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Wild Woman of Queens
Michelle
Bernard Twenty-something
model and actress Michelle Bernard is in it for life. Not
only does the Forest Hills resident of four years pose for cameras and
recite lines for a living, but she doesn’t imagine doing anything else. “This
is what I’ve chosen to do,” Bernard said with conviction. “I’ve
chosen modeling and acting and this is what I’m going to do for the rest
of my life.” Bernard’s
career started in her former hometown of Miami, Florida when someone from a
modeling agency was working with her accountant uncle and saw her picture on
the office wall. The
rest, as the saying goes, is history. While
Bernard’s life in modeling kicked off down in Miami, it’s from here in
New York that she gets most of her work. She’s
gotten myriad assignments in many different media: print jobs including
catalogs, magazines, and stock photography houses; live events including
runway shows and promotions for liquor companies, restaurants and bars. On
screen, you might recognize Bernard as Al Pacino’s waitress in “Any
Given Sunday.” She’s also been on television’s “Law and Order” and
“Sex in the City.” When
she’s not pursuing
modeling and acting, Bernard is enjoying life in Forest Hills. “I
love it,” she said, again with conviction. “I love that I can live in an
incredible apartment for half the price of one in the City.” Her
neighborhood’s conveniences – shops, restaurants and all – are also a
big plus, she said. The
neighborhood also lets the self-described “movie fanatic” pursue two of
her favorite hobbies – reading and watching movies. “I
soak up all the info I possibly can,” Bernard said. Queens'
Connection To Kevin Bacon
After
several days of careful research and intense investigation, QConf has
discovered that City Councilman Eric Gioia – an ordinary
neighborhood kid from Queens – has a strong connection to the bright
lights of Hollywood. Back
in his college days at NYU, Gioia actually roomed with producer Beau
Flynn, the man who founded Bandeira Entertainment in 1995 and has
produced over 10 films, including the critically-acclaimed independent film
“Tigerland” in
2000. He
was also one of four executive producers on the film “Requiem For a
Dream,” a Darren Aronofsky-directed masterpiece that won two
Independent Spirit Awards and was nominated for an Oscar, a Golden Globe and
a SAG Award. Flynn
has had four films compete at the Sundance Film Festival, and is currently
working on films for DreamWorks, Disney and New Line Cinema. His film
“Slap Her, She’s French” will be coming out soon, much to the delight
of many Freedom Fry-eating Americans. Gioia
said he is “really proud” of Flynn, who he called “a really great
roommate and a really great guy.” He said, “In college, he was always
into film and I was always into government, so it was a strange mix. But
he’s great . . . He’s just going farther and farther.” Most
importantly, Gioia’s connection to Flynn puts the Councilman only four
degrees from Kevin Bacon in the popular name association game. Gioia knows
Flynn, who produced the film “Tigerland” with actor Collin Farrell, who
was in the film “Phone Booth” with actor Kiefer Sutherland, who was in
the film “A Few Good Men” with Kevin Bacon. Talk
about bringing home the Bacon! Queens
Accordion Player
We usually expect that we’re leaving the borough behind when we take the 7 train into Manhattan. But a recent trip told us you can never be beyond the reach of Queens’ grip.
A
sad but elegant tune wafted through the air on the 7 train platform of the
42nd Street-Grand Central subway station one recent afternoon.
When
we walked over to see where the ballad was coming from, we found Bayside
resident and accordion player John Ocampo, who was more than happy to
let us take his picture.
We
didn’t get a chance to get Ocampo’s story — our train had arrived —
and when we called the phone number he gave us, the gentleman who answered
the phone said no one by that name lives there.
So
the accordion player from Bayside whose name we’re not really sure of
remains a mystery.
We’ll
always have Grand Central and a sad but elegant tune.
Do
you know him?
No.7:
Australia To Flushing
Their
name may be Australian for beer, but down-under brewing company Foster’s
has come up with a new way to market their suds to a Queens audience via new
coasters with a unique theme. The
coasters are emblazoned with the familiar No. 7 Train logo and read “From
Times Square To Shea Stadium.” The
cool looking coasters are popping up at various local restaurants – this
one was found at Outback Steakhouse in Bayside. Cheers,
mates!
E-MAIL your items to: conf@queenstribune.com
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