Dubuque Filmmaker Announces Horror Sequel is in Development

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

A Dubuque filmmaker has announced that the horror movie he shot largely in/around the Tri-States will be getting a sequel tentatively planned for release in 2027.My good friend Jayme Schmitt and his friend/producer Nicole Welsh (also known by her stage-name, “Arsenic Nic”) stopped by the studio to make the announcement that Are You Dead Yet? Part II: Blood Battlefield is officially in development. In addition, he announced a date for the highly anticipated DVD release of the first film, Are You Dead Yet?, which premiered at the Five Flags Theater on June 14th.”Are You Dead Yet Part II” producer Nicole Welsh and director Jayme Schmitt.”Are You Dead Yet Part II” producer Nicole Welsh and director Jayme Schmitt.loading…Are You Dead Yet? is the work of Jayme Schmitt, a Dyersville native who wanted to make an homage to the kind of low-budget, VHS-era horror movies that existed in video rental stores all across the country in the days of yore. The film saw its premiere, red carpet-style, at the Five Flags Theater on June 14th.Schmitt not only revealed plans for a sequel, but stated the follow-up will be radically different from its predecessor. For one, it will examine the backstory of its villain, Mache (played by Schmitt). More character development will be afford to Welsh’s character Lola, who was a small yet integral part of the original film. Finally, as a homage to Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday, Are You Dead Yet? Part II will live up to its title by having Mache fight an onslaught of police and military personnel.I’m proud to be the first to share with you the first official poster for Are You Dead Yet? Part II: Blood Battlefield:Photo Credit: Nicole WelshPhoto Credit: Nicole Welshloading…Schmitt spoke about how making the first film a traditional slasher eventually got him to consider what would make a killer like Mache behave the way he does. He recalled other slasher movies that tried to offer a glimpse into the backstory of their iconic villains, which eventually became the foundation for his own sequel:With part two, I think about Jason Goes to Hell and how the movie tricked me into thinking it was Jason vs. the military. well, at this point, if you have someone living in the woods [like Mache], someone is going to come knocking. This is gonna be the craziest thing that I ever filmed, and I’m going to need as much as help as I can possibly get. I’m gonna need [extras dressed as] cops, police, a lot of SWAT [personnel]… – Jayme Schmitt, per our interviewPhoto Credit: Nicole WelshPhoto Credit: Nicole Welshloading…Schmitt revealed that a casting call will materialize in the future. You’re free to contact him via his personal Facebook page if you’re interested in being a part of the film.Welsh expressed excitement for her expanded role both on-screen and behind the scenes. Welsh spoke about expanding upon her character of Lola, who set the plot of the first Are You Dead Yet? into motion despite not being a consistent presence on-screen. Scheduling conflicts prevented her from having more scenes, although she was heavily involved in the production of the original.Photo Credit: Jayme SchmittPhoto Credit: Jayme Schmittloading…In addition to announcing production on a sequel, Schmitt revealed that Are You Dead Yet? will see a DVD release on February 23rd. You can also contact Schmitt via his personal Facebook page if you’re interested in purchasing a copy.For any and all updates about Are You Dead Yet? Part II: Blood Battlefield and the DVD release of Are You Dead Yet?, Schmitt encouraged people to follow the film’s Facebook page. Take a listen to my interview with Jayme Schmitt and Nicole Welsh below, and see the magic that was the red-carpet premiere of Are You Dead Yet? at the Five Flags Theater in June 2024 below!’Are You Dead Yet?’ Premieres at Five Flags TheatrePhotos from the Red Carpet Premiere of Jayme Schmitt’s “Are You Dead Yet?,” a crowdfunded horror film shot in Dubuque, at the Five Flags Theatre on June 14th, 2024.Gallery Credit: Steve Pulaski

Spanish holiday warning for ‘pirate’ tour companies targeting tourists

Travel

A NEW travel warning has been put in place for Canary Island holidaymakers following a number of ‘rogue’ tour operators.The Professional Association of Tourist Guides (APIT) issued the warning due to a number of concerns over the companies.3Lanzarote’s The Professional Association of Tourist Guides has warned of rogue tour companiesCredit: Alamy3Pirate companies are also targeting cruise terminals and airportsCredit: AlamyAPIT warned that the pirate companies, which are unregulated, put tourists at risk with unlicensed vehicles.Dubbed “sardine cans” they are said to violate road laws, and means tourists are not covered in the case of an accident.This is for both guided tours, as well as airport and cruise transfers where they wait for arrivals before offering the trips.APIT President, Natacha López-Braña, said: “They are people who offer their services on Facebook or elsewhere and they say they are guides, but they are not and the tourist is being deceived.”Read more on Spain”This paints an unacceptable picture for a destination like ours, where untrained individuals feed tourists falsehoods about our island.”What quality do we want to give to the island when anyone comes and can work as a guide? What information is being given?”Mainly an issue in Lanzarote, they warned it is widespread across the islands.Local media website Canarian Weekly said: “Sources in Lanzarote’s tourism sector have said that the problem is not confined to the island. “Similar illegal operations are widespread throughout the Canary Islands, particularly during the high cruise season when ports see a significant influx of visitors.”Tourists are advised to book tours and holiday experiences through their tour operator, or via a credited agency.Costa Cálida, which means ‘warm coast’, is a 250km stretch of coastline in the southeast of Spain, in the province of Murcia-People on social media have backed this one.One Spanish tour guide wrote: “It is a disgrace to see all these ‘pirates’ who abound in many Spanish cities offering their tours.”[They are] destroying the dignity, price, quality and a thousand other things of those of us who have studied and prepared to carry out with dignity this profession that we love.”Brits heading to Spain should be aware of new rules introduced last December.Hotels and accommodation sites are now required to get additional information from tourists on arrival.This includes group sizes, home addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.And tourists must have enough money to enter Spain as well.Holidaymakers must be able to show that they have €113.40 (£97) per day they are in Spain.Read more on the Scottish SunEverything you need to know about visiting SpainBrits must have at least three months left on their passport from the day they plan to leave the country.Tourists do not need a visa if visiting for up to 90 days in an 180-day period.Make sure your passport is stamped on entry and exit.Travellers may be asked to show hotel booking confirmations and that they have enough money for their stay at the border.Spain is one hour ahead of the UK.The country uses the euro with around €10 working out to £8.55.Flights to Spain from the UK take between 2-4 hours depending on the destination.Authorities at the airport are allowed to ask for evidence of this, and can turn anyone away who doesn’t.And an expert has revealed how to avoid the common (and costly) mistakes tourists make in Spain while on holiday.3Tourists are urged to book tours through their travel agency or operatorCredit: Alamy

Julie Andrews Reading To Her Daughter On “The Sound Of Music,” And 26 More Photos From The Sets Of Some Of The Biggest Movies Ever Made

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

27 Behind-The-Scenes Photos From Classic Movies

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Michael Curtiz directing Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman during the famous final scene in Casablanca in 1942:

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Here’s Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart dancing together in between takes on the set of It’s A Wonderful Life in 1946:

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Frank Sinatra eating a snack and drinking coffee in between takes on the set of From Here to Eternity in 1953:

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Jim Backus and Natalie Wood watch as James Dean signs a jacket on the set of Rebel Without a Cause in 1955:

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Newlyweds Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward being greeted on the set of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by director Richard Brooks in 1958:

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Here’s Charlton Heston holding his son Fraser while he shows off some props and costumes behind the scenes of Ben-Hur in 1959:

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Audrey Hepburn practicing “Moon River” with her guitar instructor behind the scenes of Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961:

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Here’s Gregory Peck holding Mary Badham behind the scenes of To Kill a Mockingbird as they meet the three members of the Air Force bomber crew who broke three speed records in 1962:

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Peter O’Toole writing in his notebook while taking a break on the set of Lawrence of Arabia in 1962:

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Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke sitting behind the scenes with composers Richard and Robert Sherman on the set of Mary Poppins in 1964:

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Here’s Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison sitting behind the scenes of My Fair Lady alongside director George Cukor in 1964:

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Julie Andrews reading a Variety newspaper to her daughter Emma on the set of The Sound of Music in 1965:

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Here’s director Mike Nichols behind the camera while filming a scene with Dustin Hoffman from The Graduate in 1967:

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Writer Don Pearce and director Stuart Rosenberg chat with the cast and Paul Newman on the set of Cool Hand Luke in 1967:

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Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at director Alan J. Pakula and cinematographer Gordon Willis filming a scene with Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford on the set of All the President’s Men in 1976:

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Drew Barrymore sitting with director Steven Spielberg in between takes on the set of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in 1982:

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Kevin Kline, Meryl Streep, and Peter MacNicol laughing in between takes on the set of Sophie’s Choice in 1982:

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Director Norman Jewison explaining an upcoming shot to Cher on the set of Moonstruck in 1987:

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Director Rob Reiner sitting on the steps of an NYC apartment building alongside Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan on the set of When Harry Met Sally… in 1989:

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Composer and conductor Carmine Coppola going over some music with director Francis Ford Coppola and musicians on location while filming The Godfather Part III in 1990:

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Director Jonathan Demme talks through a scene with Anthony Hopkins and other crew members on the set of The Silence of the Lambs in 1991:

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Here’s director Steven Spielberg sitting with a dinosaur while on the set of Jurassic Park in 1993:

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Director and writer Joel Coen and writer Ethan Coen giving notes to Frances McDormand on the set of Fargo in 1996:

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Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and director and writer James Cameron looking off the deck of the Titanic ship set in 1997:

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Here’s Lindsay Lohan looking through a camera on the set of The Parent Trap in 1998:

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And finally, director Chris Columbus explains the sorting hat scene from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone to Daniel Radcliffe while Maggie Smith looks on in 2001:

Do you have a favorite behind-the-scenes fact from a movie you love? Share it in the comments below!

Brewster High Science Teacher Receives Presidential Award

Science and Health

Veteran Brewster High School Science teacher Brittany Kozlenko received the nation’s highest honor for teachers of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics last week.
Brittany Kozlenko was one of more than 300 teachers in the nation named by President Joe Biden.
Kozlenko, who has been at teacher at Brewster High for 17 years, was one of 336 teachers and mentors throughout the country named by President Joe Biden as recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring.
The awards honor the vital role that America’s teachers and mentors play in shaping the next generation of technical leaders, including scientists, engineers, explorers, and innovators.
“Receiving the Presidential Award is an honor that I will continue to work to be worthy of for the rest of my career,” said Kozlenko, one of only six teachers in New York State to be honored this year. “It is recognition of the hard work STEM teachers, in particular, do on a daily basis to pass on our passion to our students. I view recipients as teachers who continually look for better ways to engage students and make learning more meaningful. Awardees want to make STEM education better, not just for their own students, but for all students.”
Kozlenko has taught 9-12th grade Advanced Placement Physics, along with introductory physics classes and robotics electives throughout her tenure.
Her passion for STEM education extends beyond the classroom. She has taken on the role of Science Liaison as well as advocating for the creation of a K-12 Science Articulation Committee within her district. She is also a member of the Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Committee. On professional development days, she has run workshops on Project Based Learning, Flipped Classrooms, and Integrating Technology.
In 2018, Kozlenko had the opportunity to take a leave of absence from her teaching position. During that time, she was the Content Specialist for physics on the Socratic app by Google.
She has been honored for her excellence in the classroom and her innovative use of technology over the years. In 2016, she was awarded a Regeneron STEM Fellowship, taking classes through NASA’s endeavor program, and working for two weeks with Regeneron scientists. In 2018, she was named an Empire State Excellence in Teaching Award recipient. In 2022, she was selected by the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC) as a teacher who Transforms Education through Leading and Learning (TELL).
“Dr. Kozlenko inspires learning through her innovative pedagogy and infectious enthusiasm,” said Brewster High Principal Nicole Horler, “Students use computational modeling to navigate Dr. Kozlenko’s classes. She is that out of the box teacher that serves as an instructional leader for her students and all of Brewster High School.”