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Black Widow - Review

  Image courtesy of Marvel Studios by Daniel Andrade Originally scheduled to be released on May 1st of 2020, Marvel Studio’s Black Widow was finally released this past week on July 9th, 2021. Touted as the first movie of “Phase 4” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), there was undoubtedly a lot of pressure on this movie to do well and to start a new chapter of the MCU, one that ended on the high notes of Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home . But of course, due to the pandemic, plans had to change. Instead, Phase 4 made its debut on Disney+ with shows like WandaVision , The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , and Loki , all of which have had some serious repercussions for the overall MCU. So after multiple delays and postponements, does this film still live up to the hype, and was it worth the wait? Let’s discuss. It’s important to note that this film chronologically takes place directly after Captain America: Civil War and right before Avengers: Infinity War . So in ...

Ace in the Hole: Shedding Light on the "Invisible Orientation"

Photo by Maksim Chernishev on Unsplash by Daniel Andrade Another Pride Month has come and gone, and it was full of wonderful celebrations of progress, love, and community. But for me, Pride hits a little differently. While many proudly enjoyed movies celebrating queer icons or watched movies about notable moments in the advancement of civil rights, I spent another year wondering whether or not I was a valid or legitimate member of the LGTBQIA+ community. Why would I feel such a thing? Because I am asexual (often shortened as “ace”), someone that experiences little to no sexual attraction to anyone. Contrary to popular belief, the “A” in LGBTQIA+ does not stand for “ally,” but actually for “asexual, aromantic, and agender,” so technically, I should have no qualms in proudly and confidently accepting my place within the “Alphabet Mafia.” However, with only about 1-4% of the global population identifying as asexual, there has long been a struggle to see any representation of asexuali...

SkySoft Fest 2021: A Recap

  by Daniel Andrade After a successful inaugural year, SkySoft Fest (SSF) returned this year, once again virtually. The convention was compressed into one day instead of two this time around, but that didn’t mean it was any less exciting or full of excellent interviews and showcases. So what did you miss? Let’s discuss. Much like last year, SSF opened with a greeting by some familiar faces from SkySoft . It was nice to see them and hear their voices again, and they made sure the event kicked off with good energy. Additionally, we were shown sneak peeks of some of SkySoft’s big upcoming projects, including Sherwood , Beast , Mayari , and American Malice . It was an exciting reminder that SkySoft still has many exciting things to offer for the future! The first panel interview of the Fest was hosted by Monroe Hayden and focused on the women of SkySoft. Monroe talked with fellow SkySoft actresses Jade Vourkari , Sheana Turner , and Jorgie Mason . They talked so easily and smoothly w...

Review: In The Heights

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. by Daniel Andrade In 2015, a young playwright named Lin-Manuel Miranda captured the world’s attention with a play that took the musical theater community by storm: Hamilton . With its diverse cast, hip-hop sound, and contemporary view on history, it’s no surprise that Hamilton changed the landscape of musical theater and the performing arts. But what some may not know is that Miranda had an equally successful and critically acclaimed play that came out 7 years prior. That play was In The Heights , a musical focusing on the Latinx community of Washington Heights in New York City. It was nominated for an incredible 13 Tony Awards and won 4 of them: Best Orchestration, Best Choreography, Best Original Score, and Best Musical. And while Miranda’s Hamilton was released last year on Disney+ as a filmed play, In The Heights is a musical film. So how did the play translate onto the big screen? Let’s discuss. We’ll begin with the casting. The cast is full of f...

Jade Vourkari: From Badass to Goddess

  by Daniel Andrade Photos by Monroe Hayden When SkySoft Entertainment announced that they would begin work on their first feature film, Mayari , fans were understandably excited. When we learned the film would revolve around Filipino mythology and deities, that excitement turned to intrigue and curiosity. And when we found out that fan-favorite Jade Vourkari would be taking on the lead role of the goddess, fans knew that SkySoft was up to something special. With multiple roles in the SkySoft universe under her belt and with the support and adoration of fans, Vourkari is an excellent and exciting pick to lead this film and usher in a new realm of possibilities for SkySoft. I met with Vourkari to talk with her about taking on this responsibility, what it means to play a heroic goddess, and what life was like for her back in the ‘90s. --- Daniel Andrade: We're so excited to have you star as the lead in Mayari ! Is this your first time playing the lead role? Jade Vourkari: Actuall...