Musings on storytelling and orange Tic Tacs ahead of Thursday’s Reel Friends screening A month before I turned nineteen, I took my first screenwriting class. I’d always been a writer, but I had yet to work up the courage to officially tackle a script. The professor—who has since morphed into a longtime mentor for my creative endeavors—opened with a foundational piece of advice, one emblazoned into the hearts and minds of storytellers across time and space: Write what you know

Art Seen ATL tours Roswell's headquarters for creators You42 Studios in Roswell (Photo by Mikey Smith) In the heart of Roswell, You42 Studios is a brand-new hub for creatives of all kinds. Housed inside the old Andretti Indoor Karting on Alpharetta Highway, the space offers a Hollywood backlot-style setup with over a dozen filming locations, a myriad of dining options, and tons of ways to discover art in your own backyard. Art Seen ATL had the pleasure of exploring You42 Stud

The women of Parachutes talk the band’s multi-genre stage-to-studio journey Rachel Burdge (left) and Megan Faye (right) of Parachutes (Photo by Mikey Smith) Hot and fresh off the musical presses, local rockers Parachutes just released their debut EP, Get Obsessed. Comprised of Megan Faye (vocals), Rachel Burdge (guitar), Scott Ellison (drums), and Neal Aronson (bass), Parachutes fuses garage rock, riot grrrl, and much more for an in-your-face and out-of-this-world sound. On a

A hidden-gem documentary that’ll make you yearn for yesteryear When We Were Live screens at ATLFF 50 The in-person run of the 50th Atlanta Film Festival has officially concluded, but the festivities are far from over. The virtual fest is in full swing, inviting audiences from all across the globe to watch some stellar selects from this year’s lineup. As you peruse the catalog, I’d like to recommend a lovely little documentary from the heart of Austin, Texas. When We Were Live

Writer-Director Jared Sprouse and co. give the inside scoop on their zany dark comedy The cast and crew of Party USA (Photo by Nico Hawthorne) Party USA is a firework of a film: it’s bold, it’s colorful, and it sure knows how to pack a punch. The dark comedy describes itself as “a downward spiral of red, white, and blue-collared chaos,” charting a disgruntled retail worker’s (Ainsley Seiger) journey to undo the fallout following an uncovered shift at a party store. Ahead of t

Writer-director Costa Karalis invites audiences to experience this North Florida “magic trick” Frogtown director Costa Karalis promoting the film at ATLFF 50 (Photo by Mikey Smith) If there’s one mission on filmmaker Costa Karalis’ mind, it’s to make movies unlike anything audiences have seen before. Karalis’ debut feature, Frogtown, had its Atlanta premiere on Saturday at the 50th Atlanta Film Festival. The film played to a sold-out audience, with a line of s

The writer-director crafts a darkly funny tale of love, secrets, and corporate power The cast and crew of Third at ATLFF 50 (Photo by Mikey Smith) A husband stuck in a rut. A wife hungry for more. A handsome stranger falling from the sky. What could possibly go wrong? Atlanta-based feature Third had its world premiere at the Atlanta Film Festival on Friday. Created with an insanely talented local crew, the film is a shocking tale of twists and turns that holds far more than

The program kicks off with two projects proudly produced in the heart of the ATL ATLFF preparing for their 50th film festival (Photo by Mikey Smith) As the sun set over Poncey-Highland on Thursday, the 50th Atlanta Film Festival kicked off at the historic Plaza Theatre. Arguably the city’s biggest film event, the 11-day festival runs from April 23 to May 3 and is set to welcome a plethora of creatives from all across the globe. From screenings and Q&As to filmmaker meetups an

The R&B-pop hitmaker dishes on her newest album ATL's Jai'Len Josey releases her newest record Serial Romantic (Photo by Respective Collective) With her bold Southern flair and bubbly personality, Jai’Len Josey is a multi-talented artist from the heart of East Atlanta. The rising starlet is charming audiences with her brand-new album, Serial Romantic, and thanks to °1824, Art Seen ATL had the chance to chat with Josey ahead of the project’s release. Josey’s love of music bega

The band muses on Muscle ahead of their headlining gig at Eddie’s Attic Perfect Animal ahead of their headlining Eddie's Attic show (Photo by Mikey Smith) Perfect Animal is, in every sense, a dream team. The four-piece rock group has developed a reputation in the scene for their introspective lyrics, genre-bending instrumentation, and stellar production. Armed with a brand-new release (and several more on the way), the band is fully in their element and are gearing up for an

Executive Director Jessie Sparrow dives into the non-profit’s mission of belonging As the world looks towards the future of storytelling, Georgia’s own RE:IMAGINE ATL is on the front lines of fostering the next generation of creatives. What began as a music video summer camp quickly evolved into a media education and workforce development center that has serviced over 7,500 young people. Founded by Susan Spiccia in 2014, the non-profit offers courses, camps, and creative opp

The ATL band reminds us that “being a creative is our birthright.” Hungry for some headbanging? If you’re looking for a band that really knows how to rock, look no further than Bad Guru . The band is rooted in psychedelic grunge, taking inspiration from big-name groups Tool and Soundgarden, with a hint of more “obscure” stoner rock acts like Slomosa and Truckfighters. Before they opened for Hooked Like Helen at Smith’s Olde Bar, Art Seen ATL chatted with Bad Guru backstage ab

Honnie Korngold, founder of CineVantage Honnie Korngold has worn many hats. She’s the founder of Athens-based production company CineVantage , along with workforce development nonprofit PhilanthroFilms and the Georgia Storylab creator hub. As she’s watched the film industry shift, sink, and soar over the years, this producer learned a crucial lesson that’s kept her afloat: the important of pivoting. Originally from Los Angeles, Korngold got her start in travel events, orch

"Inconceivable!" A live table read of William Goldman's The Princess Bride hosted by Reel Friends (Photo by Mikey Smith) There’s no better cure for the February blues than a storybook adventure. On Sunday, Reel Friends hosted their first live table read event, reenacting William Goldman’s beloved script, The Princess Bride. Housed in the historic Avon Theatre , it was a night full of fairytales, swordfights, and of course, twoo wuv. The cast, listed below, was an all-star sh

With a wave of my wand, this hidden gem will magically appear atop your ATL bucket list Kyle Littleton hosting the Secret Aisle Variety Show (Photo by Mikey Smith) Who doesn’t love a good magic trick? Variety shows are truly a lost art form. These classic showcases celebrate a range of talents, skills, and schticks, and they’ve historically served as launching pads for performers we know and love. As live events continue to claw their way back post-pandemic, local magician/yo

The pop-rap duo resurrects the Y2K club scene with their dance-fueled new tracks JVB rocking The Masquerade (Heaven) (Photo by Mikey Smith) I first stumbled into Joey Valence and Brae in January 2022, just a few short weeks after the release of “ Double Jump .” With its blast-from-the-past production and witty video game references, the punchy track solidified their place on my musical radar. The hip-hop duo, often shortened to JVB, came on the scene as a nostalgic reincarn

The band kicks off their tour with a sold-out ATL show Enjambre's sold-out return to Atlanta (Photo by Mikey Smith) Last October, I had a wonderful conversation with Rafael Navejas, bassist for the Mexican rock band Enjambre ( read here ). It was the first official interview I had conducted for Art Seen ATL, and we spent some time talking about the group’s experience with touring. Rafael said that their primary goal when hitting the road is to bring their “joyful spirit” to

The multi-hyphenate challenges Georgians to shift the narrative surrounding the local arts scene Withdrawal director/writer/editor Aaron Strand Indie. In both movies and music, the term has lost much of its original meaning. What was once a proud signifier of independent, unconstrained production is now often minimized to a marker of genre or aesthetic. As big-budget companies continue to misconstrue the label for their own use, filmmaker Aaron Strand is here to show that tr

The "Critter Country" songstress shares the story behind her new EP Americana artist Meels talks with Art Seen ATL (Photo by Jim Hughes) Folk, Americana, and country are sewn together by a beautiful thread: storytelling. These genres are often recognized for their ability to communicate deep truths underneath creative allegories, parables, and fables. Fresh off the release of her Across the Raccoon Strait EP , Meels brings a little bit of twang, a handful of metaphors, and a

A Georgia-grown sports flick gears up for a groundbreaking national release If there’s one thing Signing Tony Raymond proves, it’s that good things come to those who wait. The film industry is notorious for overlooking the little guy. Though the studio system of Old Hollywood is long gone, the field is still dominated by big players. Investors tend to avoid taking chances on smaller projects and opt for familiar faces to fill seats. This weekend, sports dramedy Signing Tony