Outside-the-Box Producer Discusses Value of New Blood
in the Industry

Once upon a time - before the late 1970s - it was a holiday for children.

Using Halloween as a theme, however, an independent film producer saw opportunity by getting inside the minds of adults. Irwin Yablans, (www.irwinyablans.com), pioneered a highly profitable new genre, Horror, by rebranding an overlooked holiday and introducing Hollywood to new talent.

In his new memoir, "The Man Who Created Halloween," Yablans details his fortuitous journey from Brooklyn's tenements to Hollywood and behind-the-scenes tales from the iconic movie.

"I suppose it is a bit of a Cinderella story, if Cinderella were a pugnacious Jewish guy who fought his way out of a run-down Brooklyn tenement and made a living out of rebranding a kiddie holiday with Hitchcockian chiller-flicks," says Yablans, who created the "Halloween" franchise of movies as an independent producer.

The film that kicked it all off is being rereleased in theaters this holiday season for the first time in 34 years. Showings can be found online, at http://www.screenvision.com/cinema-events/halloween/.

Yablans also worked as sales chief at Paramount Pictures and was head of Orion Pictures. But it was when he did things his own way, as an independent producer, that he made his mark on the world. He says the following factors and people significantly contributed to the success of his project:

• New blood (with John Carpenter): Thirty-five years ago, Carpenter was an "almost consumptively thin guy" who just graduated from USC's film school. Yablans admired Carpenter's film pedigree - both were fans of legendary director Howard Hawks - and liked the young talent's film, "Assault on Precinct 13," which was distributed by Compass International Pictures, Yablans' company.

• Michael Myers (the original): Yablans quickly became good friends with a friendly new distributor in England, Mr. Myers, who appreciated Carpenter's work for its economy and originality. Later, Yablans went with his gut feeling to have Carpenter direct "Halloween," and the name Michael Myers would forever have a new connotation.

• New blood/familiar lineage (with Jamie Lee Curtis): "Curtis had that perfect blend of youthful newness and Hollywood lineage, which was perfect for 'Halloween,' " says Yablans. "She had an impressive amount of maturity and charm, as she was just 18; but she is also the daughter of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh." Curtis' mother starred in the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho," the primary influence of "Halloween." "I'm still proud of the fact that we cast Curtis as the heroine Laurie," he says.

• It's all in your mind (Halloween as a concept): Yablans grew up listening to radio shows that relied on "theater of the mind" narratives to capture the imaginations of listeners. He used the same approach with the "Halloween" series, the first of which premiered in 1978. His films spawned a wave of iconic horror characters, and a new way to do business in Hollywood.

• Co-producers (Moustapha Akkad and Joseph Wolf): Akkad and Wolfe had a dynamic relationship with each other, and they helped Yablans and Carpenter with the $325,000 budget it took to make "Halloween," which went on to gross more than $100,000 million - the most successful independent film of its time.

About Irwin Yablans

Irwin Yablans is the executive producer and creator of the "Halloween" film series, which forever changed the horror genre and the old studio system. His new autobiography, "The Man Who Created Halloween," details a true rags-to-riches tale of a boy who grew up in a roach-invested tenement in Brooklyn to become the man who transformed society's view of a children's holiday. Yablans' influence in Hollywood includes setting the standard for a new breed of independent producers and filmmakers, the discovery of famed director John Carpenter and advocating for studio support of one of the most acclaimed films in history, Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now." Yablans self-published his debut book through CreateSpace, Amazon.com's independent publishing platform.

20-year-old Top 40s Singer Offers Tips for Kids
with Big Dreams

If Sydney Rose, 20, could talk to the young contestants wowing audiences on "The Voice" and "The X-Factor," she'd tell them: Even if you don't make it to the end, if you have a vision and a talent, don't ignore it.

The singer/songwriter whose debut pop single, "Breaking Rules," hit No. 21 on the national radio Top 40 chart in October, says she tried to put her dream on hold - and couldn't.

"I've been in love with music all my life," says Rose (www.sydneyrosemusic.com). "I've learned it's an important part of who I am and you can't ignore that, no matter what your age."

Rose grew up honing her singing skills, then learning guitar ("My first chord was D") and dancing. She overcame any lingering shyness about performing before audiences by joining two other girls in a pop/dance group called Rosemadayne.

But when it came time to attend college, she decided it was best to put her dream on a back burner.

"I was afraid," she says. "I wanted to experience college without the pressure of a music career, but I actually felt more pressure without my dream and I knew I had to nurture that passion that is so a part of me."

That's when she wrote her newest album, "Rise," an up-tempo celebration of life. It's getting airplay on radio stations across the country, a development that never ceases to amaze and delight the rising star.

"Listening to myself on the planet 96.7 right at this moment!!!" she posted recently on Twitter (@itssydneyrose). "This is surreal!!!! #bestdayeverever."

Rose offers tips for other young people who are determined to follow their dreams:

• Get your support team together: Whether it's parents, other family members, friends or teachers, you'll need people who encourage and help guide you. Coaches, mentors or instructors can help you improve - because no matter what your talent and how much of it you've got, you can always expand your abilities with help. Depending on your age, that may require financial and transportation support. "I started voice lessons when I was a tween, and to this day I get intensive voice training," Rose says. "But the more skills you have, the better, so I also started working on dance when I was 13 years old. No matter what type of creative talent you have - singing, acting, writing or painting - if you want to become a professional, you need training." Anyone who is supportive in your life, including friends, other family members and teachers, are reminders of why dreams matter to you.

• Set realistic goals: You may dream of being in the movies or on TV, but don't expect to start there! "I happily performed at bar and bat mitzvahs (bonus! - I met my manager through those), book stores, Best Buy stores, and at my vocal school," Sydney says. "These were great opportunities to get used to being in front of live audiences and learning how to interact with the audience." The smaller goals are there for you to reach the bigger ones - Rome was not built overnight, she says. Those who are supportive will remind you of the big picture.

• Remember, it's OK to be scared: Doing something for the first time can be really scary, and it's perfectly normal to be nervous. But don't let that stop you from getting out there and trying! "From experience, I know that almost anything that seems scary the first time gets much easier, and less scary, every time you do it," Sydney says. "Don't let fear keep you from ever taking the next step."

• Have fun! "With 'Rise,' I wrote songs that are fun and upbeat. I thought, 'If I'm going to do this for the rest of my life, I have to have an amazing time. Right?' she says. Part of what has helped the album's success is that she was genuinely happy and having a good time when she recorded it. No matter what you're doing, your true emotions tend to color your work - they're hard to hide, so work with them.

About Sydney Rose

Sydney Rose is a 20-year-old recording artist who has worked toward her success the old-fashioned way - through training, practice and dedication. She credits great coaches for helping her develop her talent for singing, dancing and songwriting, and she has become a rising star on the pop music circuit. Her new album, "Rise," is now available on iTunes.

Moline, Illinois  -  WQPT, Quad Cities PBS is happy to include another series to our lineup - "William and Mary," Sundays at 9:00 pm beginning October 21st.

Starring Martin Clunes (Doc Martin, Men Behaving Badly) and Julie Graham (Dirty Tricks, Butterfly Collectors) as William Shawcross and Mary Gilcrest.  The series follows two single parents looking for love through dating services- and perhaps they have found it. The only glitch - she's a midwife - bringing new people into the world and he's an undertaker, who is seeing them out.

About WQPT

On-air, online and in the community, WQPT plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of residents throughout eastern Iowa and western Illinois. WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University and is located in Moline, Illinois. Throughout its nearly 30-year history, WQPT has been known for its local productions, public affairs programming, its quality educational family and children's programs, its outreach and community services and its website, wqpt.org. WQPT is a donor-supported community institution. For additional information about WQPT productions, programming schedules for both WQPT and our second channel, MHz Worldview, and community events, please visit wqpt.org.

Nova Singers, under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, presents two performances of Johannes Brahms' Requiem, Saturday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m. in Central Congregational Church, Galesburg, and on Sunday, October 21, at 4:00 p.m. at First Congregational Church, Moline.

Nova Singers 2012-13.JPG

 

Nova Singers open their 27th season with two performances of Johannes Brahms' "A German Requiem." Joining Nova Singers for these concerts are guest pianist Ashlee Mack and Megan Clewell, and vocalists Sarah Moran, soprano, and Gregory Lewis, baritone.

 

"Brahms named his first great work 'A German Requiem' because he wanted this to be very different from the traditional requiem masses of the Catholic Church," explained Lane, professor of music and director of choral activities at Knox College in Galesburg. " Brahms chose the words himself, from various sources. His choices show us Brahms believed that a requiem encourages us to accept the reality of the transience of life, offers consolation and comfort, and gives us hope for a life after death....I have conducted the Brahms Requiem twice before, with a large chorus and full orchestra. But this will be the first time I've ever done it with a small choir like Nova Singers and piano. I could not have imagined how beautiful the music is when sung by this 30-voice version of Nova Singers---it's so clear and clean, and I can understand every word. Also, the piano accompaniment is incredibly exciting. Ashlee and Megan have become an orchestra at the keyboard!"

About the guest artists:

 

Pianist Megan Clewell is an instructor of piano and staff accompanist at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. An active chamber musician and vocal coach, Clewell most recently served as coach/rehearsal pianist at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. Previously, she was involved with the Arizona State University Lyric Opera Theatre and the ASU Wind Ensemble.

Pianist Ashlee Mack has performed solo and chamber music with new-music organizations and has given recitals across the United States, and in Germany and Italy, including in 2011 with the Nova Singers. Mack is the coordinator of Piano Instruction at Knox College.

Soprano Sarah Moran has performed with the Galesburg Community Chorus, Elgin Choral Union, Carl Sandburg College Choir, Knox-Galesburg Symphony, Nova Singers, and University of Washington Symphony Orchestra. She is lecturer of voice, opera workshop, and vocal pedagogy at Knox College.

Baritone Gregory GD Lewis has performed  in oratorio and opera in regional houses across the U.S. He will be featured as baritone soloist with the Galesburg Community Chorus in November and the Elgin Choral Union in April and May of 2013. Lewis teaches voice at Knox College and conduct's the Knox College Women's Chorale and the Knox College Men's Ensemble.

Nova Singers, a professional vocal ensemble under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, is renowned for bringing a wide variety of choral music to its audiences, and for the spirit and charm the singers impart to their music. Dr. Lane has been serving the greater Galesburg and Quad-Cities communities for over twenty-five years, bringing her passion for music and expressive singing to audiences and singers alike.

 

Tickets for this concert are available through Nova's office and at the door.  Admission is $18 for adults and $15 for seniors.  Students are admitted free of charge.  Brahms Requiem is sponsored by OSF St. Mary Medical Center and OSF Galesburg Clinic. Nova Singers' 2012-2013 season is partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council. For information about tickets, recordings, or other Nova Singers performances, please call Nova Singers at 309-341-7038 or email nova@knox.edu. Information is also available at www.novasingers.com.

Don't miss out on our current and upcoming movies on the Putnam's Giant Screen!

Finding Nemo 3D - opening Friday, October 5

Meerkats 3D - opening Friday, October 19

Theater Throwback - half way through the series, don't miss out!

Classic Film Series - only three left!

World Adventure Series -Showing Tuesday, November 6: Prague to Paris & a Cruise Too

DAVENPORT, Iowa --Oct. 4, 2012 -- The musical talents of Quad Cities physicians and families will be featured on Oct. 16 in a recital to benefit music therapy programs for Genesis Health System hospice patients.

The doctors and their families will be performing a wide variety of music, from classical to contemporary. Hard-shoe hornpipe dance and classical dance of India will be featured for the first time. This is the third annual Genesis Doctors in Recital.

Kimberly BMW of Davenport is the presenting sponsor of the event. Others sponsoring the Recital are West Music Quad Cities and Steinway & Sons, Augustana College and the Genesis Health Services Foundation.

Genesis Doctors In Recital will be feature a special performance by Naha Greenholtz, new concertmaster of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra.

Music therapy programs are available to Genesis hospice patients in their homes, Genesis hospitals, nursing homes and at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House. Music therapy has been shown to bring quality to life, diminish pain and promote relaxation during end-of-life care.

Genesis Doctors in Recital will be held at 7 p.m. on Oct. 16 in Centennial Hall of Augustana College, Rock Island. Tickets are on sale to the public for $25 and $20 for seniors. Children under 12 are free.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, call the Genesis Health Services Foundation at (563) 421-6861, West Music Quad Cities at (309) 764-9300, the Augustana College box office at (309) 794-7306 or go to www.genesishealth.com/give.

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Thursday October 18th at the Establishment in Rock Island
Horror movie night
With prizes and merchandise tables from Synapse Films and Meat Spider Studios
Doors open at 6:30 pm
Movies start at 7:00 pm
entrance with donation at door


Saturday October 27th at the Rozz Tox in Rock Island
12 Hours of Terror Movie Fest with movies and events all day long and special band Judas Kristian at 9:30pm
With prizes and merchandise tables from Synapse Films and Meat Spider Studios
Doors open at 11:30 am
Movies start at 12:00 pm
Free admission with donations accepted

Events coordinated by 365 Horror

The Quad City Symphony Orchestra and Quad City Arts kick off the season on November 17 with an extravaganza featuring electric violinist Mark Wood, founding member of Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Quad City Arts Visiting Artist. Conductor Michael Gagliardo leads a cast of local talent like never before assembled, including the Quad City Symphony Orchestra; the Sanctuary Choir of First Presbyterian Church, Davenport; the Holiday Pops Children's Chorus; and for the first time ever, the Holiday Pops Youth Ochestra. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the i wireless Center with the holiday favorites you've come to expect, mixed with many of Trans-Siberian Orchestra's greatest hits.

 

Tickets go on sale Monday, October 8, at the i wireless Center box office, by phone at 800.745.3000, or online at www.qcsymphony.com. One dollar from every ticket will benefit the Genesis Music Therapy Programs.

 

Holiday Pops is sponsored by John Deere.

 

For the Masterworks season premiere, Quad City Symphony Orchestra is putting on a blockbuster performance featuring Dvorak's Eighth Symphony, Wagner's Rienzi Overture, and new Concertmaster Naha Greenholtz performing Bruch's First Violin Concerto. These concerts will be performed on October 6 and 7, and are sponsored in memory of Isador and Judith Katz. Saturday evening's concert will be held at the Adler Theatre in Davenport at the new time of 7:30 p.m., and followed on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Centennial Hall in Rock Island. Tickets for this concert can be purchased in person at the QCSO Box Office, 327 Brady Street in Davenport, by phone at 800.745.3000, or online at www.qcsymphony.com.

Canadian violinist Naha Greenholtz was born in Kyoto, Japan, where she began her studies on violin at the age of three. She made her solo debut at age 14 playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and was quickly reengaged for performances of concerti by Tchaikovsky and Mozart. In addition, she has been a featured soloist with the Burnaby Symphony, Kelowna Symphony Orchestra, National Repertory Orchestra (Breckenridge, CO) and Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra in works by Sarasate, Bruch, Tchaikovsky and Bach. Last season, as part of her Concertmaster candidacy, Ms. Greenholtz was guest Concertmaster for the QCSO's February Valentine's Day concert and the War Requiem. This performance will mark her first official performance with the QCSO since accepting the position of Concertmaster.

The Quad City Symphony Orchestra is excited to provide Inside the Music at the hip and historic Hotel Blackhawk. The lectures series will still be held on the Thursday previous to each Masterworks program at 5:30 p.m. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with free hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar available.

Music Director Mark Russell Smith will also be available at Kai Swanson's Concert Conversations, held in the concert hall an hour before each of the weekend's concerts. At Concert Conversations the audience members will be given a quick tour of highlights from the program they are about to experience. This look into the background of the concert's repertoire, sponsored by Rich James of Wells Fargo Advisors, is in its fifteenth year and has become an audience favorite.

After the Saturday night performance, the audience is invited to mingle with the musicians and Mark Russell Smith in the lobby of the Hotel Blackhawk at Afterglow. The evening includes free hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. The October Afterglow is sponsored by The Planning Center in Moline.

The documentary King Corn will be shown free of charge Friday, October 5, at 6:30 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities, 3707 Eastern Ave., Davenport.  It's part of a series of environmental films shown the first Friday of each month at the Congregation's building.  The film is described as follows:

King Corn is a feature documentary about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation. In the film, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, best friends from college on the east coast, move to the heartland to learn where their food comes from. With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow a bumper crop of America's most-productive, most-subsidized grain on one acre of Iowa soil. But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raises troubling questions about how we eat–and how we farm.

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