Melificent

Zachary Quinto Talks About “The Chair,” Mentoring & Being a Jack of All Trades

I was lucky enough to be able to interview Zachary Quinto earlier this week about the new Starz docu-series he will be co-producing, The Chair. It has a really interesting premise, where two first-time directors are given the opportunity to direct separate films adapted from one original screenplay. Zach serves as a mentor for both directors, Anna Martemucci and Shane Dawson.

Photo by Chiun-Kai Shih

Zach is one of my absolute favorite actors (hello, I traveled to NYC to see him on Broadway last year), so I was really excited to have this opportunity. I especially loved that he listed J.J. Abrams and Leonard Nimoy as his inspirations during the interview. Hell, I’m not in the film industry, and Abrams is one of my inspirations! He also touched on his amazing Instagram bromance with James Franco (c’mon, you know you had a hard time breathing with some of those photos, ladies). As usual, I can’t wait to support Zach yet again on this new venture.

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On “The Chair,” you will be serving as mentor for the up and coming directors. After years of looking up to others and their craft, how does it feel to have the tables turned and have others seeking your advice and knowledge? 

I really love the opportunity to share the experiences that I’ve had with other people. It’s an incredibly gratifying position to be in and I want to utilize it to the fullest as I continue to grow my life and my career as an actor, a producer and film maker. Bringing people to a point that they otherwise would not have reached is something that I feel really good about – I feel really humbled by, and I’d like to continue it. I like to reach out to people that have ambition and are dreaming of a different level of experience than the one they might be having now.

With producing, Broadway, TV and movies under your belt, along with expressing the desire to direct, do you feel like you gravitate more towards one than the others?

I always consider myself an actor first and I feel like my experience reflects that. I’ve been acting since I was 10 years old and I hope that that will be the thing that I do forever, but as I continue to expand I want to inhabit that expansion. I want to diversify. The industry has changed so much that diversity is key in a way that it didn’t used to be, and I can see that. I also have an interest in cultivating a keen business mind, so I’m trying to navigate these waters from a number of different perspectives. Creativity is the foundation and the thing that I always want to come back to, but within that, I want to give myself opportunities to do other stuff and have other experiences. That’s why I started my company, that’s why I produce things and try to look at things from the business side as well, because that is also fascinating, but I would say that my gravitation is always towards acting and creating in that way.

Make sure to check out The Chair, premiering on Starz on September 6th at 11pm.
Wanna see more? Check out the trailer!

Special thanks to Gotham News for giving me this opportunity!

In the Name of the Moon: Sailor Moon Inspired Finds

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I was heavily into Sailor Moon growing up. It was my first taste of anime, and I couldn’t get enough of the Magical Girl genre. I didn’t stop with the anime series though, I also watched the movies and the live-action series (don’t judge). Unfortunately, since I have such a terrible memory, I don’t remember details and am a little rusty on my canon. However, Hulu has helped me refresh by re-releasing all 200 episodes (2 at a time every Monday)! I’ve been torturing anyone I can find by having them watch with me, and twice a month, you can also find me glued to the newest series, Sailor Moon Crystal, which is also being aired by Hulu (this one is based on the manga). Basically, it is all Sailor Moon, all the time at my house and I couldn’t be happier.

With this seemingly being the summer of Moonies, I, of course, find it completely necessary to stock up on all things Sailor Senshi. Here are some of my favorite finds;

Top Row; Artemis Tee (x), Luna/Artemis Sleep Masks (x), What Would Luna Do Sweater (x) | Middle Row; Sailor Moon Inspired Stickers (x), Moon Crisis Compact (x), Sailor Moon Tee (x) | Bottom Row; I am Sailor Moon Tank Dress (x), Luna Crop Top (x), Sailor Moon Patches (x)

One Day in Orlando

Some may call us crazy, but we fell in love with a vintage desk at 1618 Something Different last weekend while at MegaCon in Orlando. This is something that we are severely lacking in Miami, so I definitely wanted to experience it since I’d much rather have something special and unique in our home than what everyone picks up at Crate & Barrel, IKEA or West Elm. We hear that we have similar (?) antique shopping here in South Florida, but I have yet to see or believe it. If you know of such places, please leave me some suggestions in the comments!

Either way, we decided to make it a one-day adventure. We’d wake up early, drive up, pick up our desk and then spend the rest of the day exploring as much as possible before starting our trek back home. A really amazing bartender we met at The Imperial in Washburn Imports during our last visit gave us a list of must-do’s, so we pulled it out and started choosing. We ultimately selected East End Market, and I am SO glad we did.

East End Market reminded me of something you would find on the west coast – think the Ferry Building in San Francisco – only bite-sized. A bunch of quality, locally sourced products all in one adorable little space. Fresh herbs could be found out front with picnic benches sprawled for customers to enjoy the beautiful Florida sunshine. A number one highlight for me was my completely gluten-free & vegan lunch from Skyebird. I had this great taco salad (with mushrooms as a meat substitute) and delicious tropical kale juice in an adorable mason jar.

For people with food allergies like myself, knowing that you can eat safely (and deliciously) means so, so much. The fact that Miami is so far behind the game makes me very upset, and has literally left me feeling like I cannot go out to enjoy a meal with my husband or friends. Take note, Miami. You have a very long way to go. Again, if you have any suggestions for great places that I may have missed here in the Magic City, please let me know!

Even though I only featured one of the shops, check out all the rest of East End Market’s merchants here.
I can’t wait to visit again the next time I am in Otown!

Diary Entry #1


 

So super stoked (& unbearably nervous) to unveil my vlogger/podcaster (??) debut with The Fangirl Diaries first diary entry! I do my best to provide a spoiler-free review of the newest series of BBC’s Sherlock and I hope I did a good enough job. It’s my first time attempting this format so there were a lot of takes and a lot of bloopers. I’d absolutely love it if you could show us some love by either liking our Facebook fanpage or subscribing to our Youtube channel (preferably both!).

Also, no fear! More consistent blog entries are on their way. I’ve had a lot of extracurriculars lately keeping me busy, but I hope to be back on the blog train very very soon!

Lovable Friday

1. Although my eyes immediately fixate on hot heels, the reality of the matter is that I wear flats the most. I work with kids all day, every day and when I have time to relax, half of the time I don’t feel like fighting with a pair of uncomfortable stilettos. That’s why I’m trying to train my brain to become enamored with cute flats just as much. These are definitely a good place to start. They are adorable, look comfy and adhere to my “put a bow on it” mantra. Sold.

2. Thanks to the launch (& soon to be finale – sniff) of Sherlock’s series 3, I’m having a hard time focusing on anything else. Cue adorable Sherlock print from this Australian seller and I can’t handle myself. The feels are serious OK?!?!

3. As if I needed another excuse to grow my nail polish collection, Gwen Stefani goes ahead and partners with OPI. I obviously need every single one, but if I was made to pick only one shade, I would go with Hey Baby. But let’s be real. When do I ever just choose one? Intervention imminent.

4. I don’t know why I continue to expose myself to new and potentially wallet-ruining sites. Me & Zena is one of those. They have amazingly fun and unique jewelry pieces that not only call to me, but basically scream my name repeatedly. This unicorn necklace currently has me on speed dial.

5. I know it may be overkill at this point, but I love me a good chevron print. Leave it to Dwell Studio to cook up such a great looking coffee table in it. The price is definitely not right, but I am definitely enjoying it from afar.