Close-Up Culture

Independent journalism on the things we love

Haley Bundy: On “End to Begin,” Her Appalachian Roots, and Evolving as an Artist

Haley Bundy sits down with Close-Up Culture to share the stories behind her new single, her Appalachian roots, and her creative process since moving to Nashville. Q: Your new single, “End to Begin,” comes out January 30. What does that title mean to you, and what kind of emotional space does the song live in?…
Inside the Heart of Labyrinthine Rose: Marina V on Loss, Resilience, and Rebirth

By Laura Wilhelm, LauraWil InterCultural & Nicole Muj Award-winning singer, songwriter, and pianist Marina V released her deeply personal new album, Labyrinthine Rose, on October 24, 2025, on all major streaming platforms and on her official website Marina V – LR Produced by acclaimed composer Steve Horner (Bridgerton, Rachel Platten) and featuring legendary musicians Bruce Kulick (KISS) and David Ellefson (Megadeth), the album is Marina’s most raw and intimate project to…
‘Mina’ and Modern Fairy Tales: Director Alex Tsitsilin Talks Gan Jing World’s Animated Debut

Following the successful North American theatrical debut of the modern fairytale Mina, the popular independent social media and video streaming platform Gan Jing World1 (GJW) premiered the animated feature on September 12 on its streaming platform GJW+ and Gan Jing Kids3—a new children’s platform that provides child-friendly content without addictive algorithms. Produced by Magic Frame Pictures and Creation Entertainment Media, Mina reinvents…
Reimagining Fairytales for a New Generation: Mina Enchants Viewers on Gan Jing World

by Dr. Laura Wilhelm, LauraWil InterCultural Following the successful North American theatrical debut of the modern fairytale Mina, the popular independent social media and video streaming platform Gan Jing World (GJW) recently premiered the animated feature on its streaming platform GJW+ and Gan Jing Kids—a new children’s platform that provides child-friendly content without addictive algorithms. In this modern twist…
Film Review: Déjà Vu: The Peril of Pauline

Mystery and Reincarnation Unfold in Cybela Clare’s “Déjà Vu: The Peril of Pauline” Premiering on October 17th Prism Pictures is pleased to announce the World Premiere of Déjà Vu: The Peril of Pauline, a mystery caper by award-winning filmmaker and actress Cybela Clare, set to premiere on October 17th at NY’s legendary Cinema Village (22 East…
Film Review: Through War’s Shadows, ‘Sisters of Ukraine’ Illuminates Hope

Freestyle Digital Media, the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, has acquired the VOD rights to the war-themed documentary feature Sisters of Ukraine, which is available now to rent/own on North American digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms, as well as on DVD. Directed by acclaimed documentarian Mike Dorsey, Sisters of Ukraine traces the…
The Substance Themed Watch Party

I recently got together with a group of people to watch The Substance. If you know me, you know I love a theme, so decided that The Substance would also be the theme for the snacks too. If you’re wanting to do the same, below is what I did to hopefully inspire you! For the snacks, I focused on gummy…
Cybela Clare’s Campy Comedy Thriller Déjà Vu: The Conundrum of Cassie Set to Take on The World

by Dr. Laura Wilhelm of LauraWil Intercultural From the quirky imagination of Cybela Clare comes the riotous crime comedy Déjà Vu: The Conundrum of Cassie, the sequel to Clare’s film The Peril of Pauline. Clare wrote, directed, and starred in this madcap caper featuring a missing parrot, the Russian Mob, and a serial stalker in a wheelchair. We…
Congratulations To New SNL Cast Member Veronika Slowikowska

Close-Up Culture would like to extend our congratulations to the talented Veronika Slowikowska for earning a spot as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. Veronika joined us on the site back in 2019 to talk about her burgeoning career, where she even referenced SNL… I’m a sucker for the film version of ‘What We…
Kenneth Johnson’s The Face In The Mirror Considers Fate and Free Will

–by Dr. Laura Wilhelm, LauraWil Intercultural Kenneth Johnson is an Emmy Award-winning writer, director, and producer whose work has shaped television for 50 years. Best known for creating The Bionic Woman, V, Alien Nation, and The Incredible Hulk, he has indelibly influenced generations of storytellers and viewers. Bestselling Amazon novels such as The Man of Legends and The Darwin Variant have already…