Wednesday Video Spotlight: Oklahoma-born and bred singer-songwriter Amber Hayes contributes to “Cowgirls N’ Angels”
Country singer-songwriter Amber Hayes, a Weleetka native, contributed three songs and made her cinematic debut playing a honky-tonk singer in the Oklahoma-made family film “Cowgirls N’ Angels,” now in state and regional theaters.
The soundtrack features Hayes’ uplifting anthem “Right as Rain,” the lively toe-tapper “C’mon” and the father-daughter ballad “Always There for Me,” which she co-wrote just for the movie and recorded as a duet with former Lonestar frontman Richie McDonald.
The debut feature from director/co-writer Timothy Armstrong, “Cowgirls N’ Angels” tells the tale of young Ida Clayton (Bailee Madison), a sassy small-town Oklahoma girl who longs to know her father, a rodeo rider she’s never met. While searching for her dad at the local arena, she connects with the Sweethearts of the Rodeo, a female trick riding team led by rodeo legend Terence Parker (Oscar nominee James Cromwell). Recognizing that Ida has a natural affinity for horses and a strong desire to belong somewhere, Terence recruits the girl into the Sweethearts.
The production used a 35 percent Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate, administered by the state, according to the state Film and Music Office. It also was eligible to receive an additional 2 percent offered by the state for including music in the film created by Oklahomans. Several Oklahoma musicians and actors were part of making the movie.
Hayes first got involved with “Cowgirls N’ Angels” when she was preparing to make the video for her single “Wait” with director Steven Goldmann. Goldmann passed her name and music to the movie’s producers and made introductions when Hayes traveled to Los Angeles to film the video.
“I thought, ‘OK, having three songs in a movie, that’s gonna be cool.’ But actually being in the movie is just an added bonus,” she told me in a recent interview. “They could’ve had somebody else come and do it and just used the music. But I’m glad that they asked me to come in and get involved.”
To read more of my interview with Hayes, click here, and then check out these videos from Hayes and a “Cowgirls N’ Angels” trailer featuring “C’mon.”
Plus, look for my review of the soundtrack Friday in The Oklahoman, on NewsOK and here at BAM’s Blog.
-BAM
Oklahoma singer-songwriter Amber Hayes contributes three songs to state-made movie ‘Cowgirls N’ Angels’
Oklahoma-born and bred singer-songwriter Amber Hayes and former Lonestar frontman Richie McDonald appear in a scene from "Cowgirls N' Angels."
From Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
Amber Hayes contributes three songs to the movie ‘Cowgirls N’ Angels’
The Weleetka native also makes her onscreen debut in the coming-of-age rodeo drama, which was filmed in Stillwater, Guthrie, Oklahoma City and Pawnee.
Amber Hayes’ first moviemaking experience got star-studded before she even made it to the set.
“When they picked me up from the airport to go to Stillwater, I didn’t even know anybody was in the back of the car. I’m just talking to the driver and I said, ‘You know, I could’ve just had my family come pick me up’ … and she said, ‘Oh, it’s fine I had to pick Jackson up.’ And I turn around and Jackson Rathbone’s sitting in the backseat. I was like ‘Oh my gosh,’” Hayes said.
“We talked most of the way to Stillwater. He’s a musician in a band, so we talked about that. That was neat.”
Catching a ride with one of the heartthrobs of “The Twilight Saga” movies wasn’t even the best moment the Oklahoma-born and bred country singer-songwriter experienced during the production of the coming-of-age rodeo drama “Cowgirls N’ Angels,” which was filmed in Stillwater, Guthrie, Oklahoma City and Pawnee.
The Weleetka native contributed three songs to the family film and its soundtrack: the uplifting anthem “Right as Rain,” the lively toe-tapper “C’mon” and the father-daughter ballad “Always There for Me,” which she co-wrote just for the movie and recorded as a duet with former Lonestar frontman Richie McDonald.
“I wrote a lot of it in the van coming back from Oklahoma — I was doing a casino show there — and my co-writer (Bill DiLuigi) and I just got in the back of the van and wrote the song,” Hayes said in a phone interview from Nashville, Tenn., where she now lives and works.
Amber Hayes
“I’d just spent a couple of days with my family; they all came up to the show and everything. You know, I’m very close with my family and I still spend a lot of time in Oklahoma, as much as I can … so it wasn’t too hard for me to get in that mindset. I can go there because I am that Oklahoma girl.”
The debut feature from director/co-writer Timothy Armstrong, “Cowgirls N’ Angels” tells the tale of young Ida Clayton (Bailee Madison), a sassy small-town Oklahoma girl who longs to know her father, a rodeo rider she’s never met. While searching for her dad at the local arena, she connects with the Sweethearts of the Rodeo, a female trick riding team led by rodeo legend Terence Parker (Oscar nominee James Cromwell). Recognizing that Ida has a natural affinity for horses and a strong desire to belong somewhere, Terence recruits the girl into the Sweethearts.
The production used a 35 percent Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate, administered by the state, according to the state Film and Music Office. It also was eligible to receive an additional 2 percent offered by the state for including music in the film created by Oklahomans. Several Oklahoma musicians and actors were part of making the movie.
Hayes first got involved with “Cowgirls N’ Angels” when she was preparing to make the video for her single “Wait” with director Steven Goldmann. Goldmann passed her name and music to the movie’s producers and made introductions when Hayes traveled to Los Angeles to film the video.
“I thought, ‘OK, having three songs in a movie, that’s gonna be cool.’ But actually being in the movie is just an added bonus,” she said. “They could’ve had somebody else come and do it and just used the music. But I’m glad that they asked me to come in and get involved.”
When she first wrote “Always There for Me,” she thought McDonald would be perfect for the duet because “his voice is very warm and it has so much emotion.” She was thrilled when the crooner got to make a cameo as her father and sang it with her in the movie.
Playing a honky-tonk singer, Hayes also belted “C’mon,” the title track from her 2010 debut EP, while the cast danced through the Stillwater club Outlaws.
“When I got there they all had been practicing the line dance for ‘C’mon.’ It was just so cool when I was up on stage watching all these great actors dancing and singing along to my song,” said Hayes, who recently finished recording her sophomore effort and plans to release it later this year.
She even got to hear the house band on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” play “C’mon” when Bailee Madison appeared on the show, and it brought to mind her favorite “Cowgirls N’ Angels” memory.
“When I got there and rode over to the set, she was in the car with me, and she said, ‘I love that song. I’ve been singing it.’ And then I get in my trailer and she’s pumping it … outside practicing. It was just really kind of one of those moments like ‘is this really happening?’” Hayes said.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on May 30, 2012: Hear Primus at Tulsa’s Brady Theater
Today’s featured event:
TULSA – Hear Primus at 9 tonight at the Brady Theater, 105 W Brady Street.
Doors open at 8 p.m. For more information, go to www.bradytheater.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
Whatever you do today, fellow Oklahomans, be weather aware because the meteorologists here are predicting another stormy day.
-BAM
Video: Warrbuckss feat. L-Smooth and Joe Average “Organic Panic (#thunderup Version)”
Oklahoma City rapper Warrbuckss has released an Oklahoma City Thunder tribute version of his “Organic Panic,” featuring L-Smooth and Joe Average.
The Thunder takes on the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at 8 tonight in San Antonio. The game will air on TNT. The Spurs lead the series 1-0.
Thunder UP!
-BAM
JD McPherson’s “Signs and Signifiers” released today on vinyl
Oklahoma-based singer-songwriter JD McPherson released his Rounder Records debut “Signs and Signifiers” today on vinyl.
As previously reported, McPherson will make his national television debut June 6 on the TBS late-night show “Conan.”
“Signs and Signifiers” recently hit No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and entered the Billboard rock charts and cross-genre Billboard 200 list, according to a news release.
With more than 550,000 YouTube views for his self-directed video for his single “North Side Gal,” which the Riverfront Times hails as “a hit waiting for a chart, a single looking for a jukebox, an irresistible dance number,” McPherson was named WXPN’s May “Artist of the Month,” featured on KCRW’s “Today’s Top Tune,” and was recently featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered.” To read the NPR feature click here.
McPherson and his band are known for their energetic live shows and continue to tour the U.S. with new dates added in Sacramento, Calif.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Santa Fe, N.M.; Baltimore, Md.; Hoboken and Bordentown, N.J.
Earlier this month, McPherson played home state shows at Oklahoma City’s VZD’s and Tulsa Mayfest. He will return to Oklahoma for a June 13 show at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa. For more information, go to www.cainsballroom.com or check out the video posted below.
Hailing from Broken Arrow, the former art teacher traveled to Chicago to record “Signs and Signifiers” at Hi-Style studio, which is housed in the attic of producer/bassist/studio owner Jimmy Sutton’s home and is 100 percent analog.
McPherson, 35, has been getting international attention for the album, originally released in 2010 on Hi-Style. The album recently was re-released by Rounder Records, the respected roots-music label that is home to Alison Krauss, Dr. John, Robert Plant and dozens of other artists with strong ties to folk, blues, world music and traditional R&B.
“We made the record with no dream of it doing much more than us being able to fly to Spain a couple of times a year to play a roots weekender,” McPherson told The Oklahoman Assistant Entertainment Editor George Lang in a recent phone interview. “We knew that it would probably do OK with the subculture of folks that are into that kind of stuff.”
Featuring McPherson (lead and backing vocals, guitar), Jimmy Sutton (bass), and Alex Hall (drums, piano, organ), the album was recorded through a collection of vintage microphones into an old 1960’s Berlant 1/4-inch tape machine. The 12-track album kicks off with the fervent pulse of the first single, “North Side Gal,” and segues into one of the albums two covers, McPherson’s take on “Country Boy,” an old R&B number originally written and recorded by Tiny Kennedy.
The album hosts an array of guest musicians, including Scott Ligon on piano (NRBQ’s Terry Adams Rock & Roll Quartet); Jonathan Doyle (Nick Curran & the Lowlifes, White Ghost Shivers); Chicago’s Josh Bell (The Del Moroccos) on tenor and baritone saxophones; Susan Voelz (Alejandro Escovedo, Poi Dog Pondering) on violin; Allison Chesley (Helen Money) on cello, and Joel Paterson (The Modern Sounds) lends choice guitar work to the Joey Simone classic “Your Love (All That I’m Missing).”
-BAM
Box office report for May 28, 2012: “Men in Black 3″ knocks “Avengers” out of the top spot
One good set of comic-book heroes deserved another at the box office over Memorial Day weekend.
“Men in Black 3,” based on the comics created by Lowell Cunningham and published by Aircel, Malibu and Marvel comics, debuted with almost $70 million domestically over the four-day Memorial Day weekend, according to the Associated Press.
It was enough to finally knock “The Avengers,” based on the comics created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby for Marvel, out of the No. 1 spot, which the super-blockbuster had inhabited for three straight weeks.
“The Avengers” made another $46.9 million domestically, raising its total domestic haul to $523.6 million and making it the No. 4 movie on the all-time domestic revenue chart and only the fourth film to top half a billion dollars. “The Avengers” will quickly pass the No. 3 film, “The Dark Knight” at $533.3 million, leaving only “Avatar” at $760.5 million and “Titanic” at $658.5 million ahead of it, according to the AP.
“The Avengers” has added $781.9 million overseas, giving it a worldwide total of just over $1.3 billion. The film is closing in on the No. 3 earner worldwide, last year’s “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ at $1.33 billion,” again with only “Avatar” ($2.8 billion) and “Titanic” ($2.2 billion) ahead of it, according to the AP.
Still, many older films such as “Gone with the Wind,” ”Star Wars” and “The Sound of Music” sold more tickets than “The Avengers” and other modern blockbusters. Rising admission prices mean today’s movies make more money while selling fewer tickets, especially cinematic spectacles like “The Avengers” that earn so much coin from more expensive 3-D tickets.
Directed by Joss Whedon, “The Avengers” stars Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as The Incredible Hulk, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.
“Men in Black 3″ reteams Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as super-secret government agents protecting the citizens of Earth from aliens, with director Barry Sonnenfeld also returning for the third installment. The three-quel also introduced a time-travel wrinkle, so Josh Brolin co-stars as a 1960s era version of Jones’ Agent K, with Alice Eve playing a younger version of new MIB chief Agent O, played in current time by Emma Thompson. The film also features Flight of the Conchords actor/musician Jermaine Clement as baddie Boris the Animal and Tulsa native Bill Hader of “Saturday Night Live” fame portraying Andy Warhol.
“Men in Black 3″ took $133.2 million overseas for a worldwide total of $203.2 million, reports the AP.
While it was a good start for “Men in Black 3″ and another solid showing for “The Avengers,” Memorial Day weekend was the slowest at theaters in more than a decade, according to the AP, with overall domestic receipts for the four days finishing around $190 million, the lowest since Memorial Day weekend in 2001, when revenues totaled $185.3 million.
Last year, Hollywood pulled in a record $276.3 million over Memorial Day weekend, when “The Hangover Part II” debuted with $103.4 million.
In between “The Avengers” and “MIB 3,” May has mostly been a disappointment at the box office. Johnny Depp and Tim Burton’s “Dark Shadows” and the game adaptation “Battleship” were left high and dry in the wake of “The Avengers.” ”Battleship” launched in April overseas, though, where its $232 million haul helped make up for its meager $47.1 million total after two weekends domestically, according to the AP.
With domestic revenue at $4.3 billion so far this year, Hollywood remains on a record pace, receipts running 11.3 percent ahead of last year’s, according to the AP. But revenue had been running 20 percent ahead of 2011′s earlier this year.
Analysts have said this season could sweep past last year’s summer revenue record of $4.4 billion on the strength of such releases as “The Avengers” and its superhero cousins “The Dark Knight Rises” and “The Amazing Spider-Man.” But those movies won’t arrive until July, and summer is off to a slow start so far.
“After five weeks of summer, to only have two hits, that’s tough,” Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian told the AP. “We definitely need to slingshot back. I was on record predicting record revenue for this summer, and now I’m getting worried. Summer is only 18 weeks, so we don’t have a lot of time, but we do have a lot of big movies coming.”
There was better box-office news in limited release: Focus Features’ first-love comic drama “Moonrise Kingdom” got off to a huge start with $669,486 in four theaters, for a whopping average of $167,371 a cinema. That compares to an average of $16,478 in 4,248 theaters for “Men in Black 3,” according to the AP.
Directed by Wes Anderson (“Rushmore,” ”Fantastic Mr. Fox”), “Moonrise Kingdom” chronicles the relationship of a troubled boy and girl who run away together in the mid-1960s. The ensemble cast includes Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Jason Schwartzman and Tilda Swinton.
Here are the top 10 movies over the Memorial Day weekend, from the AP:
1. “Men in Black 3,” $70 million ($133.2 million international).
2. “The Avengers,” $46.9 million ($26.3 million international).
3. “Battleship,” $13.8 million ($2.9 million international).
4. “The Dictator,” $11.8 million ($11.8 million international).
5. “Dark Shadows,” $9.4 million ($13.1 million international).
6. “Chernobyl Diaries,” $9.3 million.
7. “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” $8.9 million ($1.5 million international).
8. “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” $8.2 million ($853,000 international).
9. “The Hunger Games,” $2.9 million ($800,000 international).
10. “Think Like a Man,” $1.8 million.
-BAM
Former NBA player Desmond Mason exhibiting artwork at Oklahoma Capitol
Desmond Mason (Photo by Travis Clancy)
Before they Thunder up tonight, Oklahoma professional basketball fans have the opportunity to culture up at the Oklahoma Capitol.
Former Thunder and Oklahoma State University basketball player Desmond Mason is exhibiting a collection of his paintings in the East Gallery of the Capitol through July 1. Located on the first floor of the Capitol, the East Gallery features paintings and mixed media works by current Oklahoma artists. The gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends. Admission is free.
After a successful 10-year career as a professional basketball player in the NBA, Mason is now focused on his passion for creating art. The foundation for Mason’s career in the arts was laid when he attended OSU on a basketball scholarship. He majored in studio art and was able to expand his knowledge of art history and further develop his technical skills in painting and drawing.
By his senior year, Mason began to earn national attention not only for his talent in basketball, but also for his artistic ability. After leaving basketball behind in 2009, Mason settled in Oklahoma City and now creates artwork from his studio in the Midtown area.
For this exhibit, titled “Generation Next: Chapter 1,” Mason let his emotions lead the way.
“The process for making this artwork was more mental than physical,” says the artist in a news release. “I thought about all the times I was doubted and told I couldn’t do things or accomplish things. I really let my emotions drive me to the place of creating. I wanted to put painting aside and mentally open up to my work.”
Mason’s artist statement says, “Art is your past, present, and future. It’s your good times and bad times. It’s your love and pain. It’s who you are, but on canvas.”
Mason sees his career in art as an opportunity for philanthropy. In 2004, he founded the Desmond Mason Art Show in which his artwork is sold and the proceeds are donated to numerous local charities. He has sold more then 160 works of art to collectors all over the world.
He also uses his artistic talents to inspire and work with children in need, and he continually strives to help his community in numerous ways.
Mason says that what most inspires his art is his wife, Andrea and their two children, Jada and Elijah.
Born in Waxahachie, Texas, Mason excelled in basketball in high school and went on to play at OSU under legendary coach Eddie Sutton. He appeared in three NCAA tournaments while advancing to the Elite 8 and collecting All-Conference and National Honors during his senior season.
In 2000, he was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics with the 17th pick of the NBA draft’s first round. In 2001, he became the first Seattle player in franchise history to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. During his 10 years in the NBA, he played for Seattle, the Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Sacramento Kings.
The Thunder will play San Antonio in Game 2 of their Western Conference Finals playoff series at 8 tonight in San Antonio. The game will air on TNT.
For more information on Mason’s Capitol exhibit, go to http://arts.ok.gov.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on May 29, 2012: Hear Mark Sultan with The Copperheads at the Blue Note
Mark Sultan
Today’s featured event:
Hear Mark Sultan (AKA BBQ) and special guests The Copperheads at 8 tonight at The Blue Note Lounge, 2408 N Robinson Ave.
For more information, call 600-1166 or click here.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Video: Sunday Lane “A Little Too Young”
Tulsa native Sunday Lane is showing no signs of slowing down following her Top 10 iTunes debut on the singer-songwriter charts last month. Her new single “A Little Too Young” off her debut album, “From Where You Are,” is available now on iTunes.
The singer-songwriter also just released a music video to accompany “A Little Too Young.” The video last week debuted exclusively on www.TheOwlMag.com and is posted above.
To read my review of “From Where You Are,” click here.
Lane’s “A Little Too Young” is essentially a song made for getting back to the fun things in life and seizing the moment. The summer-appropriate song drops just in time to peel back convertible tops and soak in the sunshine. The Los Angeles resident’s wisdom and breezy personality shines through her memorable lyrics as she chants “try to find a way to happy, ’cause we don’t got a need to worry.”
A flawless blend of bright piano chords, bouncy guitar strums and steady drum kicks complement Lane’s smooth airy vibrato. Directed by Evan Smith of Sissortail Media, the video introduces a little girl dressing up and acting like a grown-up. Later in the video, Lane is seen pushing the little girl on the swings as she turns back to her child-like self while they playfully chase after one another.
At just 22, Lane has taken her musical charisma to the likes of the famed Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2011. She also snagged a spot on Music Connection Magazine’s “Hot 100 Unsigned Artists” list and recently had two featured songs on the of the CW Network show “One Tree Hill.” Lane teamed up with producer Zach Annett for the production, engineering and some instrumentation on “From Where You Are.”
For more information, go to www.SundayLane.com.
-BAM
Monday Catchy Quote No. 216
A catchy quote from a movie, TV show or other source to brighten the beginning of your week:
Marty: They all have husbands and wives and children and houses and dogs, and, you know, they’ve all made themselves a part of something and they can talk about what they do. What am I gonna say? “I killed the president of Paraguay with a fork. How’ve you been?”
- Click here to learn the source.
-BAM
