From the Newsroom: Athens Banner Herald

1971 cult classic "Harold and Maude" turns 50 this year, and it also happens to be OnlineAthens entertainment writer Andrew Shearer's all-time favorite movie. This is a recording made directly after his friend Xtina watched it for the first time, so things get a bit sniffly.

For her debut feature film, "No Ordinary Love," due on June 15, 2021, Fort Worth, TX-based writer-director Chyna Robinson took on the very real and highly sensitive issue of intimate partner violence and masterfully wove it into the cinematic medium. The result is a powerful viewing experience with an urgent message.

Andrew hasn't been to the movies since March 2020, but the lure of Chris Rock starring in a horror movie was enough to get him back in a theatre. He recorded this podcast from his car directly after seeing "Spiral: From the Book of Saw." Which was scarier: the movie or going back to the movies during a worldwide pandemic?

DJ Sean Swift is one of the few artists from the early years of the Athens hip-hop scene that’s still in the game today. From a bedroom in Stonehenge to internet radio, Swift is now spinning for a worldwide audience at www.djseanwift.com.

Why do we care about the 2021 Oscars? Because for once – and it took a worldwide pandemic for it to happen – everyday film fans actually got to see all the Best Picture nominees in the comfort of their own homes weeks before the ceremony. Join former Blockbuster co-workers Andrew and Sam as they give their picks and predictions for this year's "Superbowl Of Cinema."

Released the same year as "Star Wars," Japanese experimental filmmaker Nobuhiko Obayashi's teenage horror masterpiece "House," a.k.a. "Hausu" came out. Panned by nearly all critics in its day, the effects-heavy mystery was a hit with young audiences due to its expert marketing campaign, youth-centered story and wild visuals. Decades later, "House" holds up beautifully, and remains a gorgeous and g...

From making music on a 4-track in the living room of Nellie B Apartments to performing on television in London, Athens hip hop legend Ken "Duddy Ken" Richardson helped put the Classic City on the map for the Southern sound. In this lunchtime recording from March 11, 2021, Ken speaks to OnlineAthens reporter Andrew Shearer about how his journey influenced the production work he does today.

Former Blockbuster Video co-workers Andrew and Sam review a bunch of movies they watched in March 2021 including "Jumbo," "Godzilla vs. Kong," "Slaxx," "Tina," "Coming 2 America" and more.

In this interview recorded on March 19, 2021, the one year anniversary of the launch of Kino Lorber's virtual screening platform, Athens Ciné executive director Pam Kohn speaks to Kino Lorber senior vice president of theatrical and nontheatrical distribution and acquisitions Wendy Lidell about the impact it had on keeping independent theaters going. Conversation moderated by OnlineAthens ar...

Shannon Smith is recognized by founding members of the Athens hip hop scene as the Classic City's first woman MC. In the first interview about her music since the 90s, Smith spoke to the Banner-Herald about rapping as a language in her early years, later experiences while advancing her career, and what lead to her current life as a counselor and activist.

Like the punk records and underground films that inspired and informed her tireless work ethic, Debbie Rochon is a rare find in an age where discovering a cool, obscure independent artist is an increasingly less unique possibility. In this interview recorded on March 11, 2021, Rochon discusses her early life on the streets, experience as a stage performer, and rise to become an icon in the world o...

Also known as Frosty Freeze and Mustafa, Willie Wester pioneered the Athens hip hop scene in the early 1980s as an unbeatable b-boy, and returned home as an MC in the late 1990s following the consequences of street life. In this interview with OnlineAthens reporter Andrew Shearer recorded on February 13, 2021, Wester shared his incredible story of triumph, tragedy, and redemption.

For his follow-up to the 2013 folk horror movie "Jug Face," Nashville-based writer-director Chard Crawford Kinkle involved local family and friends to make "Dementer," a truly frightening character piece set in a center for adults with special needs. In this audio interview, Kinkle tells OnlineAthens reporter Andrew Shearer about casting his older sister in a leading role, and how festival audienc...

In honor of the 7th anniversary of the special "CultCore" episode series, Andrew speaks to Kate Owens just moments after she finished watching the 1974 Pam Grier classic "Foxy Brown," co-starring Antonio Fargas and Bob Minor, and directed by Decatur, Ga. resident Jack Hill.

A few years ago, Kenya Parham's career as a political strategist shifted to the film world, where she now works as a cultural strategist for films like "Judas and the Black Messiah," currently in theatres and on HBO Max. In this interview conducted on 2-23-21, Kenya spoke to OnlineAthens reporter Andrew Shearer about the important behind the scenes role she plays.

In this interview recorded on Feb. 19, 2021, OnlineAthens reporter Andrew Shearer speaks to Athens hip hop icon Darrin Ellison, better known as Elite Tha Showstoppa about the difficult road breaking into the downtown Athens music scene, having a heart attack onstage, and putting together his very first album.

Writer-director Shatara Michelle Ford's debut feature "Test Pattern" is a feminist masterpiece that has garnered well-deserved (and hard earned) rave reviews in the days since its Feb. 19, 2021 release. In this conversation with OnlineAthens reporter Andrew Shearer, Shatara details how she made the film, Hitchock's influence, and what it means to them to have the film out in the world. (Special th...

Considered "one of the architects of Athens, Georgia hip hop," Cedric Huff, aka Amun-Ra, details his early years as the scene was being created, how his style of music put him on the outside of mainstream success, and his views on where local hip hop is today. Recorded Feb. 3, 2021.

Korean American narrative "Happy Cleaners," the debut feature from co-directors Julian Kim and Peter S. Lee, opens Friday, February 5th in select theaters and VOD. In this interview with OnlineAthens arts and entertainment reporter Andrew Shearer, co-stars Charles Ryu, Yun Jeong, and Yeena Sung discuss their experiences making the film, its universal themes, and cultural representation on screen.&...

Award-winning actor Alison Midstokke's personal mission is to work for positive visibility for people with facial differences in the entertainment and fashion industries. Born with Treacher Collins syndrome, Midstokke's choice of film projects reflects her passionate activism as well as her desire to create original work. "Happy Face" is set for U.S. release on Jan. 5 from Dark Star Pictures.

With theaters closed for the majority of 2020, movie fans turned to streaming services instead. Was it a better than average year for film as a result? In this podcast discussion former Blockbuster Video co-workers Andrew and Sam give their respective best of lists for 2020.

Though the 40th anniversary of Robert Altman's "Popeye" passed with little fanfare, Amy and Andrew really love it. This podcast contains fond memories of the film, a review of the new Blu-ray edition, a discussion of the careers of Altman and stars Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall, and our fantasy about one day visiting Malta.

On his final day at the Athens Banner-Herald, journalist Lee Shearer reflected on his decades-long career, including 27 years at the paper. (Photo: John Roark)

Austin-based writer and performer Christina Parrish has been in comedy for a decade, with an impressive amount of video and short film content to her credit. With the Nov. 6 release of her feature film "Call Me Brother," she tackles taboo subject matter with equal doses of hilarity and dark brilliance.

My dad is the reason I love Halloween. He's also the reason I love scary movies. He's also the reason I took a job in the printing industry, which lead to a career in journalism. In this highly personal episode, I share my Halloween and movie-going memories of Roy N. Shearer II with my good friend Xtina.