Netflix’s “Martha” documentary on October 30th, Gets Raw & Tough to be Honest.

 By Laura Medina

Do you want to watch something authentically deliciously and dishy?

On October 30th, look no further than Netflix’s “Martha” documentary where Martha Stewart plainly straightforward talk about her and husband, Andy Stewart, cheating on each other as Martha grew into a lifestyle influencer powerhouse.

It’s partially about marriage and relationships as a pioneering woman is the first to navigate the churning waters of social media and building a corporation while learning to swim the waves, without drowning.

She did socially drown while being in prison, but she was rebirth to new generations of Millennials and Gen-Zers, needing home economics guidance. 

The pressure of building a perfect image creates cracks in her marriage, of her and Andy growing apart and outgrowing each other.

Martha, based on her experience, quotes in the documentary, “If you want to be happy, get married. If you want to be happy for a decade, get a dog. If you want to be happy, grow a garden.”

A tough lesson from a tough lady.

Martha experienced a ton of tough lessons from her abusive, unhappy father to being one of the first woman stockbroker when there was no ladies room to being housewife contractor demolishing then renovating a farmhouse to caterer to using her entertainment skills into a lifestyle empire, many try to copy but can’t.

Martha is still around. 

“Martha” the documentary will debut on Netflix on October 30th.

Zendaya’s Stylist, Law Roach, Talks Psychology in His Book “How To Build A Fashion Icon” Q & A with Keke Palmer.

 By Laura Medina

Who would had imagined a psychology and business admission bachelor graduate, with a minor in marketing, would go on become a fashion celebrity stylist?

Not Law Roach, but he did.

In fifteen years when stylist Rachel Zoe extolled the professionalism of having a roving fashion closet in a suv, ready for anything at anywhere to today’s emphasis on mental health and any body is a good body and you need fashion history to best style a client, Law Roach is the moment.

In his book, he’s not afraid to talk about failure. He’s no longer Keke Palmer’s stylist but still good enough friend to moderate his book questions and answers talk.

His book is not about external styles or appearances. It’s about the internal and how that person feels. He’s deep enough to talk about manifestation.

He ain’t afraid to discuss racism in a predominately white, skinny female business. Law had to take pay cuts in dressing Ann Hathaway while, thank god, still earning a decent pay in styling A-list African-American celebrities. 

Towards the end of the book, he talks about why he needs to end the demands taking the toll on his body.

He still remembers he’s from Chicago.

He celebrated his book lecture by inviting the audience to a disco party in Hollywood’s hottest nightclub.

That’s one way to close a chapter while opening a new one.

Nice and sweet.

Selena Gomez & Zoe Saldaña Flex Muscle & Vocal Range Around Karla Sofia Gascon in Trans Crime Drama Musical, Netflix’s “Emilia Perez.”

 By Laura Medina

Netflix has never been a traditional movie studio nor a television network. It has always been and proud of using tv series and movies to push boundaries and expand horizons of what it means to be human.

Streamers also provide opportunities for actors to broaden their horizons, widen their range, flex that acting muscle, and bust out of those lucrative but restricting pigeon holes.

In gender-and genre-defying “Emilia Perez,” it examines stereotypical machismo versus machisma. It also showcases today’s modern, contemporary Mexican culture and society, regarding race, ethnicity, and gender identity expectations and true desired identity, LGBTQ, and what makes one Mexican and Latin and Hispanic.

Zoe Saldaña is a black Mexican lawyer hired by a drug lord to help him tie up loose ends and research the safest place for trans-gender operations when he decided to start his trans-gender transition. This is not to be taken lightly or be taken for granted in Mexico’s male chauvinistic society.

“Emilia Perez” is all about finding true happiness, even sacrificing for true happiness.

That’s just the beginning of both characters’ journey.

Selena Gomez busts her goody-two shoes persona, in being a drug lord trophy wife turned heartbroken widow trying to move on with a previous lover, while fighting over child custody and alimony, that turned bloody.

Edgar Ramirez plays the rebound lover.

The true crux that “Emilia Perez” pivots on is Spanish trans actress, Karla Sofia Gascon, who, in real life, used to be telenova heart-throb, Juan Carlos Gascon.

If there’s anyone best qualified to play a macho male drug lord turned a good hearted trans woman, the title character “Emilia Perez,” running a victims’ charity. A she righting the wrongs of her old, male past, it would be Karla Sofia Gascon.

Ask any father turned trans, breaking free from the past ain’t easy with kids. Imagine the complications with dad returning as aunt; and the wife doesn’t have a clue.

Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez really flex their singing vocal cords and dancing muscles in their characters’ inner thoughts introspective song & dance numbers. For Zoe, it’s returning to her Hispanic heritage and dance roots. The same with Selena.

The cast of Edgar Ramirez, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Karla Sofia Gascon really bust and crush Latin stereotypes.

This is Zoe’s most realistic role yet.

The protagonist, Emilia Perez, realizes she can’t really leave behind the past. Her child custody fight and alimony brings back the old, machismo male drug lord.

At the end, “Emilia Perez,” shows who’s the real lord. The only thing this scribe can say, is it is machisma that shows who’s boss.

If you want to find out, watch Netflix’s “Emilia Perez.”

Elizabeth Banks’ Skincare & Demi Moore’s The Substance, are Horror Movies Women Can Relate.

 By Laura Medina

This recent Halloween Horror season has been positively female.

Yes, definitely Hollywood youth-centric. It’s just the age-old quest of equating youth with beauty and health.

Unfortunately, the quest of hanging onto it longer, since we’re all living longer, makes the desperation scarier.

Elizabeth Banks’ “Skincare,” was based on a recent true crime story that reflects the beauty evolution from superficial makeup to health as wealth investment of skincare. 

It also reflects aestheticians’ competition and rivalry morphing into physical intimidation, physical harassment, slander, defamation, and total elimination driving an aesthetician to desperate measures with shady people taking advantage of needy entrepreneurs. Remember, “Skincare” was based on a true crime and trial.

Whew! Thank god, Demi Moore’s science fiction-horror movie, “The Substance,” is an updated version of “Dorian Gray.”

Built on “beauty as health as wealth” and messing with one’s DNA, “The Substance” is a twisted version of rebirth and aging not so gracefully.

It also showcase agism and sexism and the sleazy people in the media industry where women are disposable.

Since these movies are female-centric, the women in your lives, aren’t going to be frightened but the men will be shocked.

Men, will soon learn in a changing society, youth as health, is currency.

Sutton Starcke of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” Has a New Talent Show.

 By Laura Medina 

Here’s you all’s more opportunities and chances to be famous, the old fashion way-talent.

“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” Sutton Stracke with the fashion duo of “Gown and Out in Beverly Hills,”Patrik Simpson and Pol’ Atteu are doing and judging on their own version of an “America Got Talent”-sque talent show.

With Patrik’s years of being a talent agent and manager, this sure helps.

Get ready! Auditions start this Friday, October 4th at 1pm.

All varieties welcomed.

Reach out, apply, and audition to:

Charmaine Blake

charmaineblakecasting@gmail.com

562-719-6419

Good Luck!