Vida Ghaffari at the 2015 Action on Film Festival

Me interviewing Vida Ghaffari for More Horror magazine at the premiere of Natural Born Filmmakers at the 2015 Action on Film Festival last September.

Dawna Lee Heising Interview - Part 2

In this second half of my interview with Dawna Lee Heising, we delve much further into her acting credits, both past and upcoming. After returning to acting a few years ago, Dawna has built up some notable credits on her resume that include roles in Natural Born Filmmakers, Ten Violent Women: Part Two, Garden Party Massacre, and Gregory Hatanaka's Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance. The last one on that list, Dawna is particularly proud of being a part of due to the people involved on both sides of the camera, of whom she speaks very highly.

The above screen capture on Dawna's very recently released acting reel, shows her as the evil Madame Ans in Jared Masters' upcoming Blood Tulip. Dawna describes it as dramatic film, not a horror, except that she plays a horrific character. Just click to play it and read on for Part 2 of Dawna's exclusive interview with Idol Features.

Dawna Lee Heising Interview - Part 1

My hour-long interview with Dawna Lee Heising didn't seem like an hour at all, since we had a lot to talk about and she was such a pleasure to talk with. Dawna has done nearly everything on a film set, on both sides of the camera. She's an actress, model, dancer, producer, and entertainment journalist who's also experienced on both sides of the interview mic. For More Horror magazine, as well as her own website, Eye On Entertainment, Dawna's interviewed literally hundreds of people in show biz. Those who are part of the Hollywood scene as well as those who are in town to make an appearance at an event or award show.  Dawna shows the same genuine interest and charm, whether she's talking with a relatively unknown talent just starting out, or an A-lister ....and she doesn't have an unkind word to say about anyone. I found her to be a very sweet and personable lady with a great sense of humor, who just happens to also be a glamours bombshell who pole dances and does bikini modeling.

Since I covered so much with Dawna, her interview here is being presented in two parts. Topics covered in this first part include her family (all of whom are very successful, whether in show biz or otherwise), her behind-the-scenes roles, her interview work with her show Eye On Entertainment, and her modeling. Of course, we also touch on her acting roles, but that will be delved into much more in Part 2. Above photo by David J. McNeil.

Vida Ghaffari

As one of the top entertainment journalists in Hollywood, as well as an actress herself, Vida Ghaffari feels equally comfortable on either side of interview mic. She's covered film premieres, red carpet events, and shows all around Hollywood, interviewing everyone from small business owners to A-list celebs, including some Iranian personalities in Farsi, which is her mother tongue. She's also covered quite a few eminent fashion shows of top Hollywood designers, often while wearing their creations.

Although she enjoys hosting and conduction interviews, Vida is currently focused more toward her acting career. Her credits on the small screen include Green Manor, It Casting, and The Mindy Project, in which she appeared in the pilot episode. Filmwise, some of the titles on her list are the short Cross My Heart, Grunder Oakley Productions' Natural Born Filmmakers, and Mark Savage's highly anticipated Circus of Dread, which has been causing a buzz around the indie horror community, preceding its release. Vida's been the voice behind many commercials and animated films, as well. Notably, the 2014 comedy short Lovesick Fool - Love in the Age of Like, in which she worked with Dominic Polcino, one of the top animation directors in the business.

It's no surprise Vida's become a prominent name the Los Angeles entertainment community and has been recognized for her endeavors. This past June, she was honored with an award from the West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce for her outstanding work. More recently, she was the recipient of an entrepreneur award from The World Networks, and of course, she granted Idol Features the following interview. Above photo courtesy of Vida herself.

Kim Acrylic

(Editor's Note: The following interview with Kim Acrylic was conducted exclusively by her fellow author, whose published works are under the name "Ladyaslan." Both ladies graciously gave their permission to have it published here.)

Kim Acrylic, from Seattle Washington, is a poet, recording artist, and indie music journalist, who dedicated her life to poetry at age 15. Since then, she has published four volumes of poetry, and finally an anthology of everything she has written in the book The Myth Behind All Truth, in which artist and musician, Chris Mars, did the cover for.

Kim has worked for several online music and poetry magazines including Punk Globe, The Battered Suitcase and Reviewer magazine. She has been published in several anthologies and blogs including Little Episodes' first volume of poetry Back In 5 Minutes, alongside the likes of Sadie Frost, Clint Catalyst, Lucy Barat, Charlie Sheen, and Michael Madsen. She also collaborated with Andy Warhol, posthumously, for the New Britain Museum of Modern Art by writing a poem inspired by his painting of Manray for the book Visions, Voices, and Verses. As of to date, Kim has two CDs out; Fanfare Meltdown and an E.P Techno Eyes. She continues to collaborate to this day with artists all over the world, and has finished her first novel Rock 'N' Roll Melancholy.