Paul Willistein
Program HostPaul Willistein is Editor of the Lehigh Valley Press Focus section, a position he has held since 2008. He has received more than 30 Keystone Media state newspaper journalism awards and an Allentown Arts Commission Arts Ovation Award. He reviews movies and theater and writes features stories about arts and entertainment, news stories about municipal and school topics and takes photographs for Lehigh Valley Press newspapers and websites.
He has taught screenwriting and media studies at Northampton Community College. He was marketing and public relations director at The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. For 22 years, he worked at The Morning Call, where he was Features Editor, Arts Editor and Entertainment Editor. He worked for the former Bethlehem Globe-Times as Arts Editor, Night Editor and News Reporter. He studied American Studies and film-making at Syracuse University and attended Southern Lehigh High School.
He has written, directed and produced documentary films, some of which have been telecast on public television stations, and narrative fiction films, some of which have been shown in film festivals. He was host and producer of “Hot Splices,” a movie review-interview show; producer and co-host with Michael Gontkosky of ”The Movie Show,” a movie review show, and “Valley Arts,” a Lehigh Valley arts interview show, all telecast on RCN. He is a songwriter, having co-written “Do The Dutch (Hey Now)” with Steve Brosky and Mike Krisukas.
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The biography/comedy/drama based on the true story of GameStop during the Covid-19 pandemic features stars like Paul Dano, America Ferrera, Nick Offerman, Seth Rogen and more.
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The comedy/drama film about a religious pilgrimage from Ireland to France features powerhouse actresses Laura Linney, Kathy Bates, Agnes O'Casey, and Dame Maggie Smith.
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The sequel to “Paw Patrol: The Movie” (2021) gives the cute pups superpowers. Voice talents include Taraji P. Henson, Kristen Bell, Chris Rock, and Serena Williams.
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The fourth film of the franchise features returning cast members such as Jason Statham and Sylvester Stallone, as well as newcomers including 50 Cent and Megan Fox.
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Kenneth Branagh wears the ornate mustache for the third time as Hercule Poirot, and directs for the third time, A Haunting in Venice, loosely based on an Agatha Christie novel. Tina Fey costars.
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Nia Vardalos is back to write, star as Toula and, this time, direct My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, which takes the family back to the fatherland at the request of Gus, the family patriarch.
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The Equalizer 3 reteams Denzel Washington, reprising his role as Defense Intelligence Agency officer Robert McCall, with director Antoine Fuqua.
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Gran Turismo is based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), who went from being a "Gran Turismo" gamer to a driver in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and international sports car races.
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Blue Beetle is based on a lesser-known comic book superhero from DC Comics. The movie has a Latino cast in the lead roles, including Xolo Maridueña as Jaime aka Blue Beetle, said to be the first Latino superhero.
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem returns the famous foursome to the big screen in bright new, rough-hewn, sketch-style animation.