Latest news with #RobinsonFilmCenter
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shreveport's Chef Niema Beats Bobby Flay on Food Network
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — Shreveport's Chef Niema DiGrazia reigned triumphant; her episode aired last night, and she defeated none other than Food Network Chef Bobby Flay. Chef Niema, Executive Chef at Abby Singer's Bistro, held a watch party on May 29 to watch the episode titled 'Fight Like a Tiger.' Family, friends, and community members gathered to watch Chef tell the world, 'I beat Bobby Flay!' The crowd roared with excitement as she won while representing her Sierra Leonean. Chef Niema's winning dish, 'Maffé,' is a West African peanut butter stew made with shrimp. 'This moment means the world to me,' said Chef Niema. 'To stand on a national stage and bring my culture, my roots, and my adopted hometown of Shreveport into the spotlight is something I'll always be proud of. This isn't just a win for me—it's a win for every young Black woman, every immigrant, and every Southern chef who's ever dared to take up space in this industry.' Chef Niema provides guests with unique dining experience In the episode's round 1, Chef Niema went against Chef Solomon Johnson; both contestants' mission was to highlight mango in their dish. Chef Niema's mango salad received high praise despite concerns about the mango skin being left on. Chef Niema advanced to the second and final round against Bobby Flay. Mama Tanya gave Chef Niema's Maffé the 'eeow!' of approval, while Chef Bobby Flay's did not meet the judges' expectations. In 2024, alongside her husband, Chef de Cuisine Matthew DiGrazia, Abby Singer's Bistro transformed the restaurant's menu with a fusion of West African, Caribbean, and Southern influences. 'Chef Niema's win is not just a personal achievement—it's a point of pride for the entire Shreveport-Bossier region,' said Wendell Riley, Executive Director of Robinson Film Center. 'She embodies everything Abby Singer's Bistro stands for: delicious and creative food, cultural richness, and heart.' Farm Shares: deliver fresh veggies, milk, eggs and more Abby Singer's Bistro is located on the second floor of Robinson Film Center in downtown Shreveport. Robinson Film Center is a nonprofit arts organization that brings film education, independent cinema, and culinary culture to Northwest Louisiana. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Louisiana Film Prize winner Josh Munds shares his journey to filmmaking
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Josh Munds got his filmmaking start back when it was not nearly as accessible as it is today. As technological advancements made film equipment more affordable and convenient to travel with and use, Josh's passion for film continued to grow. 'Whenever they had those huge boombox recorders that you had to carry on your shoulders, that's kind of what initially sparked the interest of filming things,' Munds said. 'I think I have chronic shoulder pain because of having those experiences. From there, technology caught up, where you were able to record higher quality stuff with just a handheld.' Register for film camps at the Robinson Film Center this summer Munds discovered the Louisiana Film Prize, an annual film festival that offers the largest cash prize for a short film in the world, and decided to start entering his movies in the competition. His short film, 'Peeping Todd,' took home a Founder's Circle Grant in 2023. 'Sometimes you've got to climb or crawl through a lot of muck and mud to get to a point where you can actually be recognized for something that you did,' Munds said. 'I made tons of terrible things before getting to a point where even one of them could be recognized. The team that we worked with, Alexander Jeffrey and everyone else, is what made it that good. They take things to such a bigger level than I could have ever done.' Munds is also an actor, primarily in his friends' short films. He credited his experience as both an actor and director for allowing him to understand the filmmaking process better. Star of 'The Ms. Pat Show' on BET will perform at Live! Casino & Hotel 'I want to be as authentic to whatever character this person wrote and try to portray that,' Munds said. 'As a director, when you have a certain vision, you want that to come across on screen. Actors read the script, we have a conversation, and then they take it from there and add their little stuff they want to add.' Following the success of 'Peeping Todd' at the Louisiana Film Prize, Munds says the short film is being made into a feature-length version. 'I'm very excited for people to see that once it lands out of festival,' Munds said. 'That's my next thing: showing the world what weird, crazy thing we created. Of course, Chris Alan Evans is the lead in it as well, so you get to see more of his face if you enjoyed the short.' Chris Alan Evans: radio host turned filmmaker's unique journey While Munds's body of work has primarily been comprised of comedy short films and series, he said that he would 'definitely' love to explore other genres but understands he would be stepping out of his comfort zone. 'It's a terrifying thought,' Munds said. 'It's one of those things where I would trust the team that I'm making it with. I trust the actors for moments where I'm not positive if it's coming across the way I want. I feel like it's great when you find a good team of people with great opinions. You can lean on them in certain moments when you're kind of out of your wheelhouse.' Two-time Tony Award-winning musical heading to Shreveport Munds added that aspiring filmmakers should not be afraid to make bad movies, because one might eventually turn out to be a diamond in the rough. 'Don't be afraid to make crap,' Munds said. 'I feel like a lot of people are scared of other people's opinions because if I don't make something that's immediately good, people are going to judge me and think that I'm not ever going to be good. I feel like if you don't do that, you'll never sharpen the tools that you need to take off in your career.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Robinson Film Center screening on autistic teen overcoming challenges
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — For Autism Awareness Month, Robinson Film Center (RFC) is hosting a special screening of 'Break the Mold,' about a teenager with autism who defies expectations by pursuing his dreams of competing in a 100-mile ultramarathon. The screening will be followed by a discussion with Community School, Holy Angels' school for individuals with developmental delays or learning disabilities, to explore neurodiversity, perseverance, and the importance of storytelling in fostering understanding and inclusion. 'For so many of our friends on the spectrum, they report feeling 'in between' special education and general education services,' said Kelly Rouse, Director of the Community School. 'This feeling of in-between carries on into adulthood, with very few options tailored for their personalities & skill sets in continuing education or vocational opportunities.' Register for film camps at the Robinson Film Center this summer To make the evening accessible to more families: RFC will offer free activities for children during the screening. Kids are invited to enjoy a supervised evening of storytelling, crafts, and games led by RFC education staff in our community room, while parents and caregivers attend the film and participate in a discussion. The screening takes place on Thursday, April 24, at 6:00 p.m. 'One of the major barriers for parents of autistic children is finding childcare if parents want to go to events,' said Wendell Riley, Executive Director of RFC. 'We're so excited to offer supervision for kids with autism during the event, allowing parents to come, grab a bite to eat at the bistro, and participate in the screening and discussion.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Register for film camps at the Robinson Film Center this summer
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Registration is now open for the Robinson Film Center's Summer Film Camps. The program will consist of three camps focusing on comedy films, whodunit mystery films, and acting. Each camp will last one week and run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with the Comedy Camp taking place from June 2 to June 6. It is open to those who have completed grades 3-8. 'Students will use their comedic chops to write, plan, film, and star in their very own hilarious short film,' their website stated. 'Learn the art of writing a side-splitting joke, the essentials of comedic timing, and end the week with your comedic vision brought to life on the big screen.' G-Unit insiders pull back the curtain on 50 Cent's vision The Whodunit Camp will run from June 16 to June 20 and is open to those who have completed grades 6-12. 'Conquer techniques in special effects, cinematography, and more that will take your filmmaking skills from killer to thriller,' the website stated. 'It's a wild ride into the mysterious world of filmmaking where you'll craft suspenseful plots, capture nail-biting shots, and piece together the ultimate whodunit mystery.' The Acting Camp will run from July 7 to July 11 and is open to those who have completed grades 6-12. 'Aspiring young actors will dive headfirst into the world of performance, exploring the art of character development, storytelling, and more. Exciting workshops will inspire, help build confidence, and elevate your acting skills to new heights.' The registration fee for each camp is $219 per student for non-members and $189 for RFC members. The camps will be held at the Robinson Film Center, 617 Texas St. in downtown Shreveport. For more information or to register, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shreveport's Pub Crawl for a cause: let your inner Southern Belle out
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — A local non-profit is hosting a 'Steel Magnolias' themed pub crawl in the heart of downtown Shreveport. The Festie Bestie, 'Blush and Bashful Bash' will occur next Friday, April 22. It will begin at Ono's Hawaiian at Artspace and end at the Robinson Film Center for a screening of the 1989 award-winning movie. According to the Steel Magnolia's IMDB, in 1990, the film scored Julia Roberts a nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture. Join or Die: Why is American democracy in crisis? The participating businesses include Ono's Hawaiian Grill at Artspace, The Missing Link, Noble Savage, and Robinson Film Center. Each will feature themed drinks and activities inspired by the beloved characters and moments from the film. Tickets to the pub crawl, including the movie ticket, are $20, but they do not include drinks, food, or concessions at participating locations. Proceeds will benefit the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier, a women's organization whose mission is to advance women's leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. Shreveport 'Love the Earth Day' celebration 'We are excited to bring together people of our community in a fun and engaging way, while supporting local businesses and a good cause,' said Emerie Eck Holtzclaw, co-owner of The Festie Besties, LLC. The organizers encourage individuals to dress in pastel attire and join fellow fans for a night of fun, friendship, and philanthropy. Check-in starts at 6 p.m. at Ono's, 708 Texas Street, Shreveport. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
