If you haven’t heard about Ethan Paisley, take note. This 18-year-old filmmaker has already had two films selected at Cannes Film Festival, given a TED talk, and won the “Best Young Director” award at the Young Entertainer Awards. These are just a few of his accomplishments, which you can read more about on his website.

As evidenced by the Q&A we did, which you can read below, Ethan is thoughtful, well-spoken and driven…and it is great to see a teen with such passion for his work. If he keeps it up and manages to avoid Hollywood’s many traps and vices, he undoubtedly has a very bright future ahead of him as a creative force in this industry. Excited to see where his talents and persistence take him!

Now onto the Q&A.

1. Hi Ethan, nice to e-meet you! Before we get into your work as a filmmaker, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hello! I’m an 18 year old writer, producer, student, wannabe dancer, dim sum connaisseur, and all-around freakshow. I’m originally from the San Francisco Bay Area but now I’m based in LA. I currently produce for PaperChase Films, one of the minds behind The Kindergarten Teacher (available on Netflix), and I’m also pursuing a BFA in Creative Producing at Chapman University.

2. Great. For people who don’t know you, tell us how you got into making movies.

I started as an actor when I was really young. I was also exposed to YouTube when I was really young. So when I was competing to book TV shows, I gave up and decided to make one of my own online. This is where I self-taught filmmaking and augmented my talent for pairing creative thinking with marketing and public relations strategy. After I harassed every production company and student film production in San Francisco to let me be an extra, PA, whatever, I decided to make my first feature film The Art of Escape at 14 years old. The failures and successes that came from that project, and how I handled them, helped me identify my passion for working in the capacity of a producer.

3. Which film of yours are you most proud of, and what makes it stand out to you most?

Today, the slate of content I’m working on is extremely diverse in terms of genre and story which is very exciting to me. I will have a better answer in six months … that said, to date, my baby is my short film Indelible. Indelible stands out because it is the most distant from my personal life experience but also the most personal at the same time. It’s a film about a PTSD stricken war vet who time travels back to the war front to overcome his trauma. I have no relationship to the military, PTSD, or the sci-fi genre, but I do have experience self-isolating based on my fears of what others will think. This is what the protagonist in my film does, and the consoling message that comes from this in the film is that there will always be people who care. Further, this film was made by 50% women and men, and there is a ratio of 3:1 people of color we see represented on screen. It was a really rewarding experience!

4. Is there anything you have created which makes you cringe a little? What is it and what’s cringey about it?

Cringe is my middle name! My friends tell me I’m too hard on myself but I disagree. Every film is a learning experience, and it’s important to embrace the cringiness everytime as painful as it might be. The best example is a movie I made in eighth grade called Saladcide, and yes you read that right. I made a movie about salad getting revenge on America for it’s obesity crisis. My goal was to make the worst movie possible and hopefully grow some sort of cult following around it. I was going through a time when I was really into parody movies and bad comedies, because they demonstrated that filmmaking was possible from any angle. This was a great learning experience in putting something out there and not caring what anyone would think, which is a practice I still take very seriously today.

5. Why exactly are you a filmmaker? It is very tough work to make films…so what is the payoff for you personally?

I’m a filmmaker because I revel in the process. As a producer, you have to love people, organizing people, and leading everyone towards something greater than themselves. I find great community in this process. Personally, I have to live, breathe, and die on community if it means being happy. That’s the payoff: it makes me happy!

6. What’s your overall goal – like what do you want to achieve long term as an artist?

I just want to keep doing what I’m doing now and continue to tell better and better stories. I’m still finding my voice as an artist and that’s what I want to focus on doing. Hollywood moves so fast and success is so temporary. What excites me now is getting to know myself better as an artist. I just started college. Who knows what kinds of stories I’ll be telling four years down the line and what my goals will be then!

7. Which is your go-to camera to shoot with? Why?

As a producer, that’s something I discuss with my director. I don’t go near cameras unless it means renting or returning them to a facility that lends them out. Anything around tech intimidates me.

8. What’s your favorite “bad” film (like Plan 9 from Outer Space)?

On Rotten Tomatoes it’s bad but in my heart it’s gold: Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen is really one for the books in my opinion. Everything about it is so extra and fabulous. It’s set in New York City. And Lindsay Lohan sings, dances, and acts in it. What’s not to love?

9. And favorite film overall?

It’s a gamble between Rosemary’s Baby and Howl’s Moving Castle. I love stories that are fantastical, surreal, and challenge societal norms.

10. Which filmmakers or creators do you look up to most?

Sofia Coppola, Frederico Fellini, Roman Polanski, Hayao Miyazaki, Ingmar Bergman, and anyone behind the latest HBO mini-series’ or Black Mirror.

11. What does your production company name, Take18, represent?

This is the production company I made in high school, and Take18 was meant to represent how everyone who worked within the company was under 18. Now we’re all over 18 doing different things but the name still sticks! On one of our feature films Point 453, we actually had a party during one of our shoots for hitting 18 takes on one of the shots.

12. What’s the biggest challenge you have faced so far in this industry?

Staying on your own path, not comparing yourself to others, staying patient, and being selective about what you work on. In other words, slowing down. Especially now with social media, everyone is always sharing something, and it really adds to the pressure of the grind that Hollywood promotes. It’s not always true that hard work pays off, and it’s much more important to me now to create one good thing that yields a large effect rather than a bunch of little things that may or may not do anything in the world. These are the lessons I’m learning everyday.

13. And your biggest accomplishment?

Learning the distribution process and connecting four films to worldwide distribution is definitely my biggest accomplishment. My two feature films The Art of Escape and Point 453 are available for streaming in 86+ countries worldwide on platforms including Amazon Prime, iTunes, and Google Play. Two of my shorts Indelible and Wilted were recently acquired for distribution by KQED and Distribber. It’s an arduous, painful process but I got to travel to Cannes, LA, New York a lot for sales meetings last year. Next year I might be going to Hong Kong for FILMART and I’m thrilled but also daunted.

14. If you had the power to write, direct and star in your own movie with an unlimited budget, what would you call it and what would it be about?

I really want to work on Big Little Lies or anything written and directed by Jean-Marc Vallée. So when he wants to make his first feature he should hit me up!

15. Tell me something people would be surprised to know about you?

I’m an introvert and I crave my alone time. I’m also a cross country runner and I run about 3-5 miles everyday. I’m getting into meditation lately and taking more time for me.

16. Biggest pet peeve?

Too many to count. People repeatedly kicking the seat in class, people who make weird noises when they sleep, leaving me on read, the list goes on …

17. Favorite food?

DIM SUM! Or Sushi. I love Asian cuisine with a burning passion.

18. Secret fear?

That everyone secretly hates me and that I will never be as successful as I want to be, and that I will be single for the rest of my life 🙂

19. What’s the last movie you watched, and give me a review…but you can only use TWO WORDS for the review : )

A Simple Favor: Beautiful Joke.

20. The one thing I cannot live without is__________.

My phone. Yep. I said it.

21. Most embarrassing moment IRL you wish you could do over?

Everyday is an embarrassing moment! No for real, I’m a total mess. I wish I could redo everytime I’ve messed up in a meeting or on a date because obviously that might change the course of my life for the better. But I have faith that everything happens for a reason.

22. What else are you working on or have coming up next?

Right now I’m pitching two hilarious TV Shows with some fabulous writers attached, I’m in pre-production for a couple features, and I’m developing some really exciting scripts with PaperChase. I’m sworn to secrecy on most everything but follow me on social media @ethanbpaisley for more updates as they come!

23. Could we get a selfie of whatever you are doing at the moment? It’s something we ask to keep it real for the fans!

Follow Ethan Paisley:

http://instagram.com/ethanbpaisley
http://www.facebook.com/ethanbpaisley
http://www.twitter.com/ethanbpaisley
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethanbpaisley/
http://imdb.me/ethanpaisley

Ava Michelle Cota (@avamichelle2002 on Twitter) seems to be on a mission. At just 16 years old, the “Dance Moms” veteran is absolutely killing it on the creative front as not only is she a professional model and dancer, but she also has a forthcoming EP as well as a sporty/chic collaboration clothing line, “AVA x JMS” with talented designer Jonathan Marc Stein. She also has plans to tour the US teaching master classes at various dance studios that will be open to all levels of dancers. This is a lot for an adult to take on, let alone a teenager!

All hasn’t been roses for Ava however. Standing 6 feet tall, she’s experienced extensive bullying because of her height, and was even dropped from Abby Lee Miller’s squad because she was “too tall.” She is committed, however, to turning this into a positive by spreading the message of self-love and body positivity wherever she can.

We got the chance to interview her so you get to know her a little better and hopefully get motivated to pursue your own dreams with as much passion as she does. Scroll down for our exclusive Q&A with Ava Cota!

 All images: Ava Cota

Hi Ava, nice to e-meet you! Before we get into your new projects, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hey! I am a 16 year old, dancer, singer/songwriter, model and actress! I grew up in a really small town in Michigan but just recently relocated to Los Angeles! I absolutely love what I do and love my fans so so much!

Okay! So you are widely known as a dancer from Dance Moms of course, but not many know you sing also, and will be releasing your debut EP soon. What made you decide to transition to singing, and are you nervous about how your music will be received?

I have actually been singing since I was very little but it was something that was always kind of on the back burner. I always loved to sing but songwriting is really new to me! It was amazing to find another way to express myself. These songs are very personal to me and I cannot wait to share!

Tell us about the EP and what the process of writing it and putting it together was like.

Like I said songwriting is something that is new to me, but most of my songs are about what I have gone thru in the past year or so. Most of them came when I was just overflowing with emotion and needed a way to get them out. But now being able to hear songs that I wrote become a whole production that could be on the radio is so rewarding!

As if that weren’t enough to keep you busy, you also have a new clothing line coming out right? Please tell us all about it!

Yes I do! I am collaborating with Jonathan Marc Stein, a designer I met at LA fashion week a couple years ago! It is a sporty/chic line, kinda my everyday style mixed with a little more couture!!! I cannot wait for everyone to see it!

Did they come to you with designs for you to approve, or did you draw stuff yourself for the line? How does that work?

Jonathan and I sat down and made many sketches and mood boards, I’ve gone to the fabric store and have been a part of the entire process! Whenever I’m collaborating with someone I want to make sure that I am hands on. I have learned so much during this process, it has been an amazing experience

Do you still talk to the girls from Dance Moms? If so, who do you chat with the most?

Yes I do! It’s awesome because a lot of us moved out to LA together. I talk to Nia, Maddie, Mckenzie, and Jojo probably the most! I am so happy for them and proud of all of their success! I’m so glad we can be out here supporting each other!

Are you still carrying any bitterness from being cut from Abby Lee Miller’s dance squad for “being too tall?” To get hit with such a negative blow regarding your appearance at such a young age must have been terrible—so what helped you deal with it?

I have definitely grown a lot as a human since then. I do not have any bitterness towards Abby and honestly wish her well. Yes, it was very difficult hearing these things at a young age, but social media was probably the worst. I had a lot of people attacking the way I looked but also just attacking me in general because I was a competitor. This was really hard to go through, but I found that self-love was the thing that helped me through it all. Also finding the people that love you and support you and surrounding yourself with them has been a huge game changer!

What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned from being on that show?

If you love something then go for it and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t, are not good enough, or don’t fit into the mold they have created in their heads. If you love something enough you can do anything. The experience on Dance Moms made me so so strong.

And the most rewarding part of the whole experience?

I am so thankful for the experience! It really opened my eyes to what is out there. Being from a small town I didn’t really understand what I could do with my talent and the things I love. I would not be where I am at all without the show.

You are a crusader for anti-bullying causes and self-acceptance. What do you think is the single best way for teens to guard themselves against the negative effects of bullying—because let’s be honest, there will always be mean people around and you cannot really stop the whole world from saying hurtful things.

I totally agree. It’s hard, because a lot of people say block out the haters but from my point of view that is impossible. As humans we take in every word that someone says about us and blocking them out is just not dealing with them. The thing that helped me get through this was finding self-love. It is an amazing thing, once you have this you are confident enough in yourself to know that those comments don’t matter because you are perfect just the way you are.

Tell me something people would be surprised to know about you.

I absolutely love to cook and I am a complete foodie!

Biggest pet peeve?

Fakeness.

Favorite place you’ve traveled to and why?

I actually haven’t been out of the country yet, which Is something I really want to do! But some of my fav places here are Catalina Island, San Diego and Boston!

Favorite food?

Sushi!!!!

Favorite TV show?

Friends, Orphan Black, Marvelous Mrs. Mazel, The 100 and Vampire Diaries! Can’t pick lol

Most attractive thing in another person?

Humbleness.

Most embarrassing moment IRL you wish you could do over?

I went to a dance competition and competed when I wasn’t feeling that good and puked on stage. Could prob do without that incident lol

Besides all we already talked about, what else do you have coming up?

Hopefully some new acting projects 😉

Could we get a selfie? 😍

Follow Ava Michelle Cota:

https://www.instagram.com/ava.michelle
https://twitter.com/avamichelle2002
https://www.facebook.com/AvaMichelleofficial/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6433012/

Paxton Booth (@Paxton_Booth on Twitter) stars alongside @RubyRoseTurner @LotusDakota and @OliviaSanabia on Disney Channel’s new show Coop and Cami Ask The World. The show is about two siblings who have a popular streaming channel that crowdsources opinions from millions of followers to help them make most of their day-to-day decisions.

Paxton plays Ollie Wrather, the younger sibling of the duo. He started acting at around 2.5 years old, and loves to perform his own stunts. He also does BMX tricks and boasts a 1000-strong Hot Wheel collection! He is a David Bowie fan, and also makes time to support animal rescue organizations as well as numerous other charities.

We asked this 8-year-old rising talent about his background and his role on Coop and Cami Ask The World. Read on for the Q&A!

Hi Paxton, nice to e-meet you! Before we get into your role as Ollie on the Disney Channel series Coop and Cami Ask the World, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you started acting.

Hello! Great to be here! Well, I’m 8 years old, and born and raised in Southern California. My mom and dad said I started talking at a very young age and was never shy, so they thought it was a good idea to try to book some commercials. It snowballed from there into about 30 national commercials, many co-star roles, a few films and now a series regular on Coop And Cami Ask The World – and I’m still going!

Thank you! Now, please tell us what the show is about, and about your character Ollie.

Coop and Cami Ask The World is a fun family show about a single mom and her four kids growing up in today’s digital world. The two middle kids, Coop and Cami, have a live stream show called “Would You Wrather” where they ask their followers for help with everyday problems or which silly stunt they should do.

I play Ollie Wrather, he’s the youngest of the family. He’s a super fun character to play because he says whatever is on his mind. Ollie has no filter! He is also the “test pilot” for the Would You Wrather show, so that means I get to do a bunch of fun stunts!

What’s the best part about being on the show so far?

Definitely working with some really cool people! Not just the cast, but the crew too. We also got to shoot some promos at Disney World and that was super rad. My family got to go too, so we spent a ton of time riding rides and eating delicious food when I wasn’t shooting.

Can you tell us any funny behind-the-scenes stories that have happened while filming Coop and Cami Ask the World?

Without giving too much away, there was a birthday scene where there was a pink cake in the living room. I had to ride a large animal named Peanut into the living room from the kitchen. Instead of stopping on his mark, Peanut went right for the cake and started licking it! I didn’t try too hard to stop him because he was so cute and was really enjoying it.

You have been riding BMX bikes since age three, and you have performed some of you own stunts as an actor. Where do you get your adventurous personality from?

My dad is the one who pushes me to try dangerous stuff and my mom is the one always trying to get me not to do anything dangerous. Sometimes she just walks away shaking her head when we are trying new tricks out on our bikes.

Who would you most like to work with in show business and why?

There are so many people I’d love to work with, but number one on my list is Tim Burton. He has such a creative mind. I love the way he twists stories and the way he shoots them makes you feel like you are part of the story.

If you had the power to write, direct and star in your own movie, what would you call it and what would it be about?

Wow, that is a lot of responsibility! But I would love to have that challenge someday. Maybe something like ‘Son of Beetlejuice,’ kind of like Son of Frankenstein. You can’t remake such a classic movie like Beetlejuice, but you can always add on to it. I would love to play the part of Beetlejuice junior, but Michael Keaton would have to come back and play the dad for sure!

Tell me something people would be surprised to know about you?

I don’t know if this is a big surprise, but I have a big shoe collection. Shoe shopping is so much fun! I’m not talking about just tennis shoes, but different and unique shoes. When I’m shopping I like to think outside the box. Lately I’ve been into creepers, but they only really make them for girls. But that doesn’t matter to me. I don’t think fashion should have genders, it should all be universal. I’ll rock pink shoes any day!

Biggest pet peeve?

I’m only 8, but I spend a lot of time in LA traffic. People who drive slow in the left lane drive me crazy! I watched this show on YouTube called Canada’s Worst Drivers and I learned some of the traffic laws. The left lane is for passing!

Favorite food?

I really like dark chocolate, but my favorite food of all time is chicken pot pie. Not just any kind, it has to be my mom’s homemade chicken pot pie.

Favorite video game?

Right now I’m super into Forza Horizon 3. I can’t wait to get the new Horizon 4! Car racing games are my favorite.

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?

Slappy from Goosebumps has the power to bring things to life, but he uses it in a bad way. That would be an awesome super power to have, but of course use it for good. I would love to make all of my Hot Wheels come to life and start racing around the house!

The one thing I cannot live without is__________.

It’s hard to pick one. When I go out of town for just the weekend I have several bags, because I have lots of things I can’t live without, like chapstick, hand sanitizer and my stuffed animals. But if I had to choose just one it would be my robe. On my days off I spend my mornings doing school work in the kitchen in my warm, comfy Scooby Doo robe.

Most embarrassing moment IRL you wish you could do over?

I don’t get embarrassed too easily. I think that is part of acting. Being a good actor is being able to laugh at yourself.

Selfie time!

https://www.instagram.com/paxtonbooth/
https://twitter.com/paxton_booth/
https://www.facebook.com/PaxtonBoothOfficial/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7397445/

Watch a complete episode of Coop and Cami Ask the World here:

Teen singer Mimi Saballa, is headlining the 10^th annual High School Nation Tour (@HSNTours #highschoolnation on Twitter) along with rapper @TheRealSilento (“Watch me”) hitting various cities throughout the month of November. For those who don’t know, the High School Nation Tour is a traveling music & arts festival that travels to  high school campuses across the country providing students with free entertainment.

Mimi’s got an album coming up in spring ’19 from Empire Records. and cites Cardi B. and Bad Bunny as musical influences. Her video for “Crazy” with Krayzie Bone and NomaD has over 700k views on YouTube (scroll down to watch), and she has just released another track called “Light Weight” availble here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lightweight-single/1437467149

She’s busy, but we got the chance to email her a few questions for a quick Q&A while she’s on the High School Nation Tour. Here’s her answers!

Hi Mimi, nice to e-meet you! Before we get into music, tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

Hi my name is Mimi I’m eighteen and from Hawaii, and I’m a singer. I’ve been singing for about two years, I started off singing island music, I’m just now making my transition to more main stream music.

Thank you! Now tell us about the High School Nation Tour and how you got involved?

I’m currently on the High School Nation Tour and we’re doing 25 shows in 13 cities. Through some good connections I got a spot on the tour.

Where will you be travelling to – and which city are you most excited to visit?

I’ve been to Chicago, Baltimore, Washington, Virginia, and South Carolina. I’m most excited for Atlanta and Texas.

I know you just started the tour—but what’s been the best moment so far?

The best moments on tour is meeting all the students.

Who would you most like to work with in show business and why?

I would like to work with Drake because I’m a big fan and his music is very popular with the culture.

If you had the power to write, direct and star in your own movie, what would it be about?

I would make a documentary of where I’m from featuring other local people, letting others see into our lives where we’re from.

Tell me something people would be surprised to know about you?

I think people would be surprised to know all of my ethnicities: Japanese, Chinese, Hawaiian, Filipino, and Portuguese.

Biggest pet peeve?

My biggest pet peeve is little sounds, like tapping or shaking.

Favorite food?

I love noodles any type of noodles.

Secret fear?

I’m deathly terrified of lizards.

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?

Teleportation because I would like to get places quickly.

The one thing I cannot live without is__________.

my family.

Most embarrassing moment IRL you wish you could do over?

During my first label meeting with Interscope and Universal Music Group I ripped my pants.

What else are you working on or have coming up?

I just released my new single Lightweight and, I have my EP dropping soon and my first show back home in Hawaii.

Could we get a selfie of whatever you are doing at the moment? It’s something we ask to keep it real for the fans!

Mimi Saballa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mimimusichawaii
For more: https://mimimusichawaii.com/

Carrie Berk is a bestselling teen author, influencer, and @NoBully_org Ambassador (#nobully) who has already published 21+ books by age 15. Her first book series, The Cupcake Club, was published with her mom’s help in second grade! One of her personal passions is to help stop bullying in America. To that end, her latest book series called Ask Emma deals with her personal experience being cyberbullied and sheds light on the damaging effects bullies can inflict on their targets. The first book in the Ask Emma series was published earlier this year, with book two due January 2019.

Carrie experienced what bullying in America was like when she received hateful comments on, and was made fun of for, her online social platforms. Through her writing, she wants to let teen readers know they are not alone in dealing with these issues. The book even includes an appendix on cyberbullying resources as an extra support.

Since October is National Bullying Prevention Month, we decided to conduct a Q&A with Carrie to inspire you and also give you some advice if you are being bullied in person or cyberbullied. We can stop bullying in America if we continue to raise awareness and take effective action — like Carrie is doing. Now onto the Q&A! ❤

Hi Carrie, nice to e-meet you! Before we get into your book series Ask Emma, tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

I have always loved to write—the day that my second-grade teacher taught me about realistic fiction, I came home and wrote a book proposal. The paragraph I put together was about four girls who are misunderstood at their school; they come together to form a cupcake club that combats bullying. My mom sent the idea to her literary agent because I nagged her to, and surprisingly, we got a call at sea when we were on a Disney cruise saying that there were three publishers interested!

I would have never imagined that The Cupcake Club would turn into a 12-book series and sell 400K copies around the world, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to spread such important messages to young girls through my writing.

Thanks! Now, please tell us where the idea for Ask Emma came from, and what’s it about?

The bullying in The Cupcake Club was inspired by the cruelty I witnessed as a peer mediator in elementary school. I never really knew what it felt like to be bullied until I started middle school, when I, myself, was cyberbullied. Others spread cruel rumors about me that left me feeling helpless and hurt.

There are not a lot of books out there that depict bullying from a teen perspective, so I felt like I had a responsibility to make one. My mom loves Jane Austen’s Emma, so we decided to combine our interests into Ask Emma, a modern day take on the 19th Century novel where a middle school advice blogger faces cyber bullies. The response has been incredible from readers; they are really connecting to Emma, and I know it’s because the words are written straight from my heart and soul.

What can readers expect from the second book coming out in January 2019?

The first book set up the characters and the early issues Emma faces in launching her blog. The second book, however, depicts the challenges in the relationships between the characters, specifically Emma and her best friends, Izzy and Harriet. All tweens and teens are familiar with frenemies, so I wanted to show how to handle yourself in that type of situation. You will also see Emma and Jackson’s relationship continue to grow 😉

Looking at your Instagram page and your website, it doesn’t seem like you are the typical target for bullies. What sort of bullying have you experienced and how did you deal with it?

Everyone is an easy target for bullies, no matter how extreme or subtle that harassment may be. Some bullying is quiet, such as the eyes that roll when you wear your favorite glitter sneakers to school, or when you’re squished at the end of the lunch table because no one wants to make room and include you. I have been made fun of my fashion sense for many years now; people tell me that my style is too “out there,” or bluntly state “What are you wearing?” in the school hallway.

I have learned that my style is my superpower, which turned into the slogan for my style empowerment blog, Carrie’s Chronicles. The goal of the website to empower others to embrace their individuality through fashion, beauty, fitness, food, etc. Being different is what makes you beautiful, so own who you are!

What do you think is the difference between bullying and just plain criticism – which we are all subject to and is a normal part of existing?

Constructive criticism is when others make recommendations that are genuinely out of concern for your best interest and are meant to lift you up. For example, when someone points out that you have chocolate smudged all over your face or that you have toiled paper stuck to your shoe. Bullying, however, makes you feel broken and belittled. Girls at my ballet school used to tell me that I was not talented or pretty enough instead of giving me constructive ways to improve my skills. That’s the difference.

What tips can you give to other teens out there who are being bullied?

It gets better. Don’t let bullies bring you down. They strike solely out of self-hatred and insecurity—it’s not your fault. As soon as you’re being bullied, don’t hesitate to reach out to a trusted adult and tell them what’s going on. You’re not a tattletale, you’re simply being smart. As a teen ambassador for No Bully, I am currently helping encourage tweens and teens to practice empathy and respect each other. The more we become aware of the issue, the closer we’ll be to a bully-free world.

Tell me something people would be surprised to know about you?

I love boxing! I’ve done ballet for 14 years, and boxing allows me to break my perfect dance alignment and release stress.

Biggest pet peeve (apart from bullying in America)?

People who are ungrateful for their circumstances. My mom has taught me to stay humble and always be thankful for the opportunities I’m given. Those who forget to stay grounded are not truly worthy of success in my opinion.

Secret obsession?

I love watching One Tree Hill! I’m such a fan girl…lol.

Favorite food?

Sushi.

Favorite song ever?

“Breathe” from In the Heights.

One thing I always carry in my purse _______________.

Are Ice Breaker Mints.

Most embarrassing moment IRL you wish you could do over?

I’ve dropped my clutch on the floor at so many fashion events, I can’t count. I’ve got to be less clumsy, although my mom tells me that they are total Carrie Bradshaw moments.

What else are you working on or have coming up?

In addition to my new Ask Emma book coming out in January, I am redesigning the Carrie’s Chronicles website this December for its one-year anniversary! But overall, I want to continue to use my writing as a platform to spread positivity and empower others. Whenever you’re feeling down, remember this: You are unique. You are beautiful. You are enough. I believe in you.

Could we get a selfie?

Instagram: @carrieberkk 
Website: https://www.carrieberk.com
Blog: http://www.carrieschronicles.com
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I Am Frankie, Nickelodeon’s show about a teenage girl who is not what she appears to be, recently kicked off its second season. Joining the cast is Zachary S. Williams, best known for his recurring role in Oprah Winfrey’s Greenleaf series.

Zachary stars as Zane Markosian, a student at Sepulveda High who loves theater. The premise of I Am Frankie is that an experimental android (played by Alex Hook) goes to high school, and she quickly learns that even robots are not exempt from the perils of teenage life as she navigates social situations and even gets a boyfriend.

We asked Zachary a few questions about his background and his role on I Am Frankie…scroll down for the interview!

Hi Zachary, nice to e-meet you! Before we get into your role on I Am Frankie, tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

Haha nice to e-meet you too! Well, I was born in Miami, FL and grew up in Central FL. I started acting when I was about 8 years old. There was this summer camp I would go to called “Kid’s College” and they had a theater program. I’m not sure what motivated me to participate in theater but I’m so glad I did. Once I got an agent, I started booking commercials and print work and just kept going at it. I enjoy singing,  playing the piano and alto saxophone during my free time.

Cool! You joined the cast of I Am Frankie for Season 2, which just started airing. Tell us about your character and how he fits into the grand scheme of things on the show?

Yeah! So, my character, Zane Markosian, is a new student at Sepulveda High who really loves theater. He loves it so much that he writes and directs the school play, “Bae of Frankenstein.” When a great divide (Yes Androids Here and No Androids Here) splits the school in half, Zane rewrites his play in hopes to influence people’s perspectives on accepting and respecting other individuals, no matter what differences there may be. The situation becomes provocative but the play is proactive and sends a great message to fans.

The show is a recreation of a Nickelodeon show which aired in Latin America called, Yo Soy Franky. Is your character a new creation for the American version, or will viewers of the Spanish version recognize him?

My character is brand new for the American version! Although there are some similarities between the two shows, I Am Frankie is so different and definitely takes on a life of its own.

What’s been the funniest moment or blooper filming on that set so far?

The funniest moment(s) on set would have to be all of the audition scenes in episode 210! We had majority of the cast in those scenes so it was really fun to film and each character’s audition was hilarious!

It’s been a couple of years since your role acting along Oprah Winfrey in Greenleaf. How did life change for you after that—and do you feel it opened doors?

It’s crazy how fast time flies. In all honesty not much changed! I still went to public school, I still participated in my high school theater department. After working on Greenleaf, I do believe there was more interest directed towards me when being considered roles, however, there is so much that goes into casting, I could never be sure of a direct connection.

What was the biggest lesson you learned from working with Oprah, and do you still keep in touch?

No, I wish! The biggest thing I took away from working on that set was how to interact with individuals professionally and to always follow my passion and what I believe in.

Most boys want to be a firefighter or an astronaut when they grow up. According to a post on Just Jared Jr, you wanted to be a bus driver. Not tryna throw shade or anything, but what exactly made that appealing to you lol? : )

When I was in the second grade, I sat right behind my bus driver. I’ve always been fascinated with forms of transportation so I think one day I just started asking her questions and every day after that she would teach me something new. When I was younger, being a bus driver was just something I couldn’t wait to grow up for!

Tell me something people would be surprised to know about you, that you haven’t already revealed in other interviews?

Speaking of forms of transportation, I love planes. I find plane-watching to be peaceful and flying is always so much fun for me.

Biggest pet peeve?

When people park over the line in a parking lot.

Favorite place you’ve traveled to and why?

New York City! I love the energy and views.

Favorite food?

Fried Conch.

Favorite Marvel Universe character?

Black Panther.

Most attractive thing in another person?

Personality. Hands down!

Most embarrassing moment IRL you wish you could do over?

Oh goodness. Every year, my high school chorus department gets invited to be an Honor Choir for Disney’s Candlelight Processional in Orlando. One year during rehearsal, some type of bug decides to fly into the tent and land on my head. Let’s just say rehearsal was paused for a brief moment.

What else are you working on or have coming up?

Right now I’m on hiatus for I Am Frankie and I’ve just been relaxing, enjoying time with my family and friends. doing some publicity for the show, just living life!

Could we get a selfie of whatever you are doing at the moment? It’s something we ask to keep it real for the fans!

Zachary on Social:

IMDb | Instagram 

Three Guests is a pop band comprised of two friends from Erie, PA, Noah DeVore and Jordan Rys. The duo first made waves with their debut single, “Marilyn,” which has over a quarter-million hits on Youtube. A four-track EP called 3G was followed up with their latest output, a recently released full album, Sunset Lane,  with 8 new tracks including their latest single, “Sunset Lane,” which is on our Top 50 New Music Blastoff this week!  Rap star Chingy makes appearances on two tracks, adding another dimension to the guys’ sound.

We asked Noah and Jordan about their new tracks, the loss of one of their members, and some general get-to-know-you questions. Scroll down for their answers and to listen to their new single, “Sunset Lane!”

Hi guys, nice to e-meet you! You recently released a new record with 8 new tracks, Sunset Lane. Before we get into that, how about each of you tell us a little about yourself.

Noah: My name is Noah DeVore and I am heavy into the production side of the music. I grew up playing the piano and fell in love with music at a young age! I am from Erie, PA just like Jordan, we are homies! As well as music I dabble into modeling and acting. I also love to listen to other music, watch the TV show “Friends” haha, and travel to other cities!

Jordan: My name is Jordan Rys and I am the lead singer of the group. I have always had a dream of living a significant life and straying away from the average way of doing things. Music started off as just a hobby, but with the help of Noah it has become and career and reality. My biggest hobbies are playing soccer and going skiing.

Great! Now, let’s get into the music. Sunset Lane is a full-length album. In an age of mixtapes, EPs and singles, what made you go against that trend?

Well at first, an album was never the plan. But after hitting the studio to record song after song, we realized we have sooo many GREAT songs! We couldn’t get it down to an EP so we decided to just release our first studio album. As you can see all the songs on the Sunset Lane album are top hits!

How has the sound on these new tracks evolved from your earlier work?

Our sound has evolved drastically. Trust us, you don’t want to hear our first body of work…. The music wasn’t actually THAT bad, but it has definitely evolved. We have gotten so much better over the years, almost 3 years to be exact since we started.

We are starting to use more intricate and innovative progressions and melodies, things even today you don’t hear on the radio. However we still keep it classic with piano ballads and other instrument-based, deep songs. Our lane (sound) has changed and we really love our new vibe. We are planning to stick with this sound in the future!

Listen to “Sunset Lane” single here, and keep scrolling for the rest of the interview:

What was the biggest challenge in putting this record of new tracks together?

To be honest, the biggest challenge in putting the record together was truly finding the top 8 songs that would not only showcase our best work but also flow well together and display our variety.

From what I gather, Three Guests was formerly a trio, but I don’t see any info about the change online. So, what happened regarding your third member Ben Waldee, and what was the transition to a duo like?

Ben was such an awesome creative member and to see him go was more than tragic. Ben had other passions and he decided to pursue those instead. However, his decision was ultimately was best for everyone.

To go from a trio to a duo, I will admit, has a lot less stress but it is losing a creative mind. Either way we have adapted to the change. Moving forward, we believe that losing Ben was not a setback as we continue to produce great music!

FAN QUESTION FROM INSTAGRAM: “Do you love what you do?”

We absolutely LOVE what we do. I think the word love would be an understatement. Every day, music is in our lives whether we are making it, engaging with our fans, or listening in the car — music is a lifestyle for us. Even if music wasn’t our career, I still believe we would create it just for fun.

I’ll follow that up with, what DON’T you love about what you do?

Noah: What we don’t love about music is the saturation in this industry. Although we want everyone to succeed and wish nothing but success for others, sometimes getting the right recognition from fans and other important people can be hard because of the millions of other musicians out there.

Also the message portrayed by most artists these days in hip-hop and pop culture is really not healthy or something I’d want my kids listening to. We hope to change the norm of pop culture to a more inspiring and peaceful message.

Tell me something people would be surprised to know about you.

Noah: Something people would be surprised to know about me is that I am a huge original acoustic T-Swift fan!!

Jordan: Something people would be surprised to know about me is that I did a year of Cybersecurity in college and that I am a huge nerd.

Biggest pet peeve?

Noah: One of my biggest pet peeves is when people listen to music in the car with the volume so low, cmon now.

Jordan: One of my biggest pet peeves is when Noah loads the shared bathroom area with all of his hair products.

Favorite book?

Noah: My favorite book has to be Tale of Two Cities.

Jordan: My favorite books are the Magic Tree House series.

Favorite food?

Noah: My favorite food is some homemade chicken pot pie!

Jordan: My favorite food is a saucy dish of Pad Thai with no peanuts or bean sprouts.

Favorite movie?

Noah: My favorite movie is Fight Club.

Jordan: My favorite movie is Hitch.

Most attractive thing in another person?

Noah: Confidence is the most attractive thing in another person hands down.

Jordan: A firm belief in positive morals is the most attractive thing in another person.

Most embarrassing moment IRL you wish you could do over?

Noah: I once, during an honors ceremony for high school, played the piano while students walked to their seats. For some odd reason I decided they were done walking and stopped playing to go sit down. I was then notified it was not over and so I had to awkwardly walk back up stage and continue playing!! It was so embarrassing!!

Jordan: I was listening to a conversation between some pretty important people in the music industry and heard one of them say we should grab lunch sometime and hangout like normal people. I then spoke up overly excited and said we totally should only to find out he was talking to someone else. Very awkward and embarrassing.

What do you have coming up next? Any new tracks?

Next up for us is most surely performances and shows. Make sure to follow us on all social media to get the latest updates on any venues we may be playing at! Also definitely and maybe sooner than you think MORE MUSIC!!

Could we get a selfie of whatever you are doing at the moment? It’s something we ask to keep it real for the fans! (could be both together or a separate shot each)

Noah DeVoreFollow Three Guests to stay up to date on new tracks and other news:

https://threeguests.com/
https://www.instagram.com/threeguests/
https://www.facebook.com/threeguests

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Here is the first song they released, “Marilyn:”