita drink special!

Nō Studios Salsa Nights will be a regular thing on the fourth Friday of each month. Come out and dance the night away above the beautiful city of Milwaukee with us!

No experience required - all levels are always welcome!

Photos by Nostalgia Imaging and Kenza Dawn

J OIN US FOR THE NEXT SALSA NIGHT!

Friday, February 28th at 7:30pm

John Ridley to attend SOTU with Congresswoman Gwen Moore

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 19:26:28 GMT

Washington, D.C.— Today, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-4) announced that Academy Award-winning filmmaker and Milwaukee-native John Ridley will join her for Tuesday’s State of the Union.

John Ridley is a renowned director, screenwriter, novelist, playwright and showrunner. He was the creator of the Emmy-winning “American Crime,” and received an Academy Award for screenwriting “12 Years a Slave.” He is the co-founder and CEO of No Studios in Milwaukee, which provides an affordable and accessible community space for local artists. No Studios (nostudios.com) is a space that brings people together to celebrate art in all forms. His idea was driven by his desire to support Milwaukee’s entertainment industry and foster economic growth.

“As an award-winning director, screenwriter, novelist, playwright and activist, John is bringing his talent and resources home to empower local artists. He is also a thoughtful advocate for communities of color and uses his platform to foster dialogue on issues that don’t receive enough attention. He is investing in Milwaukee because he sees the potential, the talent and our bright future. I am inspired by his mission and am thrilled that he is joining me to carry his message to the D.C. at the State of the Union.”

Tenant Spotlight: Duncan Entertainment

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 23:31:31 GMT

Meet Duncan Entertainment Group, the media company of filmmaker, author, photographer, journalist, and overall storyteller, Chip Duncan. For more than 35 years, the Duncan Entertainment Group has created documentaries for broadcast networks, streaming services, and education platforms around the world, in addition to publishing books and exhibiting photographs. We met with Chip's partners, Robert Huck and Theran Pfeiffer to learn more about Nō Studios tenant, Duncan Entertainment.

ROBERT HUCK

Company Vice President, specializing in long form editing, post production, and management.

Ho w many f ilms has the Duncan Entertainment Group made?

Oh gosh – between 50 and 60, at least. We usually do one long form documentary every year or two, though some go longer, and we work on other projects in between. Over the years, we have been to more than 40 countries, documenting the expedition, culture, and landscape for the company or NGOs (non-governmental organization). Our work with NGOs has taken us to Haiti, Burma, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, including documenting relief efforts for Save the Children and Relief International.

How often do you (Duncan Group) travel?

It varies, but the company travels about 3 - 4 months out of the year. We have several consistent countries that we travel to, like Peru, Kenya and Ethiopia - though Peru is the most consistent, travelled space with the most extensive footage in our archive. The first time Chip went to Peru was for The Learning Channel more than 25 years ago, and since, access to the grounds has changed, making the footage more valuable. You can no longer access certain perspectives/locations, hence the reason for the investment of time and hardware to preserve. Our mantra is preservation, organization, restoration, and monetization.

What inspires the work?

We are inspired to tell stories! Our trips stem from a passion for the country and the people, not always led by a project. We look for positive stories that break down barriers that divide our planet, and seek to bring attention and awareness to issues like endangered ecosystems and disasters. In 2010, Chip made a film that was screened at the Bradley Center to promote fundraising for the Haiti earthquake. Chip had previously been to Haiti for other work, but when the earthquake struck, Chip just went to help out and document without knowing how he was going to get out.

THERAN PFEIFFER

Archive management, assistant editor, and photography printing, matting, and framing.

On Archiving:

Our archive starts in 1987. All footage has been compiled and compressed and meta-tagged to the point where it’s also searchable. It is based by year, but you can search any key word and it will pull up anything from the 35 years of tagged footage.

Did this happen from the start?

In a way, they were hand logged in the field. That’s how it used to be done.

(Robert): The tapes behind you (see image below) are from 1990, Greece. When they came back from the field, the tapes were dubbed to either VHS or 3/4 inch at the time, and the time code window was burned to match a hand written log describing the shot: medium, close up, pan, tilt, the specific location, etc. So, procedurally this (logging) has been done since the start of the company.

What do you do with the old tape?

Currently we don’t monetize the footage, though we used to have footage housed in Chicago at a film library that sold clips to broadcasters. However, the footage gets more valuable the older it gets. As it ages, it deteriorates, and the tape starts breaking down. To properly preserve it, we invested in *literally* an oven: a laboratory oven where we bake the tapes. Depending on how tapes are stored, they can absorb moisture over time which has an effect on the level of adhesives within the tape. The adhesives start moving their way out, to the point that the tape starts sticking when rolled out to be processed. When you bake a tape, the moisture gets pulled out and the adhesives go back into the tape - but only for a short amount of time. There is a small window to digitize the tape, in high res compression, and then they go back to their native state in storage. The Greece tapes are the last tapes we have to bake and digitize.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

HALF A REASON TO DIE

By Chip Duncan

Half A Reason To Die is the new fictional short story collection from writer-filmmaker Chip Duncan. Each story is inspired by real life events experienced by the author during his thirty years of global travel as a documentary filmmaker. But this time Duncan has turned to fiction – and the author colors his personal experience with dramatic characters and imagined worlds where truth can be found in a profound and compelling way.

INSPIRING CHANGE

By Chip Duncan

INSPIRING CHANGE: The Photographic Journey of Chip Duncan (Thunder House Press, 2018) includes images from Duncan’s work chronicling humanitarian projects and crisis zones around the world. During the past decade, Duncan has conducted numerous visits to Afghanistan, Kenya, Colombia, Peru and Ethiopia as well as journeys to India, Colombia, Ghana, Pakistan, and Haiti. The people he’s encountered offer a rare and positive glimpse into the beauty of each individual nation and the unique cultures and faiths around the world.

John Ridley To Write, Direct + EP Musical Drama Series For Showtime

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 17:41:58 GMT

Nō Studios is excited to announce that our founder, John Ridley, has signed on to write, direct and executive produce a musical drama for Showtime Networks. Originally set in a modern-day Detroit, Ridley reshaped the series to be set in Milwaukee.

“I couldn’t be more excited to work not only again with Gary and Showtime, but to also collaborate with the phenomenal talents of Alicia Keys, the team of Pasek and Paul (La La Land), Marc Platt (La La Land), and R.J Cutler, and Adam Siegel as well,” said Ridley. “I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to set the series in Milwaukee, and examine the challenges and triumphs of my hometown; a city to which I remain deeply connected.”

Social Justice Summit in PBS Black Nouveau

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 18:56:55 GMT

[Original Airdate: January 2, 2020]

BLACK NOUVEAU visits the new "Black Veterans Mural" at the War Memorial Center, and also highlights No Studio's first Social Justice Summit.

Milwaukee PBS Black Nouveau Video Exclusive | Jane Ekayu

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 17:09:32 GMT

(Excerpt from Black Nouveau)

Children of Peace Uganda founder Jane Ekayu has spent the last 15 years helping former Child Rebel Soldiers heal from trauma through creative arts. Ekayu recently spoke on a panel in Milwaukee at No Studio's "Art Activated: Social Justice Summit" about how her work as a child trauma therapist has helped her reach about 3,500 children orphaned or taken into captivity during the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) War that has been ongoing since 1987.

Deff-initely Milwaukee: Bringing Hollywood home with John Ridley

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 20:48:37 GMT

In this bi-weekly podcast, FOX6 WakeUp's Carl Deffenbaugh sits down with the people influencing the landscape of southeastern Wisconsin in the worlds of entertainment, business, sports and more. Our founder and CEO, John Ridley was featured on this episode of Deff-initely Milwaukee, on January 6th, 2020.

In this episode, Carl sits down with Ridley to discuss a wide range in topics from how the entertainment industry has changed in the streaming age, to Ridley’s thoughts on Milwaukee’s future as a hub for TV and movie-making.

Children of Peace Uganda in Newsweek

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 21:13:14 GMT

Following Aviva Feuerstein's involvement at the Nō Studios Social Justice Summit, she continued this important conversation with Newsweek Magazine.

Tenant Spotlight: Jared Judge of BookLive

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 20:26:10 GMT

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BOOKLIVE

So BookLive ’s missions is to help make art a profitable thing, so that artists and musicians everywhere can do more of what they love to do. Right now it is challenging for them because they are so passionate about creating new things that they don’t spend time on the business end, nor were they trained on it. They didn’t go to business school; I didn’t go to business school. BookLive is a software that helps do the back office and business for the artists so they don’t have to learn things from scratch.

We launched a beta about a year ago, and have since grown to over 700 users. Most are musicians, but we are currently in the process of expanding beyond music (theater, visual arts, etc).

So far, these musicians have played hundreds of gigs and use the software tools, 1, to get the gigs, and 2, to write their contract, take credit card payments, and manage people - like making sure their musicians show up on time, know the music, and are familiar enough with the venue so they can just show up and play. It helps band members get paid out of the full sum given to the band. It's a full end to end solution, that makes art easy + fun to do!

HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE?

Full time employees, it’s just me! But, I have two other partners that are the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Marketing Officer. Apart from that we have 5-6 contractors that help out, advisors, and I like to think that musicians in a way are helping build the platform because they, and the booking clients, are shaping the product. There is also a Nō Studios member that recently joined the project, Jim Neuner, who is the head of venue relations- helping to shape the venue directory side of BookLive.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

I am from New Jersey. I grew up in Princeton and then went to Penn State University, and became a music teacher for kids K-12. Then, on the side, I ran an opera company, because being a teacher wasn’t tiring enough. What brought me to Milwaukee was the opportunity to be a Graduate Assistant at UWM for orchestra conducting. I got my degree there, and started Dream City Music, which became successful enough that I didn’t need a "real" job when I graduated in 2017. Fast forward two years, and here we are with BookLive at Nō Studios.

WHERE DO YOU SEE THIS GOING?

The current trajectory is helping all kinds of artists. We started in music, but in the next couple of months, we are working with Imagine MKE to include visual and performing artists and even people outside of those categories. The goal is to have BookLive be the vehicle for these artists to make money.

If we continue on this mission, we could be a powerful force to help artists nationally. Currently, we have users across the country, but maintain strong roots in Milwaukee. But, we would like to see how far we can take this.

WHAT INSPIRED BOOKLIVE?

I am a musician myself, and when I was in grad school I was struggling to make ends meet, as grad students do. I didn’t want to get a job flipping burgers, I wanted it to be related to my passion. So, when I started Dream City, it was to make money. I discovered it was really hard to make something on your own as a musician. There were so many different challenges and it began taking up so much time that grades started slipping, and professors were not very happy.

I had been a coder since middle school, so I thought, well this is an engineering problem. I can automate a solution. So, I identified different parts of the artistic process that weren’t very creative, but took up the most time, like communication. Sending out a contract to a client isn’t as fun as making music, but it is necessary if you want to make money. I began auto generating contracts based on gig details with digital signatures instead of mailing. I then created a portal that couples could log in to, to choose songs for their wedding playlist whenever they wanted, saving me time by not having to get that information out of them through constant emailing. I continued finding pieces that could be automated, and eventually had an all in one solution that I could benefit from. When it was developed enough to where it was useful to others, I opened it up.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHERS IN THE CREATIVE FIELD?

Make learning business a part of your process. You don’t need a whole degree, but understanding the basics of contracts is super important. Another is finding your why. Like, why are you doing what you’re doing - and in order to do your why, you have to be fluent in the basics of artistic business, otherwise you are opening yourself up to being taken advantage of, and it happens all the time . Start small, you don’t have to do everything all at the same time; build in pieces. Identify one need at a time. Eventually that one thing turns into, you just did 1000 things and you’re so much better for it.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

THE LEAN START UP

Author: Eric Ries

This book is all about finding small problems, that once you solve them, lead to the next thing and the next. It helps prove that what you are doing is viable.

START WITH WHY

Author: Simon Sinek

The basis is to find out why you are doing this. I discovered my why, which is that I want to help artists of all kinds, make a living doing what they want to do. It’s too hard to do that without the right tools.

NYU Gallatin: A Conversation with Children of Peace Uganda

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 17:47:42 GMT

On November 13, 2019, Jane Ekayu and four of her students joined Gallatin to discuss how the arts have helped children of war heal from trauma.

The Launch of Imagine MKE

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 19:35:41 GMT

On November 7th, the launch of Imagine MKE brought together over 300 people to enjoy the abundance of Milwaukee's arts community throughout all four floors of Nō Studios

Social Justice Summit featured on MSNBC Morning Joe

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 17:29:39 GMT

Nō Studios founder and CEO John Ridley discusses an upcoming social justice summit with the Morning Joe.

AWE Prioritize the Arts Fundraiser

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 16:36:27 GMT

Artists Working in Education's (AWE) mission is to provide youth in the Milwaukee area with arts enrichment programs to enhance human potential, advance learning and cultivate community. Over the years they have increased access to the arts for over 60,000 youth in programs that sponsor professional artists to nurture the imaginations of youth by bringing creative visual arts experiences directly to schools and communities.

Join them for their multi-medium art gala on Saturday, November 9th, 2019 at the Saint Kate Arts Hotel.

Tickets available here .

Sticker Mule

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 16:28:10 GMT

We get our custom stickers from Sticker Mule . Stop by to grab your own at the upcoming Social Justice Summit, November 15th + 16th!

Meet Humbo Taylor

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 18:48:32 GMT

A self trained artist with works dating back to the 60s, Humbo Taylor is a hidden gem in the Milwaukee art scene. After receiving a request from his daughter to exhibit a retrospective of his work, we visited Humbo's Riverwest home to learn more about his creative practice.

How would you describe yourself?

I am Herman Taylor Jr., also known as Humbo since my childhood. I am an artist. I was born in Lake Village, Arkansas. I attended a parochial elementary and high school in Chicago. I am a graduate of Concordia University in Mequon Wisconsin and Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I am a mixed-media artist and advocate for at-risk-youths. I create colorful, visual images using the lyrical lines technique and acute details to create illusions. My works range in size form 18 x 24 to 38 x 50 inches in dimension.

What’s integral to the work of an artist?

Having the time and space to be creative, faith, knowing ones self, and determination.

How has your practice changed over time?

I have become more reflective as an artist concerning my practice and creativity. I can assess my mastery of the medium being used as well as my personal growth creatively after the completion of each new image. I have become more passionate and committed to my practice as a business.

HUMBO, Self Portrait | Mixed Media, 2018

PATIO VIEW-THE NEOPHYTE | Mixed Media, 1977

What’s your favorite artwork?

My favorite piece of artwork is “Patio View/ Neophyte” because it represents the beginning of my journey into the artistic, creative side of my innermost. It’s a signature piece for my style and technique.

Describe a real-life experience that inspired you.

Meeting Muhammad Ali was a real-life experience that inspired me because he knew who he was mentally, physically and spiritually. His purpose was acutely clear about who he is.

What is your dream project?

To jump start an ongoing Guidance and Prevention Program for At-Risk-Youth.

Name three artist you would like to be compared to.

I would like to be recognized for my own unique style and technique. However, if I had to be compared to three other recognized artists, I would choose Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet and Jacob Lawrence.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

The best piece of advice I have ever been given was provided by my mother decade ago. I can still hear her voice admonishing myself and siblings. Stay out of jail and work for what you want. Freedom is sweet and anything is possible by will, faith, belief in yourself and determination. May her soul rest in peace.

A selection of work by Humbo Taylor will be viewable in the Nō Studios Rooftop beginning November 13th, 2020.

Nō Studios Anniversary

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 17:32:05 GMT

In celebration of our ONE year anniversary, Nō Studios launched our rooftop deck opening with

wine + cheese tasting by Bright Cellars, live music by B. Justice and a luxury Gallery Crawl

to four local underrepresented art spaces.

Additionally, we celebrated YOU, our tenant and member community during our VIP Brunch Bash featuring eats by Interval Milwaukee, bottomless mimosas, musical entertainment by DJ DeeTrain Inc.

and immersive artistic workshops by our very own community.

Nō Studios Rooftop Deck Launch

Nō Studios VIP Birthday Brunch Bash

Thank you to all who celebrated with us through the weekend and most importantly,

all who have made Nō Studios what it is today.

We look forward to our next year of growing, activating and collaborating!

Nō Studios at Fall X Festival

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 18:34:05 GMT

On Friday, October 4th and Saturday, October 5th Nō Studios contributed to an immersive tech, art, gaming and music festival that convened creators from all over the Greater Midwest. The Fall Experiment is a diverse and inclusive festival that celebrates these intersections by hosting a multitude of experiences.

Nō Studios proudly shared numerous artistic workshops throughout each day, such as the power of storytelling, paper plate lithography, movie acting and virtual reality crash courses, salsa dance lessons and team building through beat making. Alongside these interactive workshops, Beth Ridley of The Brimful Life live streamed creative conversations with Fall X keynote speakers and Nō Studios artists.

Creative Conversations with Beth Ridley

An Evening with the John High Quartet

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 19:21:55 GMT

Written by Nicole Baxter

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the John High Quartet.

A 1...and a 2...and a 3...and a...

What’s that you hear? Blissful jazz echoing like a midsummer night’s kiss between two abiding lovers. Elegant vibrations coursed through the Gallery space as they simmered roused temptations on a cold and rainy October night.

John High is the lead saxophonist for the John High Quartet. Born and raised in Chicago, IL, he grew up listening to his mother playing greats such as Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis, and many others. Despite his mother’s influence, as a young man, he was immersed in Motown Sound and Soul Music. When John began to pursue jazz as a career, he examined other great saxophone players such as Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Sidney Bechet, and John Coltrane, to name a few. He earned his B.A. degree from UW-Madison, a B.M. degree from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and a Master of Music from the Vander Cook College of Music in Chicago, IL. Throughout the years, he was able to get involved with the very tight-knit jazz community in the Milwaukee area and performed shows, taught music workshops, and participated in a jam session or two.

In 2005, he crafted and released a book called Chord/Scales and Diagrammed Approaches for Improvisation, which he still studies from today. It is recommended for musicians who want to play at the highest level, and it can be found on Amazon. John continues to afford a dedication to his artistry, all the while being a Pastor for No Middle Ground Worship Center.

During our conversation, he affirmed the importance of education, sustaining creativity, and living in the moment. “Time is a variable...you have to be intentional; otherwise, the moment will be gone forever,” concluded John.

Seed & Spark Partnership

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 15:13:36 GMT

Following the Creative Sustainability Summit, Nō Studios is excited to announce a partnership with Seed & Spark

Seed&Spark invests in education, resources and tools to create access for all storytellers to move from funding through distribution. Emily Best, Founder and CEO, says, "We want to change the world with storytelling – when everyone can see themselves represented on screen, we empower all people to take part in shaping how we see our past, our present and our future."

On Sunday, September 29th, Seed&Spark hosted their first event with Nō Studios, bringing Mark Duplass, John Ridley, and Emily Best together for the Creative Sustainability Summit: a one-day conference to give you the tools, ideas and inspiration to build a truly independent, sustainable creative career. It was *amazing*

With the intent to continue supporting the creative community in Milwaukee, we're pleased to announce that we have a new partnership with Seed&Spark. As a Nō Studios member, you get a 30-minute consultation with a Seed&Spark crowdfunding specialist (all working filmmakers themselves!) to help you strategize your campaign, start building your audience and leverage your launch as a part of a larger fundraising and audience-building strategy.

"Independent doesn't mean alone. Let's do this, together." - Seed&Spark

*Images from the Creative Sustainability Summit. Photographed by Daniel Barrett

Moment with Africans

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 21:44:08 GMT

On Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, Ethleen Peacock hosted, Moment with Africans, an event celebrating African culture and a discussion led by Dr. Abera Gelan and Fessahaye Mebrahtu. Even though it was humid and rainy outside, the No Studios Gallery was filled with love, joy, reconnection, and excellent air conditioning. African inspired beaded necklaces, leather bracelets, and various vibrant pieces of clothing were up for sale. Not to mention an overflowing but fulfilling variety of African food. After thirty minutes of mingling, everyone gathered in the theater.

Dr. Abera Gelan, an Associate Professor at UWM who teaches African and African Diaspora Studies that focuses on economics and social development. Fessahaye Mebrahtu, the first Director of Black Catholic and Ethnic Ministries for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Both delivered deeply resonating lectures. "Africa is going through an identity and language crisis because of colonialism...Superiority in African culture doesn't exist because of the intermingling of other communities and cultures..." stated Fessahaye. One would think or imagine Africa as a vast place stricken with poverty as a third world continent since the beginning of time, this is neither true or false. According to Dr. Gelan, Africa was very progressive and robust from 1960-

1975 because it was independent. "In the early 1980s, development ceased due to bad governments, geography, and dependence on natural commodities such as diamonds," stated Gelan. It's easy not to recognize that Africa is comprised of individual countries that have very different needs. The right thing to do would involve creating private sectors and restructuring the educational system, suggested Gelan.

After a substantial but insightful discussion, the energy felt uplifting as people began to leave.

Peacock was very proud of the turnout and anticipated a long relaxing evening.

AWE Youth Arts Council Exhibit

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 19:43:58 GMT

The Summer 2019 Youth Arts Council members learned how to properly exhibit and hang their original artwork in the Nō Studios Rooftop Gallery

On September 14th, students of the AWE Summer 2019 Youth Arts Council were given hands on advice by Nō Studios curator, Jax Joyce, on how to properly install and hang their works for exhibition. The artwork explores themes of growth and tackling personal flaws exaggerated through self-doubt.

Fall Ball Glam Squad

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 18:51:10 GMT

Watch Beth Ridley's journey to become a Karaoke Superstar for the 88Nine Radio Milwaukee Karaoke Competition for a Cause, with the help of her Nō Studios Glam Squad

88Nine Radio Milwaukee is hosting their annual Fall Ball, this Friday Sept, 20th. The night will start on their rooftop deck with drinks and appetizers, with the karaoke competition for a cure beginning at 8:00 pm.

Our very own Beth Ridley is participating in the karaoke competition, and has been preparing for the performance for weeks. Check out her journey above, as she gets tips from a professional voice coach, and gets important advice about dance, delivery, and attitude from the Nō Studios member community.

To support Beth in her fundraising efforts, please consider donating here .

Br!NK New Play Festival

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 21:21:35 GMT

A Renaissance Theaterworks production showcasing new works by Midwestern women playwrights

Suzan Fete, Renaissance Theaterworks’ Artistic Director and featured playwright discusses the Br!NK program

September 7th and 8th, Renaissance Theaterworks hosted the Br!nk New Play Festival in the NO Studios Gallery. The group, who focuses on promoting the work of women onstage and off, performed resident plays including feature length readings as well as shorter 10 minute plays.

Suzan Fete, Renaissance Theaterworks’ Artistic Director and featured playwright, Karen Saari discuss Saturday’s feature length staged reading, Rain on Fire. Ms. Saari’s Rain on Fire explores the concerns surrounding the struggles of addiction in light of the opioid crisis and life in the midwest. RTW’s “mission to create moving theater” was highlighted throughout the weekend with works that pushed for understanding and positivity as well as love and heartbreak.

Karen Saari discusses her play, Rain on Fire

Dance Fest featured in Milwaukee PBS Black Nouveau

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 21:57:29 GMT

Black Nouveau discusses the Milwaukee Urban League's century of service to the community, and profiles Jacarrie Carr and his "Kicks 4 Kids" project. Black Nouveau also looks at NO Studio's Inaugural Dance Fest at the Sherman Phoenix, and sits down with MPS Superintendent Dr. Keith Posley.

Black Nouveau is an award-winning program that tells stories of triumph and transformation in Milwaukee's African-American community through profiles and interviews of the city's change makers. The program airs monthly and is hosted by veteran reporter and Milwaukee native Joanne Williams.

On September 5th, 2019, episode #2711 aired on television, featuring the story behind Nō Studios Dance Fest. The event, which took place on July 20th, 2019, brought dancers from the acclaimed NYC-based Ailey II - the second company of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater - to perform alongside an eclectic mix of Milwaukee’s top dance troupes. Each representing a unique form of self-expression and performing together for the first time, local dance groups included Danceworks Performance MKE, Ton Ko-Thi Children's Performing Ensemble, The Milwaukee Irish Dance Company, Signature Dance Company, Water Street Dance Milwaukee , and WoLF Studios

Creative Sustainability Summit

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 20:58:00 GMT

Seed&Spark expands national education program, launching the Creative Conference Series with Mark Duplass, commencing at John Ridley’s Nō Studios in Milwaukee

Seed&Spark , a crowdfunding and career-building platform for filmmakers, and writer/director/producer Mark Duplass on September 3rd, 2019, announced an expansion of their partnership to empower independent filmmakers outside of the traditional Hollywood ecosystem with the Creative Sustainability Summit. The series of free one-day conferences kicks off September 29 in Milwaukee at John Ridley’s Nō Studios with both Duplass and Ridley in attendance. Subsequent Summits with Duplass will take place quarterly through 2019 and 2020 (additional cities have yet to be announced).

“I'm fortunate to be in a position where I'm able to unofficially mentor filmmakers, helping them dial in what's working and what's not on a project. Some of those have launched big careers, but it's limited to my immediate community. Seed&Spark is on the road year-round meeting with filmmakers in every nook and cranny of the U.S., doing the same hard work of empowering independent creators. Working together, we're now able to help people we'd likely never encounter on our own,” Duplass said.

As part of his participation in each quarter’s Summit, Duplass will help several local filmmakers crack their project in a live interactive Hometown Heroes panel. Filmmakers will be prompted to submit their project for consideration when they register for the free event, and those selected will be announced live at the beginning of the panel before joining Duplass on stage to work through their project in real-time. Filmmakers of all genres, backgrounds and experience levels are encouraged to submit for the Milwaukee panel by registering before Sept. 25.

The Milwaukee Creative Sustainability Summit will also feature a conversation on screenwriting between the Academy Award-winning writer and Duplass as well as workshops on film funding and distribution led by Seed&Spark.

“I chose Milwaukee as the site for No Studios not only because it’s my hometown but because of the thriving creative community here and the desire to provide a space in the city for the creation and presentation of art,” said Ridley. “When Seed&Spark approached us with the idea to launch their Creative Sustainability Summit series here, we jumped at the opportunity, as our mission is so well aligned with their efforts to encourage artists to find meaningful work and support in their own communities. And of course, it’s going to be terrific to introduce Mark Duplass to all the talented creators in Milwaukee.”

In addition to the Duplass partnership, Seed&Spark’s education footprint is expanding in the US and Canada with the addition of five new instructors to meet the demands for workshops for filmmakers and storytellers across all media. In 2018, more than 4,500 creators attended 140 Seed&Spark events. Attendees of those events who went on to launch projects on Seed&Spark raised close to $4M on the platform to make their movies and shows. The organization has already hosted more than 70 events in 2019, with dozens more scheduled throughout the fall and winter.

“Providing creators the information, tools and inspiration to build sustainable careers has been part of our mission since the very beginning, and we couldn’t have a better partner to do that with than Mark Duplass,” said Emily Best, Seed&Spark founder and CEO. “The Creative Sustainability Summit ties together all the pieces from funding and audience building through production and distribution to give creators anywhere, at any stage of their careers, the ability to leverage the incredible power and talent of their local creative communities. You don’t have to move to LA or New York to have a sustainable creative career — and the old Hollywood business models probably won’t work for you. But there is tremendous opportunity in doing things differently, and Mark is one of the people who has blazed a trail.”

Seed&Spark and Duplass Brothers Productions collaborated in 2017 and 2018 on the Hometown Heroes Crowdfunding Rallies, which raised more than $1.4M total for 75 feature films shooting around the country. Duplass Brothers Productions became executive producers on three of those — Wilmington-based Drought, Indiana’s The MisEducation of Bindu and Oregon-based Thunderbolt in Mine Eye.

Registration for the Milwaukee Summit is now open. Tickets and more details can be found here .

The event is sponsored by Shutterstock and Final Draft.

Follow @seedandspark on social media for future dates, locations and updates.

Get Lit Milwaukee

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 20:12:48 GMT

A Milwaukee based effort to showcase underrepresented artists throughout the region.

Originating in Milwaukee, Get Lit is a series of events throughout the Midwest, featuring up and coming artists. On August 30th, Get Lit Milwaukee activated the No Studios Gallery Stage, giving artists a 10-15 minute set, on-spot interviews, and access to sell their merchandise. Get Lit hopes to increase the fan base of these artists and give them the VIP treatment they deserve.

Follow Get Lit on Facebook , and Instagram to stay up to date with events in the future.

#SupportYourLocalMusicScene

Meet local band, Rocket Cat

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 21:41:25 GMT

Beth Ridley sits down with local band "Rocket Cat" to learn about their history and what it takes to be in a successful band.

What is Medusa Jr.?

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 17:20:24 GMT

Pictured from left to right: Zaela Schlissel (Joan of Arc), Gabriella Mancuso ( Frida Kahlo), Tahkara Gregory (Raven Wilkinson),

Ciara Perez ( Selena), McKayla Hinickle (Jane Goodall), Sari Malone (Michelle Obama)

Gabriella Mancuso, who will turn 9 years old on October 9, created MEDUSA JR for John Ridley's Nō Studios. MEDUSA JR is a theatrical performance celebrating the lives of pioneering women. 6 original monologues, written, produced and directed by local women, will be performed by a diverse cast of local talented young actresses (ages 8-14). Our goal at MEDUSA JR is to empower them, support them, and show them that EVERYTHING is possible!

With this show, the audience will be brought back in time, to ‘meet’ these pioneering women as if they were young girls today. The audience will witness how, even at a young age, these young girls were already strong and determined to change the world!

Apart from the performance, MEDUSA JR functioned as a great 8-week acting program, FREE of cost to the families of these talented young girls.

Find out more about the show and learn more about the amazing cast members below!

Nō Studios Live: Washington Park Wednesdays

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 20:28:08 GMT

Beth Ridley travels to Washington park to see all the festivities and local artists at the weekly Washington park music festival.

Frida Fest x Medusa JR

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 20:11:05 GMT

Gabriella Mancuso represents the Medusa Jr. Production, in which she plays a young Frida, at Frida Fest MKE. Story by Urban Milwaukee

Mary Chuy and her daughter, Gabriella Mancuso, are co-producing a monologue production for young actresses, entitled: Medusa Jr. The show includes several monologues written by Milwaukee-area women, that are inspired by the young lives of pioneering women throughout history.

There will be three performances of Medusa JR. Dates and times listed below:

Friday, August 23rd at 6 pm RSVP

Saturday, August 24th at 6 pm RSVP

Sunday, August 25th at 3 pm RSVP

Read the write up about Frida Fest, featuring Gabriella Mancuso supporting Medusa Jr. by Urban Milwaukee here .

Lisa Caesar discusses Dance Fest with Our Issues Milwaukee

Sat, 13 Jul 2019 13:58:36 GMT

Andrea Williams discusses No Studios and the upcoming Dance fest with Lisa Caesar

Our Issues Milwaukee

Published on Jul 11, 2019

NŌ STUDIOS is a hub for the creative arts in downtown Milwaukee. Oscar winning filmmaker John Ridley, a Milwaukee native, launched the studio at the end of last year, where all art forms are represented. Lisa Caesar, the Chief Operating Officer of NŌ Studios, joins our host Andrea Williams to talk about NŌ Studios, and some of the events that they have coming up.

See the interview at Our Issues Milwaukee No Studios Episode

Congratulations Sylvia Desrochers!

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 09:11:09 GMT

Our own Sylvia Desrochers moves to Hollywood agency MPRM

Sylvia Desrochers is shuttering her Big Time PR agency and joining the executive team at Hollywood agency MPRM Communications as SVP. Her colleagues Tiffany Wagner and Karen Tran Wood will also be joining the MPRM team. Desrochers will join an exec team that includes Caitlin McGee and Natalie Yallouz. Read the full story https://deadline.com/tag/sylvia-desrochers/

Join the Glam Squad

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 13:36:28 GMT

Learn how to get "camera ready" and prepare for your big day

Sometimes it's not just what you do, but how you look doing it. Get a backstage pass to the "glam squad," the fashion designers, make-up artists, singing coaches and choreographers that can make you look your best for you big day. Travel with Beth on her road to her singing debut at the 88Nine Radio Milwaukee Fall Ball karaoke competition. If you are a glam squadder (make-up artist, fashion expert, etc.) that would like to be featured, contact Beth at info@nostudios.com. Members are welcome to participate in any session free of charge.

The Brimful Life offers new enriching experiences for the Nō Studios Community

info@kerrconsulting.com (Kerr Consulting) — Tue, 07 May 2019 16:58:49 GMT

Cultivating a thriving social community and enriching the lives of our members

No Studios is committed to cultivating a thriving social community and enriching the lives of our members. To help us do that, we are excited to partner with The Brimful Life , a lifestyle and brand experience company that specializes in brand activation and client engagement strategies that help people fill life with joy and meaning.

The Brimful Life recently launched our No Studios podcast series (Click here to listen) . Tune in to hear the sometimes heartfelt, sometimes humorous and always inspiring life stories of our members.

Next, The Brimful Life will launch Nō Limits, curated experiences exclusively for No Studio members. Nō Limits will bring members together to do everything from taking a mixology class to gaining financial planning tips to learning about the science of happiness. Experiences will also include field trips, guest speakers, happy hours and lunch and learn sessions. There are no limits to how Nō Limits will help No Studio members deepen relationships as well as fuel your mind, body and soul!

The Norwood Club Reciprocal Arrangement

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 02:56:55 GMT

NO Studios and Norwood Club members now enjoy visiting membership status.

No Studios is excited to announce a reciprocal arrangement with The Norwood Club in New York. No Studios Club members now enjoy Norwood visiting member privileges with access to their beautiful facility in New York and The Norwood Club members now enjoy a No Studios Club membership and associated benefits.

This arrangement will add an exciting dimension to the No Studios Club by connecting it to the energy and enthusiasm of a like-minded community. In addition, No Studios Club members will have a place to refresh and plug-in in New York. Our first joint event is a pop-up at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 27th.

Please consult our website for more information.

Media Lights up for the NO Studios Rooftop Launch

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 18:22:32 GMT

Biz Times

No Studios , the creative arts hub at the former Pabst Brewery building in downtown Milwaukee, will open its recently completed rooftop level and club lounge this weekend.

No Studios, a project of Oscar-winning filmmaker and Milwaukee native John Ridley and Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, opened in October 2018 . The 40,000-square-foot building at 1037 W. McKinley Ave. includes offices, shared working spaces, a gallery lounge and cocktail bar, and a 47-seat screening room and performance space.

Lisa Caesar remembers how the building at 1037 W. McKinley Ave. looked before No Studios moved in.

The space is technically two buildings connected together, and while one was mostly just in need of a refresh, the other – built in the late 1800s – was, according to the chief operating officer, "raw. I don't think it had been renovated since the horses came through." As of just last July, the floor was dirt and gravel, the ceiling was decorated with hanging debris, and it wasn't even safe to be inside of it.

Read More → https://onmilwaukee.com/ent/articles/no-studios-rooftop-space-first-look.html

Milwaukee Independent

Launched in October 2018 as a hub for the creative arts in downtown Milwaukee, No Studios introduced the completion of its rooftop level and Club Lounge on March 16, and announced to opening up three new membership tiers designed for local businesses, corporations, and entrepreneurs.

Founded by Oscar-winning filmmaker and Milwaukee native John Ridley (12 Years a Slave and American Crime) and business partner Chris Abele, No Studios is a first-of-its-kind experimental concept bridging arts and entertainment experiences, a networking/social club model and shared workspaces.

Milwaukee365
https://www.milwaukee365.com/event/no-studios-rooftop-club-lounge-grand-opening/

Radio Milwaukee
https://radiomilwaukee.org/event/arts/no-studios-rooftop-club-lounge-grand-opening/

Shepherd Express
https://shepherdexpress.com/events/studios-rooftop-club-lounge-grand-opening/

Yelp
https://www.yelp.com/events/milwaukee-no-studios-rooftop-club-lounge-grand-opening

Urban Milwaukee
https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/no-studios-completes-rooftop-club-lounge-level-extending-mem...

John Ridley Signs Five-Year Deal With ABC Studios - Variety Magazine

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 21:48:40 GMT

ABC Studios has inked a new five-year, all-encompassing deal with writer, director and producer John Ridley to create content across multiple platforms.

ABC Studios has inked a new five-year, all-encompassing deal with writer, director and producer John Ridley to create content across multiple platforms. He is presently working on several projects with the studio.

Ridley, who won an Academy Award in 2013 for best adapted screenplay for “12 Years a Slave,” has long worked with the studio. He created the Emmy-winning ABC Studios series “American Crime,” which aired for three seasons on ABC, as well as the six-part limited series “Guerilla,” which was produced by ABC Signature Studios and aired on Showtime and Sky.

Artists in gener8tor's Fellowship.art accelerator showcase creations at No Studios

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 17:50:52 GMT

Milwaukee Business Journal Features gener8tor and NO Studios

The five artists selected for the 12-week Fellowship.art accelerator in Milwaukee showcased their creations Feb. 8 at No Studios in the Pabst Brewery Complex in downtown Milwaukee

Fellowship.art was launched last summer by gener8tor, Wisconsin's premier business accelerator program and venture fund. The accelerator teaches artists business skills and is for three artists from Milwaukee and a fourth from elsewhere in the U.S. The accelerator recently concluded and the artists selected were each awarded a $15,000 grant.

Milwaukee Magazine: Director John Ridley Parlayed his 2012 Oscar Win into Nō Studios

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 20:38:14 GMT

"When John Ridley won an Oscar for '12 Years a Slave,' his family cheered him on. Now they're working together to help NO Studios foster a new crop of creative talent in our city."

NŌ Studios Emerging Filmmaker Fellowships

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 21:34:26 GMT

To foster a thriving filmmaking community in the Greater Milwaukee area, NŌ Studios and Marquette University are launching an Emerging Filmmaker Fellowship program

To foster a thriving filmmaking community in the Greater Milwaukee area, NŌ Studios and Marquette University are launching an Emerging Filmmaker Fellowship program. This “Artist in Residence” program encourages collaboration, networking, resource sharing, peer-to-peer feedback and professional development education.

Marquette University provides support for the fellowships through its shared office space at the NŌ Studios Film Hub, production facilities, equipment and “as-needed” consultation with Diederich College of Communication faculty, including Professors Joseph Brown and Kristin Holodak and other broadcast, video engineer and editing professionals.

The Emerging Filmmaker Fellowship program will give filmmakers the resources and support specific in areas that a working filmmaker needs, including a collaborative place to work, filmmaking and editing equipment, mentorship, and a cash award.

Submission deadline: 414-226-6516
Notification date: 414-226-6516
Fellowship start date: April, 2019

Click here to learn more:
https://www.marquette.edu/communication/no-studios-emerging-filmmaker-fellowships.php

NŌ STUDIOS sets October grand opening.

Thu, 20 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

NŌ STUDIOS sets October grand opening.
Creative arts hub in former Pabst brewery building will host events Oct. 12-14 : Link

In the News

Mon, 27 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Oscar winner John Ridley bringing film center, other new uses to Milwaukee’s Pabst site: Link

Oscar winner John Ridley guides NŌ STUDIOS creative hub to his hometown: Link

‘You’re Invited’: Filmmaker John Ridley Says Yes to Milwaukee’s NŌ STUDIOS: Link

Oscar winner John Ridley to start creative hub in Milwaukee: Link