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Film Professor releases feature-length film

Caitlyn Thiele
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Film Professor releases feature-length film

This fall, film professor Elias Daughdrill released “Faith,” a film about one man’s struggle with personal tragedy.

Daughdrill has led the film department of Long Beach City College for nearly the past decade.

“I grew up where the movie is set. I grew up an Evangelical Christian and so I wanted to write a story about somebody from that place, with that belief system, who then goes through a change where their world views are flipped upside down,” Daughdrill said.

“Faith” is a long-time passion project for Daughdrill. 

He said, “I wrote the script for this over ten years ago.” 

“I am really interested in how our sense of self and how the sense of who we are can be changed and where your sense of identity comes from. It generated from my background and my own move away from that as my central identity,” Daughdrill said.

Daughdrill grew up on an almond farm in Atwater in the central California region. So it is no surprise that Atwater served as the setting and production set for the film.

“We aren’t doing crazy stuff where we don’t have insurance or don’t have permits. We had permits and insurance and all that stuff. There were lots of places in the town, both in Atwater and in Merced that let us come in and film. Just because there’s a kind of novelty to it where movies don’t typically get made. So they were all interested and open to the process,” Daughdrill said.

Some of the Daughdrill family are credited at the end of the film. 

Daughdrill continued, “It was little stuff, they would be in crowd scenes or in the dinner scenes. You have to just stuff the space with bodies and we were so low-budget that we didn’t have any money to pay extras. But we did have other extras. We had other people who were kind of interested in being in a movie. So they would come and hangout for a few hours.”

Brian Geraghty, currently starring on ABC7’s “Big Sky,” stars as Chris in “Faith.” Chris is a troubled man questioning his faith in God.

Daughdrill explained the process of casting Geraghty in the starring role. 

“We had a casting director that helped us. Casting directors make it easier to get the scripts to agents and managers of actors. We got some actors attached, but the way we got Brian though was Nora-Jane, who plays his wife Carol (in the film). We had another actor attached to the part and we had to change the schedule and it didn’t fit his schedule anymore. So then we had to find somebody else. Nora-Jane’s husband is an actor named Chris Marquette, and he knows Brian. I said Brian would be great because I knew him from “Hurt Locker” and “Boardwalk Empire” and other stuff. He’d be great, he was available, it fit his schedule, and he liked the script. So we met and off we went.”

For Daughdrill, the questioning of faith is not to cast doubt on faith in general as the film is not “faith-based” but more a rumination on how we can derive faith in other aspects of our lives.

Daughdrill explained, “It’s definitely not a ‘faith-based’ movie. It’s about a character who is very religious, absolutely. It has a bunch of ambiguity about that as a way of living…Faith-based movies have very easy answers.”

The film was released on November 27 and is currently available for rent and purchase on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

Philosophy club discusses Trump and cult culture

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Philosophy club discusses Trump and cult culture

The philosophy club hosted an interview with Long Beach City College professor of social psychology, Nick Herrera to discuss Steve Hassan’s “The Cult of Trump,” a book that investigates the impact that mind control has had on PresidentTrump’s fan base. 

Hassan, a former member of a cult himself, analyzed President Trump and compared him to cult leaders from the past.

Professor Robert Vitt, head of the philosophy club, said the discussion was not meant to divide anyone, but instead was meant to examine President Trump and his followers through a philosophical lense. 

“The other side of the aisle isn’t evil. It’s just people who have a different understanding,” Vitt said. “Philosophy is about criticism. Philosophy is about critique. Critique of different kinds of structures. Sometimes those are social structures.”

In the book, Hassan warns readers about 21st century mind control techniques, such as manipulation and linguistic patterns that are used to persuade President Trump’s supporters to behave in a specific way. 

The book also analyzes the use of propaganda that conservative media uses to further gain control of their viewers. 

FOX News, in particular, became synonymous with Trump soon after his 2016 election win when their pundits began to enable his unprofessional behavior. 

Trump supporter Stephanie Vokov is attempting to respond to a driver who shouted at her and other supporters during the Beverly Hills freedom rally on Nov. 14, 2020. Photo by Jorge Hernandez.
Trump supporter Stephanie Vokov is attempting to respond to a driver who shouted at her and other supporters during the Beverly Hills freedom rally on Nov. 14, 2020. Photo by Jorge Hernandez.

“Maybe it’s not so much a function of right versus left, but just media in general and its failure to adhere to journalistic standards,” Vitt said. 

A large amount of Trump’s followers fall into the economic lower class of society, a striking revelation due to the fact that Trump himself was born into a wealthy family. Along with conservative media, Trump succeeded in creating a sense of fear amongst his base who reject government aid and, among others, accessible universal healthcare. 

“I don’t think that they know that it is against their best interest. That’s part of the problem. It is a function of persuasion to convince people of things that are not in their own interests,” Vitt said. 

Conspiracy theories have also been used by Trump and his supporters to discredit the government and the recent election results. 

“Philosophy teaches people how to question answers rather than answer questions. And once you begin that process it is really difficult to control where that goes. What you teach people to think-you better be careful because they’re gonna start thinking,” Vitt said. 

Trump supporter Pamela Reese from Long Beach along with other supporters is waving the flag and cheers in support of president trump during the Beverly Hills freedom rally on Nov. 14, 2020. Photo by Jorge Hernandez.
Trump supporter Pamela Reese from Long Beach along with other supporters is waving the flag and cheers in support of president trump during the Beverly Hills freedom rally on Nov. 14, 2020. Photo by Jorge Hernandez.

Herrera, the guest speaker, discussed how social influence could be a reason why Trump’s base seems to grow.

“People need to understand the strength of social influence.We live in a country that focuses on personality as cause for behavior. That is a flawed approach for a lot of reasons,” Herrera said. 

He stressed that understanding human behavior requires us to take into account situations that are present in the moment. 

“(Those situations) are going to frequently cause people to do things that are perceived as wrong,” Herrera said. 

Though the country seems more divided than ever, Vitt said he hopes that discussions like these will bring people together again.

“If we could loosen the gap between us versus them, republicans versus democrats, if we can shake that at all and remind ourselves for just a moment that we’re Americans. We’re all part of the same deliberative democracy, and we all love the country… If we could walk away remembering we’re Americans who love the country and we’re entitled to talk about a form of government, that’s a win.”

Opinion: Los Angeles County is not taking COVID-19 seriously enough

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Opinion: Los Angeles County is not taking COVID-19 seriously enough

I decided to get a job in the midst of the pandemic because I needed the money. I could not afford to pay off my school tuition, books, my car bill, and rent once the two jobs I had pre-pandemic were forced to close under the statewide shelter-in-place guidelines. 

My options already scarce, I took a job working as a security guard at a local hospital. It seemed to work great with my schedule, and I already had a background working in security roles, plus, the pay was good. 

I was told that the hospital and its staff were taking the proper precautions to ensure the safety of all employees via a screening process. The idea was that all patients had to pass a COVID-19 screen that included a temperature check and answering questions on a sheet of paper. 

It wasn’t until I actually started working there that I realized the precautions taken were not good enough.

The screening process was inefficient from the start. High fever is not always present in COVID-positive patients. 

This I would graciously learn as I battled the virus myself. 

There were issues with honesty. 

Many patients claimed that they had not been out of their homes prior to their visit, yet would later admit to attending gatherings with friends and family. 

It was shocking to me how many people assumed that just because the people closest to them seemed healthy, it was safe to hang around them, completely disregarding the fact that COVID-19 is something that cannot be seen and is notorious for not showing symptoms for up to 14 days. 

All over the hospital, I heard from nurses and coworkers that things would only get worse come holiday season. 

However, I don’t think anyone predicted the severity of the situation until the weekend after Thanksgiving.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted a mass wave of COVID-19 cases after the holidays. What we saw at our hospital went beyond all expectations. 

A coronavirus testing site that normally saw between 50-100 cars a day was now packed with sedans full of panicked people who were experiencing loss of breath, loss of taste and smell, and nausea. among others. 

Nurses who administered COVID-19 tests were forced to pick and choose who was sick enough to be tested that day and who should wait until more tests were available. Security was tasked with escorting patients from the emergency room to one of the many coronavirus wards. 

Eventually, those became full and patients would be escorted right to the ICU. 

When that became full, patients were turned away.

It was around this time when I began to experience my first coronavirus symptoms. It was only a sore throat and a headache every now and then. Surely not a big deal, especially because I had just gotten my flu shot, and I was told I might feel a little sick for a few days. 

I continued to work and thought nothing of it. I considered a COVID-19 test, but was told unless I had at least four of the symptoms I should wait. 

There was also a sense of denial on my part. I thought that there was no way I could get it because I followed all of the protocols and only spent Thanksgiving with my immediate family. 

A few days later, I was completely bedridden. I was constantly fatigued, my body ached, I lost my sense of taste and smell, and my sore throat had gotten worse. I knew I had to get tested immediately.

After receiving the news that I tested positive, I was dumbfounded. There was also a feeling of disappointment. I felt like I had done everything right and I still got it. 

Soon, that disappointment turned into anger. 

On social media, I saw bars packed with young people my age who did not wear masks and refused to social distance. I saw videos of people in Huntington Beach who denied the existence of the virus altogether. 

I was invited to a “Pandemic Party” held in my hometown that strictly forbade attendants from wearing masks for the sake of having a good time. 

All the while, L.A. County’s coronavirus numbers were skyrocketing as California recorded the most coronavirus deaths in a single day than had ever been seen anywhere in the world. 

While I was struggling with memory loss, often a side effect of COVID-19, others were blatantly disregarding the guidelines that were implemented to ensure their safety. 

This has got to stop. Californians, especially Angelinos, need to take the pandemic more seriously.

The brain fog I experienced was debilitating. 

After bombing an important math exam because of the condition of my mental state, I was forced to drop my statistics class. 

It was also humiliating. There were times I would be trying to complete assignments from different classes only to be interrupted with constant blanks in my memory. 

Even basic words became difficult to recall. I cannot imagine how older people experiencing the same thing coped. 

A study from Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center found that brain fog can be due to a systemic inflammation on the brain and the immune system within the brain, causing changes in the way the brain signals. 

All of the signs are there that the coronavirus is not to be messed with. 

So why don’t people care anymore? The answer is our leaders.

There have been 1.45 million COVID-19 cases in California since the beginning of the year. 

Over 400,000 of those cases were from Los Angeles County alone. 

Even with the shelter-in-place in full effect, over 8,000 Angelinos have died at the hands of this tragic disease.

The fact of the matter is, L.A. County is not taking the pandemic seriously enough and has directly contributed to the death of thousands of people. 

Many more will die unless Gov. Gavin Newsom or Mayor Eric Garcetti enforce a serious lockdown that prevents people from leaving their shelter unless under extreme circumstances.

In the beginning of the shelter-in-place, the guidelines were less lenient than they are now. Most retail stores were closed except for those that were deemed essential. 

Barber shops, nail salons, and gyms were closed for months as the nation tried to cope with our new reality. Outdoor dining was not a concept. Since most businesses were closed, this meant that the employees were at home in quarantine as they were told. The vast majority of Americans assumed that after a couple of weeks things would be back to normal. 

Nine months later, we are still living in chaos. Except now, it feels like everyone has given up, including our leaders.

What was once an arguably effective way to keep L.A. County residents sheltered in place have gone down the drain. While COVID-19 cases continue to rise, businesses continue to re-open. 

Thousands of L.A. County residents who were once safely sheltered in their homes have been forced back into their minimum wage jobs to provide services that are not necessarily essential. 

Restaurants and non-essential retail stores should not be open at a time when an average of 75 people die in L.A. County per day due to the virus. 

According to the official County of Los Angeles Public Health website, people between the ages of 18 and 49 are responsible for more COVID-19 cases than all of the other age ranges combined. 

This could be due to the fact that they are expected to work through the pandemic instead of being allowed to shelter. 

It’s not just that people are being dragged back to their previous job that’s the problem, it’s that for many people, going back to work is the only financial decision that makes sense right now. 

The government provided a one-time stimulus check for $1,2000 at the very beginning of the pandemic. Since then, the House and the Senate have failed to agree on a financial plan leaving millions of Americans to fend for themselves. 

According to the United States Census Bureau, 34 million Americans were living in poverty. The number has since increased due to the onset of the pandemic. 

Mayor Garcetti and Gov. Newsom have not implemented strict enough stay at home orders. 

Sheriff Alex Villanueva stated that he would not require his officers to enforce the shelter in place. 

When I walk around Long Beach, I see people dining outside in closed-in tents that completely defeats the purpose of banning indoor dining. 

Malls have begun to open up again due to the holiday season. Even though people were encouraged not to go Black Friday shopping, stores were still offering Black Friday deals. 

On one hand, people should know better and should face criticism for their decisions. 

On the other hand, they shouldn’t be able to make those decisions to begin with. If non-essential businesses were closed altogether we would not be seeing the rise in COVID-19 cases that we are seeing now. 

Not only should our leaders close these businesses, but they should offer compensation for small business owners who risk going bankrupt trying to keep their business afloat. 

Again, most of these businesses are only open because their owners desperately need the financial security. 

It’s not fair for Americans to have to choose between making money or contracting the virus. 

The U.S. government has failed the people. That does not mean California has to follow the same path. 

Obviously, there are going to be people who refuse to adhere to guidelines meant to keep them safe. 

It sucks being inside all the time and missing out on spending special occasions with the people you love most. 

But, if you truly loved them, you should be willing to sacrifice physical contact until the virus is under control. 

Had I spent Thanksgiving with my extended family, I could have easily exposed my grandma to COVID-19. 

I have no idea how long I carried the virus before I became symptomatic. Neither will you. 

Before you make that decision to ignore the stay at home order, be sure to think about the people around you.

Photo essay: Post-looting murals brings harmony to Long Beach community

Caitlyn Thiele
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Photo essay: Post-looting murals brings harmony to Long Beach community

A collection of murals throughout downtown Long Beach was a project done by local businesses and associations in the city. As a way to bring positive messages and healing after looting took place earlier this year. 

What began as a peaceful protest against long-standing police brutality sparked by the killing of George Floyd turned into a rampage for businesses throughout the city, particularly in downtown Long Beach. 

Community members came together to help clean up the debris left on the streets the next day. 

Artists immediately began working on the murals, according to Efren Luna that works with the Cultural Alliance for Long Beach. 

Local nonprofits and donors offered a nominal stipend to artists for painting the boarded windows. Some of the boards were provided by the police department, according to some of the murals curators.

According to Luna, the murals are messages of hope, peace, Black Lives Matter, and unity.  

Messages of resiliency were painted on boarded windows. Artwork by @jamupritj. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).
Some artwork was done by volunteers and displayed messages of inclusion and racial perseverance. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).
“Time for change” and “God hates the Klan” offer a serious but somewhat lighthearted message of racial resilience. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).
A mural shows support for vendors who have been harassed. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).

The artists were mostly locals who saw the call to artists on social media channels. Many of the artists who worked on the projects had experience working onboarded murals. 

Ronnie de Leon and Ashley Orellano worked on curating projects for the Bixby Knolls Business Association by coordinating with local artists along with Luna and other members of the Cultural Alliance. 

Many of the art pieces were sketched by professional artists with lots of input from community members who showed up to volunteer. 

According to Luna, one mural inspired a person who was walking by and wrote a poem about the piece. The poem was later painted on the mural. 

An image of a phoenix sits atop of a boarded window which once held a small black owned hair salon. Artwork by McBride Arts. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).
Graphic art was also included in the murals. These images portrays Black and Native American unity. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).

Some of the paintings reflected the businesses boarded up. A store that sold barber supplies painted grooming products on their mural. 

Others feature graffiti-style words and messages related to the themes of justice. 

This mural has a message calling for “power 2 da’ people” written in graffiti style. Artwork by @winstorm_theabnorm. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).
A mural painted over a boarded liquor store hold protests signs sayings “no justice, no peace.” (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).
Messages of peace, unity and love were part of the murals installed. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).

One mural honored victims of homicide, others highlighted the need for justice. Others were about community and embracing diversity. 

An artist who goes by the name of Who’s Vlad painted a series of murals outside of the Bank of America on Long Beach Blvd.  

Who’s Vlad painted several colorful, bold murals in downtown. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).
Work done by the artist, Who’s Vlad show images of Black love and family. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).
A mural outside of this Bank of America depicts the slogan “say her name.” The phrase has been used to acknowledge the deaths of black women killed by police or armed citizens. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).

The murals which are facing the sunny side of the building are rich in color and feature messages of love, Black family, and strong femininity. The murals draw in the viewer by incorporating the landscaping of the building into the piece. 

This mural incorporates the landscaping directly in front of it. Artwork by Who’s Vlad. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).
These murals done by any artist who goes by @rivvl_collective on Instagram features a theme of femininity, nature and consciousness. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).

Under a shaded area of the building is a more disturbing piece that has images of people behind cages. The shadowy figures appear to be pleading behind bars and feature words calling for their release in various languages. 

This mural shows images of people behind cages. The images are part of series which show people suffering behind bars. The figures are of different skin hues and wear flags symbolizing various nationalities. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).
This mural shows images of people behind cages. The images are part of series which show people suffering behind bars. The figures are of different skin hues and wear flags symbolizing various nationalities. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).

It can be inferred that the images are meant to show solidarity between the struggle Black Americans face with those who are incarcerated for their immigration status. The figures are various shades of skin hues and wear the flags of countries where immigrants are being detained in camps or other forms of incarceration.  

This mural shows images of people behind cages. The images are part of series which show people suffering behind bars. The figures are of different skin hues and wear flags symbolizing various nationalities. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).

The pieces seem to evoke emotions in those who view them.  For many of the artists, it was a chance to demonstrate the power that art has to change spaces by bringing a community together. 

Anna Schoedorfer-McBride, who helped work on a few murals said, “It was an opportunity for the community to show what we stand for.” 

Some murals have been graffitied over, one particular incident happened to a George Floyd mural outside of the Verde Salon on 4th St. The owners of the shop wanted to paint a mural in honor of Floyd as a recognition of his death at the hands of police. 

These murals cover the remnants of a suit store that was set on fire. Depicted are famous leaders in the struggle for Black equality, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks and Jackie Robinson. Artwork by @rivvl_collective. (Photo by Viking News/Elliot Gonzales).

The piece, which was painted by Kenny McBride, was damaged badly. Public outcry and camera footage identified the perpetrator who damaged the mural. 

McBride has since redone that piece and has worked on additional Floyd murals and other post looting murals on small businesses. 

To Luna, this experience demonstrated the importance of investing in the local artists’ community. 

“There is a big difference between the local art scene and other projects that are part of the gentrification of downtown. This was from the heart. It was a community effort,” McBride said.

Organizations involved in putting the murals project together include the Downtown Long Beach Associates,  Goodwill Solac, and the Cultural Alliance of Long Beach.

Artists who worked on the murals include: 

Judy Kepes, Sue Gilmore, Manny Verduzco, Jay Jenkins, Efren Luna, Charlotte Medina, Maria Guadalupe, Ashley Elliott, Marquis Cook, Asael Ramos, Rhiannon Lopez.

Isaac Frisk, Raul Vazquez, Ivan Rodriguez, McBride Arts, Who’s Vlad, Rivvl_Collective, Bodeck Hernandez, Mike Petow, Alepsis Hernandez, Francesca Quintano.

 Hannah Nance, Isabelle Marshall, Sam Spina, Mecca Robinson, Jonathan Robinzuela, Shane Jessup, Steve Martinez, Megan Boterenbrood, Karina Vasquez. 

Omar Martinez, Benji Escobar, Nick Sawyers, Richard Chavando, Derrick Diza, Eddie Avalos, Alejandro Moro, Denise Teizeria-Pinto, Eric Michael.  

Arnold Randall, Maria Fryer, Erica Elena, Juan Onwon, Francisco Reyes Jr., and others.

A full list of participants was not available.

APS Travel finds alternatives during tourism decline

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APS Travel finds alternatives during tourism decline

With the hospitality industry in dire straits, APS Travel has found alternatives to surviving a decline in tourism. 

Long Beach business owner Sharisse Armstrong is president of APS Travel. 

For over twenty years, APS Travel has been a luxury company that specializes in domestic and international travel and tourism.

APS Travel’s mission statement is “We don’t believe in saying no, we believe in providing alternatives.” 

APS caters to a wide range of clientele including but not limited to corporate executives, entertainers, media groups and jetsetters.

In March, the pandemic caused many countries to instate travel bans. Nine months later, fifty countries are closed, and ninety-two countries are partially open, including the United States.

Travel restrictions have cost the airline, hotel, and rental car industries trillions of dollars.

On November 18,  The American Hotel and Lodging Association posted, “71% of hotels won’t survive another six months without further government COVID-19 relief.”

However, Armstrong is more optimistic. 

She said, “In the beginning, it was really tough for my company, but now that our country and 91 other countries are partially open, we are back in business, and taking safety precautions put in place by the airlines.”

Many APS Travel clients are back to traveling, and have found alternative ways to be safe while conducting business or leisure.

Armstrong added, “In these times, not everyone can afford or even want to travel, but some still want to get away after being cooped up in their house for nine months. Subsequently, staycations are on the rise. Long Beach has become the new South Beach.”

Michelle Armstrong, Sharisse’s sister, recently celebrated her birthday at the Grand Canyon. 

“I hadn’t made any plans because of COVID, but my sister surprised me. She booked a suite at The Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel. We took Amtrak first class, it was spaced out of course, and we saw The Grand Canyon. APS Travel booked everything including my surprise birthday dinner. It was absolutely wonderful,” Michelle said.

Since March, APS Travel has remodeled their website to inform clients about travel restrictions. 

APS Travel has educated clients on social responsibility and travel advisories: “Due to the outbreak, we are aware of the restrictions and circumstances impacting the travel industry. As we navigate these challenges, we want to ensure that your safety and wellbeing are our top priority. With a commitment to service, we remain ready and available to assist you and address any concerns you may have.”

Sharisse Armstrong said she prays for everyone’s safety in hopes that the hospitality and many other non-essential industries recover quickly.

The Department of Theater Arts premieres “Out Brief Candle”

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The Department of Theater Arts premieres “Out Brief Candle”

The Department of Theater Arts of Long Beach City College launched a premiere of the play called “Out Brief Candle” on December 4.

The play was directed by actor, fight director, former Viking and current theater professor, Collin Bressie, and was presented on the Long Beach City College Performing Arts’ YouTube channel.

“Out Brief Candle” was the first recorded play that Long Beach City College’s students and staff presented in an online format.

The play consisted of a compilation of Shakespeare’s lines from such plays as “King Lear,” “Richard III,” “Macbeth,” “The Merchant of Venice” and more. 

The purpose of using these plays was to connect them with political and human issues that occurred during 2020.

Bressie said he chose Shakespeare because, “Shakespeare is something I’ve had a deep connection with forever since I’ve been doing theater, and I thought it would be a great opportunity for our students to work with Shakespeare and become familiar with the language.”

Ellen Arroyo is a second year theater student at Long Beach City College. She started as a nursing major, but when she took a theater class she discovered her passion for acting.

Ellen played several roles in “Out Brief Candle,” and she mentioned that the longest role she had in this play was Lady Anne in the play of “Richard III.” 

“I did about three scenes and then we all collaborated on the first intro line,” she said.

When producing “Out Brief Candle” in a new recorded format, the students and producers ran into several challenges.

“Unlike other plays that we do, we get a script, we know our role, and we memorize lines. But for this one, we didn’t have a script. That was what was different about this play. We (the cast) came up with a script together,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo said, “We had rehearsals over Zoom and we recorded ourselves while Collin watched us so that he can direct and tell us if he wanted something different, possibly another angle or where to emphasize. It was different as well, something we all had to get used to.” 

She added the cast members had to clear out a space in their rooms in order to record themselves and act.

Bressie commented that the “Out Brief Candle” team had to complete the script in five days. 

He said, “That’s us doing a lot of research, students created their own research components from pools from social media, pools from articles.”

Theater classes were severely affected by COVID-19. It has been challenging and complicated for students to build relationships with other students and professors since everything has been through Zoom, including rehearsals and other theater activities.

Bressie said, “It’s challenging. How do we put together and create a sense of partnership through this medium? It’s been quite a challenge. I think not being able to be in a space, share a physical space with those that you are working within theater is very foreign to all of us.”

“It’s been heartbreaking not being in the theater but also it has been inspirational,” Bressie said.

Arroyo mentioned that even though these are not the best circumstances, the entire team worked hard and got the best of it.

Usually the department of theater performs five plays during a year, two in spring, one over summer and the last two in the fall.

“Out Brief Candle” is the fourth play of 2020 and the Department of Theater Arts will premiere another play in the same format before the holidays.

The name of the fifth play of the year is called “The War of the Worlds” by H.G. Wells. However, there is no specific date the play will be premiered yet.

For more information about future theater plays and events of the Department of Theater Arts visit the link: https://www.lbcc.edu/department-performing-arts

Long Beach City College Art Gallery goes digital

Caitlyn Thiele
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Long Beach City College Art Gallery goes digital

While prior to 2020, art would often be enjoyed in person at a gallery or museum, art shows have now shifted over a virtual platform, and the Long Beach City College Art Gallery is no exception. 

Director of the Long Beach City College Art Gallery Trevor Norris said, “The virtual art galleries have been going well, but (are) hard to measure.” 

“A numerical counter at reception, and a physical interaction between gallery staff and visitors, all made estimating reactions from visitors easier,” Norris said. 

Toree Moore, an artist who has many pieces of artwork displayed at the art gallery, said he is just thrilled to still be able to continue doing what he loves, art. 

Moore said that everything is going well with creating his art, and he wishes people could see his art in person, instead of virtually or through Instagram or other social media platforms.

Moore also shared that by having his artwork online, he believes that a broader audience will be able to view his and other artist’s hard work and dedication. 

Norris said about sharing his art on social media, “For myself, the institution and the viewer, in the physical space is superior, think for instance, of scale and juxtaposition of one artwork to the next.” 

But Norris said he is very optimistic every time he goes on Instagram and sees some of the work published by his students.

“These are the days we’re living in,” Norris said.

Norris said that it has been easy for all his artists to be in exhibitions. He has not experienced any trouble with his students and it is not difficult putting new things on Instagram.

Norris believes it is actually easier for his artists to share their work across Instagram’s platform.

Moore attested to this. 

“Instagram is the easiest thing to share your work on,” he said. 

“The gallery has always had a presence on social media and in the physical space. The pandemic has tipped the scales in the digital direction,” Norris said.

Moore and Norris both understand that the world is changing and moving into the digital era.

Due to the majority of the college campus moving onto online platforms, Norris feels that it has not been too difficult to adjust to having virtual art shows.

A Long Beach model adjusts to a virtual world

Caitlyn Thiele
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A Long Beach model adjusts to a virtual world

Long Beach model Onome Ituah has adjusted by focusing this year on growing her social media followers, and using her platform to spread awareness for social justice movements such as Black Lives Matter.

Ituah is a sophomore at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. In addition to being a student, she has modeled around the country from L.A. to New York Fashion Week.

Because COVID-19 has canceled fashion shows nationwide, the only gigs she has booked have been for print.

During the pandemic, she has booked two magazines, including her first cover ad with “So Free Teen Magazine.”

Standing at 5 feet 10 inches, the runway is her specialty. Ituah has been at least 5’8 since she was 10 years old, which allowed her to break into modeling at an early age.

Modeling has kept her uplifted from depression during this quarantine. She has been so inspired during the pandemic that she also aims to uplift her classmates. 

Modeling and taking online classes from home has made her feel more like an adult, she said. 

She said, “At first the experience was challenging, but now I like it. Learning from home has made me more independent, and I feel more prepared for college than ever before.”

Ituah is used to juggling a work-school-life schedule because she has been modeling for five years. Some of her classmates have just started their first jobs during this pandemic. 

Ituah has been able to help them balance their schedule. 

“It’s all about time management. Although I am not traveling to New York like I used to, I am spending much more time on social media. Growing my followers is a job in itself. But it’s all about priorities. I don’t get online until after I am done with my homework,” she said.

The pandemic has brought Ituah and her classmates closer. Everyone is helping each other, and everyone is excelling, she said. 

She said she believes this year is creating a lifelong bond between her and her classmates.

Ituah’s mother is a registered nurse on the front lines. For Ituah, the hardest part of the pandemic has been fear for her mother catching the coronavirus.

Her mother, Adesuwa Ituah, takes great precaution, when she arrives home each day, heading to the bathroom first to shower and then she cleans her clothes before she greets anyone.

“My mom and I are so close. I am used to hugging her when she comes home, but now I must wait for her to clean herself and her clothes. This has been the hardest part of the pandemic for me. But by the grace of God, my mother and no one in my family has gotten sick.”

Adesuwa said, “Besides worrying about me, I think the hardest part of the pandemic for Onome is not getting on the runway.” 

Ituah admits to wanting to get back on the runway, but she does not want to jeopardize anyone’s health. 

“Onome can hold out on returning to the classroom much easier than returning to the runway. She misses it badly, but she will have to wait or start doing virtual fashion shows,” Adesuwa said.

9Round Fitness Gym has 9 lives

Caitlyn Thiele
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9Round Fitness Gym has 9 lives

9Rounds Fitness Gym has remained open through the pandemic through outdoor and virtual offerings for Long Beach residents. 

All of 9Rounds’ enhancements during the pandemic have been within government guidelines and regulations.

Everything is constantly sanitized. They only train a few people at a time, ensuring that the six foot minimum distancing is in order, and the workouts are only 30 minutes so clients are in and out.

Clarissa “Boxy Roxy” Bouer, the owner said, “I used to be a member at another 9Round Fitness. I loved it so much I opened up my own in December 2017.  This year has been by far the most challenging. I have literally changed the business model four times in order to stay open during all the different government restrictions.”

For those who wish to remain at home, 9Round Fitness offers a virtual option.

“We launched an online version of our workout on On Demand. Our members can do the entire 9Round workout from their home for free any time of day,” said Bouer.

Trainer James Loo said, “9Round Fitness is a specialized fitness center for people who want a unique, fun and proven workout.  9Round offers a kickboxing themed fitness program that incorporates a functional, interval, cardiovascular, and circuit training regimens.”

Currently, 9Round Fitness Long Beach is running a holiday promotion. Anyone who becomes a member this month gets the rest of the month for free, and can take their first class for free.

On December 7, Mayor Robert Garcia announced a $5 million fund for personal care services and gyms. 

“About time, that will certainly help me recuperate some of the cost from all these enhancements and the revenue we lost from canceled memberships,” said Bouer.

Bouer urges people to workout during this time. 

“I got into this business because exercise prolongs life. Heart disease is the number one killer of women and exercise helps that. Exercise helps all our organs and builds up our immunity, which is why I invested so much to keep this place open during this pandemic,” said Bouer.

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