t the Village band after hours. He picked up on the fun of singing and dancing from his mom. "I've always known I wanted to be a musician," says Hawthorne, who fashions his style after the 1960s-1970s hits of stars like Smokey Robinson and Curtis Mayfield. "I played bass guitar, drums and a little piano, but I never had any plans to be a singer. "I played in bands when I was at Huron High School and the University of Michigan, where I studied computer science and graphic design. "I've always had a hand in writing songs for the bands I've been in. I was a friend of [heavy metal rock musician] Andrew W. K., and I remember writing songs with him in middle school. We grew up in the same neighborhood." When Hawthorne writes his songs, he mixes personal experiences with fabricated old soul. "I rarely sit down and try to write he says. "Songs can come to me at the strangest times — when I'm driving or shopping at a grocery store — and they seem like they're beamed out of the sky and into my head. As soon as I get a song in my head, I stop whatever I'm doing and write it down or call home and sing it to myself on voicemail. "On the new album, the majority of songs have been about relationships and women. That's really new for me, but it seems to be natural for the con- cept of the album." Hawthorne, who is single, is very excited about returning home with a live band as part of his first tour, which transports him by bus. Although the album is not released, the songs from it are available through iTunes. Hawthorne's good memories of Ann Arbor include experiences linked to his bar mitzvah at Temple Beth Emeth. "I'm a big food guy, and I always like the way my mom makes brisket in a traditional Jewish way',' says the brother of two younger sisters, Rebecca and Kelly. "I like to try new recipes when I cook or go to restaurants, but there's always something special about gefilte fish." ❑ Fine Art at the Village of Rochester Hills Saturday, May 16, 10 am - 8 pm Sunday, May 17, Noon - 6 pm Watch for our Summer Show August 1st & 2nd At the Village of Rochester Hills Shopping Center NE corner of Walton & Adams, Rochester Hills, MI Free Admission • Free Parking • Children's Activities For More Information Call 248 689 8734 FineArtAtTheVillage@comcast.net www.FineArtAtTheVillage.com 4 - - 1 4. Mayer Hawthorne & the County will perform 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 17, at Necto, 516 E. Liberty, in Ann Arbor. $10. (734) 994-5835; necto.com . He'll also spin his favorite tracks in a DJ set 8 p.m. Friday, May 22, at the Bosco, 22930 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. No cover. 21 + only. (248) 541-8818; thebosco.com . 41 • WINNER • AUDIENCE AWARD • 2008 BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL DECIDEDLY SPECIAL. SMART. Illuminating from page B5 Ham Abbass is extraordinary." -Joshua Rothkopf, TIME OUT NEW YORK "I didn't have a fax machine to receive the lines, and I was only sleep- ing four hours a night because of the baby,' she recalled. But she immediate- ly changed her mind when she learned the director was Spielberg. Munich — which depicted Mossad assassins in moral crises — was per- haps even more controversial than The Da Vinci Code: "The film was really a peace offering, and I thought it was 15 years ahead of its time Zurer said. "It's an existential piece about human nature, but the media focused on poli- tics because of current events." Zurer says the main difference between acting in films here and in Israel is the budget; the costlier American films often allow for more equipment and takes per scene. One day, while filming Angels & Demons, Zurer was startled to discover that there were four cameras rather than two, but Howard proved understand- ing and made sure to enlighten the actress about technical issues. In Israel, less money also means the focus is on intimate stories and family dramas, rather than effects — which translate into more roles for women of every age. In Hollywood, Zurer acknowledges, youth and beauty are valued, and attending to her own appearance requires more work. She's taking Pilates to stay in shape and passes up ordering a hamburger and fries for soup and a seaweed salad. But she doesn't intend to go overboard. "I see myself primarily as a char- acter actress although I would love to get other kinds of roles:' she said. Zurer now considers Los Angeles her home and intends to pursue Hollywood projects full time, includ- ing a screenplay she is adapting from a novel, which Howard has agreed to read. "You never know how you're going to get that really big, juicy parr,' she explained. "You don't know how it will come your way." L Angels & Demons opens Friday, May 15, in area theaters. Starring-Hiam Abbass of The Visitor' LEM 4:13-0" 8,)7 4:141 11.7* (.1 731,1 lin-) 5 y3,) An Eran Riklis Film YFCRIms INWWWCFILMS.COM LANDMARK'S STARTS FRIDAY MAPLE ART MAY 1 5TH ! 4135 W. Maple Road - (248) 263-2111 CHECK THEATRE DIRECTORIES OR CALL FOR SHOWTIMES 1509290 ALSO AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE ON VIDEO ON DEMAND. CALL YOUR LOCAL CABLE OPERATOR FOR MORE INFORMATION. Serving over 150 items Fri. & Sat. Cpand Opetitti Night & 1 / 4 - 1 All Day Sunday- Lobster & Vancouver Including: Seafood, Dim Sum, Steak, ushi, Crab Mongolian Bar, Salads, Desserts & More 20% off 15% off BUFFET DINNER BUFFET Anytime (with coupon • Holidays Excluded) 77, r•-y, ntrl Mon.-Thurs. - - (with coupon • Holidays Excluded) a-Pa pa, al-An Err, 1,7 ,17, 248-553-2818 29205 Orchard Lake Road Farmington Hilts (next to ABC Warehouse Hours: Mon-Thurs 11 am-1 tr, +7, rT. W.13 Mile Rd. - 1 : t ; Fri & Sat 11am-11pm, Sun Noon-1 • May 14 2009 B7