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“Stocktonian Exchange”: Dark Humor, Done Right

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We’re thrilled to introduce Hannah Rose Vernot, an amazing screenwriter who is making waves in the industry! Her latest project, “Stocktonian Exchange – Kill Your Spirits,” has earned her a spot as a finalist for the Best Teleplay Award at the Houston Comedy Film Festival. The story revolves around two sisters who, after a fatal accident, must find a way to ascend from the mortal plane before their ghostly presence wreaks havoc on their town.

The Story Behind “Stocktonian Exchange – Kill Your Spirits”
The premise of “Kill Your Spirits” is as intriguing as it is darkly comical. Carolina Ramos wakes up to a rude surprise when her younger sister, Roman, breaks into her apartment with shocking news—they’ve both died while filming themselves exploring a collapsing house. On the advice of a local psychic, the sisters set out to stage their own funerals, hoping that this act will allow their souls to ascend and prevent the black hole created by their lingering presence from consuming the town. Along the way, they encounter the disdainful remarks of their mother and revisit the site of their demise in search of closure.

Vernot’s inspiration for the story comes from her love of dysfunctional family dynamics and larger-than-life characters. She draws a parallel between the chaotic energy of her characters and the cast of “Always Sunny,” noting that while the characters insult and bicker with each other, the humor lies in their oversized personalities rather than in their unlikeability. The sisters, both in their thirties, continue their lifelong dynamic of childish squabbling even in the face of death, making for a darkly humorous and relatable narrative.

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Crafting the Narrative
For Vernot, writing “Kill Your Spirits” involved carefully balancing the beginning and middle of the story with the challenge of crafting a satisfying ending. While she could easily envision the hook—one sister nonchalantly informing the other of their ghostly status—and the sisters’ efforts to stage their funerals, finding the right resolution proved more difficult. The climax of the story comes as the sisters realize that their funeral does not solve their problem, leaving them to confront the reality of their situation.

Vernot’s journey as a writer began in childhood, fueled by an imagination that often outpaced her ability to translate ideas into prose. It wasn’t until she graduated with a degree in Creative Writing and began exploring screenwriting that she found her stride. Over the past five years, she has honed her craft, moving away from prose and focusing on writing for the screen.

A Growing Portfolio
Since completing “Kill Your Spirits,” Vernot has written several other thirty-minute teleplays, including two comedic specs and a pilot for a series titled “Wildflower of the Valley.” She is also collaborating on a short animation project with a group of women from Women in Animation (WIA), which has reached the animatic stage and is being prepared for entry into film festivals.

Connecting with Hannah Rose Vernot
Vernot is actively seeking opportunities to collaborate on comedic writing projects, particularly those in the realm of animation. While she is working on expanding her presence on social media, she currently prefers to be contacted via email or LinkedIn for initial collaborations. Vernot is also a member of several organizations that support writers in animation, including WIA, Asians in Animation, and Script Anatomy, where she has been refining her pilot and spec scripts.

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As Vernot continues to revise and submit her work to festivals, her goal is to gain the attention of agents and managers who can help her secure a staff writing position on a series with a similar tone to her own work. For now, she is focused on using her portfolio to showcase her talent and make connections within the industry.
Connect with Hannah Rose Vernot:

Vernot’s blend of dark humor and sharp character dynamics in “Stocktonian Exchange – Kill Your Spirits” is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting career in screenwriting. Keep an eye out for her work in upcoming festivals and beyond.

From the Film Festival Circuit Founder, Mikal Fair:

“Explore the ‘Film Festival Submitter’s Handbook 2024,’ your ultimate guide to conquering the film festival circuit. Whether you’re a filmmaker or screenwriter, this essential resource provides practical strategies to navigate the competitive landscape of film festivals successfully. From crafting compelling titles, taglines, and synopses to creating impactful director’s and writer’s statements, this handbook equips you with the tools to shine in the festival circuit. Learn to develop effective marketing materials, including posters and trailers, and discover the importance of communication and presenting a professional package. With insights tailored to the evolving role of social media and marketing in the film industry, this handbook is your key to festival triumph. Get your copy now and embark on your journey to festival success!”

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Adam Drexler Headlines Glow Ball Friday Night Live

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A Houston Family Basketball Night Supporting Youth

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There are nights out, and then there are nights that mean something. GlowBall Friday

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Night Live is the second kind. Every Friday, the energy of Houston basketball meets a

deeper mission — and this week, the whole family is invited to be part of it.

Presented by Bolanle Media, this is more than a game. It’s a night of competition,

motivation, fellowship, and purpose, all under one roof at the amazing Globall facility.

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Whether you come for the runs, the atmosphere, or the message, you’ll leave feeling

connected to something bigger.

A Family Event With a Real Mission

Glow Ball Friday Night Live is a family event — bring the kids, bring your parents, bring your

neighbors. Entry is just $20 per person, and every dollar goes toward something that

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matters: supporting youth programs that help young athletes pursue professional

sports as a real career path.

When you walk through those doors, you’re not just buying a ticket. You’re investing in the

next generation of Houston talent — the kids who dream of going pro and need a community

willing to back them. That’s what makes this night different.

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Hosted by Shawna Pat, Featuring Special Guest Adam Drexler

The night is hosted by gospel singer Shawna Pat, who brings the heart, the voice, and the

inspiration that sets the tone for the whole evening. Joining as special guest speaker is

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Adam Drexler, delivering a powerful message that goes far beyond the court.

Together, they create an experience built on the spirit of the night: Glow Hard. Play Hard.

Live Loud.

What to Expect

Competitive basketball runs every Friday night

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A powerful, motivating messagePositive vibes and genuine community connection

Fellowship with great people from across Houston

An incredible, high-energy atmosphere for all ages

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Event Details

What: Glow Ball Friday Night Live

When: This Friday, 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Where: The Globall Facility, Houston

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Admission: $20 per person

Hosted By: Shawna Pat

Special Guest Speaker: Adam Drexler

Presented By: Bolanle Media

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Bring Your Family. Bring Your Friends.

This is your invitation. Round up the people you love, invite your friends, and come be part

of a night that gives back. The basketball is great — but the purpose behind it is what you’ll

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remember.

We’ll see you Friday night. Glow Hard. Play Hard. Live Loud.

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‘Sinners’ Becomes a Haunted House at Universal

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It’s official: Ryan Coogler’s Oscar-winning vampire musical Sinners is becoming an attraction at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights in Hollywood and Orlando. If you saw the film and felt the Mississippi Delta close in around you, get ready to walk straight into it.

As part of the event’s 35th anniversary season, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort have partnered with Proximity Media to transform Coogler’s original vampire tale into an immersive haunted house experience beginning Aug. 28 in Orlando and Sept. 3 in Los Angeles. Set in 1930s Mississippi Delta, guests will return to twin brothers Smoke and Stack’s hometown, arriving at the juke joint they plan to open for the community.

That juke joint is where the terror begins.

The attraction will transport guests back to Club Juke, where nothing is as it seems when red-eyed vampires Remmick, Bert and Joan appear with their insatiable hunger.

As they attempt to evade the vampires at every turn, fans will encounter favorite characters lifted straight from the film, including Sammie, Mary, Annie, Pearline, and Cornbread.


Why this matters beyond the scares

Sinners wasn’t just a hit — it was a cultural moment.

A 16-time Oscar-nominated, $370M-grossing film that basically reinvented the vampire genre.

Seeing a Black-led, music-soaked, Delta-rooted horror story given the full Halloween Horror Nights treatment is a milestone for the kind of storytelling that doesn’t always get this stage.

The creators feel the weight of it too:

“Partnering with Halloween Horror Nights gives fans the chance to step even deeper into the world of the film — to feel the music, the atmosphere, and the tension all around them.”

— Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler & Sev Ohanian, Proximity Media

Universal isn’t treating this as just another licensed house, either. Mike Aiello, Senior Director of Entertainment Creative Development at Universal Orlando Resort, said the moment Sinners premiered, they knew it was an undeniable fit — noting it’s rare for a film to fully satisfy hardcore horror fans while also inviting new audiences into the genre.

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The details you need

Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights will run for a record 42 nights this year, while Universal Orlando’s event returns for its milestone 35th year, running select nights from August 28 through November 1 with 10 all-new haunted houses, live entertainment, scare zones, and a few promised surprises. Fans can already grab limited-edition shirts, hats, and an acrylic collectible figure inspired by the haunted house at both parks and online.

The takeaway: one of the year’s defining films is now a fully immersive nightmare you can step inside.

Survive until sunrise — if you can.

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DJ Tunez Is Coming to Houston: AfriqueFest World Cup Takes Over NOTO

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Presented by ExperienceNoir and Bolanle Media

Houston, clear your calendar. Afrobeats global icon DJ Tunez is bringing the heat to AfriqueFest World Cup — one electric night where the entire continent shows up to play. We’re talking four regions of Africa, a stacked lineup of DJs, and a packed dancefloor at NOTO Houston that doesn’t quit until the after parties at Azura Lounge and Reset Rooftop take it into the early hours.

This is the African celebration Houston has been waiting for. Co-presented by ExperienceNoir and Bolanle Media — the fast-rising Houston media company behind the event’s coverage — with the full night captured across Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, so even if you can’t be in the room, the party finds you. But trust us: you’ll want to be in the room.

This isn’t just a show. It’s the regions of Africa — East, South, West, and Central — united under one roof for a single, unforgettable night.

The Headliner: DJ Tunez

If you know Afrobeats, you know DJ Tunez. With over 1 million Instagram followers and 1.7 million on X, he’s one of the most recognizable names in the global Afrobeats movement. At AfriqueFest, he closes the night with the West African Experience headline set from 9–10PM — the peak moment, in front of a packed 1,500-capacity crowd.

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When DJ Tunez takes over, it’s the biggest moment of the evening. And the energy doesn’t stop there — he carries straight into an exclusive after party.

Four Regions, One Night

AfriqueFest World Cup is built around the sounds of the continent, with four regional experiences bringing East, South, West, and Central Africa to life. Here’s the confirmed lineup:

  • 4–5PM — DJ Modelo & EJ Billy (Central African Experience)
  • 5–6PM — DJ Shinski (East African Experience)
  • 6–7PM — Kairos B2B Francis B (Southern African Experience)
  • 7–8PM — DJ Khulumars (Southern African Experience)
  • 8–9PM — Teemoney / Towii and Flow Izzy (live performance) (West African Experience)
  • 9–10PM — DJ Tunez (West African Experience · headline)

Hosting the night: Roselyn Omaka.

It’s a journey across African music, all in one venue, all in one night.

Click Here to Buy Tickets

The Venues

The celebration runs across three Houston spaces, with 2,200 total capacity:

  • NOTO Houston — the main stage · 1,500 capacity · 3215 McKinney St, Houston TX 77003
  • Azura Lounge — “From Nairobi to Jozi” after party · 350 capacity · 8PM–2AM
  • Reset Rooftop — the DJ Tunez after party · 350 capacity · 10PM–2AM

The Reset Rooftop after party is the place to be once DJ Tunez wraps his headline set — a curated, premium rooftop close-out to the night.

The Place to Be in Houston

Let’s be real — you want to be in the building for this one. AfriqueFest World Cup puts some of the top African DJs and biggest influencers in the culture all under one roof, and the energy in the room is the whole point. Picture it: DJ Tunez commanding the NOTO main stage, a packed 1,500-deep crowd moving as one, and the kind of names that don’t share a city often, let alone a single night.

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The party doesn’t stop when the main stage does. Two after parties keep the night rolling, hosted by two of Houston’s biggest creators:

  • Chris Gone Crazy (5M+ combined following) takes over Azura Lounge
  • King Drewwskyy of Wowo Boyz brings the DJ Tunez after party to Reset Rooftop

Three venues, a full night of African music, and the top DJs and influencers in the building — when this many heavy hitters are in one place, you want to say you were there. Bolanle Media captures it all across Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, but nothing beats living it in real life.

A Celebration of African Culture

AfriqueFest World Cup is more than a concert — it’s a premium cultural festival uniting East, South, West, and Central Africa under one banner. Expect a full vendor market at NOTO featuring African fashion, jewelry, beauty, art, and cuisine, plus curated lifestyle and food vendors at both after parties.

It’s culture, community, and the best of Afrobeats — all in one night.

The Details

  • What: AfriqueFest World Cup featuring DJ Tunez
  • Where: NOTO Houston (3215 McKinney St, Houston TX 77003), with after parties at Azura Lounge and Reset Rooftop
  • When: Doors at 4PM · DJ Tunez headlines 9–10PM · After parties until 2AM
  • Hosted by: Roselyn Omaka
  • Live coverage: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok via Bolanle Media — across all venues
  • Ages: 18+
  • Presented by: ExperienceNoir × Bolanle Media

AfriqueFest World Cup is an ExperienceNoir × Bolanle Media event. After parties at Azura Lounge (“From Nairobi to Jozi”), streamed live by Chris Gone Crazy, and Reset Rooftop, streamed live by King Drewwskyy of Wowo Boyz. Follow @experiencenoir and @bolanlemedia for tickets and announcements.

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