Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Pulse of Entertainment: Phil Perry Hits Amazing High Notes; WIF and The Caucus Share Knowledge

Phil Perry release "Breathless" on Shanachie Entertainment.
Phil Perry release “Breathless” on Shanachie Entertainment.

*“If what Marvin said was true, that only love can conquer hate, why not give it a shot,” said Jazz Crooner Phil Perry about the content of his new album “Breathless” (Shanachie). “The content…is any stage of life.”

The “Breathless” project offers 10 romantic selections that, as he said, cover all ranges of the love experience. The project is produced by Chris “Big Dog” Davis (keyboards) and he had assistance from Tony DePaolo and Robbie Day (guitar), Joe Cunningham (sax) and Asa Livingston (bass). DePaolo is a featured artist on the “Nobody But You” selection.

“The Chris Davis process is kind of simple,” Perry said. “He takes wonderful terms…and allows music as it is created to control the content of the stories. That is one of the joys of working with him. Him and I are at the same place…Nothing is as important as the music.”

“Nobody But You” is one of my favorites on the “Breathless” album because of its romantic content, along with “Never Can Say Goodbye” because of its tight vocal harmony, that very high note of Phil’s, and the symphony sound of the instruments; the title track “Breathless” because it’s a sweet rocking number and I love how he repeatedly whispers “sugar” at the end – brings it home for me; “Moments in the House of Love” where Phil Perry offers vocal perfection, and the Stevie Wonder cover song “Love’s In Need of Love Today” because of his emotional heartfelt delivery.

“When you take a look at how society is evolving…what better song to identify the era of social evil that we live in…it’s a great song,” Phil said about covering the Stevie Wonder hit “Loves In Need of Love Today.” “I haven’t covered any Stevie Wonder.”

Phil Perry is a Springfield, Illinois native that also is a songwriter, musician, arranger and producer. You can learn more information on Phil or his latest album release “Breathless” by logging onto www.PhilPerryMusic.com.

The Women in Film Speaker Series panel co-presented by The Caucus.
The Women in Film Speaker Series panel co-presented by The Caucus.

Women in Film (WIF) and The Caucus share knowledge about television and film at their Women in Film Speaker Series. WIF is a non-profit organization founded in 1973 dedicated to promoting equal opportunity for women in film. It focuses on advocacy and education providing scholarships, grants and film finishing funds. Recently it held its Women in Film Speaker Series at the West Hollywood Library in association with The Caucus. The panelists included Stephanie Allain (executive producer of “Dear White People”), Davah Avena (writer/producer for “Devious Maids”), Amy Israel (senior vice president of original programming at Showtime Networks), award winning cinematographer Nancy Schreiber, and actress/director and producer Betty Thomas.

The Caucus For Producers, Writers and Directors is a 40 year-old organization that links creative content providers – the top 100 television, producers, writers and program directors of Primetime, Daytime and Children’s programming are members. Members of The Caucus include JJ Abrams, James Burrows, Bob Papazian (co-chair), Chuck Fries (co-char), Suzanne de Passe and Lee Miller – to name a few.

The panelists started by introducing themselves and gave a brief synopsis of their achievements throughout their career. The moderator Kristine Schaffer, executive director of WIF questioned them and then ended the series in a Q and A session.

“We are all winners tonight,” said The Caucus Co-Chair Tanya Hart (AURN). “The Caucus and WIF have both been around 44 years and both have been involved in diversity and inclusion. This is our first adventure together and we are excited to be here.”

“I was a waitress and got on ‘Hill Street Blues’,” said Betty Thomas. She went on to direct for the project. In 1993 she received an Emmy Award for that. She also received an Emmy Award for her acting abilities on the project. “I lied and said I was directing, but the (actual) director called and said, ‘you said you was directing so you are directing during Christmas.’”

The stories of success varied but what was constant was “opportunity.” Whether the opportunity came because someone lied or because they took the initiative to seek a way for themselves like Davah Avena – opportunity was the main ingredient.

“I just started writing and used googled to submit to diversity programs,” Avena said about her start in the business. “One suggested I write drama and not comedy. I began writing drama.”

Davah Avena took the advice and started writing drama. She became a writer on the series “Gilmore Girls.” However she was fired, but she did not let that stop her from her dream as a writer and went on to write a pilot that she submitted and sold to ABC Family.

Knowledge, life experiences and networking opportunities at the Women in Film Speaker Series with these highly successful women producers, writers and directors in television and film was priceless.

SYNDICATED COLUMN: Eunice Moseley, has an estimated weekly readership of over ¼ million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public Relations Strategist and Business Management Consultant at Freelance Associates, and is Promotions Directo

Phil Perry
Phil Perry release “Breathless” on Shanachie Entertainment.

r (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENT:  18th annual “Uplifting Minds II” Free Entertainment Conference (Baltimore Sat. April 22, 2017 and Los Angeles in October, 2017). Entertainment Business panel and national talent showcase competition (vocal, songwriting and dance) with over $13,000 in prizes.  www.UpliftingMinds2.com.

 

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