UnderCurrent Atlanta - Sharing stories out of Atlanta

Michael's Post / by Michael Payne

Fyre Festival: The Movie

Why The Fyre Festival blunder deserves a big screen adaptation Some people call him a con-artist, others call him a visionary. No matter what you think of Billy McFarland, there is no doubt his narrative is fascinating. McFarland, the subject of two, made for television documentaries, was at the center of a viral news story that you can’t quite put your finger on why it’s interesting, you just know it is. Back in April 2017, McFarland masterminded the now infamous Fyre Festival, […]

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Short Videos / by Michael Payne

Jogging In The Woods With Friends

Have you ever been out for a leisurely jog when some guy tries to get you to upgrade your mobile service? Well, if this has happened to you, you’ll enjoy this video. But seriously, the ongoing situation that inspired this video was two-fold. First, I get a ton of “Unknown” phone calls on my mobile phone (does anyone have a land line anymore?) Every now and then, especially if it’s an area code of a job I applied for, I’ll […]

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Artists / by Michael Payne

A Conversation with Dakoro Edwards

I’ve always held a deep appreciation for creative people. Musicians, actors and artists alike, their ability to tap into that creative part of the mind that allows them to imagine the unthinkable is a rare gift. That’s one of the reasons I created UnderCurrent Atlanta , to surround myself with creative people. Like most super heroes, with great creativity, comes responsibility. Art has the ability to inspire the masses, to tug at the heart strings or influence the mind. […]

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The Walking Dead / by Michael Payne

The Good, The Bad and The Dead

As the Season 6 premiere of The Walking Dead begins tonight, my anticipation grows. I look forward to being engrossed in the struggles of the group, internal and external. I still waver whether me not having read the comic book nor the graphic novel is a good or bad thing. A lot of gratitude goes out to Fear The Walking Dead for stemming the tide even though I wish Chandler Riggs would had not grown seemingly four feet, allowing AMC […]

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Dragon Con 2015,Michael's Post / by Michael Payne

2015 Dragon Con Parade

The 2015 Dragon Con has come and gone but the memories of this annual fan convention will last…well until next years Dragon Con. But until that time arrives, I’d like to share one of the better memories from this years Dragon Con. If you know anything about Dragon Con (and I imagine you do or why else would you be reading this) then you’ve heard of the famous Dragon Con Parade. Each year, hundreds of dedicated cos-players, movie buffs and […]

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Dragon Con 2015,Gunnar's Post / by Michael Payne

Interview with Con-Voluted’s Jay Wright

As a former bartender of five years at the drunken nerd haven known as Battle n Brew, I have been fortunate enough to meet all kinds of eccentric movers and shakers in the geek community. They come in many shapes and sizes, but always there is this strange and amazing sense of quirkiness and relatability that ties all of these amazing characters together. Jay Wright is one such character. As one of the founders of Con-Voluted, Jay has put his […]

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Trailers / by Michael Payne

Jerrod Carmichael is the next Chris Rock but his sitcom is “Pootie Tang”

There’s a scene in “Pootie Tang” where a gorilla fatally mauls Pootie’s dad. It was unexpected, absurd and the ONLY funny scene in the entire flick. The fact that this movie even made it into theaters is a testament to how hot Chris Rock was in 2001. Rock’s collaborations with HBO (two stand-up specials and a comedy series) were solid gold and made him an icon. But for whatever reason, his brilliance didn’t translate into long-form storytelling. I see the […]

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Dragon Con 2015,Gunnar's Post / by Michael Payne

Foot Pound Force: An Interview with Dave Hewitt

This weekend, I got to talk with Dave Hewitt, bassist and self-professed “laboratory vocal assistant” for nerd rock outfit Foot Pound Force, a three piece band (usually) that revels in irreverent pop, culture observations and radio-friendly melodies. Their charmingly lighthearted track list includes such titles as “Dr. Mario’s Medicine Cabinet” and “Moshpit Bandwidth.” Undercurrent Atlanta: First of all, Dave, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with UnderCurrent Atlanta. Dave Hewitt: Thank you for your interest. UCA: […]

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Dragon Con 2015 / by Michael Payne

Sword Handler Joshua Adrian talks about Dragon Con

Dragon Con is right around the corner and I’m back at it, trying to find out more information about this huge convention that will be taking over down town Atlanta early September. I was able to snag a pretty interesting interview with sword handler Joshua Adrian. UnderCurrent Atlanta: Hello Joshua. Ok, forgive my ignorance but can you tell me a little about your sword handling career? Joshua Adrian: I have done a sword solo for an Atlanta Opera production, as well […]

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Gunnar's Post / by Michael Payne

The Hype: The Rocketeer

From its inception, The Rocketeer had everything stacked against it. The liner notes for Disney’s 1991 action picture read like a handbook of everything one should avoid while making a film. Writers were fired and subsequently rehired on multiple occasions. Rumors of tension between the studio and director Joe Johnston began to bubble as Johnston turned down Johnny Depp, Bill Paxton, Kurt Russell, Dennis Quaid, and Emilio Estevez in favor of superunknown actor Billy Campbell for the role of leading […]

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Momo Con 2015: Dan Carroll and Parson Petchor / by Michael Payne

Momo Con 2015: Dan Carroll and Parson Petchor

While visiting Momo Con 2015, we were lucky enough to interview Dan Carroll and Parson Petchor. Outside of the creators of Momo Con, these two guys are the heart and soul of the convention. Dan is in charge of media relations for Momo Con. He’s been associated with the convention for the last 3 years and during that time, he’s seen a steady growth in popularity among gaming, anime and comic book fans. But the part of the […]

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Michael's Post,Momo Con 2015: Writers and Artists,Short Videos / by Michael Payne

Momo Con 2015: Comic Artists

One of the best parts of attending a convention like Momo Con is you get the chance to meet some of your favorite comic book artist. Have you ever wondered why your favorite character made some crazy decision or that suicidal heroic gesture? At Momo Con, you get the chance to ask how that situation came about from the actual person that created it. You really have to appreciate the artistic and creative thinking that goes on behind many […]

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Trailers

Jerrod Carmichael is the next Chris Rock but his sitcom is “Pootie Tang”

Trailers

There’s a scene in “Pootie Tang” where a gorilla fatally mauls Pootie’s dad. It was unexpected, absurd and the ONLY funny scene in the entire flick. The fact that this movie even made it into theaters is a testament to how hot Chris Rock was in 2001. Rock’s collaborations with HBO (two stand-up specials and a comedy series) were solid gold and made him an icon. But for whatever reason, his brilliance didn’t translate into long-form storytelling. I see the […]
The Hype: Wet Hot American Summer

Gunnar's Post, Trailers

Ever since Buster Keaton gave us his revolutionary The General back in 1926, audiences and critics have afforded avant-garde comedies the confusion and hostile pity typically reserved for homeless street performers and the last five seasons of Two and a Half Men. When Wet Hot American Summer first appeared in the summer of 2001, it fared no better. A weak opening in less than thirty cities drew both tepid audience responses and polarizing critical reception (Roger Ebert was so famously disappointed […]
It’s About Time For A Hans and Franz Movie

Michael's Post, Trailers

(In Austrian accent) Hear me now and believe me later… Saturday Night Live has been at the forefront of American comedy since it’s opening monologue on October 11th, 1975. The list of comedic actors that have graced the halls of Studio 8H inside 30 Rock is legendary. Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Adam Sandler, and Chris Farley are just a few of the numerous comedic talents that were able to use their […]
James and The Giant Ego

Justin's Post, Trailers

I’ve been saying for a long time that filmmakers love sports and war metaphors to describe the process of making a movie because they are applicable in so many different ways. Both involve a group of individuals brought together for a single purpose. They might be there for different reasons, but the goal is the same – to win, often at any cost. On the highest level, both involve campaigns – an MLB season has 162 games; America was in […]
The Hype: Furious 7

Gunnar's Post, Trailers

It could have been a result of the cheap movie-theater pizza I was struggling to digest throughout the screening or a product of the ringing and raging in my psyche from two and a half hours of mind-numbing explosions and vroom-vrooms, but as I stumbled out of my seat and beyond the shellshock, I began to wonder if maybe the “seven” in Furious 7 is more than just a mere indication that this uber-machismo, adrenaline-fueled, NOS-guzzling dumpster fire is the […]

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Fyre Festival: The Movie

Why The Fyre Festival blunder deserves a big screen adaptation Some people call him a con-artist, others call him a visionary. No matter what you think of Billy McFarland, there is no doubt his narrative is fascinating. McFarland, the subject of two, made for television documentaries, was at the center of a viral news story that you can’t quite put your finger on why it’s interesting, you just know it is. Back in April 2017, McFarland masterminded the now infamous Fyre Festival, […]
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