#StayHome Movie Recommendations – Classic Comedies

New Orleans is silent. There’s not one horn blowing in the French Quarter. Like most of the country, we’re staying home to help prevent the spread of the corona virus. Since there are no festivals happening, no free concerts or Pelicans games, etc., I have no events to blog about. Like many, we hunkered down for a weekend of “Netflix and chill.”

My industry is shut down. There’s no traffic in L.A. But our movies will help get the world through this. I decided to share a list of some of the movies that have shaped me as an actor/filmmaker and as a person – starting with comedies. I’m starting here because these movies were always there for me when I needed a laugh and some relief from my worries.

‘tit Rex Parade & WGNO’s Post-Oscar Show

The ‘tit Rex parade is a miniature-float satirical spectacle of big creativity in tiny form. I would be appearing on WGNO’s post-Oscar News With A Twist so we needed to head to the pre-parade lineup and skip the glacially-paced dragging of the delicate floats with frequent stops to pose for photos and closer looks. A reaction to super Krewe parades, ‘tit Rex was inspired by the local tradition of kids decorating shoeboxes and parading them through school, so the creations are nostalgic for many.

A crowd of Barbie and her crawfish-eating, Hand-Grenade-drinking friends in waited for the floats – their arms outstretched over NOPD barriers, their kids sitting atop ladder chairs.

Mardi Gras Indians 2014

After a 2 week rain delay, the Mardi Gras Indians finally celebrated Super Sunday in full regalia. Festivities began in A.L. Davis Park with music, dancing and plenty of food. Our ribs hot-off-the-grill were delicious and the Lady Buckjumpers had gorgeous cupcakes for $1. We had some first-timers with us so we took in the tribes arriving and laying out their suits as well as instruction and storytelling from Spy Boy Dow of the Mohawk Hunters Tribe. I enjoyed sharing some of the history and traditions as well as the legendary story of Chief of Chiefs “Tootie” Montana.

New Orleans Living Magazine

A number of blogs host “guest bloggers.” I haven’t tried it yet and honestly thought I’d rather be someone’s guest than turn my reigns over to someone else to post on my blog. That said, I just read an article and interview by Christine Fontana for New Orleans Living Magazine that nearly perfectly expresses my love for this city. As such, I’m reprinting the article with clickable links to some of the places and organizations I mention.

Summer Movies and NOLA

Like many people, summer means movies to me – big screen tentpole star-studded extravaganzas meant to be seen with a crowd. I haven’t seen them all (like I might have in Los Angeles) but I noticed a common thread in many of the ones I did see – Hollywood South has arrived. If you’ve read this blog’s “About” page, you know that I moved to New Orleans in 2009, after almost 18 years in L. A., hoping to be able to continue my career as an actor in my family’s home state. As I made the leap, many of my friends encouraged me saying, “Watch, you’ll end up working more than ever.” I’m happy to report that in the 3 1/2 years I’ve been here, the whole state is working in the movie business more than ever.

Mardi Gras Decorations (with a Django twist)

Though I love donating my Mardi Gras beads to Arc of Greater New Orleans and Stephan Wanger‘s Guinness-record-breaking mural, my favorite use of parade throws is decorating my home for the season. Though the NFL tried to create a “clean zone” where they could tell us what to decorate our houses with, what signs we could carry and what clothes we could wear (!!!) , the ACLU has stepped in to protect our right to party our way  (I, for one, will be wearing Saints gear every chance I get!). So, I’ve beaded my fence, wreathed my door and redecorated my Christmas tree as a Mardi Gras tree.

Favorite Things in NOLA 2012

I must confess that I didn’t get out as much in 2012 because Hollywood South is booming and I worked a lot. Even so, here are my 2012 favorites in a nutshell followed by my Favorite Things in NOLA 2011 and Favorite Things in NOLA 2010. Anything named previously in my Favorite Things in NOLA 2011 is marked with an Asterix*.

I have divided the list into categories this year including: Food & Beverage, Music & Entertainment, Culture, Shopping and Giving & More.

Django Unchained Screenings

Last week, I returned to Los Angeles for the premiere and cast & crew screening of Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained. I’d heard a lot about the film from various people who’d been to previous screenings there and in N.Y. and was very excited to finally celebrate all of our hard work. I play Leonardo DiCaprio’s sister, Lara Lee Candie-Fitzwilly, a hoop skirt-wearing southern belle who’s quick with a smile.

Working Django Unchained

Some of you may have noticed that it’s been a few weeks since I posted. Though I made it to all 4 days of French Quarter Fest, I disappeared from this blog after posting on the first 2 days. The good news is that my long-awaited journey playing Lara Lee Candie-Fitzwilly in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained has begun. The days are very long and the demands are many so I haven’t had even a moment to post that I haven’t have time to post.

Working Girl

Last June, I blogged about some of the differences between my career in Los Angeles and my career here. With smaller parts and even smaller trailers, I said that it’s been humbling, but not humiliating, to work here. Actors don’t like to jinx good times by talking about them but I don’t want to waste an opportunity to share something I keep finding to be true.