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A Brand New Featurette and Clip Has Just Dropped For Sonic The Hedgehog 2

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Knuckles (Idris Elba) and Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 from Paramount Pictures and Sega.

The world’s favourite blue hedgehog is back for a next-level adventure in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2. After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands. From the filmmakers behind The Fast and the Furious and Deadpool, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 stars James Marsden, Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Lee Majdoub and Jim Carrey returning, alongside new additions Shemar Moore, with Idris Elba as the voice of Knuckles and Colleen O’Shaughnessey as the voice of Tails. 

Paramount Pictures Presents

In Association with SEGA Sammy Group

An Original Film / Marza Animation Planet / Blur Studio Production

DIRECTED BY:

Jeff Fowler

SCREENPLAY BY:

Pat Casey & Josh Miller and John Whittington

STORY BY:

Pat Casey & Josh Miller

Based on the SEGA Video Game 

PRODUCED BY:

Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara, Hitoshi Okuno 

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY:

Haruki Satomi, Yukio Sugino, Shuji Utsumi, Nan Morales, Tim Miller

STARRING:

James Marsden, Ben Schwartz, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Shemar Moore, Colleen O’Shaughnessey with Idris Elba and Jim Carrey

  

Rising Star Spotlight: Find Out More About Music Star Desi G

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Vancouver-based influencer and musician Desi G went viral when a video of her performing attracted the attention of the internet.

Music has always been a part of Desi and is ingrained in her identity; she has had a passion for singing since she could string 3-4 words together. She started performing on stage when she was six years old at schools, local events, and festivals. She has been involved in school plays and was cast in several semi-professional plays through the Delta Youth Theatre. Not stopping at just singing and acting, Desi also plays the violin, piano, and clarinet.

Desi also raises her voice for social injustice and racial discrimination issues. According to her, “My music is a vehicle that allows every emotion to freely engage with the music and with those that listen and embrace my music. The biggest motivation behind my music is connection. That is the connection with music, myself, and with others.” She was also quick to credit her fans, who encouraged her to perform better.

To give back to the community, Desi partnered with local singers on a single to raise money to help provide lifesaving resources to frontline workers in Canada. A portion of the proceeds from the single, ‘Canadian Girl Power – We Are The World,” released on Dec 13, was pledged to CanadaHelps COVID-19 Healthcare & Hospital Fund.

With a fast-rising fanbase of 1.4 million followers and 100k Spotify listeners, Desi G recently released her new album of all original songs titled “Lucid Thoughts.” A highlight from the album is Online World, an infectious bop about the pressures and frustrations of a life lived for Instagram.

StarCentral Magazine recently caught up with Desi G to discuss her journey in the industry, and here’s what went down:

How did you get started in the music industry? How were you actually ‘discovered’?

I have been singing since I was a little girl and started taking vocal lessons when I was six years of age. I then competed in local competitions and was also in three musical theatre plays. I wanted to be able to start recording like my idols, so I started to attend a recording studio, and the owner, who is a music producer, Andrew Van Slee, took me under his wing. About three years ago, I started putting my music onto social media and built a large following on my Instagram page, currently at 1.4 million followers. This year I was also verified on Instagram.

What do you like most about singing?

Singing is a part of who I am; it completes me. Music, in general, is like a heartbeat for me. I love how I can be creative and express emotions that I can’t necessarily put into words, but I can express them through song.

Can you tell us about your album Lucid Thoughts?

Lucid Thoughts is a compilation of songs that I wrote during Covid. It was written when I was figuring out who I was and figuring out my relationship with myself and others and the feelings that I went through it. I utilized the songs that I’ve written in this album as a coping tool and way to empower myself and, hopefully, empower others.

What sort of person is going to love this album?

I sing pop, so it does open it up to a wider audience, but there are some songs that are a little edgy yet deep and could appeal to an indie audience. I’ve had teens that have reached out and told me they were inspired by my songs or really felt that they could relate to my songs and I’ve also had adults say the same thing. Because a lot of my songs are based on connection, they can really be relatable at all age levels.

What inspires you to be creative?

Life and experiences inspire me. A lot of my personal experiences and world experiences are translated into my songs.

Is there anything special that you do to get into a creative mindset?

I do have a schedule and set time where I do songwriting, but as many songwriters have experienced, songwriter’s block does happen. When that happens, I take a break and do something for myself, whether that is going rollerskating, going for a walk, or just having some me time. Sometimes I will get an idea in the middle of the night, and I always make sure that I have a book next to my bed to write down those ideas or record it on my phone, so I don’t forget.

What message, if any, do you try to put into your work?

We’re not alone, and it’s OK not to be OK; it’s OK to have the feelings we are having and to learn and grow from them.

What has been the most memorable experience of your career so far?

I think my most memorable experience would be actually recording my own songs. It was definitely a highlight to see my songs come to life beyond my bedroom walls. Another highlight is the connections I have made with other musicians and artists who truly inspire me. I have met some inspirational and very talented musicians, and it’s truly been an honor. I even had the honour to meet Bryan Adams in person through my journey, which was absolutely beyond amazing. He’s such a legendary artist and truly just such a kind and caring person.

Who is your greatest influence?

My influences in my music career are Billie Eilish, Celine Dion, Adele, and Barbra Streisand.

If you hadn’t chosen your field, what would your alternate field have been?

That’s an interesting question. A lot of people don’t know this, but I love biology. Since I was little, I have been fascinated with the body. So if I wasn’t in this industry, I might have pursued a career in genetics or something to do with medicine.

What are your future plans? Inside your career or out of it

Well, I currently finished writing 14 more songs, which will go into another album that I’ll be recording at the end of this month. I plan to release that album and continue writing and growing my skill set in the industry. I want to learn more about making beats, really understanding the whole process, and producing music. My future goals are to continue working towards being nominated for the Juno Awards and eventually tour the world.

Event Of The Week: Day Out With Thomas and Friends

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What: Thomas and Friends return to the NSW Rail Museum for an action-packed FIVE DAYS of family fun this May.

Your ticket includes:
– Meet Thomas The Tank Engine, climb into his driver’s cab and toot his whistle.
– Short ride with Toby the Railmotor.
– Meet Sir Topham Hatt.
– Unlimited mini-train rides.
– Professional face painting.
– Colouring competition and play Thomas games.
– Storyteller – enjoy a Thomas story amongst the trains in the Great Train Hall.
… and so much more!
Plus, purchase a ‘Museum + Train Ride’ ticket and enjoy a 40-minute steam train ride with Donald to Buxton and return.
​
Tickets include ALL DAY entry to the NSW Rail Museum, where kids of all ages can explore the biggest display of heritage trains in the country!
Where: NSW Rail Museum
When: FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2022 AT 9 AM – 5 PM

Latest Releases Available Now: The Mitchells vs. The Machines

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Sony Pictures Animation’s “The Mitchells vs. The Machines” is an original animated comedy from director Mike Rianda (Gravity Falls) and producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Lego Movie). When Katie Mitchell (voiced by Abbi Jacobson), a creative outsider, is accepted into the film school of her dreams, her plans to meet “her people” at college are upended when her nature-loving dad Rick (voiced by Danny McBride) determines the whole family should drive Katie to school together and bond as a family one last time. Katie and Rick are joined by the rest of the family, including Katie’s wildly positive mom Linda (voiced by Maya Rudolph), her quirky little brother Aaron (voiced by Mike Rianda), and the family’s delightfully chubby pug Monchi for the ultimate family road trip. Suddenly, the Mitchells’ plans are interrupted by a tech uprising: all around the world, the electronic devices people love – from phones, to appliances, to an innovative new line of personal robots – decide it’s time to take over. With the help of two friendly malfunctioning robots, the Mitchells will have to get past their problems and work together to save each other and the world!

This article was sourced from a media release sent by Deb of Amalgamated Movies

Rising Star Francine Diaz Makes Her Debut In A Metro Cover

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Francine Diaz, one of ABS-CBN’s most sought-after next gen leading ladies, continues her 18th birthday celebration with a classic-romantic fashion editorial. The gorgeous Star Magic artist makes her grand debut in a  Metro digital cover, modeling dreamy and sparkly creations by fashion designer Michael Leyva.

Francine, whose breakout role was via the 2018 TV series “Kadenang Ginto,” is now making another breakthrough as a rising leading lady, this time without her “Gold Squad” co-members. She’s the star of the upcoming iWantTFC limited series “Bola Bola,” which features a coming-of-age story that delves on body positivity. In this new show, Francine is paired with three up-and-coming actors: Vance Larena, BGYO’s Akira Morishita, and KD Estrada.

In her exclusive interview on Metro.Style, the cover girl talks more about this upcoming project, as well as her struggles to get to where she is now, her thoughts on turning 18, despite being an old soul.

Francine’s three-cover special with Metro was revealed one by one through a livestream on “Metro Chats” via Kumu’s FYE Channel, and it was the first time this top fashion and lifestyle brand unveiled a cover in this manner. Francine dropped by the show, where the young star saw her covers for the first time, and she’s so happy with the shoot’s outcome because it was something she has never done before.

This cover was photographed by Seven Barretto, under the creative direction of Chookie Cruz and supervision of Metro.Style People section editor Grace Libero-Cruz. The glam team was composed of makeup artist Denise Go-Ochoa, hairstylist Brent Sales, and fashion stylists Drew Lacia and John Erick Reyes. The production design was by Dindo Pangalangan and Che Katigbak of Rooster Production Design. The video outputs were by Pat Buenaobra. The cover story was by Metro staff writer Renee Nuevo. The shoot was also made possible with coordination by Metro editor-in-chief Geolette Esguerra and managing Editor Ceia Ylagan.

For more exclusive articles, visit Metro.Style and @metrodotstyle on IG and Twitter, and /metrodotstyle on Facebook. #MetroLovesFrancineDiaz

Meet The Rising Star Behind The Latest Issue Of StarCentral Kids: The Talented Scarlett Bella Song

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Scarlett Bella Song is a 13-year-old dancer, actress, model, social media influencer – and, most recently, a jewelry designer and entrepreneur!

Scarlett is an artistic individual; she likes to create and perform. She goes through life observing things through her own lens, and she takes inspiration from the world around her. She has expressed herself through dancing, acting, and art throughout her life. Recently, she applied her creativity to co-design a 15-piece jewelry collection. She recently discovered that she enjoys translating her ideas, feelings, and values into tangible beauty that she can share with the world.

Scarlett also takes her education very seriously. She’s college-bound and aspires to launch multiple successful businesses and cultivate a personal brand. She recognizes that it takes a combination of business acumen, talent, dedication, and vision to be successful, so she’s committed to growing her skills and realizing her potential in various facets (dance, design, business, etc.).

Ultimately, Scarlett aspires to leave a legacy and sustainable businesses behind for new voices to catapult to the next level. StarCentral Magazine recently caught up with Scarlett to discuss her journey in the industry, and here’s what went down:

When did your entrepreneurial flair first reveal itself?

My entrepreneurial flair vaguely revealed itself when I was five or six years old. Like many of my peers, I wanted to sell lemonade, wash cars, hold garage sales, and sell hand-me-downs on eBay. At the time, my interests were commonplace and probably didn’t really signify a true entrepreneurial spirit. However, once I saw my entertainment idols building personal brands and sustainable businesses (fashion, fragrances, makeup, etc.), it clicked in my mind that I could become both an entertainer and entrepreneur. In my mind, the two were becoming inextricably linked.

How did your life look like before being an entrepreneur?

I’ve been training to realize my full potential as a student and dancer for most of my life. I was always on a path towards a future destination.

A typical day in my life consists of school, followed by hours of training in a dance studio.

My day still consists of these staples – but now my day is longer as I explore new talents, interests, and business ventures.

As an entrepreneur/creative, what is it that motivates and drives you?

I have an inherent need to express myself creatively, and I’m still finding new vehicles to do so. Most recently, I took up photography as an elective at school, and my teacher encouraged me to pursue it more seriously going forward.

While I enjoy sharing my love for fashion and entertainment on social media, my underlying motivation for building my social media platform is to propel my sense of purpose: to spread kindness, empowerment, and collaboration throughout the teen community. The jewelry I helped design reflects these sentiments and physically manifests the energy I wish to send out into the world.

In one word, describe your life as an entrepreneur/creative and explain why.

One word to describe my life is freedom.

I feel like I’m my authentic self when I can create based on my personal story. I’ve always done this through dance and recently started doing this through photography and jewelry design.

My aspiration is for my creations to fuel viable business ventures.

What were your top three motivations for starting your business?

(1) I felt disconnected during quarantine, and I wanted to create a vehicle to connect to others and create a supportive community.

(2) I was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime, and I seized it. I realized I might never get an opportunity like it ever again.

(3) I want to take on projects that demonstrate that we can achieve results in a humanitarian way.

We were in the midst of the pandemic, and I had been on Zoom school at home for over a year. I was feeling disconnected and yearned to connect more closely with my friends. I realized that I was not alone in my feelings, and I wanted to send messages of love and empowerment into the world.

The form these messages took were 15 pieces of jewelry that comprise the Annie X Scarlett teen jewelry collection. I hope that each person who wears a piece from the collection feels like they received a heartfelt hug from us. I want them to feel the love and deep meaning infused into each piece. Hopefully, the jewelry will unite us and help create an inclusive community where we uplift and support each other.

The most authentic way to become an entrepreneur is to find an unmet need in the marketplace and develop products/services to best meet that needs in a meaningful and enduring way. I felt the need to connect to others during the pandemic and set out on my first entrepreneurial venture to meet that need.

Ultimately, all of my future business endeavors will begin with a sense of purpose that reflects my values.

Do you think you can make this business successful?

We just launched our collection, so our success right now is just making it through all the loops we encountered over nine months to bring the collection to market. Now, we reset the bar to measure actual success in terms of sales, recouping our investment, and making a profit.

I hope the collection is a success because I have so many creative ideas flowing in my mind, and I would like to double – down and pursue another entrepreneurial venture.

What would you say are the key elements for starting and running a successful business?

I am still learning what it takes to operate a successful business, but some essential elements I learned include:

A. You need to both understand your market and find a gap in that space that you can fill.

B. You need to scope out the competition, understand what they are selling, and find a meaningful way to distinguish yourself from them. Otherwise, if your product looks the same as all others without any meaningful distinction (and you can’t make them cheaper and sell them for less than your competitors), you will face a brutal battle for your customer’s share of wallet.

C. You need to do your research and set your price point appropriately.

D. You need to design products or services with strong appeal to your target market to increase your chances of success.

E. Finally, I firmly believe that you need to engender your customer’s trust. Therefore, as a small business owner, I believe it is essential to build your brand because it will set expectations and make promises to your customers.

What are the three biggest challenges you have faced growing the business and how did you overcome them?

Challenge 1: My personal challenge is that my target customers are predominately my peers on social media. My peers and I started at the same place years ago, and it is a challenge to change the relationship into a business-customer relationship. I need to figure out how to overcome the underlying one-sided competitiveness so we can support each other in our endeavors.

Challenge 2: I had to learn everything from scratch. It was rewarding, but it was a truly immersive endeavor while balancing school and dance training.

Challenge 3: It was a struggle to pair down all of our initial ideas to create a clear path forward!

What do you hope to see happen in the near future for small businesses and creatives all over the world?

I hope small businesses band together and harness their collective power to encourage customers to shop from small businesses and creatives. If we are fractured with infighting, we miss out on the opportunities to shift customer mindsets and change their shopping habits to support small businesses.

Here’s Why You Should Think Twice Before Posting Photos On Social Media

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Are you oversharing? The pictures you post online reveal more than you might expect.

As some COVID-19 restrictions get lifted, people are spending more time in social places and are very eager to showcase their life outside home online. Visited your favorite restaurant for the first time after lockdown? Better post a picture of the memorable event! At least, that’s what the majority do.

However, not many think of the dangerous outcomes of posting on social media. According to BrandWatch, 3.2 billion images and 720,000 hours of video footage are shared daily, making those people perfect targets for thieves and cybercriminals.

“People share information about themselves in exchange for positive reactions or when they need to vent. However, every picture we post may set off an incident of cybercrime,” says Daniel Markuson, a digital privacy expert at NordVPN.

While most social media users know they shouldn’t reveal their home address, current location, or phone number on Facebook, many still share entertaining photos or social plans. Such information might seem innocent to share, and potential threats tend to be overlooked.

Are you oversharing?

Since vacation season is upon us and everybody hopes for less strict COVID-19 rules, the expert has made a list of the most common mistakes. If you make at least one of them, have no doubt that you can become a target for hackers frequenting the dark web.

You share your location. You post pictures with location tags of your whereabouts, letting everyone on the internet know where you are and where you live. If you’re on a trip, and the only one guarding your property is your neighbor’s cat, rest assured that criminals will consider breaking in.

You share your address. You take pictures of your house, allowing others to figure out where exactly you live and what items you own. Sharing where you live can do more harm than you think. A Japanese pop star posted a selfie with a reflection of a train station on her eyeball. This minor detail helped a stalker trace her location and sexually assault her.

You vent or rant on social media. Pressure at work, family duties, and social tensions might result in a burning need to vent. Never do that online: what gets on the internet stays there forever. Personal feelings should be shared with close circles rather than publicly.

You post images that contain minors. Even high-profile parents like Pink and Gwyneth Patrow have given up posting pictures of their children. This is not only because of the hateful comments they receive, but also because kids are often mocked at school for being featured in their parents’ snaps.

You share your intimate pictures. This is a classic —  engaging in sexting and sharing nudes. The number of image-related crimes grew by a triple-digit during the pandemic, as people engaged in intimate conversations more than usual. As a result, NordVPN’s recent survey revealed that as many as 36% of Brits are highly worried about their stored personal pictures being made public.

You have all the trending social media apps on your device. Choose a few. Do you really need Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, and all the other social media apps? These applications have access to your gallery, location, and contacts, meaning they collect and store your data, which might not always be that innocent.

You never turn off Wi-Fi on your mobile device. Your phone is continuously scanning for trusted Wi-Fi networks. Once you get close to your home or work, your device automatically connects to the network it finds. This is convenient, but, along with these constant joining requests, your phone gives out a lot of valuable information about you. There are tools that collect the names of all nearby Wi-Fi hotspots, including your home network. This data is then sent to public websites like Wigle.net, which create heatmaps of Wi-Fi hotspots. Anyone can find your home address — even a non-techie stalker from your college or office.

You use your work device for personal needs. Are you guilty of browsing X-rated content, looking for a new job, or shopping online on your work computer? It is very likely that your boss or the tech guy will know about it. Your internet service provider keeps logs of where you go and what pages you visit. Keep your personal matters on your personal devices. And use a VPN to keep your private affairs really private.

You use the same password or its variations for multiple accounts. If you use the same password on multiple platforms, you are making it easier for hackers to get to your private accounts. Additionally, don’t risk it by using the most popular passwords of 2020, as identified by NordPass’s research. For example, ‘123456’ has been breached more than 23 million times and takes a second to crack. Among others are ‘picture1′, ‘password’, ‘senha’, ‘qwerty’, ‘abc123′, ‘Million2′, ‘iloveyou’, ‘password1′, and others.

You never check the background of the picture you are about to post. The last piece of advice is to simply follow common sense. Surely,  anyone can make a mistake, just like Lisa Kudrow, who accidentally posted a picture containing a post-it note with her passwords. Consider the internet a public space — everyone can see you both from the good angles and the bad.

“Besides cyber threats, it’s fun to post photos and let everyone know you’re having a cocktail at a nearby bar, but that sends a clear signal to burglars that your home is empty,” Daniel Markuson adds. “Even the people who feel sufficiently educated about online privacy still reveal their personal details online. Millennials especially tend to post their social activities online.”

ABOUT NORDVPN

NordVPN is the world’s most advanced VPN service provider used by over 14 million internet users worldwide. NordVPN provides double VPN encryption, malware blocking, and Onion Over VPN. The product is very user-friendly, offers one of the best prices on the market, has over 5,000 servers in 60 countries worldwide, and is P2P-friendly. One of the key features of NordVPN is the zero-log policy. For more information: nordvpn.com.

Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Review: Relies Too Heavily On Fan Service To Feel Like A Complete Film

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Sequels are more often than not derivative stand-ins for the, usually, superior predecessor films; incapable of being surpassed much less properly followed up. “Ghostbusters” is a timeless classic; following a formula no continuing sequel or ill-fated all-female reboot could duplicate successfully. For years, people eagerly awaited the third entry to close out the trilogy but that day and film never came, and eventually; Harold Ramis passed and it seemed like all hope was lost for a proper cap off to such an iconic franchise. Things remained dead and dormant until low and behold; Jason Reitman, son of the original film’s director; Ivan Reitman, took it upon himself to craft the ultimate love letter and cinematic send-off to his father’s flawless work with “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.”

Set many years after the dissolvent of the original Ghostbusters team, a mother (Carrie Coon) and her children; Phoebe and Trevor (Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard) lose their home and are forced to move to a dilapidated house; left to them by their deceased grandfather, in the middle of nowhere to try and make a fresh start. While discovering long-forgotten secrets about their family, Phoebe and Trevor inform their teacher (Paul Rudd) about strange goings-on at their house and in town. Soon, an ancient evil from the Ghostbusters’ past becomes unearthed and now a new generation of Ghostbusters must take on the proton streaming mantle and stop this threat before the world is engulfed by the dead rising from the graves once again.

After the awful, disastrous bomb that was Paul Feig’s “Ghostbusters,” the story and the legacy desperately needed a fresh start. “Afterlife” is, in many ways, not just a continuation of the original story but a genuine love letter to the actors, the fans, and to the reunion that we all hoped we could see but was sadly denied. This is very much a family story; right down to the lineage connecting the director’s love for his father’s work. There are so many callbacks from signature sounds, signs, dialog, and imagery that lovingly take us back to everything that came before while still crafting a new story with new characters that fit into the narrative without being carbon copies of Spengler or Venkman.

While the nostalgia factor plays high with the ghosts featured here, they’re given new takes and new approaches that keep them from being rehashed golden oldies so old and new fans will definitely appreciate them. I cannot begin to describe how pleased I was to see practical effects returning in this modern-day blockbuster. Watching Paul Rudd wrestling with a terror dog face to face while gawking at miniature Stay Puft Marshmallow men in a Walmart brought me more joy and satisfaction than I ever thought possible. Speaking of joy, kudos and much applause are deserved by Mckenna Grace; easily the best character in the film. She may be young but she carries the film with effortless grace (pun intended); nailing every intentionally bad joke and providing an adorable sense of weirdness that perfectly fits in this kind of framework.

Finn Wolfhard is always a welcomed presence though personally, I felt this film could have used more of him and a more developed role outside of “car guy,” same could be said for his would-be girlfriend who got even less but deserved more. Time management seems to be the biggest problem for Jason Reitman’s nostalgia wave to overcome. It takes a bit too long for the new crew to catch their first ghost (though when they do it’s definitely one of the biggest highlights of the film) and other elements including further exploring Ivo Shandor feel rushed for the sake of time. The film wants you to get a feel and sense of who these characters are and how their family is going to hit you in the feels and funny bones then mix in the ghostbusting and try to make it all work cohesively together. For the most part, it works but not quite all the way.

In a lot of ways, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” relies too heavily on callbacks and fan service to feel like a complete film. This feels like an apologetic reunion to give the fans and Harold Ramis what they always wanted to see happen but spends a bit too much time doing that instead of paving the way for a proper passing of the torch generational send-off. However, while not every new character in the film gets proper in-depth examination, the ones that do excel in personality creativity and genuine comedic spontaneity. Grace and Rudd expand the universe brilliantly with their chemistry and comedy and the stellar ghost hunting sequences are a true spooktacular spectacle to behold when they do occur. There’s room to grow and room for more beyond a fond farewell to Harold Ramis’s legacy and I hope we won’t have to wait another decades-long wait for more.

I give “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” 3 stars out of 4 stars.

Editorial credit: Sarunyu L / Shutterstock.com

Check Out Walt Disney Australia’s Release Schedule As Of February 2022

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2021 has been a tough year for the movie industry. As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to drastically affect the world, the year’s biggest films were caught in the crossfire which resulted in a number of setbacks and cancellations brought upon by the pandemic. However, Walt Disney Australia has decided to put some of these skepticisms to rest, with the company revealing their Australian release schedule for all their films until 2023. Without further ado, check out Walt Disney Australia’s release schedule as of February 2022.

Introducing Sasha Anne: A YouTuber Who Overcame Dyslexia To Become A Successful Beauty Influencer And Entrepreneur

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Photo Credit: Matt Doheny Photography 

YouTuber, beauty influencer, and entrepreneur, Sasha Anne has made a name for herself commanding internet attention through her makeup tutorials and beauty transformations. Her popular YouTube Channel videos and tutorials currently average 18,000 views. As a makeup artist and entrepreneur, Sasha wants to inspire other girls to achieve their dreams. She has recreated several incredible cosplay makeup styles including Elsa and Anna from Frozen as well as a number of informative hauls and reviews. The Shorty Awards, also known as the “Shortys”, is an annual award show recognizing the people and organizations that produce real-time short-form content across Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Twitch and the rest of the social web actually recognized Sasha’s work by awarding her a Shorty Awards Audience Honor for empowering young women with her Gal Gadot and Wonder Woman inspired transformation. Sasha has also worked with high-profile makeup artist Dani Fonseca, who happens to be one of Lady Gaga’s makeup artists.

Since she was a child, Sasha has been fascinated with faces and facial expressions. When Sasha was eight she was diagnosed with dyslexia – a condition that explained her difficulty and hesitation to use speech to express herself. She turned to music and art as ways to express herself. She taught herself to watch people’s faces and expressions carefully to help her understand the language they used. Faces spoke to her. Not words.

When she turned 11 she discovered makeup and made a leap from drawing faces to drawing on faces. This was it for Sasha – her “ah-ha!” moment. Her world changed and she embraced this unique way of expressing herself.

At 13 she launched her own YouTube channel and reached out beyond her familiar circle of friends and started sharing her discoveries with other young girls across America. She started creating how-to tutorials for different looks and exploring different products. Her following quickly began to grow and engage with her. As questions started to come in, she would take time to respond thoughtfully and advise younger girls as they tackled their own challenges. Sasha is a natural role model like a caring big sister.

Her love of makeup inspired her to establish her own lip gloss beauty line called “Teeny Wee” Lip Gloss which was in fact, developed and founded by Sasha when she was only 17. Equally as important as her love for animals. Teeny Wee Lip Gloss is cruelty-free as compassion for all animals and a personal gesture of love for her dog Chloe. Launching her own cosmetics company is a dream come true for Sasha. Her goal is to make people smile when they see her videos and make a difference in people’s lives.

StarCentral Magazine recently caught up with Sasha Anne to discuss her journey as a beauty influencer and entrepreneur and here’s what went down:

1. Could you please tell our readers a brief background about yourself and how you started your business?

I’m 20 years old and a student at FIT in NYC. I started my YouTube channel SashaAnne when I was a freshman in High School and focused on makeup transformations. I was nominated for a Shorty award at 16 years old for my Cinderella Makeup transformation and won a Shorty when I was 17 for my Gal Gadot/Wonder Woman empowering women transformation. I strongly believe in the power of makeup as a way for young women to express themselves. I was painfully shy as a child and teenager. I am dyslexic and as a child words were challenging. Makeup allowed me to be whomever and whatever I want to be. It emboldened me. The strength that I found carries me through everyday life whether I am totally barefaced or made up.

I was very recently diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I will be starting treatment in 10 days and hope that the inner strength I found will carry me through the harder journey I now face.

2. Can you describe your journey? When did you start?

As my YouTube channel and my social media presence increased in popularity, I had an idea for a tiny lipgloss during my Senior year in high school. I envisioned a lipgloss small enough to tuck into a tiny pocket. I persevered, asked friends and family for help, and started my SaahaAnne brand with the launch of five tiny lipglosses. Those sold out and I’m currently launching a new product line which will be out within a few months. Production was set back by a few months because of COVID.

3. What are you currently doing to maintain/grow your business?

The SashaAnne brand is growing beyond lipgloss and we are relaunching a few surprise lifestyle products within the next few months. We have been working on the concept and packaging for a few months and I’m very excited.

4. What is your main tactic when it comes to making more people aware of your brand and engaging your customers?

I am very active on all social media platforms. I have recently revamped my website SashaAnne.com where you can see everything that I’m doing and get to know me and my personal journey. My blog is going up as well.

5. What form of marketing has worked well for your business throughout the years?

My business has only been up and running for two years. It took a year for it to gain traction and I attribute that to my social media presence and my makeup transformations on YouTube.

I gifted my lipglosses at various fashion events such as Teen fashion week in New York City and that helps with audience awareness.

6. How did your brand stand out from the rest of the other brands out there that is similar to your niche?

The tiny lipglosses which were the first product I launched stood out because they were so small and easy to take anywhere for a touch-up. They fit in the tightest jean’s pocket and smallest purse. They were moisturizing and highly saturated with colors I mixed myself.

7. What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?

Once the SashaAnne brand sold out two of the more popular colors of lipglosses in late February, I had to decide whether to continue to produce the lipglosses or relaunch a new product line. I decided to relaunch. It was a big decision but while we are in the midst of the COVID pandemic, I came to the occlusion that lipgloss is probably not a realistic product to be manufacturing.

8. What mistakes have you made along the way that others can learn from (or something you’d do differently)?

The three mistakes that come to mind are:
a. I should have done more research when sourcing packaging.
b. I was impatient. Patience is very important. You need to do it right the first time.
c. I tried to do too much myself. You need to get the right team in place to help.

9. If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?

There’s not much more I could have done differently. I was 17. I had an idea. I was passionate and ambitious and I am glad I made mistakes then. I learned from those mistakes and won’t make them again.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Take a breath and think before you leap.

What advice would you give to a newbie influencer setting up their first business?

You absolutely must find people you trust in the industry. Do not be afraid to ask for help. It’s a lot of hard work so make sure you are prepared for the time commitment.