Actor John Blyth Barrymore

TAEM- It is a pleasure, and an honor, for The Arts and Entertainment Magazine to be able to introduce one of the Hollywood’s Royal Family members to all of our readers. John Blyth Barrymore hails from one of the silver screen’s most prestigious families. John, your family’s name is world renowned and is a hallmark for all of those in the acting career. For our reader’s knowledge you are the son of John Drew Barrymore, half-brother of actress Drew Barrymore, grandson of the legendary actor John Barrymore and Dolores Costello, grand-nephew of legendary actors Lionel Barrymore, Ethel Barrymore, and Helen Costello.

Your mother is the famed television actress Cara Williams of the TV series ‘Pete and Gladys’ and ‘The Cara Williams Show’. You are also the nephew of actress Diana Barrymore and DeeDee Barrymore. Needless to say, your family must have influenced you and your career greatly. Tell us of your early days with your family and some of the fond memories that you recall with them.

JBB- Well I don’t remember ever meeting Diana so I really don’t know if I ever did or not, but DeeDee (Dolores Ethel Mae Barrymore Bedell) I knew quite well, or I should say know because she’s still with us. (more…)

Actress Kari Nissena

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine believes that actors exist on the East Coast as well as the West Coast. One such actor is the beautiful and talented Kari Nissena. Kari, how did you get your start in acting and what training did you receive for it?

KN- I started acting when I was 5 years old performing in Children’s Theatre and anything that I could find that had to do with acting.   Every Saturday morning I would head over to the theatre and get into costume and makeup to perform in the play I was working on at the time.   Curtain was always at 9:15am because the majority of our audience members were children.   After the cast and I signed autographs for the kids and grabbed a bite to eat, it was off to my acting training.  I was fortunate enough to be able to train in a conservatory type of school.  We had Acting Classes, Voice & Speech, Tap, Fencing, Mime, TV, Film, Commercials, Movement, Shakespeare …You name it.  It provided discipline and fun and laid the groundwork for a successful career as a performing artist.  I did that every Saturday for years.  Moving into my teens I kept up with my training wherever I could find it and would audition any chance I got.   After graduating high school I moved to New York to further pursue my education and still continue to do so.  I always train and think it is very important for artists to stay working on their craft, even when they are working successful actors.  The biggest stars and actors I admire most are always stretching and growing and learning.  That is one of the great joys of a life as an actor … there is always MORE. (more…)

Actress Sylvia Hutson

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine is thrilled to introduce actress and Talent Agent Sylvia Hutson to all of our readers. Sylvia, we understand that you were born in Ireland before coming to America. Please tell us about your early days there and the training that you undertook for your career.

SH- I grew up in Northern Ireland in a small town called Tandragee in Co-Armagh.  I began singing with numerous  Dance Bands, Choirs and performing solo at Cabarets and Concerts  at  age 6 until I left Ireland to move overseas as an adult.  I did some acting in the local community, but  acting work became limited due to the “troubles’ in Northern Ireland. I studied music at the Trinity College of Music Dublin.

TAEM- Your first step into Hollywood was as a set costumer for the well known TV series ‘The F.B.I. Files’. What did your work involve and what were your responsibilities for this production.

SH-I interviewed with New Dominion Pictures in 1999 and became the Set Costumer after my training for all the shows produced  until 2005. My responsibilities included picking wardrobe for each actor, dressing the actors, wardrobe continuity, purchasing wardrobe for shows, and making sure the show ran as smooth as possible. (more…)

Author David Rhodes

TEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine has had many great writers step forward and contribute their work so that our readers would revel in the experience of their written words. One such author is David Rhodes, whom we have savored several of his short stories that he presented us with in the last few months. David, tell us what triggered you into writing our favorite genre of fiction.

DR- I have to say, it started when I was a child, and was exposed to several different horror movies in Louisiana. From then on I have always lived with nightmares. With the new books and films, I became quite fascinated. From Godzilla and onward. Instead of playing sports, in my youth I did nothing but read. A stack of books a week, and down to the library for more.

TAEM- Please tell our readers about your first novel, ‘The Ritual’, and the theme behind it.

DR- I had just purchased my first PC, and my wife at the time said, “Write a book!” The rest just came to me – Lucas Cain, the book, and what he had of total power, while the book itself was weakening him. It was never meant for him. If I tell you more, then the readers will understand too much….it touches on absolute power and the consequences that can come with it. (more…)

Deirdre McCullagh

TAEM- We recently attended a party on the East Coast for Producer Carlos Roman and had the great luck to meet the beautiful, and talented, actress Deirdre McCullagh. Deirdre, you have appeared in TV commercials, on stage, television, and film. Please tell all our readers about the training you received to propel you into your acting career.

DM- Hi Joseph! Thank you so much for allowing me to be part of such a great publication. I have been very fortunate in the world of acting, and it wasn’t without hard work, dedication and even some blood, lol. I started in theatre, actually musical theatre. My first play was the Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and I was seven! I feel so old now! It became sort of a family event, with both my mom and dad appearing in plays with me. I took acting classes all throughout school and even college, and was a part of me by then. It wasn’t until after college that I really started pursuing films, and discovered that it was the only job I would do where I wouldn’t complain about 18 hour days, crazy working conditions, and sometimes not even being paid for the work, it was then I realized that I should pursue it more aggressively. (more…)

Actor Edward Gillow

TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine is very excited to introduce an actor who had become a familiar face in many popular films and television productions. Edward Gillow is very familiar to most of us, and has scored roles in many well known films. Edward, we have many new actors, as well as students of the Arts, who seek guidance in their chosen careers by using our magazine as a reference point. What influenced you the most to become an actor, and what training did you undertake to achieve your success?

EG- Thank you very much TAEM for your interest in interviewing me. I really appreciate it. I was most influenced to be an actor back in the 60s as a kid growing up; I watched a TV series called “Route 66”. It was about two buddies that rode up and down Route 66 in their ‘Vet looking for adventure. At that moment, I said to myself, I want to be an actor and do that kind of stuff. So that started my journey to become an actor. As for training, my whole working life (before acting) was acting. If you know what I mean? When one starts in acting, you really don’t have a clue what to do. So I started out with the basic acting school to learn a technique. Once you get down the road with that, then you study auditioning/cold reading skills, then you move on to scene study…. What you find out is that each level you reach and gain proficiency in reveals to you the next training you need. The list of what I haven’t taken is easier to do than what I have taken. (more…)