#castello breakout

[news4usonline]

'Prey’ editor Claudia Castello forging her own path  

(News4usonline) - When it comes to building her film portfolio credits, Prey film editor Claudia Castello is steadily chopping wood. The longer she works as a film editor, producer and director, the more notable her projects have become. Castello has a total of 23 credits as an editor. That may not be a whole lot to some people, but the quality of projects she has worked on speaks volumes about the kind of work she does. According to her IDMB page, Castello got her first screen credit as a film editor when she worked on The Achievers: The Story of the Lebowski Fans.      

Amber Midthunder star's in Hulu's "Prey." Courtesy of Hulu Since her film editing debut, Castello has climbed the ladder in a hurry, overseeing one production after another with rapid ease. In 2013, she landed a notable gig in editing Fruitvale Station, which stars Michael B. Jordan. Two years later, she was editing Creed, another Jordan breakout film. And then the big one came along. She worked on the hit Marvel film Black Panther as a film editor in 2018.     Just like stacking chips, Castello has been putting in the work as it relates to enlarging her editing portfolio. Her work is even more prolific because she is one of the few women in the movie-making industry working as a film editor. According to a 2021 Celluloid Ceiling study, women comprised just 22 percent of all film editors out of the top 250 highest performing movies last year, only a two percent increase from 1998.           Despite those numbers, Castello has managed to kick the lack of gender opportunity door wide open by producing a high-profile resume body of work on highly successful films. Now comes Prey, the heralded Hulu prequel to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Predator.

Claudia Castello is the film editor of Hulu's "Prey." Courtesy photo Set some 300 years before Schwarzenegger’s Dutch character arrives on the scene, Prey tells the story of the first encounter with this alien predator going to war against the Comanche Nation. While the storyline focuses on the Earth invader, it also pays homage to Native Americans. Castello took some time out of her busy schedule to share her thoughts about Prey with News4usonline Editor Dennis J. Freeman.        Dennis J Freeman: What led you to become part of the Prey? Claudia Castello: “The project came my way through my agent, and it immediately caught my attention for being a Predator movie with an indigenous woman in the lead role! As I am Brazilian and my country has strong indigenous roots, as does the whole American continent, I got really excited. The story was well written, then I looked up Dan Trachtenberg's previous work. The next thing I knew I was jumping up and down ready to start! I knew it would be a great project.”  DJF: What was the biggest challenge for you in editing this film? CC: “The biggest challenge in most movies is to write a story that will stay the same throughout production and post-production. It's nearly impossible since a movie is written/rewritten at least three times. The first being is the script (if the script is inadequate, the end result will never be good, and this script was so well written), then directing and lastly, the editing. Considering that there are so many unpredictable elements during production and post, the movie becomes a living thing. After the movie leaves the paper, it starts the process of becoming what it wants to be. In the editing room, we find out what it wants to be. That's what happened with Prey. The challenge in the editing room is to be the movie's best psychiatrist. Meaning that things have to be clarified, bridged, rewritten in words or images... And that is one of the most interesting and challenging component for me in the process.” DJF: How much did working on previous projects such as Fruitvale Station and Black Panther help you in editing Prey? CC: “Immensely. All the good things and bad things add up. That's another thing I love about working independently. I can always try new strategies, bring what I've learned from previous challenges and start fresh again and again. It's precious.” DJF: What drew you into film editing? What aspects do you enjoy most about your job? CC: “I became an editor almost by accident. I came to the U.S. after finishing my undergrad in Journalism to learn English, and I took a few community classes in broadcast and film because I wanted to do documentaries. One thing led to the other, I found myself working at a boutique commercial production company in Venice, California. I learned Final Cut and started doing extremely basic editing and told a friend I could edit her short movie, even though I had no clue of how to put a scene together. I like to learn and that was my fuel to keep going. The next thing you know, I started a post-grad degree at USC, and then I started a career in the movie industry and I am still learning every single day. I think that is what drives me. The possibility of being in movement, being like water.”

A scene from the "Prey," starring Amber Midthunder (right). Photo courtesy of Hulu DJF: What would you deem to be the biggest challenge to editing a prequel as opposed to doing a standalone film? CC: “Even though Prey is a prequel, it's also a standalone film. So, I dug into it and enjoyed watching all the Predator and AVP movies. I'm a huge fan! There were many recurring Predator franchise elements that were fun to work with in Prey and important to care for to respect its culture. At the same time, we had the freedom to make it unique and enjoyable to watch for anyone.” DJF: Removing extra footage is part of what you do as a film editor. With that said, is there footage that you wish you would have been able to keep in Prey? “There are no regrets.” DJF: Just how difficult is it to determine what footage to keep and what footage to discard? CC: “As I watch dailies, I'm already editing in my head. I try to imagine where the camera needs to be for each moment, thinking about the audience's best understanding and involvement in the story, then, I start picking the shots accordingly. I'm also very driven by performance, so it's a negotiation between elements.” DJF: When you look at the final product of Prey, what is your opinion on what you were able to capture? CC. “I feel like I did my best with the material and time I had in my hands.”  DJF: How would you describe your career? CC: “As a constantly evolving challenge and I feel like it has been going well overall.”

Among other projects she has under her belt, "Prey" film editor Caludua Castello has worked on Black Panther, Creed, and Fruitvale Station. Courtesy photo  DJF: What's next for you? CC: “I've just started editing the Hulu series by Kapital Entertainment Studio “Black Cake” with Executive Producer Oprah Winfrey. It is my first opportunity to work as an editor in a real female point of view project, which goes from writing, directing, producing, all the way to editing. It's a beautiful story and I'm very excited about it.” DJF: How much of an influence has Ryan Coogler been on you and your career? CC: “Huge. I love him as a friend, a human being, and as an extremely talented artist. I owe a lot to our collaborations over so many years.” DJF: “Are you ever satisfied with your projects when they're done or do you feel the need to do more in the editing process? CC: “I'm never fully satisfied with the ending product - and I think that’s ok.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhD3xAIZzeg DJF: How did you get into bodyboarding? CC: “I loved the ocean since I was in my mom's belly. And I grew up a block from a challenging surfing spot and cultural melting pot. I learned a lot and bodyboarding has been my biggest passion and surviving support since I was 14 years old. Surfing and bodyboarding give me most of the fuel to be alive and happy.” DJF: Is bodyboarding a competitive sport or a way to relax? CC: “Both. Big time. And it's for everyone on every level.” Read the full article

[rachelking2819]

Hollywood

SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT

I want to start of with a grand applause for Hollywood on Netflix. It is was not at all what I expected, but I was positively surprised! When I first watched the trailer and saw Darren Criss I was already sold, but I just thought that it was going to be old Hollywood and how he was going to be the breakout star. And then there was the tease about the controversy of a black person involved in the making of a movie, so that also got my attention, but nothing else was remarked from the trailer. It also gave me major musical vibes, so I expected that they would break out in song every moment… Spoiler, they didn’t.

There are a lot of important and remarkable characters on this show. Almost everyone we see has some significance to the plot and overall story. But I don’t want to bore you with a detailed dissection of all of them, so I’ll be explicitly discussing 4 characters.

The new series on Netflix is basically about 5 young people trying to make it in Hollywood.

First there is Jack Castello, he essentially drives the story, he was a veteran in World War II. Now he is trying to pursue a dream of becoming a movie star so he can provide for his (spoiler) cheating pregnant wife… bit sad ain’t it. In the beginning he obviously struggles and makes some morally questioning decisions to make ends meet. This shady business gets him a foot a in the door at a major production company, Ace Pictures, by sleeping with the casting director and the wife of Ace Pictures’ owner. Ultimately, he gets cast in the movie Meg written by Archie Coleman.

Secondly, we meet Archie Coleman. An aspiring black gay screenwriter. He also is struggling to make ends meet. He gets caught up in the same shady business as Jack. However, he has written and send a script to Ace Pictures. A peculiar thing about this, is that no one at the studios know of his race or sexual orientation. Archie doesn’t want to be known as a black screenwriter, but as a screenwriter. Which I think is a great sentiment. Against all odds, he gets the call that his script will be made into a movie and that is when the series really starts.

Then there is Camille Washington. She is a contracted black actress at Ace Pictures. As a black girl in the fifties she doesn’t get cast as important roles though… She mostly plays the dumb maid and is used for comical relief. The latter is quite recognizable still… Camille tries to give the characters she plays more agency and some sense of seriousness but is shutdown at every chance. Until a very lucky audition she gets cast as the leading actress of Archies movie, becoming the very first black lead actress on the white screen.

With a black lead actress, a black screenwriter, and an interracial couple at the head of Meg, the movie and studios get major criticism from the society. They threaten everyone involved, going as far as setting fire to the studios’ president’s home and protesting outside the studios’ gates. While all of this is going down, Dick Samuels rises to the stand to offer comfort and motivates everyone to go on and “fuck the haters”. Dick is a closeted employee at Ace Pictures and oversees every movie in production and makes sure that everything is as it should be. He really is the backbone of the whole project. From the very beginning he is very much supportive of the movie and the progressive innuendos. He really feels like the sweetest uncle ever. However, he is struggling with his sexuality. Society isn’t very supporting of homosexuality, to say the least. Especially in Hollywood it could mean the end of one’s career.

Together with countless amazing characters these four remarkable people set out to make the movie that will make history against all odds. Everyone is aware that the movie they made will either be an incredibly good thing or a great disaster. As the president Avis Amberg during her toast says: “we’ll either be looked at as the smartest people in the room or we will never work again. To never working again.” Personally, I love this quote. This quote means that the movie will be so controversial, that changes need to happen within the filming industry. But the people are too small minded to ever want that to happen, hence the protests. So, while to be looked at as the smartest people in the room is great, it won’t have the same impact as when they all would be fired for releasing the movie and then never work again. This means they have done a tremendous job with so much power and impact, that people will be scared for what they will do next and how it will affect them. So, keeping them out of a job represents the fear of that power to me.

What I commend Hollywood most for is that every properly introduced character had a purpose, a mission, a “flaw” and grew from it. I say “flaw”, because of the way the “flaw” was perceived by other in the series, like sexual orientation and race. But there were also genuine flaws like sexual manipulation, homophobias and infidelity. The characters were so well fleshed out that I really understood them, what they stood for and why they would do certain things the way they did. Even the “villainy” characters showed this growth and progression. Most tv shows I watch, characters are mostly explained but growth is barely shown. So, for this series with only 7 episodes to round out their characters without it feeling rushed, is something I appreciate.

While I definitely enjoyed the series, I don’t think I want another season. It probably would be about how the characters are holding up now as well-established names in Hollywood or maybe different people would take the spotlight now. But to me that feels unnecessary, because the way this show ended already gave me a feeling of completion and I think a second season would be too much of a good thing.

Kudos to everyone involved with Hollywood. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it 10/10 to others to go and watch it. I might have already pressured my sister and cousin.

Thank you for reading! Tell me what you thought of Hollywood and ‘till next time!

[wickedharlotblogs]

By now, you probably have "Royals," the breakout song from Zowa, stuck in your head on repeat. (It's set to be one of the biggest songs of this year, after all.) But that's not the only reason why the track is making headlines. Some fans are downright convinced that Kylie Blue- You know, one of the biggest stars on the planet - is singing in the background during the song’s chorus, which has also pushed fans into believing Blue actually co-penned the track.

While reps haven't confirmed or denied the rumor of the backing vocals, it's clear that the fans have a pretty strong case built. For one, when the track is filtered into its many layers, a vocal part can be heard that sounds very similar to the voice we hear on our radio’s every day, Kylie Blue’s. On top of that, Kylie Blue and Zowa have become pretty close friends and were even recently spotted on set in LA, filming an unknown project (Alongside many other girls we identify as friends of Kylie). Alex Castello, a music producer in Los Angeles (who did not work on the song) points out to Wicked Harlot that "stuff like that can be hidden in the track and you wouldn't even know it," but is also quick to add that "Kylie Blue has never put out or been involved in anything she hasn’t written, so if her voice is, in fact, the one being heard, it’s safe to say she played a part in the writing process”

Given that Kylie seems fully charged up to drop a new single on her Yahoo! Livestream this Friday, it's unlikely whether either camp will clarify, but we've reached out to reps and will update you when we know more.

[ricardosousalemos]

Dej Loaf’s “Birdcall 1.5” Is Sweet And Deadly R&B

Even though the Detroit MC Dej Loaf has become known for her high-profile collaborations (Future, Big Sean, Eminem), she’s even better riding solo. After teaming up with the Atlanta singer Jacquees for a mixtape earlier this year, Dej Loaf is back with the new single “Birdcall 1.5,” a sweet-but-deadly blend of singing and rapping. It nods to her 2014 breakout song “Try Me,” with all of that song's cool confidence intact.

Dej Loaf slips easily into the role of raconteur taking stock of how her life has changed thanks to wealth and the access it affords her. Unfortunately, improvements in status attract the typical hangers-on, and Dej feels a growing distrust of those around her, as former friends and snitches start to look alike. A sense of paranoia lingers, and Dej tries to duck it via overt ferocity (“I been riding with my hammer lately”) and unmistakable bravado (“I’m the hardest in this shit, I’m just being honest/See back then the problem was, I was being too humble.”) Hona Castello and the Coalition handle the production, placing big drum hits, shimmering cymbals, and squelchy synths at the heart of the beat, while Dej adds well-timed ad libs throughout. When Dej Loaf believes in herself this much, it’s hard for the rest of us not to follow suit.

[news4usonline]

'Prey’ editor Claudia Castello forging her own path  

(News4usonline) - When it comes to building her film portfolio credits, Prey film editor Claudia Castello is steadily chopping wood. The longer she works as a film editor, producer and director, the more notable her projects have become. Castello has a total of 23 credits as an editor. That may not be a whole lot to some people, but the quality of projects she has worked on speaks volumes about the kind of work she does. According to her IDMB page, Castello got her first screen credit as a film editor when she worked on The Achievers: The Story of the Lebowski Fans.      

Amber Midthunder star's in Hulu's "Prey." Courtesy of Hulu Since her film editing debut, Castello has climbed the ladder in a hurry, overseeing one production after another with rapid ease. In 2013, she landed a notable gig in editing Fruitvale Station, which stars Michael B. Jordan. Two years later, she was editing Creed, another Jordan breakout film. And then the big one came along. She worked on the hit Marvel film Black Panther as a film editor in 2018.     Just like stacking chips, Castello has been putting in the work as it relates to enlarging her editing portfolio. Her work is even more prolific because she is one of the few women in the movie-making industry working as a film editor. According to a 2021 Celluloid Ceiling study, women comprised just 22 percent of all film editors out of the top 250 highest performing movies last year, only a two percent increase from 1998.           Despite those numbers, Castello has managed to kick the lack of gender opportunity door wide open by producing a high-profile resume body of work on highly successful films. Now comes Prey, the heralded Hulu prequel to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Predator.

Claudia Castello is the film editor of Hulu's "Prey." Courtesy photo Set some 300 years before Schwarzenegger’s Dutch character arrives on the scene, Prey tells the story of the first encounter with this alien predator going to war against the Comanche Nation. While the storyline focuses on the Earth invader, it also pays homage to Native Americans. Castello took some time out of her busy schedule to share her thoughts about Prey with News4usonline Editor Dennis J. Freeman.        Dennis J Freeman: What led you to become part of the Prey? Claudia Castello: “The project came my way through my agent, and it immediately caught my attention for being a Predator movie with an indigenous woman in the lead role! As I am Brazilian and my country has strong indigenous roots, as does the whole American continent, I got really excited. The story was well written, then I looked up Dan Trachtenberg's previous work. The next thing I knew I was jumping up and down ready to start! I knew it would be a great project.”  DJF: What was the biggest challenge for you in editing this film? CC: “The biggest challenge in most movies is to write a story that will stay the same throughout production and post-production. It's nearly impossible since a movie is written/rewritten at least three times. The first being is the script (if the script is inadequate, the end result will never be good, and this script was so well written), then directing and lastly, the editing. Considering that there are so many unpredictable elements during production and post, the movie becomes a living thing. After the movie leaves the paper, it starts the process of becoming what it wants to be. In the editing room, we find out what it wants to be. That's what happened with Prey. The challenge in the editing room is to be the movie's best psychiatrist. Meaning that things have to be clarified, bridged, rewritten in words or images... And that is one of the most interesting and challenging component for me in the process.” DJF: How much did working on previous projects such as Fruitvale Station and Black Panther help you in editing Prey? CC: “Immensely. All the good things and bad things add up. That's another thing I love about working independently. I can always try new strategies, bring what I've learned from previous challenges and start fresh again and again. It's precious.” DJF: What drew you into film editing? What aspects do you enjoy most about your job? CC: “I became an editor almost by accident. I came to the U.S. after finishing my undergrad in Journalism to learn English, and I took a few community classes in broadcast and film because I wanted to do documentaries. One thing led to the other, I found myself working at a boutique commercial production company in Venice, California. I learned Final Cut and started doing extremely basic editing and told a friend I could edit her short movie, even though I had no clue of how to put a scene together. I like to learn and that was my fuel to keep going. The next thing you know, I started a post-grad degree at USC, and then I started a career in the movie industry and I am still learning every single day. I think that is what drives me. The possibility of being in movement, being like water.”

A scene from the "Prey," starring Amber Midthunder (right). Photo courtesy of Hulu DJF: What would you deem to be the biggest challenge to editing a prequel as opposed to doing a standalone film? CC: “Even though Prey is a prequel, it's also a standalone film. So, I dug into it and enjoyed watching all the Predator and AVP movies. I'm a huge fan! There were many recurring Predator franchise elements that were fun to work with in Prey and important to care for to respect its culture. At the same time, we had the freedom to make it unique and enjoyable to watch for anyone.” DJF: Removing extra footage is part of what you do as a film editor. With that said, is there footage that you wish you would have been able to keep in Prey? “There are no regrets.” DJF: Just how difficult is it to determine what footage to keep and what footage to discard? CC: “As I watch dailies, I'm already editing in my head. I try to imagine where the camera needs to be for each moment, thinking about the audience's best understanding and involvement in the story, then, I start picking the shots accordingly. I'm also very driven by performance, so it's a negotiation between elements.” DJF: When you look at the final product of Prey, what is your opinion on what you were able to capture? CC. “I feel like I did my best with the material and time I had in my hands.”  DJF: How would you describe your career? CC: “As a constantly evolving challenge and I feel like it has been going well overall.”

Among other projects she has under her belt, "Prey" film editor Claudia Castello has worked on "Black Panther," "Creed," and "Fruitvale Station." Courtesy photo  DJF: What's next for you? CC: “I've just started editing the Hulu series by Kapital Entertainment Studio “Black Cake” with Executive Producer Oprah Winfrey. It is my first opportunity to work as an editor in a real female point of view project, which goes from writing, directing, producing, all the way to editing. It's a beautiful story and I'm very excited about it.” DJF: How much of an influence has Ryan Coogler been on you and your career? CC: “Huge. I love him as a friend, a human being, and as an extremely talented artist. I owe a lot to our collaborations over so many years.” DJF: “Are you ever satisfied with your projects when they're done or do you feel the need to do more in the editing process? CC: “I'm never fully satisfied with the ending product - and I think that’s ok.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhD3xAIZzeg DJF: How did you get into bodyboarding? CC: “I loved the ocean since I was in my mom's belly. And I grew up a block from a challenging surfing spot and cultural melting pot. I learned a lot and bodyboarding has been my biggest passion and surviving support since I was 14 years old. Surfing and bodyboarding give me most of the fuel to be alive and happy.” DJF: Is bodyboarding a competitive sport or a way to relax? CC: “Both. Big time. And it's for everyone on every level.” Read the full article