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Originally Published July 22, 2022.

Due to inflation, travel has joined the growing list of industries—including food, housing, and gasoline—that now cost Americans more than in previous years. There is concern that they might be ringing up large credit card bills.

If you are considering public transportation by flight or train, book as far as possible. This approach may work well for you as it often allows the airline or rail company to help you get seats to your destination at a certain price, offering the potential to save money. This Air Fleet Rating provides details of air travelers.

Carpool instead of taking a plane

It is no secret that gas prices are costly. Another option to consider is traveling with a group by carpooling. Be mindful, too, that airline cancellations typically rise during the summer. Another potential benefit is that you won’t have to rent a car once you reach your site. Download apps like GasBuddy and AAA Gas Prices to help find less costly gas stations near you.

Why pay to sightsee if you can do it without spending money? For instance, personal finance company NerdWallet reports that there are many things you can do at Disney World at no cost. It reports travelers can find free walking tours in large cities but should be prepared to tip guides. In major cities, do some research to learn what attractions offer freebies.

Take your own food and snacks

Lion Forge Entertainment, the studio behind “Iyanu,” the epic superhero animated-series steeped in Nigerian culture and mythology, debuting on Cartoon Network and Max, has set a sponsorship pact with Nigeria’s famed The Voiceover Conference, Africa’s premiere voiceover summit.

Lion Forge will come on board as a leading sponsor for the biggest voiceover event in Africa. The relationship highlights a shared commitment from Lion Forge Entertainment and The Voiceover Conference (TVOC) to amplify and uplift diverse, global voices within the entertainment industry. The 2024 edition of The Voiceover Conference takes place June 25-26 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Lion Forge’s “Iyanu” is an adaptation of Dark Horse Comics/YouNeek Studios’ popular graphic novel series Iyanu: Child of Wonder by award-winning Nigerian creator and producer Roye Okupe, and the series is already groundbreaking in that it features an all-African cast. 

Okupe and previously announced cast member Serah Johnson, who voices the title role of Iyanu, will be featured in discussions at TVOC. Paula Gammon Wilson, “Iyanu” Casting Director and Voice Director, is also a special guest and will teach a class on the audition process, giving attendees a chance to practice their talents. 

TVOC’s founder and seasoned voiceover artist King E. Afemikhe, is among the newest “Iyanu” cast members and is set to voice Abbey. Other new additions include convention co-host Femi “Bakes” Olugbade, who voices Uwa; special guest and award-winning voiceover artist Tolulope Kolade (Everything Voiceovers Podcast) who voices the character Siju; broadcaster turned voice actor Femi Sowoolu as Chancellor Nuro; Lord Frank as The Fallen One; multilingual voice actress Rashidat Fawehinmi Raji as Omolola; and voice actress Iheanetu Edith Chidinma as Teju.

Set to debut on Cartoon Network and Max next year, “Iyanu” is an epic superhero tale set in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland, which draws from Nigerian culture, music and mythology. The series follows Iyanu, a teenage heroine who must uncover the mystery behind her newfound powers to save her people from an ancient curse threatening to destroy humanity.

Founded by David Steward II, Lion Forge Entertainment is a mission-driven entertainment company focusing on content that is both authentic and appealing to a broad audience. The company develops and produces animated and live action content targeting the kids & family and young adult audiences.

Steward II stated, “We are thrilled to enter a partnership with The Voiceover Conference, a staple in Africa’s budding voiceover scene helping young artists break into the entertainment industry and thrive. This collaboration is a testament to our mission of amplifying authentic, diverse voices. It’s especially exciting that these talented individuals will now be featured in our upcoming animated series ‘Iyanu,’ bringing fresh and genuine perspectives to our audiences.”

King E. Afemikhe founded TVOC in response to the escalating unemployment rates across Africa. With the intent to empower the continent’s youth and ultimately prepare these African voices for global recognition and success, the annual conference provides a nurturing platform for aspiring voice-over talents to not only succeed but find relevance and employment through the use of voice. TVOC seeks to transform voiceover into a thriving sector that generates profitable business opportunities for young Africans in and outside the continent.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lion Forge as a sponsor for the Voiceover Conference 5.0. Their support is a testament to the power of hard work and dedication. Lion Forge’s commitment to our event not only validates our efforts but also inspires us to strive for greater heights. We believe that collaboration is key to growth and progress, and we are grateful for Lion Forge’s partnership in bringing together the pioneer and biggest voiceover conference in Africa,” said King E Afemikhe, Founder, Voiceover Workshop & Media and Convener of The Voiceover Conference.

The 2024 Voiceover Conference takes place virtually on June 25 and as a hybrid event on June 26 at Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Nigeria. Register at thevoiceoverconference.com.

DeWayne Rogers By Robyn Mowatt ·Updated June 25, 2024

Mary J. Blige shook the internet when she and Giuseppe Zanotti revealed her golden boot collaboration. Not only did the shoes sell out swiftly, the beloved singer began a conversation about the cultural impact of artists and musicians in regard to fashion. The collaborative footwear wasn’t only striking but they proved the generational impact of hersrc="https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/edit-mjb-IMG_1478-scaled.jpeg" alt="Mary J. Blige On Her Sold-Out Boots And Today’s Restock" width="400" height="599" />DeWayne Rogers

The singer on her sold-out drop: “Seeing the response to the first drop of my boots with Giuseppe Zanotti really blew me away,” said Mary J. Blige. “For years, my fans have asked me about making boots and you all showed up and showed out. Because of how quickly you sold them out, we had to come back with more.” Blige adds that the second drop is available due to her fans. 

The unique loyalty that fans of artists provide for many is not a small feat. This leads to sold-out tours, pop-up shows like Kendrick Lamar’s culturally relevant and pivotal “Pop Out,” and the novelty for tour merchandise and how coveted it has become. I’ll admit I collect tour merchandise for acts like Loony, Lucky Daye, and one of my all-time favorites SZA.

But, this isolated shoe drop is a bit different than what many might consider a trend–it is a unique offering that showcases a brand’s willingness to commit to an act and all that she embodies especially >official site to shop The Mary Boot. Pricing for the boots is $1,295.

The post Mary J. Blige On Her Sold-Out Boots And Today’s Restock appeared first on Essence.

Fans of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, be it the novel or the film, knew the current AMC version was barrelling towards one horrible event since the show began. That is the death of the child vampire Claudia (Delainey Hayles), and her newly made vampire companion Madeleine (Roxane Duran), at the hands of the vengeful Paris coven who operates the Théâtre des Vampires. It’s a heartbreaking moment in the novel, and the series did it justice, while tweaking a few details. Here’s each medium handled Claudia’s executionm in the novels, film, and ultimately, in the second season episode “I Could Not Prevent It.”

The Death of Claudia in Anne Rice’s Novel, Interview with the Vampire

In Rice’s 1976 novel, when the Paris coven discovers that Louis and Claudia broke the Great Laws of the vampires by attempting to murder their maker, the Vampire Lestat, they capture them and hold them in a sort of trial for their crimes. Their star witness is Lestat, who survived their murder attempt in New Orleans years prior. Lestat eventually discovers his progeny fled to Paris, and follows them there. Once the coven discovers that Louis and Claudia broke their laws, they capture them and put them on trial. Of course, it’s trial with a predetermined verdict.

When the coven deems them guilty, they execute Claudia, the chief architect of the crime, and her new companion Madeleine, via murder by sunlight. They leave them alone in a well, until the sun rises and burns them both to ash. The sun rises, and all that remains of Claudia is a tattered yellow dress, covered in ash. The coven gives Louis a different punishment, as they bury him alive within the theater in a locked coffin, meant to slowly drive him mad, and eventually, starve. In the book, all of these events take place in the late 19th century.

How the 1994 Film Version of Interview with the Vampire Handled Claudia’s Death

In the film version, the trial is nonexistent, and the Paris coven merely proceeds to the verdict—guilty. The coven leaves Claudia (Kirsten Dunst) and Madeleine (Domiziana Giordano) alone in the well, with the sun rising and burning them to ash. However, in the film version, both Claudia and Madeleine burn together and their bodies form an ashen sculpture. A sculpture that collapses into dust with the slightest touch. It’s a visually striking effect, but one made just for the film. Claudia’s dress does not survive the sun any more than Claudia does in director Neil Jordan’s big-screen iteration.

Claudia and Madeleine’s Death in Interview with the Vampire on AMC

In the series, the Paris Coven captures Louis, Claudia, and Madeleine. Their kangaroo court trial is actually a matinee performance at the Théâtre des Vampires. The human crowd watches the spectacle of suffering, as the court deems each vampire guilty for attempting to murder Lestat. The coven only gives Madeleine a special dispensation, as Louis made her after the murders. However, she chooses to die with Claudia. Louis is buried within the walls of the theater catacombs. This is after the “jury,” a.k.a. the crowd of mortals in the theater, are telepathically manipulated to give Louis a different sentence than death — exile. Did the Vampire Armand (Assad Zaman) save Louis’ life? Did he plant the exile verdict in their minds? That’s the assumption, as that is what occurs in the book and the film. But perhaps the series will go down a different route.

Instead of executing them in a well, Claudia and Madeleine are murdered on stage, in front of the horrified theatergoers. She threatens to come back from the afterlife and murder each and every person in the audience. The vampire Santiago (Ben Daniels) then opens a skylight that only hits the two female vampires on stage with rays of sunlight, as they writhe in agony and turn to ash. Lestat (Sam Reid) watches, with tears in his eyes as the vampire child he created, and later condemned to death, burns away to nothing. Just as in the novel, all that remains of Claudia is her yellow dress.

Claudia’s Original Fate

The original ending of Rice’s novel had Claudia live, finding happiness with a group of vampire children like herself. But Anne Rice’s editor believed the novel called for a tragic ending. And she was right. So Rice rewrote the entire second half of the book, with Claudia’s death as the emotional climax of the novel. It’s easily the moment Louis’ tragic tale hinges on. Claudia never comes back to life in later novels. Yet she remains a haunting presence in the minds and hearts of Louis and Lestat for eternity. We imagine that in Interview with the Vampire the series, this will remain the case.

The post How INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE Dealt With Claudia’s Final Fate appeared first on Nerdist.