I was lucky enough to be on assignment for Scenestr magazine to review the new film Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark produced and co-written by filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. We were over at Reading Cinemas in Newmarket which have a first rate large cinema.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
The second week of September this year Karen and I were particularly lucky to be busy attending events for me to review. That Monday night we were in the Brisbane CBD at the Myer Centre for a preview screening of the hilarious Good Boys, Tuesday night we were at QUT’s Kelvin Grove campus to attend Truthmachine playing at the Theatre Republic as part of BrisFest 2019.
We closed out the week Thursday night back at the Theatre Republic to see Since Ali Died by Omar Musa. All of this was on assignment for the amazing Scenestr team. I’m in third year of working for them and I feel very blessed continuing to do this work while I’ve been busy with my full time job.
Since Ali Dead is for the most part a one-man show from rapper and spoken word poet Omar Musa, son of Malaysian immigrants who grew up in Queanbeyan. A brown Muslim boy who found something to be inspired by and comfortingly familiar in the proud iconic figure of sports and culture.
Afterwards there was a Q&A with Omar who talked about finding the right balance in his work between light and dark, friendly and provocative, funny and heartbreaking.
Karen and I took in our surroundings afterwards at the Theatre Republic which had many different interesting displays which I enjoyed. I grabbed a toasted sandwich at the local bar they had set up and walked up the stairs into an eating area that sat on top of construction scaffolding while local musicians sang beautifully. I’m quite taken how simply spaces can be transformed and little moments can satisfy in big ways.
Before the show. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Karen in the House of Common Hopes. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Cab coming to pick us up. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
I can relate. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
The House of Common Hopes. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
On top of the world. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Meatball sandwich. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
I returned to the Brisbane Festival in 2019 following the chance to attend and review Ode to Man in 2018. I was on assignment again for Scenestr magazine and found myself at the Theatre Republic at Kelvin Grove campus of the Queensland University of Technology. I’ve studied and worked at QUT over the years and always find myself a little happy to make the rare trip back.
Back up the other end of the hill to take in some American style deli sandwiches. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Truthmachine itself has won awards and acclaim travelling throughout the country and I found lots of positive things to acknowledge in my review but I left a little disappointed. You can read my review here https://scenestr.com.au/arts/truthmachine-review-brisbane-festival-2019-20190911 and I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
The first time I came across Sam Simmons was late at night on the ABC where he had a running segment on a panel show called Dirty Laundry Live. The show covered entertainment news and satirically took on gossip media. Simmons was their LA correspondent in search of meeting actor Richard Dreyfuss amongst other things. It didn’t really matter because you never really knew what to expect from Simmons and that was part of his charm.
I enjoy his surreal comedy Sam Simmons and he is about to do his latest show 26 Things You’ve Been Doing Wrong with San Simmons at the Brisbane Festival which is already running in my fair city.
I was lucky enough to speak to Sam twice working for the great Scenestr magazine and as always the finished piece doesn’t reflect all we discussed but hopefully gets across a little bit about what makes him and his comedy so great. I have also tried to grow a little bit as a writer with this piece building on my recent secondment writing full time at the Queensland College of Teachers.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr. is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets.
They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
As they say in the classics, that’s quite a mouthful of a title and Hobbs & Shaw is quite a lot of movie to chew on. Last week I was fortunate enough to be on assignment with Scenestr magazine to attend a preview screening of the spin-off in the Brisbane CBD at the top of the Myer Centre.
Rookie mistake. Karen and I arrived early and maintained a developing tradition of grabbing Grilled burgers when on assignement for Scenestr. We entered Chermisde cinemas minutes later to discover they were handing out pizza and beers at the screening for Fast 8. Copyright Lloyd Marken
The Fate of the Furious at Chermside in early 2017. My assigned film review for Scenestr or any publication. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Trying my best to channel the look of the Fast and Furious crew with my humble Toyota Camry. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Hobbs & Shaw delighted with some high paced comedic exchanges and cameos I won’t spoil here. While the runtime could’ve been trimmed and some of the action became too over the top I still really enjoyed the film and look forward to potential further entries. You can read more of my thoughts here http://scenestr.com.au/movies-and-tv/fast-furious-presents-hobbs-shaw-review-20190801
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Before the crowds arrived for Hobbs and Shaw at the Myer Centre. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Karen and I ducked into Jimmy’s On The Mall after the screening as I was fading fast. Delicious food. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Free drinks were given out and people milled around before being let in. Photos could be taken with a motorcycle. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Lanyards are your friend. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
The old Regent Cinema facade in Queen Street mall. My city folks. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
I was back at MELT: Festival of Queer Arts and Culture last week to see Giantess on Thursday night at the Turbine Studio, Brisbane Powerhouse on assignment for Scenestr. Written and performed by transgender stand-up Cassie Workman, it has won numerous awards since its debut. Following Trade by Impromafia, a show I deeply enjoyed and felt privileged to attend, this was a quieter performance that proved touching with its message and the demure but steely presence of Cassie herself. What a wonderful thing it is live in a city where such a festival provides an outlet for artists and attraction for audiences.
We took in our surroundings a bit more with the ice-block float hanging from the ceiling as part of the MELT festivities at the iconic Brisbane Powerhouse. We also grabbed the beloved bar snack menu pizzas – pepperoni for me and tomato and basil (margherita according to others) for Karen. While enjoying our pizzas outside on the balcony our possum came by to see if we’d let some scraps come our way. Unfortunately nobody told him/her how seriously Karen and I take our pizza eating.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
-Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
PIZZA! Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Karen waiting for our pizzas before the possum announced it’s arrival. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
View of ice-block second floor catwalk. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
View of a performance on the Turbine Platform. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Promo for the musical ‘Yank’ projected. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Stairs leading down to Visy Theatre, Turbine Studio and Mary Mae’s Bar. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
On ground entrance level looking up at the MELT ice-block. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Two floors up. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
View of lollipop on the level 1 walkway. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Me with the first print issue of Frooty. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
I am proud to announce that I was published in the very first print issue of Frooty magazine. Frooty was founded as an online magazine in 2017 by the Arts/Comedy Editor for Scenestr Jesse Chaffey.
Jesse edits the bulk of my published pieces for Scenestr as well as so many others. He’s rescued me a few times, regularly made my pieces look better, taken on board anything I thought was important to keep and it is a fragment of what he does as an editor working long hours relentlessly. Like all members of staff at Scenestr, he’s talented, hard working and passionate about what he does. The fact he created Frooty the same year he as a recent graduate started as the Arts/Comedy editor for Scenestr speaks volumes and let’s not forget Scenestr has also grown in the same time frame moving into print in Western Australia and Melbourne.
Started in 2017 and produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises, Frooty is an online national magazine that covers news and entertainment with a queer perspective. They have just done their first print issue with more to come.
It has been a delight to attend MELT: Festival of Queer Arts and Culture for the first time this year on assignment for Scenestr magazine.
There is a fantastic roster of shows, talks and displays so it was great to attend the latest show from the ever reliable and hilarious ImproMafia.
However this show was a little different from others I have attended and I feel that there was something special in the air that night at the Visy Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
-Lloyd Marken
Karen and I attending MELT for the first time. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
MELT 2019 at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
The night of my first assignment for Scenestr magazine 21MAR207. Copyright Karen Marken.
Last Friday I reached a milestone with Scenestr magazine, I have now had 100 posts published with them online or in their printed copies on the street. This all started with a review I submitted to them of Hidden Figures that Karen had won tickets to see. The review was published 23 February, 2017.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
At New Farm for the first screening I attended where I needed to sign a review embargo agreement. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Best film of 2018. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
The first film I reviewed on assignment for Scenestr magazine. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Within a couple of months I realised if I wanted to make the most of my opportunities there I would have to put my hand up to do interviews. Despite having done this in the past at university I was still quite nervous when I did my first interview with the stars of Grease: The Arena Spectacular Meghan O’Shea and Drew Weston almost two years ago. Knowing it scared me made me confident it would be truly rewarding and that turned out to be true.
In 2018 there were 50 posts published online of my work, it is doubtful I will match that output moving forward, there are things I am currently pursuing away from Scenestr but I am grateful to continue my work for the biggest street press magazine in the country.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Myer Centre Cinemas in Brisbane CBD for ‘Captain Marvel’ 05MAR2019. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
CHER! Copyright Lloyd Marken.
New Farm Cinemas December 2017. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Shakespeare Double Bill at Spring Hil Reservoir. 10OCT2018 Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Byron Bay 2017. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Italian Film Festival Opening Night 2018. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Shakespeare Double Bill at Spring Hil Reservoir. 10OCT2018 Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Warm-up act for Cher 2018. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Italian Film Festival Opening Night 2018. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Pretty neat having my own Media pass at Byron Bay Film Festival 2017. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
After Hellboy at Chermside cinemas10APR2019. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
At Brunsick Heads 07OCT2017 for the Byron Bay Film Festival 2017 to see the excellent film The Go-Betweens: Right Here. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
New Farm Cinemas after seeing ‘Wonder Wheel’ 04DEC2017. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Director of ‘Celeste’ Ben Hackworth talking about his film with BIFF Artistic Director Amanda Slack-Smith. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
BIFF 2018! Copyright Lloyd Marken.
CHER! Copyright Lloyd Marken.
New Farm Cinemas December 2017. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Blue Room Cinebar for the first time to attend a critics’ screening of ‘The Breaker Upperers’ 03JUL2018. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
About to see Tom Gleeson at Brisbane Comedy Festival 2018. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
BCF 2017. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Young Australian Filmmakers Awards 14OCT2017as part of Byron Bay Film Festival 2017. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
BCF 2017. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
CHER! Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Shakespeare Double Bill at Spring Hil Reservoir. 10OCT2018 Copyright Lloyd Marken.
At QPAC for the Queensland Symphony Orchrestra 12MAY2018. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
At the Queensland Maritime Museum to see Act/React’s ‘Kiss of the Vampire Squad’. This was performed on HMAS Diamantina as part of the Anywhere Theatre Festival 2018. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
19AUG2017 ‘Lord of the Thrones’. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Hedda by the Queensland Theatre company 15NOV2018.. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Brisbane Comedy Festival 2019. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Copyright Lloyd Marken.
The delicious menu from SABA at the Cine Latino Film Festival Opening Night 2017.
‘Uncle Vanya’ 18AUG2017. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
At Chermisde for ‘Godzilla II: King of the Monsters’ 29MAY2019. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
The Purple Cinema at New Farm Cinemas the night I went to them for the first time to see Valerian 08AUG2017. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Outside Metro Arts night of seeing Lord of the Thrones in 2017.
At QPAC for Circa in DEC2017. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Outside Crete Street Theatre following the great Beenleigh Theatre Production of ‘Lord of the Flies’ 19JAN2018. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
All the people coming to see Cher in 2018. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
The opportunity Scenestr gives writers and how that flows onto the rest of the print industry is extraordinary. I hope to be working for them for a long time yet.
Of the 100 posts published, 10% were reviews of stand-up comedians and their shows, 29% were theatre reviews, 28% were film reviews, 32% were interviews and 1% were reviews of Cher concerts.
The first time on assignment at Brisbane Powerhouse for ‘The Soldier’s Wife’ 10JUN2017 as part of the Queensland Cabaret Festival. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
If you’re been along with me for part of the journey I hope you have enjoyed the ride, I thank you for your support and I hope to continue with you by my side. Two years ago this milestone seemed very distant if even possible and it has been one of the great joys of my life to have had this happen to me at 36 when I was feeling that life was kind of passing me by. I feel very grateful to my editors for their support and knowledge and to all our readers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
-Lloyd Marken
About to see Bad Moms 2 in 2017. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Karen arriving at the 2017 Bryon Bay Film Festival. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
At BRISFEST 2018 for ‘Ode to Man’. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Karen in City Hall for Tom Gleeson during the 2018 Brisbane Comedy Festival. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
At the Spring Hill Reservoir to check out some Shakespeare in 2018. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
Karen about to see ‘What Rhymes WIth Cars and Girls’ in 2017. Copyright Lloyd Marken.
It was my pleasure to be on assignment for Scenestr magazine again to attend a preview screening of Rocketman on a Saturday evening up at the top of the Myer Centre in town. Karen and I both came from other work with Karen doing well to make it before the screening began.
Rocketman is an interesting film for me, there were some moments that dragged on and felt weren’t not very well thought out. Then there were others that were… well just sublime. The emotional through line of the story is well served, a little boy growing up and feeling unloved and how that led to the addictions that almost killed the man.
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Karen made it! Karen made it! Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
Copyright Lloyd Marken
It is not a perfect film far from it but it is the kind of film that makes me excited to have others watch it and tell me what they think. Because some things are done so well. I will be interested to hear your thoughts, for mine you can read the review here http://scenestr.com.au/movies-and-tv/rocketman-review-20190529
Produced by Eyeball Media Enterprises Scenestr is an online national magazine with local offices around Australia. Having started in 1993 they’ve excelled at moving into the digital realm but they remain at heart from the streets. They still publish magazines in print for Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland every month.
Back to the Drawing Board Productions 