THE RED CARPET PREMIERE OF "SOUL ON FIRE" MOVIE @POWELL HALL OCT 2

PHOTOS BY MAATOLOGY

YOURS TRULY IN THE MIX AT THE RED CARPET EVENT.

SEVERAL HUNDRED ST LOUIS DIGNITARIES, CELEBRITIES AND FILM CAST AND CREW ATTENDED THE OFFICIAL RED CARPET PREMIERE OF THE ST. LOUIS FILMED MOVIE, "SOUL ON FIRE." THE PREMIERE WAS HELD AT THE NEWLY RECONSTRUCTED POWELL HALL OCT. 2 IN MIDTOWN ST LOUIS.  

IN ATTENDANCE WERE THE STARS OF THE FILM  (WILLIAM H. MACY,  JOHN CORBETT AND DEVON FRANKLIN), THE SUPPORTING CAST  AND CREW AND THE MAN THAT  WAS THE FOCUS OF THE MOVIE, ST. LOUIS NATIVE AUTHOR AND  MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, JOHN O'LEARY.


BELOW ARE SOME OF THE PHOTOS OF PEOPLE WHO WALKED THE RED CARPET.

 

ONE OF THE ACTORS OF THE FILM, JAMES MC CRACKEN, WHO PLAYED  YOUNG JOHN O'LEARY.

FILM PRODUCER MARGARET FRENCH ISAAC

ACTOR SPENCER DAVID MILFORD (CENTER),WHO PLAYED O'LEARY'S COLLEGE FRIEND MIKE BRIGHT, WITH HIS FAMILY.

THE ST LOUIS BLACK REPERTORY COMPANY FOUNDER AND PRODUCING DIRECTOR RON HIMES POSES FOR THE OUTCAM. HE PLAYED HOSPITAL AIDE, LAVELLE, IN THE FILM.

A LONG SHOT OF SOME OF THE EARLY COMERS TO THE EVENT.

SINGER NIKKO SMITH POSING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS ON THE ADJACENT STEP AND REPEAT. SMITH PORTRAYED  HIS FAMOUS ST LOUIS CARDINALS BASEBALL PLAYER FATHER, OZZIE SMITH-- WHO WAS ALSO IN THE FILM.

FRED BIRD MADE THEIR APPEARANCE ON THE RED CARPET.

THE ST LOUIS BILLIKENS MASCOT ALSO MADE AN APPEARANCE.

THE BILLKENS MASCOT MINGLING WITH EVENT GUESTS.

ST LOUIS RADIO PERSNALITY JULIE BUCK MADE A CAMEO IN THE FILM. HER FATHER, THE LATE ST LOUIS CARDINALS RADIO ANNOUNCER JACK BUCK, WAS PORTRAYED IN THE FILM BY ACTOR WILLIAM H MACY. 

BUCK GETTING INTERVIEWED BY MEDIA.

HIMES GETTING INTERVIEWED BY MEDIA. STANDING WITH HIM IS HIS WIFE, HEATHER HIMES.

ACTRESS  MACEY MCLAIN PLAYED THE ROLE OF JOHN OLEARY'S WIFE, BETH. NEXT TO HER IS BASEBALL ANNOUNCER JOE BUCK, THE SON OF JACK BUCK. 

"SOUL ON FIRE" DIRECTOR SEAN MCNAMARA AND PRODUCER LINDA BLUM HUNTINGTON HAMMING IT UP ON THE RED CARPET.

OZZIE SMITH HUGS A MEDIA PERSON ON THE RED CARPET.

SMITH GETTING INTERVIEWED BY MEDIA.

ST LOUIS MAYOR CARA SPENCER GETTING INTERVIEWED ON THE RED CARPET.

ACTRESS STEPHANIE SZOSTAK PLAYED JOHN'S MOTHER, SUSAN O'LEARY.

SMITH SIGNS AN AUTOGRAPH FOR A MEDIA PERSON.

O'LEARY GETTING INTERVIEWED.

A LONG SHOT OF O'LEARY GETTING INTERVIEWED. HIS REAL FAMILY WAS ALSO IN ATTENDANCE OF THE EVENT.

ACTOR WILLIAM H MACY, WHO PLAYED JACK BUCK, HUGS O'LEARY AS THEY POSE FOR PICTURES ON THE RED CARPET.

FILM PRODUCER/ACTOR DEVON FRANKLIN GETTING INTERVEIWED. HE PLAYED NURSE ROY IN THE FILM.

ACTOR JOHN CORBETT, WHO PLAYED JOHN'S FATHER, DENNY O'LEARY (WHO WAS A FEATURED EXTRA IN THE FILM BEFORE HE PASSED)  GETS INTERVIEWED. IN THE BACKGROUND IS JOEL COURTNEY WHO PLAYED THE ADULT JOHN O'LEARY.

A LONG SHOT OF CAST, DIRECTOR AND PRODUCERS ON THE RED CARPET.

BEFORE THE GUESTS TOOK THEIR SEATS TO SEE THE FILM, GUESTS MIXED AND MINGLED INSIDE THE WHITE MARBLE FLOORED LOBBY AREA OF POWELL HALL. THE VENUE HAD A CASH BAR, POPCORN AND SNACKS FOR THE BLACK TIE CROWD.

THE MAIN CAST, PRODUCERS AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE FILM SAT  ON STAGE IN FRONT OF THE PACKED CROWD AFTER THE SCREENING OF THE FILM FOR "Q AND A " THAT WAS FACILITATED BY JOHN O'LEARY (FAR LEFT).

AFTER THE VIEWING OF THE FILM, THE CROWD WALKED OUT THE VENUE TO THE SOUNDS OF THE RED AND BLACK BRASS BAND PLAYING OUTSIDE BY HE STEP AND REPEAT AREA. COMPLIMENTARY MOVIE POSTERS AND RED ST LOUIS CARDINALS BASEBALLS WERE GIVEN TO THE GUESTS.

THE AFTER PARTY HAD TAKEN PLACE AT THE ANGAD HOTEL RESTAURANT ST LOUIS ACROSS THE STREET FROM POWELL HALL (OUTCAM ATTENDED BRIEFLY AND SAW THAT EVERYONE  WHO ATTENDED--ABOUT 100 OR SO--WAS PACKED IN THE SMALL SPACE AND PARTKAING IN LIGHT APPETIZERS. THE FILM'S PR TEAM OF THE FILM DIDNT ALLOW OUTCAM TO ATTEND THE ENTIRE AFTER PARTY, BUT FROM WHAT WAS SEEN, IT WAS TOO CROWDED TO EVEN WALK OR MOVE IN THE LOCATED AREA.

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

 GO TO MY FACEBOOK PAGE: MARCUS MA'AT ATKINS

OUTSTAGN'S REVIEW OF THE FILM:

 SOUL ON FIRE BLAZES RIGHT INTO YOUR HEART STRINGS 

AFTER VIEWING THE FILM, IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT JOHN O'LEARY DEFINITELY HAD A STORY TO TELL ON THE SILVER SCREEN!

 BASED ON O'LEARY'S  2016 BESTSELLING BOOK ON FIRE , THE  FILM INVOLVES THE TRIALED LIFE OF O'LEARY WHO WAS BURNED IN A FREAK FIRE ACCIDENT AS A CHILD BURNING ALMOST 100 PERCENT OF HIS BODY AND HOW HE  SURVIVED AND COPED AS A BURN VICTIM.

TOLD FROM A PAST TIME FLASHBACK TO THE PRESENT PAST,SOUL ON FIRE-- THAT IS DIRECTED BY SEAN MC NAMARA ("REAGAN" "SOUL SURFER")--DEPICTS O'LEARY'S LIFE FROM  ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO COLLEGE  AND HOW HIS LIFE IS IMPACTED BY TWO MEN DURING HIS RECOVERY--ST LOUIS CARDINALS ANNOUNCER JACK BUCK (PLAYED BY WILLIAM H MACY IN A VERY SUBDUED BUT COMPELLING ROLE ) AND HOSPITAL NURSE, NURSE ROY, PLAYED BY DEVON FRANKLIN(WHO GAVE AN ENDEARING PERFORMANCE). 

THE TWO ACTORS WHO PLAY THE YOUNG AND COLLEGE AGED JOHN (JAMES MACRACKEN AND JOEL COURTNEY RESPECTIVELY) GIVE STRONG PERFORMANCES  THAT WERE WELL PACED GIVING EMPATHY TO THEIR CHARACTERS AND  A SENSE OF BELIEVABILITY OF O'LEARY'S STRUGGLES.

(THE REAL JOHN O'LEARY ALSO MAKES A CAMEO IN THE FILM.) 

ANOTHER GOOD  PERFORMANCE IN THE FILM IS JOHN CORBETT WHO PLAYS O'LEARYS STALWART BUT SENSITIVE FATHER.

SOUL ON FIRE, WHICH RUNS  ONE HOUR AND 51 MINUTES LONG,  IS YOUR STANDARD  INSPIRTAIONAL FAITH BASED STORY.  YET, WATCHING THE FILM AS A WHOLE, THERE WERE  SEVERAL MOMENTS WHERE THE FILM COULD HAVE CONCLUDED WITH ONE NICE TIED BOW AS OPPOSED TO MANY BOWS. AS A RESULT, THE FILM SUFFERS A BIT FROM BEING TOO MUSHY AND OVER-SENTIMENTAL. 

OVERALL, "SOUL ON FIRE" IS DEFINITELY A POWERFUL, FAMILY FRIENDLY, STORY OF HOW ONE CAN OVERCOME CHALLENGES IN LIFE. THUS, THE REAL STAR OF "SOUL ON FIRE," HOWEVER, IS THE CITY OF ST LOUIS. THE FILM SHOWS MANY NOTABLE LOCATIONS OF THE CITY (THE ARCH, BUSCH STADIUM, SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY) AND ST LOUIS PERSONALITIES AS  PART OF THE SUPPORTING CAST (OZZIE SMITH, RON HIMES, JULIE BUCK) THAT GIVE A SENSE OF HOME TO THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY.

"SOUL ON FIRE" OPENS NATIONWIDE ON OCT 10. FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFO GO TO 

https://soulonfiremovie.com/

THE 3rd ANNUAL EVOLUTION FESTIVAL @FOREST PARK-ST. LOUIS SEPT 27 and 28

PHOTOS BY MAATOLOGY

!

YOURS TRULY INSIDE  THE MEDIA TENT TO COVER THE FIRST DAY OF THE EVOLOTION FESTIVAL 

OVERALL, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS CAME OUT  TO FOREST PARK TO ATTEND THE 3RD ANNUAL FESTIVAL ON SAT SEPT. 27 AND SUN SEPT 28. TWENTY ACTS FROM ALL GENRES (POP, ROCK, COUNTRY, HIP-HOP AND JAZZ) AND STAR STATUS PERFORMED ON TWO BOOK END MAIN STAGES. THERE WAS ALSO A MINI STAGE IN THE MIDDLE LOCATION OF THE FESTIVAL, THE NUTRL STAGE WHERE MOST OF THE LOCAL  MUSICAL ACTS PERFORMED.

THE FIRST ACT SHOT WAS THE LEGENDARY 90'S SOUTH CENTRAL BASED HIP HIP GROUP, PHARCYDE!

THEY PERFORMED A 30 MINUTE SET ON THE LINDENWOOD STAGE.

THEY WITHSTOOD THE BLAZING ST LOUIS AUTUMN SUN  AS THEY PERFORMED THEIR CLASSIC TUNES INCLUDING  "DROP," "SHE SAID," AND THEIR BIGGEST HIT 'PASSIN ME BY'."



NEXT UP WHO WAS SHOT WAS  BRITISH BASED GRAMMY AWARD NOMINATED SINGER/SONGWRITER CORRINE BAILEY RAE  WHO PERFORMED ON THE WWW TECHNOLOGY STAGE.

 


HERE IS  A VIDEO OF RAE COMING ON STAGE TO PERFORM

SHE AND HER BAND PERFORMED FOR THE CROWD.

A SHOT OF THE AUDIENCE ENJOYING RAE ON STAGE.

THE CROWD DURING RAE'S PERFORMANCE

SHE ALSO PLAYED THE ELECTRIC GUITAR.

A LONG SHOT OF RAE PERFORMING ON THE WW TECHNOLOGY STAGE 

OVERALL, RAE'S 30 MINUTE SET WAS LIVELY AS SHE PERFORMED VARIOUS SONGS INCLUDING HER HITS , "IS THIS LOVE," "LIKE A STAR" AND HER SIGNATURE SONG, "PUT YOUR RECORDS ON."

NEXT UP WAS LEGENDARY NEW YORK BASED HIP-HOP GROUP PUBLIC ENEMY!

HERE IS A VIDEO OF FLAVA FLAV, WHO WALKED ON STAGE FIRST DURING THEIR SONG "DONT BELIEVE THE HYPE,' THEN INTRODUCED HIS RAP PARTNER, CHUCK D.

PUBLIC ENEMY WAS DEFINITELY A STAND OUT DURING DAY ONE OF THE EVOLOTION FESTIVAL BASED ON THE CROWD WHO WAS HYPED THROUGHOUT THEIR 70 MINUTE SET! THEY ALSO TOLD THE CROWD THEIR AGE (CHUCK D IS 65, AND FLAV IS 66!).

THEIR GROUP CONSISTED OF A TWO MEN REPRESETING THE SW1 TEAM  (JAMES BOMB AND POP DIESEL) AND  DJ JUICE MIXING THEIR CLASSIC SONGS FROM THEIR VERY FIRST RECORD, "PUBLIC ENEMY NO.1 TO "SHUT EM DOWN" TO "911 IS A JOKE, " "BY THE TIME I GET TO AROZONA" AND  RAPPING A FEW SONGS OFF THEIR LATEST ALBUM, BLACK SKY OVER THE PROJECTS" APARTMENT 2025.

CHUCK D SPREADED HIS STALWART OPINIONS TO THE CROWD ABOUT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION DURING THEIR SET("I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!" HE QUIPPED.) AND PEOPLE IN GENERAL ("PEOPLE WHO KNOW A LOT, DON'T TALK MUCH, BUT THOSE WHO TALKED TOO MUCH, DON'T KNOW MUCH," HE SAID.). 

OF COURSE FLAVA FLAV ANIMNATED PERFORMANCE KEPT THE AUDIENCE'S ATTENTION AT 66 YEARS OLD!

THEIR CLOSER WAS "FIGHT THE POWER" AS FLAV CROWD SURFED INTO THE AUDIENCE AS CHUCK D LOOKEDON ( HE MAINLY EXTENDED HIS HAND OUT TO THE FRONT ROW OF THE CROWD) BEFORE THE SONG CLOSED (YOU CAN SEE THAT VIDEO ON MY FB PAGE: MARCUS MA'AT ATKINS)



OUR LAST ACT THAT WE SHOT ON DAY ONE WAS THE SKA PUNK BAND, SUBLIME, WHO PERFORMED AT THE OTHER MAIN STAGE, WW TECH. THEY CLOSED OUT DAY ONE OF THE FESTIVAL.

THEIR SET WAS QUITE DECORATIVE INCLUDING A LARGE DOG THAT WORE A SIGN THAT SAID, "BEWARE OF DOG: DOG WILL BITE."

THEIR 90 MINUTE SET CONSISTED OF  SONGS PERFORMED  FROM THEIR THREE ALBUMS, 40 OZ TO FREEDOM, ROBBIN THE HOOD AND THEIR SELF TITLED ALBUM.

LEAD SINGER, ERIC WILSON WAS ALL CAUGHT UP IN THE MUSIC MIX!

A VIDEO OF SUBLIME IN THEIR ELEMENT ON STAGE!

DAY TWO...............................



YOURS TRULY,  WAITING TO SHOOT IN THE MEDIA TENT.

THE FIRST ACT SHOT WAS SOUTH CAROLINA BASED SOUTHERN ROCK/BLUES BAND, MARCUS KING BAND WHO PERFORMED THEIR HOUR LONG SET ON THE WW TECH STAGE.

THE MARCUS KING BAND IN ACTION!

IF YOU PICTURE LYNYRD SKYNRD MEETS A MALE VERSION OF JANIS JOPLIN ON VOCALS, THEN YOU HAVE THE MARCUS KING BAND AND HIS NAMESAKE. 

THE SIX PIECE BAND PERFORMED SONGS FROM THEIR ALBUMS, SOUL INSIGHT, THE EPONYMOUS NAMED ALBUM, CAROLINA SESSIONS AND THEIR NEWEST ALBUM,  DARLING BLUE. 

A LONG SHOT OF THE BAND PERFORMING.

BELOW ARE SOME ATMOSPHERE SHOTS DURING THE FESTIVAL.........

THE NEXT ACT SHOT WAS BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS SINGER/SONGWRITER, POKEY LEFARGE WHO PERFORMED AN HOUR LONG SET ON THE LINDENWOOD STAGE.

A VIDEO OF LEFARGE STARTING OFF HIS SET WITH HIS BAND.

THE FASHIONABLE LAFARGE AND HIS  ECLECTIC MUSIC STYLE WHICH CAN BE DESCRIBED AS A HODGE PODGE OF JAZZ, RAGTIME, BLUES, COUNTRY AND FOLK. HE PERFORMED VARIOUS SONGS FROM HIS SEVEN ALBUMS INCUDING HIS LATEST RELEASE, RHUMBA COUNTRY.

HIS BAND CONSISTED OF A FEMALE UPRIGHT BASS PLAYER.





NEXT SHOT WAS ONE OF THE HEADLINERS, HIP-HOP/R&B GROUP, TLC.

GETTING THE CROWD HYPED BEFORE TLC CAME ON STAGE WAS DJ DUBZ.

A PHOTO OF THE CROWD AWAITNG FOR THE GRAMMY AWARD WINNING  SUPERSTAR GROUP.

A VIDEO OF TLC COMING ONSTAGE TO A HYPE CROWD!

THEY STARTED THEIR HOUR LONG SET ON THE WW TECH STAGE WITH THEIR FIRST HIT SONG, "AINT TOO PROUD TO BEG" WITH THE LATE RAPPER LEFT EYE'S VOCALS BLASTING ON THE AMP SPEAKERS.

CHILLI WAS DEFINITELY GETTING HER DANCE ON NOT MISSING A BEAT!

T-BOZ'S ICONIC SECOND ALTO VOICE WAS DEFINITELY LIVE!

 

THE GROUP PERFORMED ALL THEIR HITS INCLUDING THE ONES FROM THEIR DIAMOND SELLING ALBUM, CRAZY SEXY COOL ("CREEP," DIGGIN THE SCENE, "KICK YOUR GAME"). T BOZ ACKNOWLDGED ON STAGE THAT THE CULTURE CHANGING ALBUM WAS CELEBRATING 3O YEARS OF ITS INITIAL RELEASE.

CHILLI WITH THEIR HYPE DANCERS.

THEY ALSO SANG SONGS FROM THEIR ALBUM, FAN MAIL ("NO SCRUBS," "UNPRETTY") AND  FROM 3D("GIRL TALK")

CHILLI IN HER ELEMENT.

THEIR ENCORE SONG WAS THEIR BIGGEST HIT, "WATER FALLS."

BEFORE  LENNY KRAVITZ CLOSED OUT THE FESTIVAL, UNITED WAY WAS GIVEN A CHECK OF $100,000 FROM THE FESTIVAL. THE DONATED PROCEEDS WILL GO TOWARD  UNITED WAY OF GREATER ST LOUIS' DISASTER RELIEF  FUND.  FROM LEFT: Steve Schankman - Founder, Evolution Festival and President, Contemporary Productions; The Honorable Cara Spencer - Mayor of St. Louis; Michelle D. Tucker - President and CEO, United Way of Greater St. Louis; Katie Schankman - Board Member, Evolution Festival;  AND Senator Brian Williams -14th Senatorial District North St. Louis County. 

THE CLOSER WAS GRAMMY AWARD WINNING SINGER/GUITARIST LENNY KRAVITZ. PICTURED IS A JUMBO TRON PHOTO OF KRAVITZ (MEDIA WAS NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE PHOTOS OF HIM .)

KRAVITZ 90 MINUTE SET STARTED OFF WITH SOME DIM BLUE LIGHTS, HIM ENTERING STAGE  LIKE A PANTHER WITH HIS MULTI INSTRUMENTALIST BAND AND PYROTECHNIC EXPLOSIVES RAMPING UP THE INTENSITY AND HIM RIPPING INTO THE FIRST SONG, "BRING IT ON."

AND IT WAS HIGH GEAR AFTER THAT!

 THE AUDIENCE WAS READY FOR THE RIDE (ESPECIALLY THE LADIES WHO KEPT SCREAMING OUT HIS NAME THROUGHOUT THE SHOW)!

THROUGHOUT HIS SET, KRAVITZ  CHANGED UP GUITARS, WALKED SOME MEAN GANGSTER STEPS BACK AND FORTH ON THE WWW TECH STAGE, AND  DOING ALL OF THE MOVES THAT A ROCK AND ROLER SHOULD DO ON A LIVE STAGE. 

HE ALSO GAVE SOME WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE AUDIENCE REGARDING THE CURRET ADMINSTRATION (" DONT LET THEM DIVIDE US...ALL YOU BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, TRADITIONS, RELIGIONS AND CUSTIMS, WE ARE TOGETHER, MAKING LOVE, " HE SAID.) .

HE ALSO INTRODUCED HIS EIGHT- PIECE BAND WHICH INCLUDED TWO GUTARISTS (INCLUDING SECONG HAND MAN CRAIG ROSS) , A SAX PLAYER, TROMBONIST, A TREMPUTER AND HIS FEMALE DRUMMER,  CINDY BLACKMAN SANTANA, WHO BECAME EMOTIONAL WHEN  SHE  RECEIVED  THE BIGGEST APPLAUSE OF THE BAND MEMBERS. 

 KRAVITZ PLAYED HIS HITS FROM HIS 30 YEAR ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER( "IT AINT IVER TIL ITS OVER" "FLY AWAY," DIG IN," "A MERICAN WOMAN,"  "BELIEVE," " AGAIN") AND JAMMED SOME TUNES FROM HIS LATEST ALBUM BLUE ELECTRIC LIGHT  INCLUDING THE SONG "PARAYLYZED" WHICH FIT PERFECTLY WITH THE REST OF HIS MUSICAL ROLLERCOASTER.

NEAR THE END OF HIS SET AND AFTER A FAKE EXIT, KRAVITZ RETURNED TO THE STAGE FOR AN ENCORE-- A ROUSING 10 MINUTE RENDITION OF HIS FIRST HIT, "LET LOVE RULE." HE MANAGED TO WALK DOWN THE STAIRS OFF STAGE TO WALK  INTO E THE CROWD TO DO A CALL AND RESPONSE OF THE CHORUS TO HIS SONG. THIS DROVE THE CROWD IN A FRENZY! HE THEN WALKED "SWAGFULLY" IN FRONT OF THE AUDIENCE TO  BACKSTAGE AND  BACK ON STAGE TO CONCLUDE THE REMAINING MINUTES OF THE ENCORE.

OVERALL, KRAVITZ'S SET WAS INDICATION THAT PURE ROCK AND ROLL AND ALL OF ITS MAGICAL INGREDIENTS ARE STILL ALIVE! 

  

FOR MORE COVERAGE AND VIDEOS, 

GO TO FB/META PAGE: MARCUS MA'AT ATKINS