What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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38 WHAT'S UP! FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 6, 2021 PRESIDENT Brent A. Powers EDITOR Becca Martin-Brown 479-872-5054 bmartin@nwadg.com Twitter: NWAbecca ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jocelyn Murphy 479-872-5176 jmurphy@nwadg.com Twitter: NWAJocelyn REPORTER Lara Hightower 479-365-2913 lhightower@nwadg.com DESIGNER Deb Harvell ! UP WHAT'S ON THE COVER A whimsical 1930 cartoon currently showcased at the Old State House Museum in Little Rock linked President Herbert Hoover with federal Prohibition. Created by Arthur Weindorf in 1930, the painting is part of an exhibit titled "Down The Rabbit Hole." (SPECIAL TO NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE/JACK SCHNEDLER) ARCHIVES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.) What's Up! is a publication of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. distancing, shooting on the first season of the show wrapped, and it premiered on the Disney channel in January. Henslee says watching his performance on screen was a highlight of his career so far. "It's amazing — it's so cool," he says. "It's another one of those achievements — actors work so hard. To see my face on television with the Disney logo, it's almost surreal. I'm so grateful for the entire experience." These days, Henslee splits his time between New Orleans and Los Angeles. Like all actors, much of his time is spent auditioning for projects — though things have slowed down considerably since the global pandemic began. "I have a lot of friends who are in Los Angeles and New York, and things have definitely slowed down," he says. "Productions keep closing down and opening back up — it's certainly affecting a lot of people in the entertainment industry. The only thing I can do is take it moment by moment. I think that's kind of one of the things that drove me towards this career path — you kind of have to find enjoyment or find comfort in the process of it and not just the result of seeing yourself in a Disney show. You have to find enjoyment in the running of the race and not just trying to get to the finish line." The constant roller coaster of auditioning for projects can take its toll, says Henslee, so he's learned to put a positive spin on the process. "Actors can take auditioning as though it's a chance to perform, a chance to play this character even though you haven't been cast yet," he says. "You prepare, people are going to watch you perform, that audition room is your stage. You can put on a whole performance and find enjoyment in a character. That makes it more enjoyable." Henslee says he gets back to the Northwest Arkansas area to visit a family that's highly supportive of his career — his two older brothers, in fact, helped steer him towards this path when the trio used to film improv comedy bits and short movies together. His mother, head chef at the popular Northwest Arkansas restaurant Marketplace for over two decades, watches everything he's cast in. "She's always so happy to see me on television," he says with a laugh. "There's a commercial that I'm in that's been airing here, and I always get a text message full of emojis when she sees it." Henslee has a future project in the works — still too early to talk about — but says his Arkansas visits will continue, no matter how busy he gets. "I love coming back to Arkansas so much," he says. "I love traveling in general, and Arkansas is my home. It's just so gorgeous. I love coming back and camping and hiking. Everything is so crazy out here that it's nice to go back home and connect with everyone." Henslee Continued From Page 7 FYI More Film Friends SkipStone Pictures is the family-friendly movie studio behind locally filmed festi- val heavyweights, "F.R.E.D.I." (2018) and "Max Winslow and the House of Secrets" (2019). Just before the pandemic, the founder and CEO Johnny Remo officially moved the production company to Arkansas permanently to be part of growing the film scene here. Despite covid's bringing the film industry to a screeching halt, Remo and SkipStone have remained busy. At the end of the year, production wrapped on the company's next film, "Monstrous" starring Christina Ricci ("The Addams Family"). Another project, "The Chariot," is expected to debut later this year, and was filmed in Little Rock. The sci-fi comedy thriller stars John Malkovich ("Being John Malkovich," "Bird Box"), Shane West ("A Walk to Remember," "Gothem"), Thomas Mann ("Kong, Skull Island"), former NFL player Vernon Davis and Rosa Salazar ("Alita"). The next two projects coming from SkipStone are family action adventure, "Memoria," shooting in NWA, and family drama "Lilies," shooting in both NWA and Little Rock. "We had great support from the crew and locals in Little Rock, with a great metro- politan city dynamic," Remo shares. "NWA has that warm and fuzzy hometown feel with incredible support from the local businesses and people." "F.R.E.D.I" can be streamed on Netflix, Amazon, Tubi and Peacock. "Max Winslow" is available at Walmart, Amazon and STARZ. — Jocelyn Murphy jmurphy@nwadg.com Director Adam Sigal (left) talks with actors Scout Taylor-Compton (bottom right) and Thomas Mann (top right) and crew members about a scene while shooting the film "The Chariot" on Jan. 25 at the Hotel Frederica in Little Rock. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette File Photo/Thomas Metthe) SPRINGDALE