#Michael Monsour

[moviemosaics]

The Seeding

directed by Barnaby Clay, 2023

[nysocboy]

Michael Monsour: Cryptocore, Chalk Mountain, and Potential Transphobia

I'm not sure if this joke is transphobic or not.

Cryptocore appears in Episodes 1.4 and 1.9 as one of Keefe's Satanist ex-boyfriends. He appears first wearing a gas mask. At Club Sinister, he grabs Keefe and fondles his chest. And during Kelvin's rescue of Keefe in the isolation tanke, he says "Shh! The baby is sleeping,"

I have yet to determine where the name comes from. Cryptocore is a malware attacking cybercurrency, but it didn't appear in the news until 2020. He was created sometime in 2018.

Michael Monsour, who played Cryptocore, has an interesting biography: from Chalk Mountain, Texas -- 65 miles from Fort Worth -- began doing theater at the Granbury Opera House at age 12, then moved to Austin to pursue his "true love," filmmaking. He produces and hosts comedy shows, especially improv.

He has 24 acting credits, including Ziggy Rotten in Die, Emos, Die!, Judas in Saved by the Savior, Timmy in Potheads: The Movie, and Asmodeus in Dead in Texas.

He has a girlfriend, so he is probably heterosexual, which I guess is a good thing. Imagine the life of a gay kid growing up in Chalk Mountain, Texas.

[kristenswig]

Best Film Editing

Winner:

Saint Omer - Amrita David

Nominees:

Blonde - Adam Robinson Nope - Nicholas Monsour TÁR - Monika Willi Watcher - Michael Block You Won't Be Alone - Luca Cappelli

Best Original Score

Winner:

After Yang - Aska Matsumiya, Ryuichi Sakamoto

Nominees:

Babylon - Justin Hurwitz Smile - Cristóbal Tapia de Veer The Stranger - Oliver Coates The Wonder - Matthew Herbert You Won't Be Alone - Mark Bradshaw

Best Sound Editing

Winner:

Nope - Johnnie Burn

Nominees:

Flux Gourmet - Tim Harrison Men - Glenn Freemantle Prey - Will Files, Chris Terhune A Wounded Fawn - Matt Davies You Won't Be Alone - Emma Bortignon, Samuel Baker, Duncan Campbell, Adrian Medhurst

Best Sound Mixing

Winner:

Blonde - Lisa Pinero, Leslie Schatz

Nominees:

Black Box - Marc Doisne Nope - Johnnie Burn, José Antonio García Prey - Chris Terhune, Craig Henighan, Ron Osiowy TÁR - Deb Adair, Steve Single, Rolande Winke, Andy Shelley You Won't Be Alone - Vladimir Cuk

Best Visual Effects

Winner:

Nope

Nominees:

Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths Men Petrov's Flu

[fearsmagazine]

THE SEEDING – Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Magnet Releasing

SYNOPSIS: Wyndham Stone is shooting an eclipse out in the wilderness when he comes across what he believes is a lost boy. When Wyndham is led astray and becomes lost himself he takes refuge with a woman living alone. As he attempts to leave he quickly discovers that neither he or she might be there willingly.

REVIEW: With numerous music videos and two documentaries to his credit, Barnaby Clay takes on a supernatural thriller that you might say takes the themes of Peter Pan���s Lost Boys and Wendy and thinly weaves in some type of wilderness dark spiritualism to create this bizarre tales of survival and parenting in the wilderness.

The narrative feels very thin as right from the beginning the viewer is aware that Wyndham Stone is being led astray. The plot introduces these elements of a strange language, Alina’s strange beliefs and this group of feral children. There are few explanations as to what exactly is going on but right from the start the viewer knows this will not end well for Stone. I would suggest that the narrative has a tone similar to 1971’s “The Beguiled,” but Stone is never as charming as Clint Eastwood and he clearly is not in control of his surroundings. The story is broken up into seasonal lunar names that several didn’t hold any significance to me other than the final, being the harvest moon. There isn’t any character arc as even when Stone says he has changed you can’t help but feel he is still the same. In the last two chapters the story makes big jumps that feel awkward.

THE SEEDING is technically impressive. The opening features some breathtaking nature and landscape cinematography, as well as an interesting sequence of a solar eclipse. They have an impressive location and I enjoyed the production and costume designs, which are accentuated with a nice color palate in the lighting. The house/shack apparently has been there for some time and it seemed to me that it consisted of more modern building materials than it should have. The visual and special effects are solid and convincing. I enjoyed Tristan Bechet’s score. There is a sequence where Stone is following the kid, wondering in the desert, where Bechet’s score gives this sequence a feeling similar to where the astronauts are wondering in the wasteland at the beginning of the original “The Planet of the Apes.” I will say that the score was often mixed a bit too hot/loud and overshadows the dialogue in a few scenes.

Actors Scott Haze and Kate Lyn Sheil are good, just not great. There’s not much range to Scott Haze’s Stone. He often comes across as whiney, fails to gain the viewer's empathy and I find it hard to believe his inability to grasp his situation. Kate Lyn Sheil’s performance is subdued for the majority of the film. There are a few moments of emotional extremes where she shines, but mostly it is vanilla. I wouldn’t say her character is diabolical, but there are times where she delivers lines that her performance needed to be slightly more authoritative. As for the rest of the cast, the boys/young men feel as if they are taking their cue from “The Lord of the Flies” without any material to allow for any depth to the characters.

Given his multiple music video credits, Barnaby Clay’s THE SEEDING has a cinematic style reflective of that medium. There are some visual elements that are not built upon or explained, left of to the viewer to interpret. The viewer is presented with limited to no background on this primordial society, but it seems like a hive with Alina loosely representing the queen and the boys the workers. THE SEEDING is an interesting film, visually enchanting, but not surprising if you see the end coming.

CAST: Scott Haze, Kate Lyn Sheil, Alex Montaldo, Thatcher Jacobs, Charlie Avink, Michael Monsour, Aarman Komic-Bottie, & Harrison Middleton. CREW: Director/Screenplay - Barnaby Clay; Producers - Brian R. Etting & Josh H. Etting; Cinematography - Robert Leitzell; Score - Tristan Bechet; Editor - Stewart Reeves; Production Designer - David Bridson; Costume Designer - Christina Blackaller; Key SFX - Charles Roundy; SFX Makeup - Allie Shehorn & Julia Vinha; Special FX Makeup - Vincent Guastini; VFX Artist - Chris Mackenzie. OFFICIAL: N.A. FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/JcFh2lOSlfE?si=_KdfIF2gSjEFdWfm RELEASE DATE: In theaters & on VOD Jan. 26th, 2024

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[film-book]

Film Review: THE SEEDING: Logline and Soundtrack In Search of a Movie [Tribeca 2023] https://film-book.com/film-review-the-seeding-logline-and-soundtrack-in-search-of-a-movie-tribeca-2023/?feed_id=75315&_unique_id=6490b66b9d34d

[edsonlnoe]

Premios ⬤ 22

Película AFTERSUN Runner-Up: Nope Director Charlotte Wells | AFTERSUN Runner-Up: Jordan Peele | Nope Actriz Renate Reinsve | VERDENS VERSTE MENNESKE Runner-Up: Frankie Corio | Aftersun Actor Paul Mescal | AFTERSUN Runner-Up: Ben Whishaw | Surge Actriz de Reparto Stephanie Hsu | EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE Runner-Up: Ximena Lamadrid | Bardo, falsa crónica de unas cuantas verdades Actor de Reparto Anders Danielsen Lie | VERDENS VERSTE MENNESKE Runner-Up: Ke Huy Quan | Everything Everywhere All At Once Guión Original Jordan Peele | NOPE Runner-Up: Charlotte Wells | Aftersun Guión Adaptado Joel Kim Booster | FIRE ISLAND Runner-Up: Peter Craig, Matt Reeves | The Batman Edición Blair McClendon | AFTERSUN Runner-Up: Nicholas Monsour | Nope Fotografía Darius Khondji | BARDO, FALSA CRÓNICA DE UNAS CUANTAS VERDADES Runner-Up: Hoyte Van Hoytema | Nope Diseño de Producción Ruth De Jong, Samantha Englender, Leandre Lagrange | NOPE Runner-Up: Eugenio Caballero, Roberto Bonelli, Carlos Y. Jacques | Bardo, falsa crónica de unas cuantas verdades Diseño de Vestuario Ruth E. Carter | BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER Runner-Up: Jacqueline Durran | Spencer Make-Up & Hairstyling Camille Friend, Joel Harlow | BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER Runner-Up: Adam Johansen, Matteo Silvi | Thor: Love and Thunder Efectos Visuales / Especiales Scott R. Fisher, Jeremy Robert, Guillaume Rocheron, Sreejith Venugopalan | NOPE Runner-Up: Guillaume Rocheron, Olaf Wendt | Bardo, falsa crónica de unas cuantas verdades Edición de Sonido Nicolas Becker, Martín Hernández | BARDO, FALSA CRÓNICA DE UNAS CUANTAS VERDADES Runner-Up: Johnnie Burn | Nope Mezcla de Sonido José Antonio García | NOPE Runner-Up: Santiago Núñez, Frank A. Montaño, Jon Taylor, Ken Yasumoto | Bardo, falsa crónica de unas cuantas verdades Score Jonny Greenwood | SPENCER Runner-Up: Michael Abels | Nope Soundtrack AFTERSUN Runner-Up: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Canción “This Is A Life” — Son Lux, Mitski, David Byrne | EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE Runner-Up: “Con la Brisa” — Foudeqush, Ludwin Göransson | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Diseño de Créditos Aaron Becker | NOPE Runner-Up: Duncan Elms | The Batman Trailer Marvel Enterteinment | BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER Runner-Up: Strand Releasing | Mogul Mowgli Poster LA | NOPE Runner-Up: P+A | Aftersun Poster en Cortometraje BIEN PARECIDAS Runner-Up: Cruise Actuación en Cortometraje Anna Dzieduszycka | SUKIENKA Runner-Up: Joanie Martel | Lune Realización en Cortometraje Emita Frigato, Rachele Meliadò | Diseño de Producción | LE PUPILLE Runner-Up: Nadège Feyrit | Diseño de Sonido | La Neige Incertaine Guión en Cortometraje Marion Boisrond, Ada Hernaez, Marie-Liesse Coumau, Gwendoline Legendre, Romane Tisseau | LA NEIGE INCERTAINE Runner-Up: Oscar Sarmiento Schultz | Parece que va a nevar Dirección en Cortometraje Daniel Soares | O QUE RESTA Runner-Up: Alice Rohrwacher | Le Pupille Cortometraje de Ficción O QUE RESTA Runner-Up: Ala Kachuu Cortometraje Documental ACUEDUCTOS Runner-Up: Fuego en el cielo Cortometraje Animado LA NEIGE INCERTAINE Runner-Up: Last Summer Película Animada TURNING RED Runner-Up: Flugt Off-Screen Performance Chris Evans | LIGHTYEAR Runner-Up: Rosalie Chiang | Turning Red Non-Anglo Performance Renate Reinsve | VERDENS VERSTE MENNESKE Runner-Up: Anders Danielsen Lie | Verdens Verste Menneske Performance Mexicano Daniel Giménez Cacho | BARDO, FALSA CRÓNICA DE UNAS CUANTAS VERDADES Runner-Up: Karla Souza | La Caída Featured Actor Luis Couturier | BARDO, FALSA CRÓNICA DE UNAS CUANTAS VERDADES Runner-Up: Scoot McNairy | C’mon C’mon Stunts / Choreography EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE Runner-Up: Prey Breakthrough Actriz Frankie Corio | AFTERSUN Runner-Up: Stephanie Hsu | Everything Everywhere All At Once Breakthrough Actor Brandon Perea | NOPE Runner-Up: Daryl McCormack | Good Luck to You, Leo Grande Rising Filmmaker Charlotte Wells | AFTERSUN Runner-Up: Stephen Karam | The Humans Ensamble Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Brandon Perea, Steven Yeun, Michael Wincott, Jacob Kim, Terry Notary, y Keith David | NOPE Runner-Up: Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, Jamie Lee Curtis, James Hong, Tallie Medel, Jenny Slate, y Harry Shum Jr. | Everything Everywhere All At Once Escena This is our last dance | AFTERSUN Runner-Up: Jean Jacket | Nope Wide Release NOPE Runner-Up: The Batman Limited Release AFTERSUN Runner-Up: C’mon C’mon Non-Theatrical Release FIRE ISLAND Runner-Up: Prey Documental FLUGT Runner-Up: Ermitaños Película Iberoamericana MEMORIA Runner-Up: Los Reyes del Mundo Película Mexicana BARDO, FALSA CRÓNICA DE UNAS CUANTAS VERDADES Runner-Up: Nudo Mixteco

[genevieveetguy]

What's a bad miracle?

Nope, Jordan Peele (2022)

[goombanna]

Still on track with my goal this year of a sketch every 2 months!! So excited to release this one :D

Everyone knows a Carly. Share this with yours ❤️

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rrEvlZRXbk)

[oraclesofnorway]

Microsoft Mesh from jeff han on Vimeo.

Microsoft Mesh enables presence and shared experiences from anywhere – on any device – through mixed reality applications. 

Mesh allows for connections with new depth and dimension. As digital intelligence comes to the real world, we’re now able to see, share, and collaborate on content that persists. This common understanding ignites ideas, sparks creativity, and forms powerful bonds.

Client: Microsoft

Creative Directors: David Wolf, John Nguyen Concept Artist: Dave Carleson ____________________________________________________________________________

LIVE ACTION Production Company: Sanctuary Founder/Executive Producer: Preston Lee Director: Mindcastle Director of Photography: Pat Scola Live Action Producer: Noah Thomason Production Designer: Melisa Myers Stylist: Ashley Chako

____________________________________________________________________________ VFX VFX Studio: a52 VFX Supervisor: Jesse Monsour, Urs Furrer Art Director / CG Supervisor: Kirk Shintani Flame Artists: Richard Hirst, Andrew McKenna, Matt Sousa, Steven Wolf, John Valle, Michael Vaglienty, Enid Dalkoff 3D Artists: Dustin Mellum, Ariana Ziae Mohseni, Aemilia Widodo, Weiyo Sha, Bryan Cox, Josh Dyer, Jose Limon, Jade Smrz, Joe Paniagua, Mike Di Nocco, Derek Friesenborg, Joseph Chiechi, Mike Bettinardi, Christoffer Bjerre, Haram Jung, Lusine Arakelyan Design Art Director: Jeff Han Designer: Carlo Sa, Christoffer Bjerre Online Editor: John Valle Sr Producer: Niki Love Goodwin Production Coordinator: Sara Dotson Head of Production: Stacy Kessler-Aungst Head of CG Production: Michael Steinmann Executive Producers: Patrick Nugent & Kim Christensen Managing Director: Jennifer Sofio Hall ____________________________________________________________________________ COLOR Color Studio: Primary Colorist: Daniel De Vue Color Assistant: Corey Martinez Color Producer: Jenny Bright Executive Producer: Thatcher Peterson _________________________________________________________________________ EDITORIAL Editorial Company: Rock Paper Scissors Editor: Ted Guard Assistant Editor: Michael Shugarman Producer: Sasha Grubor Executive Producer: Shada Shariatzadeh Head of Production: Dre Krichevsky Managing Director: Eve Kornblum ____________________________________________________________________________ SOUND Music Company: Future Perfect Partner: Maxwell Gosling Composer / Partner: John Connolly Producer: Nathalie Córdoba

[icollectimages]

Us (2019)

Country: United States / China / Japan

Written & Directed by: Jordan Peele

Cinematography by: Mike Gioulakis

Edited by: Nicholas Monsour

Produced by: Peele, Jason Blum, Sean McKittrick & Ian Cooper

Music by: Michael Abels

Production Design by: Ruth De Jong

[josiptaylor]

GoDaddy “Make a Different Future 2021” from a52 on Vimeo.

Client: GoDaddy

Chief Marketing Officer: Fara Howard Executive Creative Director: Fiona Parkin ACD / Art Director: Matthew Krivanek ACD / Copywriter: Francisco Traynor, Caitlin Harris Head of production: Will Woollett Sr Producer: Angela Zappella Director, Brand Marketing: Amy Jennette Sr Brand Manager: Kelly Saverine Account Manager: Megan Patz Customer Success Manager: Jessica Hunter Business Affairs: Taby Olague, Nataly Duran

LIVE ACTION Production Company: Doomsday Entertainment Director: Gregory Ohrel Director of Photography: Santiago Gonzalez Live Action Producer: Alicia Martinez Production Designer: Jason Hougaard

VFX VFX Studio: a52 VFX Supervisor: Jesse Monsour CG Supervisor: Andy Wilkoff Flame Artists: Richard Hirst, Stefan Gaillot, Kevin Stokes, Adam Flynn, Andrew McKenna, Steven Wolf, Enid Dalkoff, Michael Vaglienty, Matt Sousa 3D Artists: Andy Wilkoff, Dustin Mellum, Ariana Ziae Mohseni, Bryan Cox, Joe Paniagua, Josh Dyer Digital Matte Painter: Whitman Lindstrom Art Director: Olga Midlenka Designers: June Cho, Sky Bird, Kaya Thomas, Lynn Kim Animators: Lee Buckley, Mark Feldman Online Editor: Kevin Stokes Sr Producer: Niki Love Goodwin, Drew Rissman Production Assistant: HJ Kim Deputy Head of Production: Zach Wakefield Head of CG Production: Michael Steinmann Head of Production: Stacy Kessler-Aungst Executive Producers: Patrick Nugent, Kim Christensen Managing Director: Jennifer Sofio Hall

COLOR Color Studio: Moving Picture Company Colorist: Ricky Gausis Color Producer: Sasha Pace Executive Producer: Meghan Lang

EDITORIAL Editorial Company: Final Cut Editor: Arianna Tomasettig Assistant Editor: Micah Chase Executive Producer: Suzy Ramirez Head of Production: Ana Orrach Managing Director: Justin Brukman

SOUND Music Company: Animal Music Sound Design & Final Mix: Agustin Mas

[thecomedybureau]

From the Hollywood Hills to Mar Vista, A Comedy Show has given some damn fun stand-up shows in a mansion and a yurt in a backyard. 

Now, Michael Monsour and a secret line-up that we’ve been assured is stellar are giving a go at doing a show in DTLA this Saturday night.

We think you ought to not miss out. You can get tickets (and then the secret location) here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, and maps can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

[kristenswig]

Best Film Editing 2019

Winner:

Waves - Isaac Hagy, Trey Edward Shults

Nominees:

Booksmart - Jamie Gross The Lighthouse - Louise Ford Parasite - Yang Jin-mo Transit - Bettina Böhler Us - Nicholas Monsour

Best Original Score 2019

Winner:

The King - Nicholas Britell

Nominees:

Ad Astra - Max Richter, Lorne Balfe Atlantics - Fatima Al Qadiri The Lighthouse - Mark Korven Monos - Mica Levi Us - Michael Abels

Best Sound Editing 2019 

Winner:

The Lighthouse - Damian Volpe

Nominees:

Ad Astra - Gary Rydstrom, Brad Semenoff Crawl - Victor Ray Ennis Luz - Mehmet Akif Büyükataly Midsommar - Gene Park, Ruy Garcia Wounds - Simon Haupt

Best Sound Mixing

Winner:

Waves - Johnnie Burn, Dimitri Kouri

Nominees:

Ad Astra - Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson, Mark Ulano Climax - Ken Yasumoto The Lighthouse - Roberto Fernandez, Damian Volpe, Zander Rosborough Luz - Hennig Hein, Jonas Lux, Steffen Pfauth Sunset - Tamás Zányi, Tamás Dévényi

Best Visual Effects

Winner:

Ad Astra

Nominees:

The Aeronauts Doctor Sleep Starfish

[fearsmagazine]

THE SEEDING | Official Trailer & Poster

A hiker lost in the desert takes refuge with a woman living alone, and soon discovers that she might not be there willingly.

THE SEEDING is written and directed by Barnaby Clay, and stars Scott Haze, Kate Lyn Sheil, Alex Montaldo, Thatcher Jacobs, Charlie Avink, Michael Monsour, Aarman Komic-Bottie, & Harrison Middleton.

Magnet Releasing will release THE SEEDING in theaters and on VOD January 26th, 2024.

[nsula]

Spring 2019 Honor List

NATCHITOCHES – One thousand forty-three undergraduates were named to Northwestern State University’s Honor List for the Spring 2019 semester. Students on the Honor List must be enrolled full-time and have a grade point average of between 3.0 and 3.49. Students listed by hometown are as follows.

 Abbeville – Annemarie Broussard, MaKayla Lewis, Zabrinia Spates;

 Aimwell – Jonathan Poole;

 Alexandria – Markeyla Anderson, Gavin Arabie, Sharenthia Chew, Angel Christophe, Josyf Das Neves, Joshua Dorsey, Alexis Flowers, Kelvina Ford, Zuleika Fountain, Vanity Givens, Kyle Guillory, Khloe Jasper, Whitney Joffrion, Gustov Johnson, Martavius King, Ashley Koestler, Kasey Lacombe, Taylar Lee, Kelli Leone, Jimmie Magee, Dean Mayeux, Jason McDaniel, Jalyn Mcneal, Ashley Mitchell, John O’Dell, Madison Ogorek, Tiffany Ore, Sadae Polk, Alyssa Rivers, Mart Sampson, Brandy Sayer, Shakera Shorts, Kizzy Slaughter, Kiaijah Thomas, Hailey Urena, Jenna Wade, Alysha Walker, Aalyiah Williams;

 Amelia – Renwick McPherson;

 Anacoco – Rachel Fournier, Angela Guy, Andrea Halladay, Tristan Harvey, Madeleine Hensley, Aaron Norris, Jason Ortiz, Ireland Slocum, Amanda Sorg, Tyler Stephens, Emily Williams, Rhonda Perry,

 Arlington, Texas -- Mariah Denson, Devin Gipson, O’Shea Jackson;

 Arnaudville – Macey Boyd, Bailey Dautreuil, Maddison Janice;

 Athens – Jacob Ellis;

 Atlanta – Ashley Mitchell, Jackson Teal, Jamie Wagley;

 Aurora, Colorado – William Mccullough;

 Avondale – Mikala Clark;

 Bastrop – Alisha Bolton;

 Baton Rouge – Jordan Hall, Melvin Hudson;

 Belcher – Loriann Long;

 Boyce – Lane Robinson

 Baker – Devante George, Cherish Netter;

 Ball – Angel Chavez, Christopher Constance, Bryan Sayes, Vanessa Toney, Alice Wilson;

 Bastrop – Allenicia Arbet;

 Baton Rouge – Mark Alexander, Chloe Castello, Ricky Chatman, Shelby Christian, Briyonna Collins, Madison Harris, Mckane Kinchen, Griffin Lundin, Cydni Millican, Rachel Monsour, Katie Pham, James Steelman, Jharon Whitfield;

 Beacon Falls, Connecticut – Stacey Brown;

 Bedford, Texas – Katina Booker;

 Belle Chasse – Hayley Barbazon, Denim Reeves;

 Belmont – Kelly Bass, Ashley Hill;

 Bentley – Heather Jones,

 Benton – Bryanna Cooper, Steven Gardner, Milla Gonzales, Grayson Isom, Colby Ponder, Blaine Reeder, Hannah Schott, Jackson Mathews, Megan Russell;

 Bermuda – Michael Vienne;

 Bienville – Sarah Macynski;

 Big Spring, Texas – Kristin Wilson;

 Birmingham, Alabama – Emma Wallace;

 Bogalusa – Amanda Crawford, Taylor Johnson;

 Bossier City – Yetunde Adegbovega, Austin Averitt, Abigail Castillo, Kendall Corkern, Cameron Davis, Daniel Dial, Kimberly Eloby, Ri’Kaela England, Khairig Frost, Hannah Gaspard, Margaret Gates, Jacob Guest, Tangy Heilbling, Ashlynn Henderson, Jordan Hunter, Shane Kaiser, Alyssa Kidd, Seth Lowery, Jordan Markle, Rebecca Markle, Jennifer Martinez, Rance Mason, Coby McGee, Alexa Montgomery, Yuridia Olea, Sabri Parks, Shelby Peebles, Brittani Phillips, Rachael Pierce, Cierra Rachal, Litzy Rivera, Gabriela Rodriguez, Madison Rowland, Rheagan Rowland, Dakota Schudalla, Makayla Strother, Trevor Tackett, Kellie Toms, Bobby Trichel, Madalyn Watson, Pamula Whicker, Elizabeth Zanca, Nour Zeidan;

 Boutte – Jose Del Rio;

 Boyce – Savanna Budnik, Timothy Glass, Kaitlyn Miller, Jessie Turner, Julia Watson;

 Brownsboro, Texas – Brice Borgeson;

 Buffalo, New York – LeTerrance Reed;

 Bunkie – Izola Williams;

 Bush – Serena Bonnette;

 Calhoun – Marissa Barentine;

 Campti – Paige Cason, Damarte Fisher, Kourtney Horton, Malachi Lester, Pepper Lloyd, Madison McLaren;

 Canton, Texas – Tiffany Cayson, Jack Dyre;

 Cape Coral, Florida – Karleigh Acosta;

 Carencro – Malik Babin, Chaney Dodge, Harold Williams;

 Cartagena, Colombia – Samantha Arellano Chavz, Edwin Castro Frias, Jalima Dias, Miledys Jiminez Vasquez, Daniel Racero Rocha, Gabriela Forero Salcedo, Sadoc Silva Calderon;

 Cartagena Bolivar, Colombia – Alejandro Dager Carrasquilla;

 Castor – Loxlie Dodd, Hogan Nealy;

 Center, Texas – John Harrington;

 Chalmette – Isaiah Carpenter, Gabriel Ernest, Sara Mendoza;

 Chatham – Jonathan Gill;

 Cincinnati, Ohio – Terry Brewer;

 Clarence – Quintarous Coleman, Kimberly Reliford;

 Clinton – Arianna Parrish;

 Cloutierville – Alexia Gistarb;

 Colfax – Camren Bell, Kensey Knight, Paidin Luneau, Kaitlyn Slalyter, Ontavius Williams;

 Colorado Springs, Colorado – Sarah Wagner;

 Columbia – Jackson McCann;

 Columbus, Mississippi – William Taylor;  

 Converse – Zachary Faircloth, Nicolas Farmer, Victoria Gasper, Wade Hicks, Jared Jagneaux, Skyler Laroux, Ashley Sims, Delia Smith, Triston Waldon;

 Coppell, Texas – Jada Freeman;

 Cottonport – Jacob Harris, Joneshia Jacobs, Christine Lemoine;  

 Coushatta – Journi Brown, Faith Cason, La’Zaria Clark, Jon Hester, Tawanda Johnson, Amey Sepulvado;

 Covington – Madison Blanks, Sarah Shiflett, Jennifer Vo;

 Coyolilla Veracruz, Mexico – Guadalupe de Jesus Mendez Zaragoza;

 Crowley – Mc’Kayleen Milson;

 Cullen – D’Agurelle Epps;

 Cut Off – Zachary Breaux, Kaelyn Musgrave;

 Dallas – Nadia Carney;

 De Berry, Texas – Sarah Britt;

 DeQuincy – Hayden Robertson;

 DeRidder – Carson Brown, Lauren Callis, Maygin Chesson, Sheridan Douglas, Sarah Fulford, Katherine Goodman, Michelle Green, Alexis Holland, Elliott Jones, Ethel Jones, Jordan Mack-McNair, Presley Phelps, Richard-Jayson Puzon, Morgan Smith, Heather Sorton, Madison Tilley, Tyler Wright, Airiuna Satchell;

 Delhi – KeDiejah Cooper;

 Denham Springs – Samantha Burgess, Joni Burlew, Caleb Callender, Zyneshia Jennings;

 Deville – Emily Bonial, Courtney DeVille, Amy Henderson, Ashtyn Knapp, Karlee Littleton, Morgan McCrory, Caleb Rhodes, Marcia Rogers, Garrett Sellers;

 Dodson – Nolan Griffin, Brendan Thomas;

 Donaldsonville – Jermaine Collier, Natalie Landry;

 Doyle – Mackensie Ulrich;

 Doyline – Carmesia Russell;

 Dry Prong – Ethan Lewis, Shian Murrell, Lindsey Weatherford, Ashley Webb;

 Dubach – Oilvia Hancock, Kayla Loyd;

 Dubberly – Audrie Dison;

 Duson – Alexandra Broussard, Desmond Prejean;

 Edmond, Oklahoma – Ravon Nero;

 Elizabeth – Hannah LaCaze;

 Elmer – Victoria Coleman

 Elton – Maia Lacomb;

 Eunice – Tanner Thibodeaux, Emily Deshotel;

 Falfurrias, Texas – Marco Arevalo;

 Farmerville – Adrianna Loyd, Jalissa Loyd;

 Fayetteville, Arkansas – Cody Coleman;

 Ferriday – Dalenesha Wimley;

 Fisher – Hayden Courtney;

 Flatwoods – Lindsey Willis;

 Florien – Katelynn Alford, Danielle Anthony, Gabrielle Bryant, Braelyn Calhoun, Magon Lester, Ashton Remedies, Jordan Weldon;

 Flower Mound, Texas – Randall Ruffner;

 Folsom – Monique Basse, Shaylee Laird;

 Forest Hill – Adrianne Dore;

 Forney, Texas – Kaymi Wheeler;

 Fort Polk – Brittany Chadwick, Mara Eifolla, Jayla Hart, Andrea Marquez, Madison Popp, Amanda. Ridenhour, Shiela May Tabonares, Whitney Tipton, Kiara Turner, TeKweena Wilson, Alexie Sarabia;

 Fort Riley, Kansas – Breanna Bryan;

 Fort Worth, Texas – Charles Gregory Meade;

 Franklin – Zachary McEndree;

 Franklinton – Randy Garza, Brittany Sanders;

 Frierson – Mason Barnes;

 Frisco, Texas – Hallie McCarroll;

 Geisman – Rylee Leglue;

 Guin, Alabama – Taylor Porter;

 Garland, Texas – Joseph Goodson, Kobe Poole, Nia Randall;

 Geismar – Elijah John-Baptiste;

 Georgetown – Kaleb Hudson;

 Glenmora – Reagan Humphries, Abbie Johnson, Kerstyn Johnson;

 Gloster – Caitlyn Burford, Paris Gillum;

 Goldonna – Brianna Calhoun;

 Gonzales – Julie Breaux, Chaquera Caldwell, Ashlyn Chenevert;

 Grand Cane – Sandra Kimble, Ciana Mcintyre, Emily Miller;

 Grand Isle – Abigail Frazier;

 Grand Prairie, Texas – Stephen Garrett;

 Greenwell Springs – Morgan Bellot;

 Greenwood – Leah Evans, Tamera Harris, Trenton Starks;

 Gretna – Braxton Brown, Leroy Holmes, Nadia Johnson, Michael Wilson;

 Gueydan – Hannah Sedatol;

 Hackberry – Lexie Stine;

 Hahnville – Cierra Puryear, Colin Vedros;

 Hammond – Kaylon Wiloughby;

 Harlengen – Frances Knight;

 Harvey – Destiny Johnson;

 Haughton – Deitric Alexander, Shakayla Bell, Katelynn Edwards, Anitra Fayad, Camry Heath, Kylee Jackson, Timothy Newell, Angie Nguyen, Makenezie Rains, Licentra Randolph, Bailee Rattanachai, Kaylee Sanford, Joshua Steele, Megan Tilley, Laura Waldroup, Katherine Weeks, Kacie Wilkinson, Chases Woltz, India Wright;

 Haynesville – Jmarquiez Robinson, Sabrina Sowell, Michael Turner, Allysa Dodds;

 Heflin – Kendall Brunson, Simiuna Cook, Kyle Smith;

 Henderson – Andrew Blackmon;

 Hessmer – Daren Dauzat;

 Hineston – Victoria Carroll;

 Homer – Francene Ferguson, Keyana Mccoy, Mariah West;

 Hornbeck – Lane Alford, Ariel Rodgers;

 Houma -- Courtney Chancellor, Rhiannon Dean, Venessa McKinley;

 Houston – Rafael Bonilla, Jennifer Hitt, Casey Irvin, Natashia Jackson;

 Humble, Texas – Toiquisha Johnson, Furquan Shorts;

 Independence – Maria Thomas-Alfaro, Chloe Whiddon;

 Iowa – Keiona Guy;

 Jasper, Texas – Linsey Guthrie;

 Jeanerette – David Blakesley;  

 Jefferson – Emily Ricalde;

 Jena – Tiara Brown, Braegan Burlew, Candace Decker, Madison Erwin, Jasmine Furlow, Chelsea Redd, Tyler Thomas;  

 Jennings – Destiny Brown, Anayah Joseph;

 Jonesboro – Ashlyn Gaines, JaVonna Lawrence, Alex Toms;

 Kaplan – Chris Hebert;

 Katy, Texas – Brittnay Cecil, Floyd Turner;

 Keatchie – Sarah Plaisance;  

 Keithville – Germany Jones, Shelby Loftin, Cara Lorenen, Maya Porter;  

 Kenner – Emily Bennett, Willie Soniat, Parul Sharma;

 Kentwood – Iris Travis;

 Kernen – Antonia Blattner;

 Kinder – Teralyn Plumber;

 Konarskie, Poland – Elzbieta Iwaniuk;

 Labadieville – Jacellynn LeBlanc, Logan Simoneaux;

 Lacombe – Amy Schneider;

 Lafayette – Taylor Aucoin, Ashanti Alfred, LaToya Bellard, Emma Burlet, Jared Dore, Reagan Guillory, Jacob Hawkins, Qualantre Jackson, Michele Kramer, JaKayle Lee, Paul Martin, Skylar Mccoy, Robert Middleton, Sarah Palmintier, Aishwarya Patel, Tylar Senegal, John Touchet, Ireland Williams, China Young;

 Lafitte – Helen Kassahun;

 Lake Charles – Landon Dore, Camren Green, Joel Moreaux, Jordan Mulsow, Destany Washington;

 LaPlace – Caitlyn Turnbull;

 Las Vegas, Nevada – Caitlin Schweighart;

 Le Mars, Iowa – Shannon Smith;

 League City, Texas – Lacee Savage, Blake Tessitore;

 Leander – Karissa Boswell;

 Lebeau – Sharissa Tanner;

 Lecompte – Logan Cheek;

 Leesville – Dakota Abrams, Cecilia Alfaya, Kimberly Alwell, Jebediah Barrett, Hailey Brantley, Kaylee Buby, Victoria Butler, Anthony Cantrell, Charlotte Cassin, Joseph Cryer, Cameron Davis, Marlee Dowden, Payton Gordy, Caleb Hillman, Hanna Johnson, Zachary Keeton, Lauren Kreyenbuhl, Mahala Lewis, Christina Lluvera, Gerard Lord, Brianna Maricle, Billy McGhee, Amy McKellar, Ashley McKellar, Kaitlyn Pajinag, Chloe Rouleau, Destiny Sanders, Cesar Santos, Dalton Schulte, Erin Schwartz, Megan Trask, Tabitha Vasquez, Marissa Weldon, Lana West, Cheyene Wise, Mikayla Zills;

 Lena – Dillon Guin, Courtnee Hamberlin, Cortland Smith;

 Lettsworth – Landon Benton;

 Little Elm, Texas – Daniel Larin;

 Little Rock, Arkansas – Whitney Jinks;

 Livingston – Jay Gentry-Pace;

 Livonia – Ryann Bizette, Shanyia Haynes;

 Lockport – Malaina Falgout;

 Logansport – Rebecca Tomlin, Shelby Woods, Kendoyle Cox;

 Loranger – Cambree Bailey;

 Lubbock, Texas – Miranda Stroud;

 Mansfield – Tremeon Allen, Latyeauna Goodwin, Nicolette Hogan, Canessia Johnson, Demetric Preston, Madylin Sullivan, Kyah Wilson,

 Madisonville – Zoe Almaraz, Bailey Perrilloux;

 Mandeville -- Mya Holmes, Jalen Willis;

 Many – Jocelyn Cannon, Patrick Colston, Sarah Cross, Timothy Early, Sydni Easley, Kyle Elliott, Tiarra Frazier, Brittney Garcie, Moses Gonzales, Jessie Johnson, Clayton Kelley, Lathan Meyers, Darion Miller, Matthew Peace, Andrew Penfield, Tanner Rains, Madison Rutherford, Aubrey Sepulvado, Mallary Veuleman;

 Maringouin – Laura Scronce;

 Marksville – Regan Balius, Nichole Dauzat, Leah Dupuy, Kayle Gaspard, Olivia Johnson, Victoria Lucas;

 Marrero – Kelsey Brooks, Lius Escobar;

 Marshall, Texas – Alexis Balbuena, Abagale Godrey;

 Marthaville – Dylan Daniels, Veronica James, Thomas Lirette;

 Meraux – Sophie Stechmann;

 Merryville – Kyleah Franks;

 Mesquite, Texas – Eric Renova, Curtis Williams;

 Metairie – Kathryn Bancroft, Madysen Norra;

 Midland, Texas – Channing Burleson;

 Minden – Erin Dotson, Layla Easley, Abby Greene, Karasha Harris, Kiara Jenkins, Donna Law, Asata Sylvas, Jorge Zaldivar;

 Missouri City, Texas – Cayla Jones;

 Monroe – Demonta Brown, Kennedy Butler, Jansen Chisley, Kiara Drumgo, Taylor Edwards, Jaronda Griffin, Prettyunje Hunter, Diamond Knox-Jackson, Ashley Murphy, Keldrick Ward;

 Montegut – Stephanie Cohen;

 Monterey – Rebecca Womack;

 Montgomery – Tabatha Bowlin, Payton Carroll, Gerald Chelette, Hailee Skains, Laryn Graves;

 Monticello, Arkansas – Kamilah Kelley;

 Mora – Gracy Rowell;

 Moreauville – Reginea Alexander, Ashley Dunnam;

 Natchitoches – Jeremy Aaron, Cass Arnold, Aaron Averett, Thomas Balthazar, Adam Barnes, Blake Bechtel, Terrius Bell, Kacy Bonds, Matthew Brown, Charles Bouchie, Santaurus Burr,Ladiamond Burrell,  Dominitra Charles, Kaleb Chesser, Lane Clevenger, Jessica Coleman, Kaia Collins, Christian Cunningham, Sean Day, Moises Florez-Perez, Hannah Forsythe, Eric Fredieu, Abbie Garner, Peyton Graham, Denetria Green, Pamela Gross, Thomas Hadzeriga, Jalen Hall, Jasmine Hall, Samantha Hall, Deshon Hayes, Jett Hayes, Saul Hernandez, David Holmes, Jasmine Howard, Kanika Irchirl, Rachel Jeane, Emily Johnson, Karlee Laurence, Robert Lee, Emily Leone, Christopher Lewis, Helen-Lois Mancil, Wesley Manuel, Savannah Maricle, Brooklyn Martin, Tyler McCain, Lamarr McGaskey, Kristin McQuillin, Joshua Minor, Jair Morelos Castilla, Jakori Morris, Katelyn Murphy, Tori Neitte, Matthew Nelson, Donovan Ohnoutka, Christian Owens, Leilani Padilla, Kenneth Penrod, Eryn Percle, Veronica Pikes, Kenneth Poleman, Katherine Rachal, Michael Raymond, Jeffrey Remo, Devin Reyes, Kayla Rokett, Taylor Rutledge, Shelbi Ryan, Jalon Sangster, Chandler Sarpy, Gabrielle Scarborough, Natalie Sers, Anna Sibley, Athena Smith, Blake Teekell, Joseph Thibodaux, Margaret Thompson, Lantz Vercher, Elizabeth Vienne, Garrett Vienne, Huey Virece, Laurin Waldrip, Jacob Ware, Brianna Watermolen, Anna Waxley, Emma-Leigh Webster, Ellen Wells, Deondra White, Nicholas Wiggins, Leah Wilkins, Shavon Williams,

 Natchez – Victoria Bradford, James Rougeou, Lauren Seawood;  

 Navasota, Texas – Shelton Eppler;

 New Iberia – Mia Bashay, Dainell Ledet, Alex Romero;

 New Llano – Deja Castille, Laura Cowell, Kendra Jones, Earnesta Riggins, Gabriel Vargas, Caden Wheeler;

 New Milford, Connecticut – Lisa Rosenberg;

 New Orleans – Demetrius Boulieu, Nyasha Brown, Damon Carter, Jeron Duplantier, Darlene Fairley, Matthew Gonzales, Omar Hall, RyShaneka Kirsh, Maxwell Martello, Phallon Robinson, Jonae Skinner, Rishard Winford;  

 Newellton – Chasity Glasspoole;

 Noble – Shelby Etheridge, Tiffany McMillion, Krista Rivers, Thomas Rivers;

 North Richland Hills, Texas – Cody Germany;

 North York, Ontario – Alexander Comanita;

 Oak Ridge – Kelly Futch;

 Oakdale – Clayton Ashworth, JaQuanda Evins, Dylan Hamblin, Destani Johnson;

 Olla – Morgan Barbo, Amanda Fenoli, Savannah Kirl;

 Omro, Wisconsin – Jason Kralovetz;

 Opelousas – Keylee Boone, Jordan Brisco, Kenya Gradnigo, Kayla Pitre, Lashante Richard, Kallie Zeringue;

 Paris, Texas – Cody Vorwerk;

 Pelican – Tyler Howard;

 Pensacola, Florida – Mallory McClain;

 Pierre Part – Blaise Crochet;

 Pineville – Savannah Hope Andries, Melissa Barnhill, April Cain, Erika Carter, Korey Cleveland, Luke Conway, Sydney Duhon, Selena Ferguson, Ameera Ghannam, Ollie Gossett, Leia Graham, Megan Jacks, Trey Joseph, Ethan Lachney, Brooke Leger, Rodney Lonix, Sierra Matney, Sonya McClellan, Autumn McSwain, Abby Nichols, James Perry, Hannah Pusateri, Christina Rachal, Amaria Sapp, Elizabeth Shuler, Laikyn Slusher, Robert Tabor, Emily Wiley, Sarah-Elizabeth Wilkes;

 Pitkin – Braydon Doyle, Jayce Doyle, Jessica Jones;

 Plain Dealing – Nicholas Cason;

 Plano, Texas – Asher Van Meter;

 Plaucheville – Alexis Casarez;

 Pleasant Hill – Makenzi Patrik;  

 Pollock – Krystal Bennett, Sarah Hunt, Dalton Kopp, Allyssa Zemp;

 Ponchatoula – Keyadda Brim, Kaitlyn Hawkins;

 Pontotoc, Mississippi – Elizabeth Murrah;

 Port Allen – Evan Daigle, Kaleb Gauthier;

 Port Barre – Danielle Schexnayder, Kristen Sonnier;

 Prairieville – Hannah Beason, Donesha Blount, Lauren Breaux, Claire Credeur, Kristen Prettelt, Lysia Varisco, Elllise Vice, Brady Wilson, Faith Wilson;

 Pride – Ashlyn Johnson;

 Princeton – Katelyn Nattin, Ariell Shield;

 Provencal – Taylor Craft;

 Puyallup, Washington – Aine Oh;

 Quitman – Cindy Crawford;

 Raceland – Emily Adams;

 Ragley – Katherine Greenmun;

 Rayne – Bishop Breaux;

 Reno, Nevada – Sydney Oren;

 Richardson, Texas – Riley Cantrell;

 Richfield, Minnesota – Leah Barnes;

 Richmond, Texas – Ebonie Francis;

 Ridgecrest – Melissa Kelly;

 Ringgold – McKenzie Davidson, Autumn McCoy, Olivia Prado;

 River Ridge – Rachel Chimeno;

 Robeline – Chad Berly, Patricia Goodwin, Hannah Hennigan, Kristal Lachney, Kacy Morae, Ember O’Bannon, Laura Olguin, Morgan Rachal, Hannah Schoth;

 Rosepine -- Emilee Johnson;

 Ruston – Paul Bryant, Tekiren Evans, Jalen Garrison, Seth Hartsfield, Christopher Letendre, Aujani Richburg;

 St. Amant – Larson Fontenot;  

 St. Bernard – Ashlie Kieff, Emily Snyder;

 St. Francisville – Emeria Jones;

 St. Martinville – Belinda Alexander, Jacoby Fontenette, Destiny Simon, Maleik White, Cassandra Zenon;

 St. Rose – Crystal Jones;

 Saline – Makayla Jackson, Isabella Jones, Malayna Poche, Aaron Savell;

 San Antonio, Texas – Matthew Aguilera, Anthony Renteria;

 Sarepta – Katie Ingle;

­

Scott – Hannah Durgin, Tayla Soileau;

 Shreveport – Aubrey Allen, Katelynn Benge, Frances Boggs, Leta Broome, Makayla Bryant, Shatericka Christor, Kesherion Collins, Naterria Davis, Reonia Davis, Hailey Deaton, Miya Douglas, Daja Easter, Deadrian Egans, Meghan Fry, Cassidy Giddens, Savon Gipson, Ellen Grappe, MIzzani Grigsby, Lindsey Hagan, Adrianne Hampton, Katelyn Householder, Shelby Hunter, Jazzmine Jackson, John Jefferson, Drake Johnson, Korynthia Johnson, Zachary Johnson, Nathan Jones, Summer Jones, Alicia King, Lauren Lee, Samantha Lyons, Tiffany Mack, Caitlyn Malloy, Christopher Markham, Andria Mason, Ashley Mason, Tifphany McClinton, Rici McDonald, Claire McMillan, Samantha Metoyer, Najah Mitchell, Brittney Nicleso-Rayfus, Megan Osborn, Tara Pair, Tierry Perry, Christina Peterson, Kalyn Phillips, Hayden Pilcher, Sierra Prelow, Shelby Reddy, Grayson Roberts, Jalisa Roberts, Savonya Robinson, Madelyn Ruiz, Amanda Rushing, Breanna Samuel, Angelica Satcher, Shermaine Shorter, Jackiesha Simmons, Ciara Sipes, Richard Sloan, Kendria Smith, Jessica Sowers, Jamie Stewart, Somer Stratton, Lindsey Stroud, Khalil Sumlin, Destini Sweet, Hailey Thomas, Anne Tibbit, Katerina Vargas, Khamaria Vaughn, De’Andra Washington, Lakayla Whitaker, Gaylin White, Jamisa Williams, Lajayda Williams, Tre’Darius Williams, Kristy Wilson, India Wright;  

 Sibley – Madison Mouser;

 Sieper – Emily George;

 Simmesport – Lexi Gremillion, Elise Normand;

 Simpson – Katelynn Martin;

 Slidell – Terran Cole, Noah Glass, Tristan Johnson, Rachel Reed, Maci Walgamotte, Thomas Garner;

 Sondheimer – Anna Marsh;

 Springfield – Tyler Pigott;

 Sterlington – Catherine Trichell;

 Stonewall – Bessie Cable, Dawson Cranford, Emma Delafield, Emmy Hinds, Robert McAllen, Mackenzie Panther, Maguire Parker, Heather Schiller, Tehya McDonald, Chassidy Sutton;

 Sugar Land, Texas – Jake Gore;

 Sulphur – Andrew Stephens;

 Sunset – Zachary Linville, Lauren Pope;

 Tallahassee, Florida – Edward Clarke;

 Tallulah – Anna Boney;

 Taylor, Texas – Jake English;  

 Texarkana, Texas – Daphne Hammett, Kristin McDuffie, Jasmine Neal;

 Thibodaux – Beth Olin, Cierra Winch

 Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania – Brianna Morosco;

 Tomball, Texas – Natalee Henry;

 Toms River, New Jersey – Jacqueline Manza;

 Toronto, Ontario – Rhea Verma;

 Trout – Makayla King, Haley Lisenby, Kalee Mcguffee, Andrea Walters;

 Troy, New York – Kasey Whitmore;

 Tupelo, Mississippi – Bailey Griffin;

 Ville Platte – Gabrielle Chapman, Nicholas Blood, Andrea Bradley;

 Vinton – Shae Cramer, Toby Stanley, Alayna Zaunbrecher;

 Violet – Callie Maschmeyer;

 Vivian – Kaylee Scott, Chase Lewis;

 Vossburg, Mississippi – Chequira Bonner;

 Walker – Madison Arnold;

 Walworth, New York – Devonne Seelig;

 Washington – Kyeishia Evans, Catherine Stevens;

 Waskom, Texas – Blakely Canfield, Zink Kiper, Laken Thompson;

 Welsh – Autumn Hanks;

 West Helena, Arkansas – Brittani Arana;

 West Monroe – Abigail Beck, Austin Dodson, Brianna Fife, Kennedy Ford, Allison Freeman, Aubrey Gamble, Jasmyn Johnson, Eva Sanford, Madison Shidiskis, Melissa Taylor, Christopher Wynn;  

 Westwego – Tja’h Edwards;

 Wilmington, Delaware – Amy Bourett;

 Winnfield – Annalise Austin, Harli Austin, Rhonda Duff, Kara Grantadams, Rakeen Williams, Caroline Womack;

 Winnsboro – A’Lexus Johnson;

 Woodworth – Lexus Weston;

 Youngsville – Devin Forestier, Devyn Shores, Sophia Toranto;

 Zachary – Laney Davis;

 Zwolle – Kierstyn Cartinez, Dayton Craig, Trenton Malmay, Ariana Martinez, Treveon Perry, Autumn Wyatt.

[glenngaylord]

BLACK MIRROR - My Review of US (4 Stars)

Typically first-time directors have so much to say, they try to cram it all into their debuts.  Look to VOX LUX, BLINDSPOTTING, and SORRY TO BOTHER YOU for recent examples. Look to TEEN SPIRIT as an outlier in this case. With GET OUT, writer/director Jordan Peele told a streamlined story about race under the guise of a horror movie.  Despite its thematic complexity, it had sharp control and easily comprehensible plot progressions.  

Peele is doing things backwards. His latest film, US, which aims a blowtorch at the class system in America, has that packed-in, overreaching 1st-timer quality.  It may descend into silliness at times and feel like a jumble of tones, but it’s also unforgettable, thrilling, funny, brilliantly shot, edited, scored, and performed, and acts as a primal scream for the have-nots who often don’t have a means to shout on their own. I’ll take that any day over an unambitious, hand-held, lazy, navel-gazer of a film. Despite it being about a black family, the themes of US transcend race and finds a different subject to explore the differences in people.

Clearly Peele is just getting started, and already he’s established himself as a director of memorable images, of provocative subjects, and of acutely suspenseful sequences.  I don’t think anyone who saw GET OUT will soon forget what happens when Catherine Keener stirs her tea, and with US, I’d be hard-pressed to think of a single scene that doesn’t achieve that same status.  He has also tackled one of my favorite film genres, the home invasion thriller, and infused it with new life.

FUNNY GAMES remains my favorite of this theme, and Peele clearly has used it as a template in setting up his story.  In both, a family drives to their vacation home to enjoy a nice weekend on the water when intruders stop them in their tracks.  While FUNNY GAMES tackled issues of white privilege and the breakdown of decorum, US veers off into an entirely different direction. The Wilsons, father Gabe (Winston Duke), mother Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o), son Jason (Evan Alex) and daughter Zora (Shahidi Wright Joseph) set up shop in their Santa Cruz retreat much like their counterparts did in FUNNY GAMES, but a prologue hints at something nefarious right from the start.  

In 1986, the year of the infamous HANDS ACROSS AMERICA charity stunt, a young Adelaide wanders off the Santa Cruz boardwalk and right into a funhouse hall of mirrors.  It’s there she encounters her doppelgänger, a traumatic event which sends a ripple effect across the span of her life.  Understandably, the adult Adelaide feels great trepidation returning to this place, despite the promise of a fun time with their wealthy friends Josh and Kitty Tyler (a terrific Tim Heidecker and Elisabeth Moss).  The first act vividly sets up the feeling of unease, even when father Gabe tries to break the mood with his endless Dad jokes. Duke gives a thoroughly winning performance as a nerdy patriarch who slowly learns his gender doesn’t automatically earn him the power position in the family.  Alex and Joseph as the young children also have total command of the screen.  You won’t soon forget the smirk on Joseph’s evil twin character anytime soon.

With Adelaide on edge, it’s not as if the invasion to come disturbs the peace, but when but when the Wilson’s red jumpsuited, golden scissors bearing alter egos appear in their driveway, it’s still a horrific jolt.  The image of them suddenly scattering when Gabe threatens them with a baseball bat has to go down as one of those great movie moments right up there with such haunting images as the ALIEN uncoiling in the escape pod, the debris flying around Regan’s bedroom in THE EXORCIST, or the devil worshippers scurrying around the other side of the closet in ROSEMARY’S BABY.  Peele knows his way around a jump scare, but he also possesses that rare skill of being able to craft tight sequences.  

Once the invasion occurs, the film rarely stops from seeming like one long battle, chase and killing frenzy, but each scene has its own unique fizz. This is helped immeasurably by Editor Nicholas Monsour’s beautiful work, especially in a cross-cutting ballet sequence.  Cinematographer Mike Gioulakis (IT FOLLOWS) clearly hasn’t made a false move yet in his career and his work here has taken him to a whole new level.  He and Peele use extras in a similarly off-putting manner as Brian De Palma and his cinematographer Ralf D. Bode did in DRESSED TO KILL.  Each segment of US has its own feel, from the sunny, washed-out look of its early scenes, to the inky black invasion sequence, to the haunting whites and grays of its climax.  Complimenting all of these images perfectly is Composer Michael Abels, who tops his one-of-a-kind score from GET OUT with this cornucopia of memorable music cues.  He has children chanting, which gave me OMEN vibes, and he has a great time reimagining I GOT 5 ON IT and GOOD VIBRATIONS, but his masterstroke is the music used in that aforementioned ballet scene. It’s generous use of bold percussive strings with a screechy violin overlay reminiscent of Britney Spears’ TOXIC felt like Bernard Herrmann on acid.  It’s easily one one of the most alive, memorable scores I’ve heard in ages.  

Now let’s talk about Lupita.  While all of our major characters have dual roles, this film wouldn’t work as well as it does without her great performances. You’ll want to see it a second time just to navigate her choices, whether it’s the frog croak or the guttural laugh of her invader twin or Adelaide’s escalating nervous energy. It’s my first time seeing her play a modern American character, and her ferocious performance smashes the tired trope of the eternally screaming Final Girl.  Her Adelaide may scream a lot, but it’s not out of fear. It’s a rage which speaks to the disparity between rich and poor in this country. It’s an open wound crying out for the poor people in the U.S. (get it?) who refuse to disappear into the woodwork anymore and who want their piece of the pie.  

Peele clearly has something on his mind.  Yes, with the rabbits (was Queen Anne from THE FAVOURITE going to make an appearance?), the biblical references, the charity event, the scissors, the one glove Michael Jackson references, the underground mythology, and the main thriller elements, his story gets messy.  Sometimes the comic relief comes at strange times, but the scene in which each family member tries to outdo each other with their kill count is just so funny and perfect. It all leads to a powerful ending which may raise more questions than it answers, but I love a film which leads to a long discussion afterwards.  Better than saying, “That was nice, but where would you like to eat?” Peele has bitten off more than he can chew, but he’s biting nonetheless.  He’s got the hunger of a fresh upstart and I can’t wait to see what he tackles next.  Sexuality? Government oppression? Climate change? The buffet options seem endless and I’ll sign up for the all-you-can-eat option.