The Inspirations of Prey: The Matrix

 On April 25, 2017, at The Regent Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, Alamo Drafhouse, in a partnership with GameStop screened The Matrix as culmination of their sci-fi festival "The Inspirations of Prey", Bethesda's upcoming first person shooter.  

The series started on April 4 in Austin with Moon, followed on April 11 in San Francisco with Starship Troopers, then Total Recall on April 19 in New York.

L.A. fans got a chance to play the game before/during/after the screening and get their hand on a limited edition poster by Tomer Hanuka from Mondo, as well as a t shirt and small notebook with Prey related drawings.

The movie was introduced by Prey's Creative Director/Co-Story Writer Raphael Colantino, telling the audience a little about the series and how they wanted to share with the fans of the game where they got most of the inspiration while making the game. Colantino and Lead Systems Designer Seth Shain were present the whole night, giving interviews, talking to fans, Shain played the game after the movie ended on the big screen for fans to see how a pro takes care of business.

The Matrix is one of those movies that changed cinema, and put the Wachowskis on the map, it's the sci-fi film that introduced the "bullet time" effect that has now been used to death, as well as making lead Keanu Reeves an action star. After playing the game, the movie's influences can be seen, as we are left to ponder, "what is reality?" as the credits roll.

Surprisingly, The Regent wasn't at capacity, maybe it was the fact that the event took place on a school night? But all those in attendance had fun, whether watching the movie or playing the game, along with free drinks, popcorn, what more could one want of a Tuesday night?
One thing is for sure, can't wait to play the game when PREY comes out on May 5!

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Words by Steve Fraatz, Photos by Humberto Mendez

LA Auto Show Kick Off Party

If you know LA, you know its car subculture, after all, it was the car industry that got rid of LA's public transportation back in the day. But for those that don't care about history but about the newest and the best cars coming out, the LA Auto Show has been around since 1907, not in its current form, but in a less showy incarnation.
Nowadays, the AutoMobilty LA is a four day press and VIP event that lets the press experience the LA Auto Show without the riff raff, with drinks and special tours given for further comfort.

Another one of the privileges press gets is attending the Kick Off Party, in which there were no stops pulled! All kinds of food were available to try, meats, pork, chicken, beef, desserts, fruits, even donuts! And drinks, there were open bars all over the place as well! For entertainment you had Cirque De Soleil style performances, dancers, jugglers, DJs and a Cuban band playing. This was the place to be!

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California Vegetarian Food Festival

On Sunday November 13, Vegetarians, Vegans and food conscious and curious individuals congregated at Raleigh Studios in East Hollywood for the California Vegetarian Food Festival. For a Sunday event, the CVFF was well attended, with people lining up and waiting patiently for doors to open at least half an hour before showtime. Once inside, they were welcomed by vendors, music and talks from dieticians and food experts, all revolving around living a vegetarian lifestyle.

For more information on the festival:
http://cavegfoodfest.com/

Bad Moms World Premiere

If you're a fan of Mila Kunis (who isn't?), Christina Applegate, Kristen Bell or Jay Hernandez, you were in luck, as fans got to get close to them on the pink carpet for Bad Moms at the Village Theatre in Westwood on July 26, 2016.
The usual red carpet became pink for this evening, as fans were led to their designated areas and given Bad Mom shirts, fans and beads, and encouraged to show their excitement to be part of the premiere.  Slowly but surely, cast and invited celebrities began arriving and giving the fans what they wanted, a chance to capture the night with photo ops and autographs.
When Kunis arrived the crowd erupted, but, unfortunately, she wasn't one of the cast members that went over to the fan section, surely due to her advanced state of pregnancy. But Christina Applegate,  Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hann, Jay Hernandez and the rest of the cast members present were happy to oblige and give the fans some love.
A notable absence was Jada Pinkett Smith, but, after seeing the movie, it was understandable.
In an unusual move, and partly due to having radio station KIIS102.7 be part of the sponsors of the event, KIIS personality Manny Streez had a post pink carpet media  interviews interview, getting the (main) cast, Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Christina Applegate & Annie Mumolo, along with Directors Jon Lucas & Scott Moore, & Producer Suzanne Tood on the stage for a short Q&A.
Https://youtu.be//WzvG2wlloVs

Right after, fans were led to the Bruin Theatre, with a few lucky fans that mentioned "Manny" at the will call table getting into the main theatre, The Village, with the celebrities.

Bad Mom isn't a great movie but it does have a lot of funny parts and scenes, with Kathryn Hahn stealing the movie as being the Bad in Bad Moms. Every scene she's is is hilarious, Hahn makes me want to recommend the film, BUT...
The film also follows the formula of Main character radically changes, all if fun and games then bad things happen due to this change, it teaches main character a lesson and has them make necessary improvements, everyone is happy. We've seen this formula over and over and over again, and one may say "but ultimately it's not about that, it's about the jokes within the jouney", and that's where the problems start. Pinkett's character is nothing but a token black character. I would have expected that by this time and age, there would be room for actors of color to be part of the main cast, not just there 'cos their names sell tickets.
That and formulaic story telling make Bad Moms a "No Go" for me, and maybe a matinee for you, if you're so inclined, Kunis/Applegate/Bell/Hernandez (and his abs) fan.

The Echo's Monday Night Residency - Feels

If you haven't heard of Feels, this Monday is your last chance to see them play for free at The Echo!

Feels headline July's Monday Night Residency, and last week, Monday, July 18, we had a chance to catch their performance, along with Traps PS and The Sex Stains.

Feels transports you back to the 90s with their alternative sound akin to Veruca Salt or The Breeders, give them a chance!

The Sex Stains brought the house down with their energetic songs (as always), if you haven't seen this L.A. band you're missing out!

Traps PS opened the show, and whilst they weren't as crazy as the previous bands in their performance, their early Meat Puppets/Butthole Surfers style has kept them in the circuit for almost a decade, another recommendation to check out.

Don't forget, tomorrow, Monday, July 25, catch the Feels at 8:30PM on their last residency day!

The Echo
1822 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, California, 90026
http://www.theecho.com