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5 Reasons You Must Watch: Entourage

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Entourage

Release: June 3, 2015
Starring: Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, Kevin Connolly, Jeremy Piven
Director: Doug Ellin

Official Synopsis: “Entourage, the much-anticipated big-screen version of the award-winning hit HBO series, reunites the show’s original cast, led by Kevin Connolly, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara and Jeremy Piven. Movie star Vincent Chase (Grenier), together with his boys, Eric (Connolly), Turtle (Ferrara) and Johnny (Dillon), are back… and back in business with super-agent-turned-studio-head Ari Gold (Piven). Some of their ambitions have changed, but the bond between them remains strong as they navigate the capricious and often cutthroat world of Hollywood.” (C) WB

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5. The HBO Original Series – Sex In The City For Men
I loved this show when it first premiered on HBO in 2004, it was must see TV for me every Sunday night. Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), his brother Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon), and his boys Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) and E (Kevin Connolly) were all from Queens New York and felt like real people to me. I truly felt it gave me a personal view of what Hollywood might be like if me and my boys made it big. Everything I loved about the series seems to be back in what has been described as an extended version of the show with more titties and celeb cameos. The show was always about the behind the scenes friendships and rivals that could make or break a movie. Those elements are back in full R rated glory as Vince tries to star and direct his former super agent Ari’s Gold’s first movie release after he finally becomes studio boss. The story takes place right after the season finale which should please the shows die hard fans.

4. The Cast – The Boys Are Back
We have the best of the series cast returning with Emmanuelle Chriqui as Sloan; Rhys Coiro as Billy Walsh; Debi Mazar as Vince’s publicist, Shauna; Rex Lee as Lloyd and Constance Zimmer as Dana Gordon. Of course super-agent Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) returns, this time as the brand new movie studio head. Along for the ride is Emily Ratajkowski playing what else, Vinnie’s new hot girlfriend, along with Ronda Rousey who is Turtles’ new love interest which I’m sure will be very dangerous for him, hopefully in the legendary Entourage style.

3. The Cameos – Everybody
The behind the scene inside view of Hollywood is what the show is really about and the cameos gave you a little taste of what walking into a movie studio party might look and sound like. We have the celebrity cameos (about 42) ranging from T.I. to Warren Buffet. Everyone from Tom Brady and Jessica Alba to Pharrell show up in what I hope are classic eye-opening scenes the TV series was known for. I always loved seeing these people playing themselves in what are usually well staged small examples of the celebrities real personality. Who can ever forget the many  scene stealing, hilarious situations that wild men Gary Buesy and Bob Saget put the boys in?

2. The Director – Doug Ellin
Doug Ellin was always talented in setting up scenes that felt like a typical day in the life of a movie star. Growing up in NYC and walking through certain parts of Manhattan you get a glimpse sometimes of how it feels to walk into some random store or bar and be faced with a number of A list stars. Ellin was great at setting up these encounters in ways that made me feel I was right there with the boys from Queens whether they were at Sundance or Cannes. Everyone you can imagine seems to be in this movie, which I hope is good enough to spawn a few more if writer/director Doug Ellin can recapture the magic of the original show

 

1. The Location – Hollywood
Doug Ellin was very skilled in showing the hot spots where the rich and famous play and I can’t wait to see the latest playgrounds. Exclusive locations always played the backdrops to the crew’s drama and I can promise you we will get the inside view of all the latest toys of the filthy rich. Everything from the custom cars to the huge eye popping Hollywood estates should provide this movie with something the show never really needed, a typical Hollywood movie set.

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Rest Easy Eric Curran a.k.a M.C Krispy E

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Almost every year for the past 6 years and on the same day, I’ve posted the same pic of me in the hospital  during my temporary and untimely demise  in 2015. A few weeks after I was back to “normal”, I asked Eric “Why’d you take the pics?” And he said, “I knew you would want to write about it if you lived.” Eric was right. Eric was often right and Eric always had my best interest at heart. I am going to miss my friend.

You ever meet someone and become friends immediately?! Well this was not the case with Eric. Before he was my manager at Morgan Stanley, I would often see this 6’4″, giant white guy walk up to the only black woman at work, say something then walk away without any hint of human emotion. Naturally I thought he was a jerk until I asked her “Yo, is that dude bothering you?” She laughed and proceeded to tell me he was a great person, which I ultimately got to experience first hand. Little did I know this Italian from Staten Island was more Brooklyn than most Brooklynites.

Eric was not with the shits!! If there were ever someone who lived their life in direct, honest and no uncertain terms, that would be Eric. He would ask me questions at work like “Why are the other consultants making more money than you?” I knew the answer to that question and so did he. Eric then proceeded to increase my salary by 15K. After arguing with all our managers that “You need to hire Alfred!”, they eventually did 1 year prior to the 2015 incident. In the hospital, one of my friends asked me, “What if you didn’t have health insurance when this happened?” I would be in debt for the rest of my life is the obvious answer. I still am in debt for the rest of my life but at least, it is to those who made sure I had a more enjoyable life and for that, I will gladly repay.

My mom loved to tell me the story of how she met Eric. After they told her I was going to be in the ICU for some time, she told the doctor “Well I’m not going anywhere.” She then hears a voice from that back of the room that says “Well I’m not going anywhere either!” That was Eric and in true form, he was at that hospital every single day until I was discharged.

Eric passed away in December 2021 of stage 4 cancer. After feeling faint on his way to my bbq, he went to get checked out and was diagnosed. During the past 5 years, Eric lost his mom, twin brother and dad. I can’t even begin to imagine what that must have felt like but I’m glad that pain he was feeling is no more.

It’s been a bit difficult to deal with it to be quite honest and I’ve been writing this in my head for years but never had the bravery or grace to accept that my friend wouldn’t be here soon. I also can’t imagine what it must be like to lose your entire family nucleus unexpectedly. In true Eric fashion however, I would like this to not be about me but whomever has lost someone and has been coping. I’ve always intimated that my life would not be as enriched as it was were it not for the people in it. The problem with that is there is also no way to deny that it feels empty without those who helped craft your path. Rather than focus on the negative, I would rather focus on the examples of duty, family and emotional intelligence. All concepts reinforced by Eric that have led me to have successful relationships since I’ve put them into practice.

From being my manager to my business partner, writer, book editor, artistic director, and most importantly, my friend, I am going to miss you MC Krispy E a.k.a “Enrique Pollazo!” And although you told me Enrique means Henry in Spanish and not Eric, it was too late!

Sidebar. The day I was discharged, while everyone was deciding what was best for me, no one had remembered that I would need clothes in order to leave the hospital. Eric shows up (unasked) with all the clothes I had on the day I coded, laundered and ready to go. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve friends like this but i need to keep doing it! Sidebar complete.

Rest in Peace Eric. “Be Good.”

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Writing Your First Book / Should I Self Publish?

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I had the distinct pleasure of  participating in a panel discussion on writing your first book, presented by the Harlem chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.  Alongside Jim St. Germain, Author – A Stone of Hope: A Memoir and Dr. Keneshia Nicole Grant, Author – The Great Migration and the Democratic Party: Black Voters and the Realignment of American Politics in the 20th Century.  We opined on pain points, benefits and strategies regarding our inaugural voyages into authorship. Feel free to watch for your self and I hope this provides some insight to all those looking to make the same voyage. Enjoy!

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What the NFT is a BEEPLE?

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On March 11 this year, the digital artist Beeple sold a collage of digital images from his “Everydays” series for nearly 70 million dollars as an NFT, or non-fungible token. And if that sentence confuses you, you’re not alone.

A non-fungible token is a unit of data on a digital ledger called a blockchain, where each NFT can represent a unique digital item, and thus they are not interchangeable. NFTs can represent digital files such as art, audio, video, and other forms of creative work. While the digital files themselves are infinitely reproducible, the NFTs representing them are tracked on their underlying blockchains and provide buyers with proof of ownership.” – Wikipedia

Still confused? Let the artist himself explain it, and learn how he went from NFT newbie to making the third most expensive artwork by a living artist in three months. Not to suggest Beeple is an overnight success. The “Everydays” series alone involved creating a piece of art every day since May 1, 2007 – and he hasn’t missed a day.

Check out some of Beeple’s amazing and controversial work below.

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