Time Out for a Creative Change - Movie Reviews

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

2011-10-27T17:39:00.001-07:00

By Lorraine Messina

Excuse me while I vomit....I dislike movies full of violence.
This movie provides the audience with the additional pleasure of lacking much of a plot.

I have to say that I could hardly sit through this movie. Gone was the romance of the original Planet of the Apes. The powerful story of two apes in love.

What you get instead is hours full of animated objects performing violent acts with a predictable plot.

The only thing that saves this movie is that the animation is amazing and probably will win an award. If I were to write the plot, I would throw in a few aliens arriving from a distant planet falling in love with the human race and wanting to solve our environmental problems, energy issues, and economic issues to name a few things. Maybe they could jump start the economy for us. Now that would captivate the imagination of the audience. Imagine a place where you don't have to search for months to find a job.

Its Halloween so if you are looking for the blood and gore thing this movie fits the bill.

20th Century Fox

Cast:

Will Rodman - James Franco
Caroline Freida - Pinto
Mr. Rodman - John Lithgow
John Landon - Brian Cox
Dodge Landon - Tom Felton
Directed by Rupert Wyatt
Written by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver
Based on the novel by Pierre Boulle

The Spin with host Lorraine Messina and special guest Ellen Karis

2011-04-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

The Spin

The place to hear what celebrities want to talk about. Listen to their passions. Learn who they are. Get inspired!
Listen to The Spin with host Lorraine Messina and special guest Ellen Karis

Our third episode features a CPA turned stand-up comedian like Bob Newhart Ellen Karis makes no bones about speaking her mind. She left what she calls a lucrative mundane job on Wall Street to pursue comedy. Listen to Ellen speak her mind about Donald Trump and other celebrities.

Credits: Music by USK

The Spin with host Lorraine Messina and special guest Michelle Phillips

2011-02-27T08:22:00.000-08:00

The Spin

Announcing the launch of a new radio show called The Spin. The place to hear what celebrities want to talk about. Listen to their passions. Learn who they are. Get inspired!

Our second episode features Michelle Phillips. Michelle Phillips, a descendant of the Mamas and Papas and actresses Michelle and Mackenzie Phillips, is a motivational author, speaker, and TV personality. Through her Mind Beauty Spirit brand she is living her dream to empower others to find the beauty within them.

Listen to The Spin with host Lorraine Messina and special guest Michelle Phillips

The Spin Radio Show

2011-01-29T04:00:00.000-08:00

The Spin

Announcing the launch of a new radio show called The Spin. The place to hear what celebrities want to talk about. Listen to their passions. Learn who they are. Get inspired!

Our first episode features Forbes Riley. Most people know Forbes Riley for promoting Jack LaLanne’s Juicer and Montel William’s HealthMaster. Forbes Riley has sold health and fitness products for over twenty years and is a National Fitness Hall of Fame Inductee. Listen to Forbes discuss Health, Fitness and Jack LaLanne.

Little Fockers

2011-01-16T05:35:00.000-08:00

By Lorraine Messina

Ok, I’ll say it…. Little Fockers is focked up. Having arrived for the movie rather early I had the pleasure of sitting through about 30 minutes of commercials and trailers. That was the good part of my afternoon. Maybe the second good part was the acting. No complaints from me about the acting. Love Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand. All of them of course are award winning performers. Who could complain? It is the story line that had me squirming in my seat.

Little Fockers starts where Meet the Fockers left off. Greg and Pam have kids now and Greg is finally starting to get “in” with his father-in-law. Hoping to look like the man of the household Greg takes on a second job selling drugs for a drug company.

The plot of the movie may sound reasonable but it was lacking the comic pleasures of Meet the Fockers. In Meet the Fockers there were the humorous scenes of Greg getting stuck on the roof of the house and lighting the leaves on fire. Other funny scenes included Jack Byrnes teaching Greg the ways or traditions of the Byrnes household and Greg trying to get a last minute airline flight.

In the Little Fockers the creative humorous scenes are lacking. If I were the comedy writer for the movie, I would have tweaked some of the scenes. For example, when Greg chose to represent a drug company have him travel around the country as a drug representative. Wouldn’t it be funny watching Greg navigated airline security? While Greg is traveling Pam is home with the babies getting into all sorts of mishaps. Pam’s Father, Jack, in the mean time is getting angry about Greg’s traveling. Jack in turns hires his old CIA buddies to investigate what is going on with Greg while Bernie and Roz Focker give Pam advice on raising the Little Fockers.

Anyway, I think that would have been a better story line than what showed up in the movie theaters. There is always hope for more fun in a possible sequel called Fockers Vacation.

Cast:

Robert De Niro – Jack Tiberius Byrnes

Ben Stiller – Gayload “Greg” Focker

Owen Wilson – Kevin Rawley

Blythe Danner – Dina Byrnes

Teri Polo – Pam Focker

Dustin Hoffman – Bernard “Bernie” Focker

Barbra Steisand Rosaind “Roz” Focker

Jessica Alba – Andi Garcia

Written by Universal Pictures

Forbes Riley Wins 3 ERA Moxie Awards!

2010-12-26T08:17:00.000-08:00

By Lorraine Messina

Read more about Forbes in the Triangle Arts and Entertainment News Magazine.

Toy Story 3 - Movie Review

2010-12-11T14:21:00.000-08:00

By Lorraine Messina

What an adorable movie. Toy Story 3 doesn't fail to impress the audience. The animation is just spectacular. Where else can you see an animated figures do the Latin dance the pasodoble together. The animators from Pixar teamed up with Tony Dovolani and Cheryl Burke from Dancing with the Stars to create Buzz and Jessie's dance moves in the movie. The below clip explains how Pixar did it.

Disney/Pixar

This is truly award winning technology. Toy Story 3 has to get an Oscar nod
for this very talented animation.

Toy Story 3 continues where Toy Story 2 left off. Andy goes off to college and
Andy and his family need to decide what to do with his favorite toys.

The cast was wonderful as always. Tom Hanks performed the voice of Woody
and Tim Allen was the voice for Buzz Lightyear. The whole cast kept the little
ones in the audience captivated through out the whole movie. A blessing
for the moms and dads.

I would recommend seeing the movie and buying the DVD. A definite must
have item for the holidays.

Cast:

Woody - Tom Hanks
Buzz Lightyear - Tim Allen
Ken - Michael Keaton
Mr. Potato Head - Don Rickles
Jessie - Joan Cusack
Lotso - Ned Beatty
Rex - Wallace Shawn
Hamm - John Ratzenberger
Mrs. Potato Head - Estelle Harris
Mr. Pricklepants - Timothy Dalton
Andy John Morris
Andy's mom - Laurie Metcalf
Barbie - Jodi Benson

Directed by Lee Unkrich
Written by Michael Arndt
Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Unkrich

Secretariat - Movie Review

2010-11-26T15:35:00.000-08:00

Secretariat - Movie Review from Lorraine Messina on Vimeo.

The Next Iron Chef - TV Review

2010-11-22T03:57:00.000-08:00

By Lorraine Messina

It was totally obvious. I didn't have to taste the food to know that Marc Forgione was going to win last night's The Next Iron Chef battle.

It was so predictable. One tell tale sign is that on the promotional advertisements before the camera cuts away from the unveiling of the The Next Iron Chef the Chairman, (the host if you don't watch the show) slides to the left of the curtain before proclaiming who the winner is. That is because the winner is standing to his right for a good camera shot. Other tell tale signs is that the Food Network judges put the prospective winner on the chopping block in that they threaten to eliminate him from the competition for serving dry fish. This of course is to throw off the viewing audience. The judges know by that point in time who they are going to choose for the winner.

Marc Forgione is a very creative chef. Congratulations Marc Forgione!

Secretariat - Movie Review

2010-10-31T05:43:00.000-07:00

by Lorraine Messina

Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. In 1973 Secretariat became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years. The Triple Crown consists of three events. The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. Having lived through this history it was interesting to watch a film about this amazing animal.

The re-creation of the races was superbly done. The movie does a great job capturing the historical significance of the events. The scenery and the photographic imagery in the film just captivates you and brings you back in time to the 1970s. Not even a single crunch of popcorn by your fellow movie goer could make you take your eyes off the screen. The only thing missing was the smell of the animals.

Having ridden horses at one point in my life I could identify with the care that is needed in training horses. This care was wonderfully expressed by the owner, stable hand and trainer in the movie.

The acting was great. I especially liked John Malkovich's portrayal of Lucien Laurin Secretariat's trainer. Mr. Malkovich's performance showed the humorous, annoying, and dedicated side to Secretariat's trainer. Everything that would give an audience a real sense of who the character was.

The racing scenes in Secretariat were all recreated. There is one scene in the movie that is the historical footage of the actual Preakness race with Secretariat. Another item of interest in the film is that the Triple Crown trophy was the actual trophy on loan from the Kentucky Derby museum.

This is a really great family movie. Having lived through Secretariat's history making races I can say for the first time viewer you will be inspired by Secretariat's grace. Definitely put this movie on your must see list.

Cast:

Penny - Diane Lane
Lucien Laurin - John Malkovich
Penny's father - Scott Glenn
Phipps - James Cromwell
Eddie Sweat Nelsan Ellis
Jack Tweedy - Dylan Walsh
Bull Hancock - Fred Dalton Thompson
Bill Nack - Kevin Connolly
Pancho Martin - Nestor Serrano

Directed by Randall Wallace
Written by Mike Rich
Book Secretariat by William Nack.

Movie Review of Monsters vs Aliens

2010-10-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

Movie review of Monsters vs Aliens from Lorraine Messina on Vimeo.

The Social Network by Lorraine Messina

2010-10-03T05:55:00.000-07:00

A great film based on the book Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich. The story is about college student Mark Zuckerberg who had the foresight and great computer programming ability to create the social web site Facebook.

The film is very engaging. You can't take your eyes off the screen so as to not miss one drop of the action. My theater audience was so engrossed in the film that there were only short bursts of laughter during the more humorous potions of the film. Almost as if the laughter was on command.

In interviews Mark Zuckerberg has stated that the movie is overly glamorous and is a fictitious account of what occurred. I would have to agree with Mr. Zuckerberg. I did think the movie portrayed Mr. Zuckerberg as rather mean spirited and I think in actuality his character is not accurately portrayed in the movie. There are other parts of the plot that depict Mr. Zuckerberg's motive for creating Facebook was due to one individual. This in fact may or may not have been the case.

Mr. Jesse Eisenberg did a great job portraying Mark Zuckerberg. The only suggestion I would have is that I think that Mr. Eisenberg should have given Mr. Zuckerberg's character a little more depth. Like I said before I don't think he is as mean spirited as the movie makes him out to be. I think there is a compassionate side of Mr. Zuckerberg that could have been demonstrated in the film.

Justin Timberlake played Sean Parker the co-founder of Napster. Napster as you may recall is a music downloading web site. For the most part I think Mr. Timberlake brought the essence of Mr. Parker's character to the screen. The portrayal of Mr. Parker seemed a little one dimensional put the story is so fascinating that the small details don't hurt the excitement of the movie.

A great movie to see. Keep in mine that the movie is rated PG-13 and there are portions of the movie dealing with college life that you may not want younger members of the family to view.

Mark Zuckerberg - Jesse Eisenberg
Eduardo - Andrew Garfield
Sean Parker - Justin Timberlake
Cameron/Tyler - Armie Hammer
Divya - Max Minghella
Erica - Rooney Mara
Marilyn - Rashida Jones

Directed by David Fincher
Written by Aaron Sorbin
Based on the book Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich

Comedienne: Leighann Lord By Lorraine Messina

2010-09-23T21:18:00.000-07:00

Recipient of the key to the City of Savannah, an Armed Forces Entertainer, and a winner of the Hilarious Housewives Contest from ABC’s The View are just some of the accomplishments of Leighann Lord. Leighann shared with me her thoughts on being a comedienne and news about her latest projects.

Lorraine:

It must have been very exciting to receive the key to Savannah. What did you do to receive the key?

Leighann:

The Mayor of Savannah awarded the key to me for my help during the Sorority Founder's Day event.

Lorraine:

Are you going to be performing at any Comedy Festivals?

Leighann:

The NY Underground Comedy Festival is coming up this August and I will be there. It is a great place to network with other comics and meet people from the TV, film and advertising industries.

Lorraine:

Do comics have a difficult time getting to perform at the NY Underground Comedy Festival?

Leighann:

Yes. There may be only ten or twelve slots available for a particular show that two hundred comics apply for. The comics only get five to fifteen minutes to perform.

Lorraine:

What was your experience like appearing on TV's top talk shows? How do you prepare for the show?

Leighann:

I prepare as much as possible. It is also important to be prepared to go off the script that you have prepared. Allow the audience to enjoy you.

I remember when I was on The View I was give 90 seconds on stage and the producer stood backstage with me and used a stop watch to time me. We actually practiced a 90 second spot. It was very stressful but once you do it you get use to it. It makes you appreciate the time you get at clubs and theater.

Lorraine:

So how did your spot on The View go?

Leighann:

When you get 90 seconds you learn to talk fast. I let the audience laugh, take a breath and keep going. It went fine.

Lorraine:

I understand you went to Iraq.

Leighann:

Yes, Kuwait and Iraq this year. I also went to Afghanistan in 2002 for Operation Enduring Freedom. I performed with several other comics. Steven Cruser, Felisha Michaels, Carole Montgomery, and Mark Riccadonna. We did an afternoon and an evening show everyday. I never thought I would go oversees twice but I did it.

Lorraine:

Does your comedy come from your family background?

Leighann:

I had a great childhood. My Mom and Dad both love to tell stories and jokes. They are a little crazy.

Lorraine:

So they are a fun loving family?

Leighann:

Yes. The only difference with me is that I want to get paid.

Lorraine:

How did you get started in the entertainment field?

Leighann:

Actually I majored in finance in college and got a regular job at a bank after I graduated. I hated it. It took me five years before I could leave my job.

Lorraine:

So are you saying everyone should get a job that they hate?

Leighann:

Everyone should get a job that they hate so they can realize what they really want to do.

Lorraine:

Where can people find out more about you on the Internet?

Leighann:

Web Sites:

Leighannlord.com

Veryfunnylady.com

Leighann Lord’s Comic Perspective www.ComicPerspective.com

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/LeighannLord?ref=ts

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/leighannlord

How to Talk to a - Doctor

2010-09-19T16:52:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed that your doctors all say the same thing? Things like…..

• It’s the best thing for you.
• This will take a long time.
• Come back next week.
• How long have you had this?

Do you find yourself seeing your doctor for expended periods of time for minor ailments? Do you feel the need to divorce your doctor? Does your doctor talk in terms that only Yoda would understand? If all of the above is true, or maybe just some of the above is true you will be interested in reading this.

• Let’s take the phrase: “It’s the best thing for you.”

Your doctor is telling you that you ailments will require multiple visits which will interfere with your social life thus turning you into Obi-Wan.

• “Come back next week.”

Not that we can ever get it right the first time but we as in you and your doctor will setup social visits for each subsequent week. Does this mean we are dating?

• “How long have you had this?”

This is my favorite phrase. It means that your recover time is inversely proportional to your tolerance for pain whether it is physically or by means of the pocketbook.

• “This will take a long time.”

This confirms that we are dating and that you will be paying for the evening out. Going Dutch is strictly out of the question.

Movie Review of Inception by Lorraine Messina

2010-08-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

Have you ever decided on a mattress after trying it in the store brought it home and found it too hard or too soft? Gone back to the store and attempted to return the mattress to discover that there was an addition “comfort charge” involved to remove the mattress you just bought. “Comfort charge” a name assigned to the act of dipping into one’s pocket for more cash and turning your furniture shopping experience into an aggravating experience.

Like the maze involved in furniture shopping the Warner Brothers movie Inception blocks out all mundane thoughts and envelopes you into its world of fantasy. The story line is so complex that there is no guessing or predicting the outcome of any one event. I have heard that the writer Christopher Nolan spent ten years writing the screenplay for Inception which involves what I would call layered dreams intertwined with reality. Your movie viewing experience descends you into a dream which descends into another dream at times waking you up into reality and then going back into a dream. Truly a very creative piece. Rewriting portions of the screen play must have been terribly complex. Pieces of the puzzle had to fit together exactly bringing together multiple layers of a plot.

All the cast members truly bring this movie to life and there is a real chemistry seen between them. It is like a Mission Impossible team coming together to use their dream apparatus to accomplish a mission. You are definitely sitting on the edge of your seat when you watch this movie.

Cast:

Cobb - Leonardo DiCaprio
Saito - Ken Watanabe
Arthur - Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Mal - Marion Cotillard
Ariadne - Ellen Page
Eames - Tom Hardy
Robert Fischer Jr. - Cillian Murphy
Browning -Tom Berenger
Miles - Michael Caine
Yusuf - Dileep Rao
Maurice Fischer - Pete Postlethwaite

Written and Directed by Christopher Nolan

Review of the Next Food Network Star TV Show by Lorraine Messina

2010-08-12T20:02:00.000-07:00

If you haven't been watching the show, let me bring you up to date. A bunch of chefs, former chefs, food enthusiasts and other assorted people involved with food are picked by show casting directors to compete for the title of the Next Food Network Star.

The prize is to:

Inherit many long hours of taping your very own dream Food Network show.

Some how make your show look different than any other regularly scheduled Food Network show.

Not get canned after one season or less.

Come up with a name other than 30 minute meals, 5 ingredient quick fixes, 10 minute meals, $10 meals, gourmet microwave meals, meals I make in the Office microwave and other assorted show titles.

Compete with other shows which incorporate ideas taken from this season's losers.
The losers are of course given a consolation prize of having their biography posted on the Food Network show's web site with the word Eliminated posted across it.

This isn't to say that I disrespect the Food Network. I actually love the shows and watch most of the shows on the Network. I guess I am a Food Network junkie or maybe a gourmet junkie. That being said, the shows are starting to look all the same to me. It is like looking at a runny plate of fried eggs with the whites and the yolks co-mingled together. Things are starting to get predictable. When the network producer tells you that you've got star power and that we want to build a relationship with you I am betting you are the Next Food Network Star.

I am going to go out on a limb here or maybe a small branch and say that Herb Mesa has the win in the bag.

Movie Review of Alice in Wonderland

2010-07-24T17:14:00.002-07:00

by Lorraine Messina

If you haven't tried it, watch this Disney movie some night outside under the stars. It is the coolest experience. I was fortunate to have that outside experience just recently. Sitting outside and watching the movie brings so much more drama
to the movie. You feel that you are experiencing Wonderland right along with Alice. With that said I am not sure I would have enjoyed this movie as much if I had watched it in the theater. The great outdoors makes the movie feel so much more real. Forget about 3D. Experience the movie and nature together. What a concept!

Helena Bonham Carter's portrayal of the Red Queen I just loved. The Red Queen was
evil, funny, and calculating all rolled into one. The Red Queen was so captivating
and very unique. You could really feel the energy that Ms. Carter brought to the part. Mia Wasikowska played a teenage Alice. Alice wasn't easily frightened but instead was curious and thoughtful. Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter left you feeling a little disappointed. I would of liked to have seen more depth to his character. Aside from the red hair, hat, and fashionable clothes nothing else really made the Mad Hatter unique or quirky. Perhaps if the Mad Hatter skipped or danced more it would have made him seem more 3 dimensional.

All children probably read or study Alice in Wonderland at some point in their school
lives. I found it particularly interesting to see how the Jabberwocky was interpreted in the movie having read Lewis Carrolls works in school. The movie brings one point of view about the book to the big screen. The movie delights your senses and holds your interest. It is a must see for adults and for children it is an educational experience. I can see this movie being used as a teaching tool to help children open up their creative side.

Cast:

Mad Hatter-Johnny Depp
Alice - Mia Wasikowska
Red Queen - Helena Bonham Carter
White Queen - Anne Hathaway
Knave - Crispin Glover

Voices:

Caterpillar - Alan Rickman
Cheshire Cat - Stephen Fry
White Rabbit - Michael Sheen
Bayard - Timothy Spall
Jabberwocky - Christopher Lee

Disney presents a film directed by Tim Burton.
Written by Linda Woolverton
Based on the books Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and
Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll.

Actress, Author, Philanthropist, Speaker and Business Woman: Edie Hand by Lorraine Messina

2010-07-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

Edie Hand, a cousin to the late Elvis Presley, is empowering women to succeed through her new book Women of True Grit which she co-authored with Tina Savas. Women of True Grit shares the stories and secrets of successful women who paved the way for others to succeed. The women tell it like it was. Their struggles, their passion to succeed and what they conquered. Think of where you would be if it wasn't for their success. Recently I spoke to Edie about her book and the many hats she has worn.

Lorraine:

What inspired you to write the book Women of True Grit?

Edie:

Strong women. I have been surrounded by an eclectic group of strong women through out my life. My grandmother Alice was a very strong woman. She was affectionately known as Elvis Presley's Aunt Alice. I wanted to give women a stronger voice by communicating the stories of successful women.

Lorraine:

What is it that you want to communicate to the public about these women?

Edie:

That is a good question. My co-author, Tina Savas and I wanted to communicate the genuineness of these women and their inner passion. Some of the voices of these women have been forgotten and need to be heard. They share their secrets of success in my book. I think my book will teach young women how to make a stand for things they believe in.

Lorraine:

Who did you interview for your book?

Edie:

Some of the women that tell their stories in the book are:

Meredith Vieira – Today Show co-host and game show host

Diane Crump - the first woman horse jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby

Roxcy O’Neal Bolton – Florida human rights advocate

Patsy Riley – Alabama’s First Lady

Phyllis Diller – one of America’s favorite (and oldest) comediennes

Delores Kesler – the first woman to take a company public on Wall Street

Leatrice McKissack – retired owner of the largest African-American architectural and engineering firm in the United States

Joanne Carson – former wife of Johnny Carson and lifelong friend of Truman Capote

Anne Abernathy - “Grandma Luge” 6 time Olympian

Lorraine:

Did the women you interviewed posses a specific characteristic that lead to their success? If so, what is it?

Edie:

They are true to themselves and they possess an inner passion.

Lorraine:

You have worn many different hats in your life. What have you learned about yourself during your journey?

Edie:

I have learned that one's character is all that we have to leave behind. My purpose is to be a story teller to help other women understand desperation to inspiration. I try to treat people with kindness. When I was young I spent time with some of my famous relatives like Elvis Presley. I learned from Elvis a lot about acts of kindness through his humanitarian acts. I have also learned from my loses of my three young brothers deaths to learn to detach and keep on persevering.

Lorraine:

Is your main focus now writing books and your foundation? Do you still do any broadcasting?

Edie:

I still do broadcasting. I have two TV specials airing during Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Thanksgiving special is called Holiday Memories from Nashville and the Christmas special is called Holiday Memories Tribute to Charly Pride and Ben Peters.

Lorraine:

Could you tell me a little bit about your foundation?

Edie:

The Edie Hand Foundation works to raise money to support organizations that treat children with motor dysfunction and other disabilities. Money from the foundation benefits the Children’s Hospital of Alabama, Children’s Miracle Network, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Lorraine:

What is your book tour schedule?

Edie:

The book tour schedule can be found on my web site:

http://womenoftruegrit.com/tours-speaking-events/

Lorraine:

Where can fans find information about you on the Internet?

Edie:

On my web sites:

www.ediehand.com

www.ediehandfoundation.org

www.womenoftruegrit.com

Mary Dimino: Award Winning Comedienne, Actress and Author By: Lorraine Messina

2010-06-06T06:22:00.000-07:00

Just back from shooting a feature film in Hollywood, award winning comedienne Mary Dimino is receiving accolades with her recent win for Outstanding Female Comedian at the 2010 MAC Awards.

Mary discusses with me her recent MAC Award win, her role in the new Hollywood film and the world premiere of her play, SCARED SKINNY: a one (hundred pound lighter) woman show written and performed by Mary Dimino. SCARED SKINNY, one of the most highly awaited solo show performances this year, opens at the prestigious New York International Fringe Festival this August and will most definitely be the shining jewel of the festival.

Mary Dimino and Mario Cantone on the red carpet at the MAC Awards

Lorraine:

Who else is starring in the new film Night Club?

Mary:

I play Gina Palma. Zach Abel (Make It Or Break It) plays Justin Palma. The film stars Ernest Borgnine (Oscar Award Winner for Marty), Natasha Lyonne (American Pie 2), Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas), Sally Kellerman (the original film MASH), and Mickey Rooney. It’s a great cast!

Lorraine:

Congratulations on your recent MAC award. Please tell me more about that.

Mary:

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC) in New York City recognizes outstanding performers in cabaret, comedy, and jazz. Mario Cantone from Sex and the City presented the comedy award to me. It was absolutely breath-taking walking on the red carpet.

Lorraine:

Who else was at the MAC Awards?

Mary:

Lucie Arnaz was there this year! A lot of wonderfully fantastic talent were at the awards that night in Times Square. And this year Leslie Uggams received the MAC Life Time Achievement Award.

Lorraine:

Who are some past recipients of the MAC award?

Mary:

Some brilliant comedians. I’m in good company… Susie Essman (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Judy Gold, Jessica Kirson, and Mario Canton have all received a MAC Award previously. Joan Rivers, Kaye Ballard, Phyllis Diller, Liza Minnelli, Sydney Myer and Rex Reed are some of the MAC Board of Directors and Advisors.

Lorraine:

I understand that your play “SCARED SKINNY: a one (hundred pound lighter) woman show” was accepted into The New York International Fringe Festival. What is the Fringe all about?

Mary:

The New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC) is the largest multi-arts festival in North America, with more than 200 companies from all over the world performing for 16 days in more than 20 venues. The Fringe Festival is the most highly respected festival and is attended by producers and playwrights from all over the world. The play Urine Town, a hugely successful Broadway hit play, got its start at the Fringe.

Lorraine:

What is your play SCARED SKINNY: a one (hundred pound lighter) woman about?

SCARED SKINNY written and performed by Mary Dimino

Mary:

SCARED SKINNY is about growing up fat, funny and afraid in an Italian family from Queens. My Fringe publicity description reads like this: “Fat kids playing with Quija Boards. Perverted Grandmothers. Mutant genitalia. Boyfriends trying to off themselves in Mister Softee Trucks. What in God’s name? Weight was not the only thing she had to lose. Come see what everyone is talking about! Scared Skinny, laugh your fat off…” The play opens with eight year old, chubby Mary asking the Quija Board if she’d ever be skinny one day. It is my real life story starting from childhood and how and why I got so overweight. Act II is how and why I achieved the 115 pound weight Ioss. I play all 14 different characters. Scared Skinny is a cross between A Bronx Tale and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. And what I feel is so special about this story is that it provides audiences with the understanding and insight into how overweight women are treated in today’s society. It will make you laugh, cry and laugh some more. It will send audiences on an emotional roller coaster. One of the reviewers called SCARED SKINNY “inspirational and hilarious”.

"Look Ma... I'm bigger than Santa."
Postcard for SCARED SKINNY: a one (hundred pound lighter) woman show

Lorraine:

How can people get tickets to your play?

Mary:

The play opens in August and you can buy tickets by calling
(866) 468-7619 or go to The Fringe or the play’s website:

www.scared-skinny.com
www.fringenyc.org

Lorraine:

Where can fans find information about you on the Internet?

Mary:

On my official web site, the play’s website, YouTube, and Facebook:

http://www.marydimino.com
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mary+dimino&aq=f
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=708568413

Movie Review: World’s Greatest Dad By Lorraine Messina

2010-05-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

Magnolia Pictures

This is a dark comedy about a high school poetry teacher, Lance Clayton, played by Robin Williams whose life takes an unexpected positive turn when his son dies accidentally. This film is filled with satire. It is funny to watch Bobcat Godthwait poke fun at dumb immature teenagers, school therapists and talk show hosts. Anyone that has had to deal with a troubled teenager and school officials will identify with this film.

I don’t typically like dark comedies but this film was different. Robin Williams gives a strong performance. You can feel the frustration his character, Lance Clayton, is dealing with when it comes to dealing with his son’s immaturity and ungratefulness. Williams is mean, miserable, funny and frustrated in his role. Something you can really identify with.

Daryl Sabara does an excellent job playing Kyle Clayton a troubled teenager.

He makes you laugh and bristle with his obnoxious behavior. I am sure we have run into this type of character at some point or another. Maybe in one of our trips to the Principal’s office if you were so lucky to have that happen to you.

Some of the scenes take place in a High School. The cast does a good job of making you feel that you are in a private High School. The classroom scenes with the blank looks from the students in response to a boring lecture from a teacher is classic. We have all been there.

You need to be advised that this movie is rated R. It is not a family movie.

It is an adult film dealing with adult issues. If you are looking for something different, give this movie a try.

Starring:

Robin Williams, Daryl Sabara, Alexie Gilmore, Tom Kenny, Geoffrey Pierson,

Henry Simmons, Toby Huss

Directed and Written by Bobcat Goldthwait

Produced by Tim Perell, Howard Gertler, Sean McKittrick, Richard Kelly

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A Geekified Geek Defined by Lorraine Messina

2010-05-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

This definition actually came about after witnessing boss and worker interactions through out my thirty years in the computer field. If any artists wish to send me their rendition of a Geekified Geek, I would be happy to post it.

A Geekified Geek is one who……

Is considered holiness in the eyes of their boss.

Rises early in the morning and gets to work without propellants like coffee and donuts.

Works into the night on computer bugs without the use of essentials such as heat and air conditioning. This of course saves the company thousands of dollars thus making one more holy in the eyes of the boss.

Is able to lift computers, monitors, mice, keyboards, network cables, routers and all associated power cables without bent knees. Withstanding the forces of gravity to get an office networked in less than one hour flat.

A Geekified Geek can debug the most incessant computer virus. Going without food and water for days until the virus is tracked to some abandoned house in China.

Can speak at meetings and part the chairs at the conference table as if it was the Red Sea and have every word spoken recorded for the office Computer Dictionary online. Each phrase uttered being Twittered, Facebooked, Emailed and stored in Norway’s Doomsday underground seed vault.

There you have it a Geekified Geek defined. Send me your pictures and comments I would love to hear from you about your encounter with a Geekified Geek.

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Movie Review: How to Train Your Dragon by Lorraine Messina

2010-04-23T05:39:00.001-07:00

It is just amazing what can be done with animation these days. You can actually see the strands of hair on the characters in the movie. The realism of the characters catches your attention right off the bat. I was waiting for the characters to walk right off the screen into the audience. This movie definitely won’t disappoint the kids. It is action packed right to the end.

Paramount Pictures

The movie is based on a book by Cressida Cowell. The plot is about a bunch of young Viking teenagers that go through a sort of dragon boot camp to prove themselves worthy of fighting dragons. The plot takes on an assortment of twists and turns to keep you engaged in watching the movie.

The character voices were all great. The only critique I have about the movie is that it seems long to watch. If your kids can sit through a 98 minute movie, then take the kids out to see it. If not, wait for it to come out on DVD. Keep in mind that the movie has violent scenes so you may think it is not appropriate for your very young children.

In the video below Cressida Cowell describes in detail why portions of her book had to be changed and adapted to a movie format. Ms. Cowell helps you appreciate why movies don’t always represent the book they were adapted from.

Voices:

Hiccup - Jay Baruchel
Stoick - Gerard Butler
Cobber - Craig Ferguson
Snotlout - Jonah Hill
Fishlegs - Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Astrid - America Ferrara
Ruffnut - Kristen Wiig
Tuffnut - T.J. Miller

Directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois.

Written by William Davies, Peter Tolan, Sanders and DeBlois.

Based on the book by Cressida Cowell.

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Movie Review: The Informant by Lorraine Messina

2010-04-11T04:15:00.000-07:00

What a crazy movie. I couldn’t decide what was more funny…the movie’s plot or watching Matt Damon scratch his head and seeing his wig move from side to side on his head. I am sure the latter wasn’t intentional but it was definitely noticeable in a few scenes of the movie

Warner Brothers

The Informant is based on a true story about Mark Whitace who in the 1990’s supplied the FBI with tapes that would implicated his firm, Archer Daniel Midland in a price fixing scheme. Archer Daniel Midland transforms crops such as corn and wheat into food, feed or other derived fuel, chemicals, and food additives. These food additives like sorbitol and xanthan gum has well as many others are what you see listed on something like the back of your Twinkies.

Matt Damon played Mark Whitace, Scott Bakula played FBI agent Brian Shepard, Joel McHale played FBI agent Bob Herndon, and Melanie Lynsky played Mrs. Ginger Whitace. All actors performed wonderfully. You could see the chemistry between all of them.

The real issue with the movie was trying to keep all of the action straight. You weren’t sure who really did what to whom in the movie. The plot gets very confusing but definitely does bore the viewer. Everything that happens is very unpredictable. It is definitely a very funny movie to watch.

Cast:

Mark Whitacre - Matt Damon
Agent Brian Shepard - Scott Bakula
Agent Robert Herndon - Joel McHale
Ed Herbst - Patton Oswalt
Ginger Whitacre - Melanie Lynskey

Directed by Steven Soderbergh

Written by Scott Z. Burns

Based on the book by Kurt Eichenwald

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Radio and TV Host: Jennifer Koppelman Hutt by Lorraine Messina

2010-04-04T08:12:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Koppelman Hutt dishes it out on Whatever, Martha! dishes up. Jennifer Koppelman Hutt and Alexis Stewart are the hosts of the TV show Whatever, Martha! on the Fine Living Network. I had the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer about the show.

Lorraine:

What is the inspiration behind Whatever, Martha!

Jennifer:

Martha Stewart conceived the show after watching episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 late at night. Mystery Science Theater 3000 is about robots poking fun at science fiction movies. Martha thought it would be fun to re-purpose material from her old shows to create Whatever, Martha!

Lorraine:

(Note: Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc. The show ran from 1988 to 1999.)

Lorraine:

How often has Martha appeared on the show?

Jennifer:

Just once.

Lorraine:

Has Martha critiqued you critiquing her on the show Martha Stewart Living?

Jennifer:

(Laughter) No, Martha loves the show.

Lorraine:

Could you give me more specifics about the show?

Jennifer:

The show is not scripted at all. We are watching the Martha Stewart Living episodes for the first time. The show is edited.

Lorraine:

Are the FAQs on the Whatever, Martha! web site true?

Jennifer:

Absolutely. The FAQs actually came from a listener that put the list together for us. It was very nice of him to do that for us.

Lorraine:

I understand that you went to law school. What made you switch to the entertainment field?

Jennifer:

I went to law school and i got my law license- I am an attorney. I wanted to show my kids that you should finish what you started. I practiced law for six months but didn’t have the passion for it. I didn’t like wearing a suit and doing paper work. I always wanted to use my voice so ending up in radio makes sense.

About 5 years ago, I started assisting my father who was working with Martha. I met Alexis (Martha's daughter) and we decided to do the radio show (Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer) together. The radio show show has been running for about four and a half years and the TV show has been running for two years.

The radio show (Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer) is on Sirius radio 112 and XM radio 157 Monday through Friday at 5 pm EST and the TV show (Whatever, Martha!) is on FLN channel 157.

Lorraine:

Where can fans find information about you on the Internet?

Jennifer:

On our web site:

http://www.whateverradio.com/website/home.php

and you can follow me on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/Jenniferhutt

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Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes by Lorraine Messina

2010-03-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

Wow! Sherlock Holmes as an action figure. Who would have thought? I am a great fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle so this movie was definitely on my must see list. The opening scene of the movie was great and filled with lots of suspense. The film doesn't let

you down from there. Lots of twists and turns in the plot and at times it even gets confusing.

Warner Brothers

Robert Downey Jr. plays Sherlock Holmes and Jude Law plays Watson. Downey and Law show their chemistry in the film. Sherlock is played as a serious character where Watson is always getting caught up in Sherlock’s schemes. The timing of their quips works well.

The only possible negative about the film is that the plot is too complicated and difficulty to follow. It takes away from the true character of the Arthur Conan Doyle stories. On the other hand you can say the story has been updated for our times using characters from our past.

Whichever way you like your Sherlock Holmes stories this one shouldn’t be over looked. It is lots of fun watching Sherlock and Watson work together.

Cast:

Holmes - Robert Downey Jr.
Watson - Jude Law
Lord Blackwood - Mark Strong
Irene Adler - Rachel McAdams
Kelly Reilly - Mary Morstan

Directed by Guy Ritchie

Written by Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg

Based on the stories by Arthur Conan Doyle

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Actress, TV Host, and Pitch Woman: Forbes Riley by Lorraine Messina

2010-03-13T11:20:00.000-08:00

Doesn't she look great! Forbes Riley has sold health and fitness products for over twenty years and will be inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame this year. You've seen her hosting countless TV shows from ESPN's X-Games to TLC's Essential and she's hosted some of the most successful infomercials of all time. Now Forbes has her name on her own brand new product called the SpinGym. Forbes gave me the inside scope on her new product and the inspiration behind it.

Lorraine:

What inspired you to sell Health and Fitness products?

Forbes:

I use to be an overweight teenager and dancer. Diet and exercise were always a struggle for me. I was always interested in new products because my dad liked to invent things. He always had wacky ideas. At age eight with my dad's help we built a computer.

Lorraine:

I understand you were Miss Teenage NY.

Forbes:

Those were the days when Bob Hope use to MC the show. At the time the contest wasn't about beauty. It was about your intelligence, talent, and personality. A written test was even required. I entered the contest because my dad was employed as a printer and severely injured his hand in a printing press. I needed to get a scholarship to attend college. It so happened that Miss Dallas won that year. Both my parents paid for my college education.

Lorraine:

How did you get involved with the SpinGym?

Forbes:

When I worked at QVC I met a gentleman selling a stress reliever product.
After trying the product myself I envisioned its many uses. I approached the gentleman about selling me the rights to the product which he did. Next I had to come up with a name for the product. It was actually my six year old that thought up a name. The name we came up with was actually owned by another gentleman. After several months of persistence and negotiations I was able to obtain the rights to call my product the SpinGym.

Lorraine:

How does the SpinGym work?

Forbes:

The SpinGym works by using gyrotronics resistance training. It weights half a pound but you can pull twenty pounds with it.

Lorraine:

What uses have you envisioned for the SpinGym?

Forbes:

I am working with Physical Trainers to develop a certified SpinGym program.
The SpinGym is also a great help for women that have had mastectomies.

Lorraine:

I understand that you have won some awards. How did you get to this point in your life?

Forbes:

It has been a wonderful journey for me. I have hosted shows on the Learning Channel and have been on Broadway. I have also traveled across the country as a stand-up comedienne. It was Jake Steinfeld the CEO of Body by Jake who asked me to host a show on a new network called Fit TV.

I have sold more that two billion dollars worth of fitness and wellness products via TV home shopping and infomercials and was awarded Best Female Presenter of the Year at the Infomercial Convention. The award was for excellence in a single show.

Lorraine:

Did you know Billy Mays?

Forbes:

Yes. I was on his last show called Pitchmen before he passed away five months later. Billy was as an inspiration and personal mentor who valued the pitch and the brand - I learned a lot from him and some of the last things he said to me were that he was proud of me and saw amazing things in my future. He jokingly called us the King and Queen of Infomercials -- I miss being able to share the success of SpinGym with him as he was such a powerful supporter.

Photo of Forbes on the set of Pitchmen with Billy Mays.

Lorraine:

What would you say has lead to your success as a Pitchwoman?

Forbes:

A positive attitude. I would say to be successful you need to embrace your positive qualities. Nurture what you would like to do and keep a journal of your daily activities. Be sure to like what you do.

Lorraine:

What are your current plans?

Forbes:

I am launching a clothing line on HSN late spring called Love Your Body by Forbes Riley and some have started to call me America's Fitness Innovator - fitness being about balance - fit life, fit body, facial fit, emotionally fit, even financially fit!

Lorraine:

Where can fans find information about you on the Internet?

Forbes:

On my web sites:

www.MySpinGym.com

www.ForbesRiley.com

SpinGym video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNRO_BaThJM

Home Shopping Network:

hsn.com

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Movie Review: Up in the Air by Lorraine Messina

2010-03-06T14:12:00.000-08:00

A film for our times. George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham who flies around the United States firing employees on behalf of corporations that are downsizing. There are a significant number of us that have faced this fate or have been observers to it. Ryan eventually faces the same fate when a female co-worker touts the benefits of running the sting operation via web cam.

Paramount Pictures

George Clooney will probable get an Oscar nod for his role and I am predicting that the film wins an Oscar for best writer. Clooney gives the viewer a smooth mundane look at his job and how an employee can become apathetic to a fellow man's unfortunate plight when given a dirty job to do.

Vera Farmiga plays Alex Goran another road warrior like Ryan Bingham. Anna Kendrick plays Natalie Keener a recent graduate and new co-worker of Ryan Bingham. Both women do an excellent job with their parts and show chemistry when working with Mr. Clooney. This helps make the film fun to watch.

Now I am going to get on my soap box here, the movie really makes you think about how companies can be much more profitable if they would forget about their own internal hierarchies and focus more on their employees, listen to their customers and care about the products or service they produce. Come on this isn't rocket science. Companies need to put a side the politics and listen to their employees and customers to be successful.

There were some technical issues with the film you might pick up. When using body doubles it is important that the double's physique matches the actor's body image. If you watch the movie closely, you will see a scene where it does not.

Putting technicality aside. It is a very enjoyable and at times funny movie to watch. It is a great pleasure to watch a movie that has a wonderful script. The writers of Up in the Air will probable get an Oscar nod for their work. Definitely put this movie on your to watch list.

Cast:

George Clooney

Vera Farmiga
Anna Kendrick

Directed by Jason Reitman

Produced by Daniel Dubiecki, Jeffrey Clifford, Ivan Reitman, Jason Reitman

Written by Sheldon Turner and Jason Reitman

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Celebrity Makeup Artist and TV Host Michelle Phillips By Lorraine Messina

2010-02-27T14:58:00.000-08:00

Michelle Phillips, a descendant of the Mamas and Papas and actresses Michelle and Mackenzie Phillips, is an up and coming motivational author, speaker, and TV personality. Through her Mind Beauty Spirit brand she is living her dream to empower others to find the beauty within them. I had the opportunity to speak with Michelle about her project.

Lorraine:

What is Mind, Beauty, Spirit about?

Michelle:

Mind, Beauty, Spirit is an inspirational how-to for people to achieve their own personal ‘beauty’. It provides a strategy for ‘beautiful’ living inside and out, covering areas like mental well-being by enhancing self-image, health and fitness, style and beauty, goal setting and empowerment, life balance and more.

Lorraine:

You’ve been a celebrity make up artist for some time, what inspired you to pursue this endeavor?

Michelle:

Even though I have been a celebrity make-up artist and TV personality for over 15 years, I feel like there is too much emphasis on external beauty, especially with young people. It just got to the point one day where I couldn’t take it anymore and felt like I had to make a difference. People need to feel better mentally, physically, and spiritually to really achieve their ‘beauty’.

Lorraine:

What important things have you learned over the years regarding your make-up artistry?

Michelle:

That is a very good question. After working with a lot of celebrities I realized what made them stars was what they were on the inside. I have created programs that will help people understand that what they have on the inside can make them more beautiful on the outside and then combined that with some of the tricks of the trade I’ve picked up for people to have the total package. This is something that I have set out to do.

Lorraine:

Can you give me a specific example as to what you mean by being beautiful on the inside? Are you referring to having a positive outlook?

Michelle:

Yes, a positive attitude and embracing your positive qualities. Nurture what you like to do. Keep a journal of your daily activities. Eat right, get enough sleep and like what you do.

Making better choices and learning how to say no will improve your life. It doesn’t happen over night. I also give tips on what you can do to make yourself beautiful on the outside such as some quick beauty tips.

It is important to take care of yourself. Don’t compare yourself to the media. Celebrities have professional artists that help them look good.

It is important to have self-confidence. You have to be true to yourself. Don’t make decisions based on what others think. Know who you are from the inside. Successful people are authentic and self-confident.

Lorraine:

What suggestions do you have for new make-up artists wanting to start their own business?

Michelle:

Learn from everyone and ask questions. Always give 1000% on the job. Research your clients so you can create an image for your clients that works.
You also need to be a team player. You will need to please producers, photographers, and other staff members. Volunteer your services and prove to clients what you can do. Call production companies, modeling agencies, photographers and volunteer your services or become an intern.

Lorraine:

After you left the show Studio 10 what did you do?

Michelle:

I have been a national TV spokesperson for brands such as Proctor and Gamble, Harry & David, and Disney. I have appeared on television shows for the networks TLC, HSN, “The Daily Buzz”, and on numerous episodes of the HGTV hit, “Designing Spaces”.
Lorraine:

There is one trivia question I want to ask. I saw a video clip from your show Studio 10 where you were in a race car and you got pulled over by a police officer. What happened?

Michelle:

Oh that was so funny! The Grand Prix in Tampa was open and people from the Grand Prix came and picked me up in a one million dollar race car made by Honda. I was not driving. A driver from the Grand Prix was driving 35 miles per hour and we had a camera crew behind us. The police officer pulled us over because he thought the car wasn’t registered to drive on the highway. It was so funny we had to call the people at the Grand Prix to straighten the whole thing out. We aired everything that happened that day with the race car.

Lorraine:

Where can fans find information about you on the Internet?

Michelle:

On my web sites:

Mindbeautyspirit.com

www.michellephillips.tv

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1471054195

Clips from Studio 10

http://www.youtube.com/user/MPhillipsStudio10

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Movie Review: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian By Lorraine Messina

2010-02-20T15:00:00.000-08:00

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian is one of those movies you watch when you are snowed in and have nothing else to do. It could also be the movie to watch if you are...

Delayed at the airport
Stuck on a plane for two hours
Wanting to escape visiting your in-laws
Trying to find a way to miss that recital
Watching lost episodes of a reality show

20^th Century Fox

I think you get my point. The movie is a continuation of Night at the Museum. Ben Stiller and Amy Adams star in the movie. Amy Adams seems to be the new “IT” girl this year with another staring role in the movie Julie and Julia.

In Battle of the Smithsonian Amy Adams plays Amelia Earhart. Ms. Adams portrayal of Amelia Earhart is a sweet interpretation of the famous aviator. Put a dress with a poodle on her and you would transform the same part into a 50’s high school student. It just didn’t cut it. I don’t fault Ms. Adams for this. I think the script writing wasn’t dramatic enough. How I wish movies and sequels were less predictable. I guess that’s in my dreams.

Ben Stiller played the night watchman Larry Daley. Mr. Stiller once again uses his artistry to bring us slap stick humor. I don’t mine slap stick humor if it is done well yet there were scenes in this movie where I thought the slap stick was just too silly. If directors want to use slap stick humor, I wish they would return to their cinema history and examine how the great Marx Brothers or W.C. Fields used slap stick to bring a unique touch to their characters as well as to the plot of the movie.

I just felt kind of numb watching this movie. It did pass the time, it will entertain the kids and at times it is funny yet it is predictable. The predictability leaves you with that numb brain feeling. Like I said it is a good movie to watch if you want to say skip cutting the grass or shoveling the snow.

Starring:

Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Bill Hader, Christopher Guest, Alain Chabat, Robin Williams

Directed by Shawn Levy

Produced by Michael Barnathan, Shawn Levy, Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe

Written by Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon

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Watch for the stars to come out at the Grace Awards May 25th by Lorraine Messina

2010-02-13T13:13:00.000-08:00

Watch the stars come out for the Gracie Awards on May 25th. Now in its 58th year the American Women in Radio and Television Organization, AWRT, has honored radio and television programming created by women, for women and about women. The Gracies encourages the realistic portrayal of women in entertainment, commercials, news, features and other programs. The awards are named after Gracie Allen a radio and television star, successful comedienne, entertainer, entrepreneur and activist.

It was a great honor for me to be a Gracie Award judge this year. There were many outstanding entries to judge. It should be an exciting show to watch. Past recipients of the Gracie Awards have included Barbara Walters, Katie Couric, comedienne Kathy Griffin, actress and singer Miley Cyrus, Law & Order: SVU actress Mariska Hargitay and many others. Read more about the Gracies at: http://www.thegracies.org/index.php

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Actor, Comedian, Producer, Writer Tim Wilkins by Lorraine Messina

2010-02-02T16:39:00.000-08:00

Actor, comedian, producer, writer and Former Marine Tim Wilkins has the best President Obama impression in the business. Recently I had a chance to talk to Tim about his latest CD and other projects.

Lorraine:

Tim, I love your clean humor. Would you say that audiences are more drawn to clean humor as opposed to blue comedy? Blue comedy being risqué or obscene humor.

Tim:

If comedy is going to be your career, there is definitely more of a market for clean comedy such as; cruise ships, corporate events, and college campuses. I give a seminar a couple times a year on cleaning up your act. It is important for new comics to work clean and to treat comedy like a business. New artists will need to work at it for a long time. You won't get as far with obscene humor.

Lorraine:

I understand that you entertained our troops overseas. What was your experience like?

Tim:

It was one of my greatest experiences aside from getting remarried and the birth of my kids. I entertained the troops with a group called Comics on Duty. The Troops were grateful that we were there and really deserved escaping from the war into laughter a couple hours. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Lorraine:

Have you been to any comedy festivals?

Tim:

The last one I have been to was the 2007 Las Vegas Festival. I actually won the spot at a HBO comedy competition.

Lorraine:

Among your many accomplishments I understand that you were a TV chef.

Tim:

I was actually a chef on the morning talk show my wife and I had. Our cooking actually won a culinary Academy Award in 2009. Currently the project we are working on his her new book and TV show called Mind, Beauty, Spirit. It will focus on inner and outer beauty by bolstering self-esteem as well as makeup and style.

Lorraine:

Did you develop your comedy while working at Victoria Secrets?

Tim:

No, actually I was a stock boy at Victoria Secrets and I performed my comedy at night. My comedy is based on politics and my family.

Lorraine:

What is your new CD about?

Tim:

My CD is called Comedy Stimulus Package. The first ten minutes of my CD is about politics. I do a dead on impression of President Obama. The rest of the CD is autobiographical as my comedy is always about what’s going on in my life at the time. I think that is the best way to relate to people I’m trying to make laugh.

Lorraine:

Where can fans find information about you on the Internet?

Tim:

On my web site:

http://www.timwilkins.com/

On Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=543723580&ref=nf

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Movie Review: The Blind Side by Lorraine Messina

2010-01-24T05:52:00.000-08:00

An outstanding film. Sandra Bullock will probable get an Oscar nod for this film. I will bet that Meryl Streep’s portrayal of Julia Child and Sandra Bullock’s portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy will go head to head at the Oscar’s. Both actresses did a wonderful job this year in their films and both won Golden Globe Awards.

Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros. Pictures

The story is based on a true story of NFL football star Michael Oher. As a teenager Oher was homeless when he was befriended by Leigh Anne Tuohy. Mrs. Tuohy learns that Michael is one of her daughter’s classmates when she spots him on the streets. On a very cold winter night Mrs.Tuohy invites Michael into her home.

Quinton Aaron plays Michael Oher. He did a wonderful job of capturing Michael Oher’s shyness and innocence. Sandra Bullock’s portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy I heard was actually toned down a bit compared to how Mrs. Tuohy is in real life. Even so Sandra Bullock did an excellent job capturing Mrs. Tuohy’s spirit and her southern accent.

This film captures your attention and your heart. It is very touching. The sports scenes are well crafted and realistic. The film gracefully takes you through Michael Oher’s story. It is not slow in spots nor does it cause you to anticipate what will come next. I heard that the director John Lee Hancock spent a lot of time with the Tuohy family. It is this attention to details that make a great film.

Some interesting trivia about the film is that Quinton Aaron is actually three years older than Oher weighs 380 pounds and is 6 feet 8 inches. Oher is 6 feet 4 inches and 307 pounds. The coaches Nick Saban, Houston Nutt, Tommy Tubberville, Phillip Fulmer, Ed Orgeron and Lou Holtz that tried to recruit Oher in 2004 and 2005 played themselves in the movie and are no longer at the same school. Watching the coaches try to gain Oher’s college pick was one of the more humorous parts of the film.

Whether you are a sports fan or not this film sends a special message that you can accomplish anything when you put your mind to it. A must see film for the whole family.

Cast:

Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Jae Head, Lily Collins

Director: John Lee Hancock

Based on the 2006 book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis

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Actress, Comedienne, Writer and Producer Brooke Van Poppelen By Lorraine Messina

2010-01-15T19:27:00.000-08:00

The very talented and 2008 Emerging Comic of New York City nominee, Brooke Van Poppelen, is on the move with her one woman show called So-Low Show. Recently I had a chance to talk to Brooke about her latest show.

Lorraine:

I heard you are going to tour. What will you be doing?

Brooke:

Nothing solid yet, but I am hoping to take So-Low Show to Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles after another short run in NYC in January. So-Low Show is currently a forty minute theater production that blurs the lines of story telling and sketch comedy. It is a funny show put it also explores the negative moments in my life that I have worked very hard to make relatable. It is bittersweet and cathartic all at once. I have had some people tell me I should try to get it into the NYC Fringe Festival which would be amazing, so I am going to go for it.

Lorraine:

How did you get your start in comedy?

Brooke:

I grew up in Rochester, Michigan. As a college student I studied advertising but decided I wanted to move to Chicago to get an acting and comedy career started. From there I took improv classes through IO (Improv Olympic) as well as the Second City Conservatory Program. I landed some roles in plays and sketch comedy shows before I got gung-ho about stand-up comedy. Later, I started Chicago Underground Comedy. It has been voted the best place to enjoy comedy in Chicago and has really great people running it and performing on it even though the original producers all split for opposite coasts.

(Their web site: http://www.chicagoundergroundcomedy.com/index2.html)

The show afforded a lot of us corporate performances as well as college gigs. The venue also attracted the attention of prestigious national comedy festivals which came to scout for the next big things in comedy.

Lorraine:

What inspires your comedy?

Brooke:

My awesome family certainly does as do ridiculous life experiences. Since I studied advertising I really like to make fun of it and draw a lot of fake ad campaigns also. I grew up in the Mid-West in a middle class family. I later moved to New York City which was a big change for me. Being from the Mid-West I felt like an outsider when I first got to NYC. The insane emotions and insecurities this city brings out in me is great comic fodder too.

Lorraine:

What other things are you working on?

Brooke:

I would like to perform my two woman sketch show called Macho which I wrote with Joselyn Hughes again in 2010. Joselyn recently moved to Los Angeles to work for Comedy Central’s Tosh.0. We are working on getting the show booked in Austin and LA. Macho is a sketch comedy show containing bizarre female characters of all ages who have dark pasts, horrible attitudes and repressed sexuality. We also throw in some old fashioned gags to lighten things up. Other than that, I blog for AOL’s Lemondrop.com which is a women’s humor and lifestyle blog and I am getting together a collection of essays for a book proposal.

Lorraine:

What advice do you have for new artists?

Brooke:

Be prepared to put time and effort into your craft. Try a lot and see a lot. Watch other people perform and take notes about what you like and why. Be patient and don’t take anything personally—there’s A LOT of trial and error in learning to be a comic.

Lorraine:

Where can fans find information about you on the Internet?

Brooke:

On my website: http://www.brookevanpoppelen.com/

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=561062178

On AOL’s Lemondrop.com:

http://www.lemondrop.com/2009/07/29/i-dont-want-to-be-in-your-wedding-am-i-the-wpe/

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Movie Review: Avatar by Lorraine Messina

2010-01-08T14:42:00.001-08:00

The credits for this film were packed full of the names of the technical staff. No small wonder the graphics are beautiful even in the 2D version I saw.

The story is set in 2154 and it involves a mission by the U.S. Armed Forces to a new world called Pandora. Pandora contains a mineral that the Armed Forces needs to desperately mine and bring back to Earth. On Pandora there is a tribe called the Na'vi that inhabits Pandora. The Na'vi prove to be an obstacle for the Armed Forces to deal with. Since the atmosphere is not breathable by humans the Army invents Avatars that venture out into the Pandora atmosphere to communicate with the Na'vi tribe. The Avatars are Na'vi look alikes. Correct me if I am wrong but this sounds very similar to the historic stories involving the American Indians. You will know better if you decide to see the film.

20^th Century Fox

I believe I am not alone in my view regarding the film's plot. I am going to be provocative here. If you have all that wonderful 3D film making and film rendering equipment, must the film be so violent? Is violence the only thing that can be portrayed in 3D?

The film is beautiful to watch it does have some new stars and has created a new spoken language. I just don't appreciate sitting through three hours of a very violent plot. Can't directors and writers become more inventive with the 3D technology? How about these ideas for 3D....

NFL football - You feel like you are sprinting for the goal line
Any sport in 3D for that matter
Running for president and addressing a rally in front of hundreds of people
Enjoying a ride on your own private jet
Parachuting out of an airplane (maybe your better option these days considering airline security)
Enjoying a large payout from a slot machine

These are just a few non-violent story line ideas for 3D. I am sure any of these ideas can be incorporated into an award winning 3D film. Why not make movies where we can live out our fantasies without violence?

I heard that 3D TVs are coming soon and ESPN and Discovery will be airing programs in 3D. I can't wait. In the mean time if war and killing is your thing, go see the film. If not, see the movie The Blind Side instead. A very touching and heart warming film. Something the whole family would love. Sandra Bullock didn't make box office history for nothing. Her performance is great in The Blind Side.

Avatar Cast:

Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver

Starring:

Director: James Cameron

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Actress, Comedienne, Writer and Producer: Ellen Karis by Lorraine Messina

2009-12-31T07:52:00.000-08:00

Ellen Karis is hot! A CPA turned stand-up comedian like Bob Newhart Ellen makes no bones about speaking her mind. She left what she calls a lucrative mundane job on Wall Street to pursue comedy. She has been on the comedy circuit for ten years and she is enjoying the change. I recently had the great pleasure to speak and share laughs with Ellen.

Lorraine:

How would you describe your humor?

Ellen:

I am Greek Orthodox and also newly married so I would say I draw some of my humor from my Greek family and my married life. My view points tend to be conservative and those opinions inspire me to express how I feel through my comedy. I see the absurdities of life and the de-evolution of our society and this concerns me. My opinions on wasteful government spending and how government wants to dictate to us our health care coverage are some of the things that I speak out about.

Lorraine:

What in particular do you find in life that is funny?

Ellen:

I think its disturbing behavior that is considered the norm like people constantly taking pictures or videos of everything they are doing every second of the day. That is why we hear so much about attention deficit disorder. People aren’t in the moment anymore.

Lorraine:

What made you leave your job on Wall Street?

Ellen:

I worked on Wall Street for over ten years. I love business, industry and economics but the tasks I was given to do were very mundane. I would spend all day in meetings without achieving an outcome. I am a very creative, expressive, and animated person which propels me in my work.

Lorraine:

What is one of your favorite TV shows?

Ellen:

I run the gamut from watching anything on the Fox News Channel to The View. I find very few reality shows interesting; I would rather watch The Weather Channel than see people completely demoralizing themselves for some prize. I also listen to a lot of talk radio.

Lorraine:

Have you thought about running for Congress?

Ellen:

I think I can use my voice and the voice of the people through my comedy. Unless politics were to clean itself up, I could not be in that “always on the take” environment, I have lost my faith in all of them—no one should be a career politician, no one.

Lorraine:

What are your current projects?

Ellen:

I do stand-up all over the country whether it is a club or a private event. I also have my Greek act “Greek Chicks Rule” which is for a Greek audience which I love. I am one of the first Greek Stand-up Comedians and I am proud to have broken that barrier. I am hoping to get a solo Greek DVD out soon.

Lorraine:

What advice do you have for new artists?

Ellen:

Be honest, be careful and trust your instinct. Be sure to get good training and work on what you like to do. It is a long road and you need to have something else in your back pocket that will support you financially.

Lorraine:

Where can fans find information about you on the Internet?

Ellen:

My web site is: http://ellenkaris.com/

You can find me on Facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=715642493

FOX Strategy room: http://live.foxnews.com/strategy-room

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Movie Review: The First Wives Club by Lorraine Messina

2009-12-24T12:06:00.000-08:00

The marriage of three friends Brenda Morelli Chushman, played by Bette Midler, Elise Elliot Atchison, played by Goldie Hawn and Annie MacDuggan played by Diane Keaton has taken a turn toward the dark side. These Manhattan upper class wives were dear friends during their college days. They went on in life to take all different paths but were recently reunited by catastrophe. Each one was just dumped by their husband for a younger sexier wife. The ladies declare war on their husbands and it is time for the husbands to get their butts kicked. This is yet another silly film to pass the time away on a rainy or snowy day. 'Tis the season for networks to re-run movies and this movie was recently broadcast on Bravo.

Bette, Goldie and Diane were a trip to watch in this movie. They all did well portraying the quirkiness of their characters. There was plenty of slap stick humor to go around. These actresses are definitely seasoned performers when it comes to slap stick humor. They don’t miss a beat.

If I had to pick the funniest part of the movie, it would be when all three wives complain about what they did for their ex-husbands. You know the typical complaints cleaned his underwear, worked as his assistant in his self made job. There is one item they missed. Had SEX with the EX. If that doesn’t give an EX a bad visual, I don’t know what does.

There is one thing technical item in this film that I wish was done better. It would be the voice overs that were done during the singing scenes. It was quite obvious that the singing in the film was done over. If you are going to do a voice over, make it appear seamless. Your audience is hard to fool.

The plot is rather predictable. You know who the winners are going to be and who the losers are. To sum it up if you are a fan of silly films rent this one on a rainy or snowy day. Happy Holidays!

Cast:

Brenda: Bette Midler

Elise: Goldie Hawn

Annie: Diane Keaton

Gunilla Goldberg: Maggie Smith

Shelly Sarah: Jessica Parker

Morty: Dan Hedaya

Directed by Hugh Wilson

Screenplay by Robert Harling

Based on the novel by Olivia Goldsmith

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Movie Review: Catch Me If You Can by Lorraine Messina

2009-12-18T04:06:00.000-08:00

Frank Abagnale Jr.: Leonardo Dicaprio
Carl Hanratty: Tom Hanks
Frank Abagnale Sr.: Christopher Walken
Paula Abagnale: Nathalie Bayen
Prostitute: Jennifer Garner
Brenda: Amy Adams
Brenda's Father: Martin Sheen

A Dreamworks film

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Written by Jeff Nathanson.

Based on the book by Frank Abagnale Jr. and Stan Redding

The other night TNT had the movie Catch Me If You Can on. The holidays are coming and the networks start playing the old stand by movies. This movie was one of those stories that defines the phrase: “You can’t make this stuff up”. The film is based on a true story that is so hair brain that a writer couldn’t even dream it up.

Leonardo Dicaprio plays Frank Abagnale Jr. a very gifted impersonator go passes bogus checks. Tom Hanks plays Carl Hanratty, a FBI agent whose mission in life is to catch Mr. Abagnale. The mission proves to be very frustrating at times for Carl Hanratty as Frank Abagnale Jr. slips through numerous snares set by the FBI agent. Leonardo Dicaprio and Tom Hanks worked well together keeping up the suspense in this movie.

Christopher Walken played Frank Abagnale Sr. whose finances had gone bad. His financial difficulties are remarkably reminiscent of our current economic troubles that you hear a lot about in the news. Mr. Walken’s performance was intense as all of his performances tend to be.

The scenery, retro costumes and furniture in the movie are just wonderful. I always love when attention is paid to representing the time period accurately. The movie actually used the TWA air terminal at JFK airport to film scenes.

The terminal was empty at the time the filming took place. The old airline uniforms were even crafted for the film. It is that attention to detail that makes a movie great to watch. A fun movie to watch even when it is re-run.

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Interview with Jackie Kashian from Last Comic Standing by Lorraine Messina

2009-12-10T19:17:00.000-08:00

Jackie Kashian has been out and about at several comedy festivals and has a new comedy CD out called It Is Never Going To Be Bread. Jackie talked with me about her latest tours and projects.

Lorraine:

Jackie, tell me about the Bridgetown comedy festival in Portland , Oregon and the other comedy festivals that you have attended this year.

Jackie:

The Bridgetown comedy festival was wonderful. There is a lot of camaraderie that goes on among comics at comedy festivals. Usually the comics get ten or fifteen minutes to perform and then a strong performer closes the show. Unlike a comedy club where a headline act would get forty five minutes on stage and a comic would get fifteen to thirty minutes on stage.

This past October I attended the Bentzen Ball which is held in Washington D.C. and organized by the Brightest Young Things.

Lorraine:

(Please note I first heard of the Brightest Young Things from Jackie. The Brightest Young Things are a group of business and marketing college graduates that love to promote live performances. The Bentzen Ball features the best comics from around the country. I heard that there were nearly sixty comics in attendance at the Ball.)

Jackie:

The Brightest Young Things also organized an event at Walter Reed Hospital where performers entertained the soldiers. I attended that event as well.

Other comedy festivals held in Montreal Canada and HBO's event in Last Vegas are geared more toward the TV and movie industry. These events are where artists go to be seen by TV executives and film directors.

Lorraine:

What is your project Dork Forest about?

Jackie:

Dork Forest is a free podcast that is available on my web site or on iTunes. I interview people about what they love and I learn to love what they do. Most dorks are action figure, comic book and science fiction loving dorks. The Dork Forest lets me broaden that - I have interviewed history, and knitting enthusiasts. WWI buffs. I have even visited people in their homes or apartments. It is lots of fun.

Lorraine:

What is the meaning of the title of your new CD It is Never Going To Be Bread and what is it about?

Jackie:

I am newly married and the name of the CD came from the anniversaries married couples celebrate. For example, married couples celebrate their first anniversary with paper. When I discussed our second anniversary with my husband at a restaurant I couldn't remember what thing represents a married couples second anniversary. Someone at the restaurant over heard our conversation and said, "It is never going to be bread" which means anniversaries are not represented by food items hence the name for my new CD. You can listen to the title track for free on my website. The material on my CD is taken from funny experiences I have had with my family and from regular life.

Lorraine:

What advice do you have for performers entering the entertainment field?
Jackie:

This was given to me and I always pass it on:
http://jackiekashian.com/Inspiration86.htm

HOW TO BE A ZEN COMIC by Vanda Michaels
1) Never compare yourself – Once in a while, I’ll find myself watching an act, getting twinges of jealousy,
or feeling superior. Watch that shit! Be inspired by other’s work, identify with it.
If you recognize greatness in them, be reassured that you know what greatness is. Allow an act with a limited mind to express themselves as they will. (I’m still learning that) Tell people if you admire their stuff.

2) Be yourself – So trite, by tried and true. Stay true to what you care about,
not what others think you should care about. Don’t be afraid to show anger,
compassion, passion, and, most importantly, vulnerability. Humanity never fails.
Your unique comic outlook on your feelings, observations and experiences will set you apart. Use your life.

3) Take risks – Don’t be afraid to test the limits of the art form itself,
but do it out of real comic motivation, not just to be spectacular.

4) Don’t go for the obvious – Go for subtleties, not just “aren’t punk rockers ridiculous” or “isn’t that T.V. commercial dumb” humor. You will find that you will begin to refine what you choose to write about, that certain bits are real “Jackie” bits. Even real objective stuff can be personalized.

5) Be patient –
a. With your creativity – ideas will come to you as you grow and change.
Be receptive. Don’t get caught up in trying to churn out half-baked goods.
Let newer, fresher bits replace stale ones, until stale ones can be revived.

b. With your career – don’t let overly-ambitious, competitive-minded comics
catch you up in their frenzy. Set your sights, then set out on the adventure toward them. (Do I sound like Kahlil Gibran?) If you have the skill to crack up a room of people consistently, there will be work for you, to be sure.
Oh yeah……

6) Have fun – It’s rare to find a comic who’s mastered this.
Fun… what a concept! Do every show, even auditions FOR THE FUN OF IT.

Lorraine:

Where can fans find information about you on the Internet?

Jackie:

On my web site, MySpace, and Facebook:

http://www.jackiekashian.com/
http://www.myspace.com/jackiekashian
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/jackie.kashian

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North Carolina Senator Floyd B. McKissick, Jr. thanks ERMP TV

2009-11-25T15:09:00.000-08:00

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Mary Dimino: Award Winning Comedienne, Actress and Author by Lorraine Messina

2009-11-21T13:10:00.000-08:00

Award winner comedienne and actress Mary Dimino is busy on all fronts with a new book called Scared Skinny: No More and a new one woman show called Scared Skinny. Recently I had the pleasure of speaking with Mary about her latest projects and her work in the entertainment field.

Lorraine:

This past summer you were nominated for the MAC award. Please tell me more about that.

Mary:

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs in New York City recognizes outstanding performers in cabaret, comedy, and jazz. I was nominated for Outstanding Female Stand-Up for my live performances at Don’t Tell Mama Cabaret and The Broadway Comedy Club.

Lorraine:

In 2008 you won a Gracie Allen award for your part in the PBS documentary Fat: What No One is Telling You. What did the PBS documentary want to portray about obese people?

Mary:

The documentary focused on how obese people cope with day to day life. It was a film documentary with a reality show feel. The cameras filmed me in my home, at the gym when I worked out, at the club when I performed every where I went. The Gracie Awards encourage the realistic portrayal of women in entertainment, commercials, news, features and other programs.

Lorraine:

What is the focus of your new book: Scared Skinny: No More?

Mary:

The book Scared Skinny: No More is about my journey from childhood to being an overweight teenager and adult. The book explores what motivated me and how and why I lost weight. It is a very lighthearted look at my weight issues. I have co-authored the book with Dr. Brad Johnson. The book has been two years in the making. Along with Dr. Johnson’s research I have added my own comedic sensibility making the research enjoyable to read.

Lorraine:

Would you say obese people have trouble finding employment in the entertainment field?

Mary:

Overall I would say that obese performers have an easier time finding work in television as compared to film. In the movie industry it is more about whether a person has box office appeal. Obese performers tend to get stereotyped.

Lorraine:

You had said weight loss begins in the brain. Do you feel that staying in the moment and thinking about each bite of food works in the long term for maintaining or losing weight?

Mary:

It is important to pay attention to how your body feels. Be your best and accept who you are now. Tell yourself you can do better and that you want to be healthy. Change what you think about being full. Only eat to the point that you feel comfortable. Don’t over eat and be sure to get enough sleep and water.

Lorraine:

What advice do you have for performers entering the entertainment field?

Mary:

Perseverance is very important. Focus on who you are and what you are doing. Don’t let criticism sway how you feel about yourself. It is a long journey. The fun is in the journey more than the destination. Always do something everyday that gets you closer to your goal. Find things you love and build your skills. A true artist is always learning. Enjoy the present moment and don’t worry about when things will happen for you.

Lorraine:

It was certainly a pleasure speaking with you and hearing how you are using your comedic talent to help people. Where can fans find information about you on the Internet?

Mary:

On my web site, MySpace, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and on PBS.

http://www.marydimino.com/marydimino.com/HOME.html

http://www.myspace.com/marydimino

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqJsIiEMduE

http://facebook.com

http://twitter.com/marydimino

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/takeonestep/fat/index.html

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Movie Review: The Green Mile by Lorraine Messina

2009-11-13T04:15:00.001-08:00

Castle Rock

Paul Edgecomb: Tom Hanks
Brutus "Brutal" Howell: David Morse
John Coffey: Michael Clarke Duncan
Percy Wetmore: Doug Hutchison
Eduard Delacroix: Michael Jeter
"Wild Bill" Wharton: Sam Rockwell

Written and Directed by Frank Darabont

Based on the novel by Stephen King.

If you like sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for the next plot twist, this movie will not disappoint you. It is one of the few long movies that can keep your attention and your heart pumping. I know I was pumped. In the three hours of running time for this film you see the personalities of the characters explored and view a vivid depiction of life in a maximum security prison. The movie at times entertains the odd and obscure moments demonstrated by the prison staff and inmates.

The story is set in 1932. To achieve the look and feel of the period many penitentiaries were scouted for the film. The old Tennessee State penitentiary was selected for the filming of the Green Mile. The Tennessee State penitentiary has been used in a variety of Hollywood productions and it once housed felon James Earl Ray. Some of the penitentiaries visited still had their electric chairs preserved. The art directors working on the Green Mile used characteristics from several electric chairs to create three electric chairs that were used in the film. Some of the exterior scenes in the movie were filmed in Tennessee and also at a nursing home in Blowing Rock North Carolina.

The actors used a dialect coach to help them correctly portray southern accents. The guard uniforms that the actors wore incorporated characteristics from army uniforms, police uniforms and other guard uniforms. The black and white clip used in the movie of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing to “Cheek to Cheek” was used with permission from Mrs. Fred Astaire.

The best part of the movie was how the characters were developed. Tom Hanks did a good job portraying Paul Edgecomb a likable head prison guard. His thoughtfulness and at times his willingness to bend the rules made you want to sympathize right along with him. Paul Edgecomb’s dislike for a young prison guard named Percy Wetmore played by Doug Hutchison kept the plot of the movie energized. Percy definitely was not a very likable guy. Probably the best performance came from Michael Clarke Duncan who played John Coffey. A giant, docile inmate who possesses a special power. You could feel the intense emotion from him come out in the film and you felt sorry for the situation he was forced to endure.

Some critics say this film is too long. I usually dislike long films but this one was different. The nuances of the characters in the film are really what holds your attention. Anyway, how can you go wrong when the plot is based on a Stephen King novel.

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Dave Howe: President of Syfy by Lorraine Messina

2009-11-05T15:21:00.000-08:00

It was beyond cool having the opportunity to be inside NBC studios for a question and answer session with the President of the Syfy channel Dave Howe. The question and answer session was off the record and there was clearly no Twittering allowed. That being said it was a very lively and humorous discussion about the workings of Syfy. It was very gracious of Mr. Howe to take the time to meet with an assortment of members from the International Radio and Television Society. IRTS can be found on the Internet at irts.org. The people in attendance were journalists, students, production producers, and sales people.

Most of the discussion was concerning Syfy’s sales growth and new upcoming Syfy programming. It is interesting to note that the Syfy staff does work together as a team and contributions and ideas are accepted from everyone. Programming ideas that have contributed to the success of Syfy have been well written, relate to the brand, imaginative, sellable and have characters that viewers can relate to.

This is a little bit about the Syfy channel, www.syfy.com, and Mr. Howe from IRTS:
Syfy, a division of NBC Universal Cable, was launched in September 1992. More than a decade later, Syfy continues to attract industry-wide interest in its achievements, most recently winning an Emmy for its history-making Steven Spielberg Presents TAKEN - the biggest miniseries ever on television. In the last few years, the Channel has undergone a massive re-design and become one of cable's leaders in the production of high-quality original programming.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in 95 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)
With major investment from its parent company and notable programming successes, Syfy continues to generate buzz among advertisers, affiliates and consumers.

NETWORK LAUNCH:
September 24, 1992

DISTRIBUTION:
95 million
Dave Howe Bio:
Dave Howe was named President, Syfy in January 2008. Howe oversees Original Development, Programming and Marketing, Global Brand Strategy and Market Development, Strategic Planning, Syfy Digital, Syfy Ventures, Media Relations and Syfy’s public affairs initiative, Visions for Tomorrow. In July 2009, Howe launched a new global brand identity by evolving SCI FI Channel to Syfy. He is charged with expanding and diversifying its business portfolio beyond broadcast and digital media into new affinity areas such as video gaming, mobile, licensing and merchandising and the youth market.
Appointed the Channel’s General Manager and Executive Vice President in July 2004, Howe had served as Executive Vice President, Marketing & Brand Strategy since joining the company in September 2001. Since becoming General Manager, Howe has overseen the launch of some of Syfy’s most successful and ground-breaking programming, including "Tin Man" -- which was ad-supported cable’s top entertainment telecast among Adults 25-54 in more than two years in addition to being the most-watched telecast in Channel history -- and the critically acclaimed, Peabody Award-winning series "Battlestar Galactica."
Howe also spearheaded a major overhaul of Syfy’s brand strategy, focused on redefining the genre and making it more relatable and accessible to a broader audience and new generation of viewers. This lead the way for record-breaking hit drama series, "Eureka," and hit reality series, "Ghost Hunters," which have attracted record numbers of new, female and younger viewers to the channel.
Howe has been instrumental in shaping Syfy’s pioneering digital strategy, ensuring Syfy remains at the forefront of digital growth and innovation. Howe orchestrated the launch of a successful portfolio of Syfy.com standalone sites, including technology blog DVICE, gaming site Fidgit and SCI FI Wire, the on-line destination for the entire science fiction genre’s entertainment news.
Howe has played a lead role in Syfy's consistent ratings and revenue growth, firmly establishing its top 10 cable network ranking and culminating in its best year ever in both ratings and revenue in 2008. Syfy continues to demonstrate unprecedented growth in all key demographics fueled by its original dramatic and reality series. Syfy is widely regarded as one of the best-branded and marketed channels on television. The Channel has been honored with numerous accolades, including a D&AD Award, a Clio, countless PROMAX & BDA awards, two Cannes Lions, two One Club Awards, as well as a 2004 Gold Effie Award for the campaign promoting TAKEN.
In 2003, Howe was the recipient of the prestigious Brandbuilders Award. Presented by PROMAX & BDA, Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News, the honor was awarded in recognition of his industry leadership and outstanding dedication to branding in the electronic media.
Prior to joining Syfy, Howe spent 15 years at the BBC in London, most recently as head of the BBC’s on-air marketing and creative services division (now part of Red Bee Media), where he is credited with building the BBC’s multi-award-winning in-house creative team, which has delivered acclaimed on- and off-air campaigns, as well as world-class branding for the BBC’s 17 UK and international TV channels, including BBC America, BBC World and the UK flagship broadcast channels BBC One and BBC Two. As Creative Director of the BBC’s new channels, Howe also directed the branding and on-air launch of the BBC’s five new commercial channels, UKTV, and the re-launch of the BBC’s new on-air corporate identity and program branding initiative.

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Movie Review: Aliens of the Deep by Lorraine Messina

2009-10-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

IMAX 3-D

Directors: James Cameron, Steven Quale

Cast: Dijanna Figueroa, Dr. Jim Childress, Dr. Anatoly Sagalevitch, Loretta Hidalgo, James Cameron

Isn’t that the coolest photo you have ever seen! If you are looking for a family friendly movie to watch on Halloween, look no more.
This movie is a continuation of Mr. Cameron’s undersea adventures this time involving scientists and a robot named Jake.

In Mr. Cameron’s view undersea exploration is like exploring space and more exciting than filming aliens in front of a green screen.
There is a lot we don’t know about the depths of the ocean and Mr. Cameron has brought along a team of experts some of whom
have worked in space to explain what they have uncovered on their exploration in Aliens of the Deep.

At times the movie is slow with researchers explaining how creatures pulled up from the depths of the ocean are examined and studied.
The most interesting video footage comes from the robot Jake. Jake was able to get up close and personal with some crustaceans that
enjoy volcano water jets and smoke. Jets hot enough to melt the windows of the submersible sub making it a very interesting underwater
Jacuzzi to watch.

I watched this movie on DVD which probably doesn’t do it justice as opposed to the IMAX experience with the 3D glasses.
The DVD does not possess bonus features and I did miss the humorous out takes that would have made the DVD more fun to watch.

Only on the big screen can you get that submersed feeling and that theater sound system that sends chills up your spine. Maybe I am
one for cheap thrills yet this movie did pass the time on a rainy afternoon and would make a nice addition at a kids Halloween party.
It is educational and does posses those creepy looking aliens.

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The Today Show with Special Guest Steve Ballmer the CEO of Microsoft

2009-10-22T14:12:00.001-07:00

A News Brief by Lorraine Messina

At the Today Show today Steve Ballmer, the CEO of Microsoft demonstrated Windows 7. The demonstration went well without any glitches. For those of you that have not been to New York City to watch the Today Show live, it is a very interesting experience. The Today Show is filmed in a TV studio located in Rockefeller Center. People in the plaza can watch the show by looking through a glass window. The studio backdrop actually rolls down at times revealing the commentators and the audience standing outside the window. In the plaza outside the studio two cameras are setup to video tape the audience.

Today Steve Ballmer was a guest. You can watch his interview on the Today Show at this link:

http://www.cultofmac.com/video-watch-steve-ballmer-intro-windows-7-on-today-show-no-bsd-unfortunately/19398

There were also some free tee shirts given away to mark the Windows 7 launch event.

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Jason Marcus: A Fresh Young Comic from Boston by Lorraine Messina

2009-10-15T15:42:00.000-07:00

He’s fast and he’s hot! Jason Marcus is a young comic from Boston, Massachusetts that has participated in several nationwide comedy contests. Recently I had the pleasure of speaking with Jason about his latest projects, his comedy and working in the entertainment field.

Lorraine:

Please tell us about your experience at the Laugh Your Asheville Off Comedy Festival.

Jason:

The LYAO Festival was the best comedy festival that I have ever participated in. The staff really knew what they were doing and they were extremely professional and supportive in every aspect of the event. They did an excellent job of promoting the shows so that the tickets were almost sold out every night and it really makes for a better performance if the comics aren’t performing in front of only other comics and industry panelists. Another thing that was head and shoulders above nearly every festival that I have done is there actually was industry present at the shows, offering advice and work for comics who did well. The LYAOF staff set all the comics up in a nicer hotel with a great discounted rate and even provided a shuttle to and from the hotel to the shows. They also had plenty of events following the festival every night to keep comics around to comfortably network and tell road stories on stage at a bar next door.

Lorraine:

What was the event like, that is, how much stage time did comics get?

Jason:

I had a blast; I drove down to Asheville with fellow comic and good friend, Sean Wilkinson. We recorded a mini travel video our adventure and of our experiences every night at the festival before and after every show. Performing on stage at the Diana Worthem Theatre was AMAZING. It was my first time ever performing in a theatre and it was intense. The place was nearly sold out every night so it would have been kind of intimidating if the festival staff and other comics hadn’t been so supportive and fun. We all got 10 minutes to do our thing and they weren’t too harsh on anyone who had gone over (and there was a bunch of them.)

Lorraine:

Who was there?

Jason:

There were so many great comics from around the country present at the festival, people I’d met at different festivals over the years in Las Vegas, New York, and Detroit as well as comics I’ve met on the road at random places. Almost everyone was outstanding; I watched every show as a huge fan of nearly everybody I saw.

Lorraine:

What positive outcome came from performing at the Festival?

Jason:

I made a lot of new friends and reconnected with a lot of old ones; I got to work with comics who are so good that it makes me feel miserably unfunny in comparison ha-ha. I even got some work out of it. Plus I got to see beautiful Asheville, North Carolina and perform in front of the biggest audience in my career to date in a beautiful theatre.

Lorraine:

Where does your comedy come from? If it is from your family background, in what way did your family influence your creative talent?

Jason:

My comedy comes from my neuroses, my irrational fears, and what I’ve seen in my real life every day. I wouldn’t call it observational humor in the same way that people describe Seinfeld’s comedy where he finds the funny in random everyday things; my comedy is more of an observation of the unfunny things about everyday life. My experiences create a broad range of topics, from racism and pro-life activists, to addressing the parallels of dating strippers and dating the prom queen. I think my family plays a huge role in my comedy, my mom is my rock and my dad is a lunatic. On top of everything, I grew up with racially mixed parents (white mother and Hawaiian father) although that never mattered inside of our home; it was a constant issue everywhere else. In a lot of ways comedy is an outlet for me to laugh about things that otherwise wouldn’t be funny at all… but that’s life I think and when you get it, it’s hilarious.

Lorraine:

How did you get started in the entertainment field? Do you have an academic background in the performing arts?

Jason:

I have always wanted to be a comic; I grew up listening to George Carlin and Richard Pryor at a really young age. I think they inspired me to try to be funny at family parties; it really was all about making the grownups laugh. I knew that if I could do that they wouldn’t think I was just a dumb kid and they’d treat me like I was one of them. That mentality and reasoning carried on with every group of people I admired all through my life. I got my first chance to perform kind of on a whim as a friend of mine was running a variety show at his college and when one of his acts dropped out, he needed to fill the time and he said, “you were always hilarious, would you want to just come in and do some standup comedy for 20 minutes” I didn’t think it would be that hard so I did it and the crowd was actually into it, I didn’t have any jokes at that time, just sad and true stories that I’d made funny by not crying as I told them. It was a rush and I was hooked. I always wonder if I would have kept doing comedy if the audience had hated me that night instead of laughing and being so cool.

Lorraine:

What are your current projects?

Jason:

Currently, I’m working on a few writing projects and trying to get on the road more. I am trying to write a feature (like everyone else in the world), I’m writing a lot of sketches, and of course I’m always writing new jokes. The feature I am writing is kind of a secret but I can tell you it’s not really a comedy... but if it is, it’s more of a dark comedy. Its one of the kind of movies that I have always hated where the good guy doesn’t necessarily win in the end and your left with same kind of feeling that is conjured up in the movie the Shawshank Redemption when Tim Robbins isn’t able to fight off “the Sisters” in the laundry room. I am also working on a series of sketches with comedian Sean Wilkinson about a former mini golf champion and his alcohol/mental illness driven fall from grace entitled, ”Booze Allen: Semi-Professional Mini golf Champion “ part 1 of 3 is already on YouTube and has been getting generally positive feedback.

Lorraine:

I hear you perform at colleges. How would you rate your material? PG 13?

Jason:

I love doing college shows! I would rate my material PG-13 but I can change the depth of my material to be cleaner or dirtier depending upon what is appropriate for the room. I do a lot of charity shows and typically it’s all the same jokes just with the “F word” taken out.

Lorraine:

What colleges have booked you? How should people contact you regarding a performance?

Jason:

I have done a lot of colleges in the New England area and as far as contacting me for bookings please contact me at Jasonmarcuscomedy@gmail.com or visit any of my social networking sites.

www.Facebook.com/jasonmarcuscomedy

www.Myspace.com/jaycomedy

www.Jasonmarcus.com

Lorraine:

What advice do you have for new comics?

Get out and get on stage as many times as you can every single night. If you live in a comedy town (Boston, Austin, Seattle, San Fran, LA, etc...) there is no excuse for you to not to be getting onstage every night as many times a night as possible in order to get better at your craft. If you don’t live in a comedy town and are serious about becoming a comic, pack your bags and move your butt to a comedy town!!! The only way to get better at comedy, the only way to become a competent comic is by performing a lot...to the point where you are the same guy/girl off stage that you are on stage. You should be really comfortable with a microphone and it’s the only way you are going to find your real voice as a comic. Comedy, like everything else takes a lot of practice and dedication. Don’t give up, try out new jokes, get a tight 7 minutes, and become a student of comedy by reading every book, article, newspaper review, or blog and go out and see live comedy as often as you can, take notes on how the greats move and keep a rhythm on stage. This should take you forever.

Lorraine:

Where are you currently performing?

Jason:

All over New England. Please visit www.myspace.com/jaycomedy for an updated schedule.

Lorraine:

Do you have a link to a video online?

Jason:

Yes.

Either //www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFR-6AFqNq4

or

//jasonmarcus.com/Media.html

Lorraine:

Visit Jason on Twitter too at:

http://twitter.com/Jason_Marcus

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Great Soup Recipe

2009-10-11T05:41:00.003-07:00

Check out this great soup recipe that will keep you warm on cold days. Mushroom Spinach Soup.

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Movie Review: Frost/Nixon by Lorraine Messina

2009-10-07T19:19:00.000-07:00

Universal Pictures

Directed by Ron Howard
Written by Peter Morgan and based on his play.

Richard Nixon: Frank Langella
David Frost: Michael Sheen
Bob Zelnick: Oliver Platt
James Reston: Sam Rockwell
Jack Brennan: Kevin Bacon
Caroline Cushing: Rebecca Hall
Swifty Lazar: Toby Jones
John Birt: Matthew Macfadyen
Pat Nixon: Patty McCormack

A great movie based on Peter Morgan’s play of the 1977 Watergate Interviews between David Frost and Richard Nixon. The performances of Richard Nixon played by Frank Langella and David Frost played by Michael Sheen were just superb. These two actors really captured the motivation behind the interviews between David Frost and Richard Nixon. I have heard that Mr. Langella asked the film crew to refer to him as “Mr. President” as a way to stay in character. A technique that definitely worked for him.

Keep in mine the movie isn’t a truly accurate representation of the interviews yet it is a very gripping movie to view and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I just love the retro décor in the movie. The movie was filmed at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and at the Nixon compound in San Clemente, California. These filming locations in the movie give the movie a realistic feel that makes viewing it such a pleasure. It really makes you feel that you seeing history created all over again.

After viewing the DVD for this movie I was fortunate to watch the actual Frost/Nixon interviews being re-broadcasted on PBS. It was a great coincidence to have the opportunity to compare the movie to the actual interviews between David Frost and Richard Nixon. The movie’s recreation of the event does do it justice. No doubt that is why the movie earned several Oscar nominations. I would highly recommend watching both the movie and the footage of the actual interviews. You can watch the real Frost/Nixon interviews at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH8qujkk3rU

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Movie Review: Julie and Julia by Lorraine Messina

2009-09-25T23:37:00.001-07:00

Columbia Pictures

Directed by Nora Ephron
Screenplay by Ephron and Julie Powell, based on her book

Julia Child: Meryl Streep
Julie Powell: Amy Adams
Paul Child: StanleyTucci
Eric Powell: ChrisMessina
Simone Beck: Linda Emond
Louise Bertholle: Helen Carey
Madame Brassart: Joan Juliet Buck
Dorothy McWilliams: Jane Lynch

Loved Meryl Streep as Julia Child in the movie Julie and Julia. The theater audience equally loved Ms. Streep’s portrayal of the famous chef. I haven’t heard so much laughter from an audience in a long time. What a trip it was to view this movie. An Oscar nod should definitely go to Ms. Streep. She just sings her way through this movie. It is so funny to watch her Julia Child mannerisms and the audience thought so too.

On the other hand Amy Adams’s portrayal of Julie Powell wasn’t so bold. Ms. Adams interpreted Julie Powell as a sweet innocent victim of an idea to get herself out of the doldrums by cooking all of Julie Child’s 524 cookbook recipes in 365 days. The whole feat Ms. Powell chronologized in an online blog. I would have liked to have seen more drama in the role. There were some blood, sweat, and tears but I think it should have been more empowering to watch
than it was.

Being a blog writer myself I can certainly identify with the long hours needed to create interesting content. I clearly could relate to this in the movie. The two hours spent watching the movie did go quickly and I didn’t find myself glancing down at my watch at all.

There were a few technical details of the movie that I wished were cleaned up. A couple times I could see the camera lights in the eye glasses worn by the actors. It shows a lack of attention to details from the technical staff but I maybe more perceptive than some people are. It’s one of those pet peeves I have. I like the movie to be real, that is, when a couple is in
a bedroom there should be no headlights shining in their eyes.

I am dating myself now, but if you use to watch the old Julia Child cooking shows as I did, this movie should delight you. It is always fun to reminisce.

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Great Laughs with Owen Smith

2009-09-16T16:59:00.000-07:00

By: Lorraine Messina

Comedian Owen Smith is sizzling in his new comedy DVD called Anonymous. Anonymous will be the featured anchor show on the new BBN Network coming this September. Owen currently writes for the TV show Everybody Hates Chris and has a pilot show in the works called The Judge Moore Show. You can see Owen perform at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles and he appears in a number of Fiber One TV commercials.

Born in Nassau, Bahamas and raised in the Washington, DC area, Owen’s unique ability to look at this rough society and still paint a clean picture has audiences gasping for air all over the country! Destined for success and longevity, this energetic 1995 Notre Dame graduate has already logged appearances on NBC’s Friday Night, BET’s Comic View,
HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, the hit ABC sitcom Cupid and Comedy Central.

Clearly one of the hottest young comics today Owen’s realistic and honest approach to comedy is very refreshing. He blends stories about himself with things that people can relate to making his take on comedy very unique.

Owen draws his comedy from his personal family experiences. When he was nine months old his parents separated and his mother took him with her to live in Maryland. Owen fondly remembers his mom telling him the very first time he ever flew on an airplane he flew first class. Definitely a sign of things to come for this young comic. Owen would visit his father in the Bahamas every summer and in his early 20’s, after graduating Notre Dame, he lived in Chicago for five years before moving to Los Angeles where he currently resides.

Owen has been in the entertainment field for over fifteen years. His advice to new comics is: “Don’t rush to success.” “Enjoy the journey.” Owen feels that the best way to success on stage is to perform a lot, record your shows, watch them,
prepare and study. Be sure to study clips from new comics as well as the great masters.

Watch Owen’s very funny videos online at:

http://www.owensmithlive.com/

http://comedians.comedycentral.com/owen-smith

Check out Owen’s web site:

http://www.owensmithisfunny.com

Become a fan of Owen’s on Facebook:

http://bit.ly/FDNLX

http://www.facebook.com/owenlol

Follow Owen on Twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/owenlol

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/owensmithtv

Purchase Owen Smith: Anonymous at Owen’s Website or on Amazon.com

http://bit.ly/LCxdC

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Movie Review: Bewitched by Lorraine Messina

2009-09-10T15:17:00.000-07:00

Sony Pictures

Director: Nora Ephron
Writer: Nora Ephron, Delia Ephron, Adam McKay
Producer: Lucy Fisher, Penny Marshall, Douglas Wick
Composer: George Fenton
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell, Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine, Jason Schwartzman,
Steve Carell

Bewitched the movie uses smoke and mirrors to recreate ABC’s hit TV series Bewitched which stared Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York (1964–1969), Dick Sargent (1969–1972), Agnes Moorehead and David White. Maybe that is a little harsh to say yet I think you will either love this movie or hate it. The movie just doesn’t have the magic of the old TV series.

Nicole Kidman plays Sam. In the movie adaptation of Bewitched Sam is portrayed as being rather naïve. Elizabeth Montgomery’s characterization of Sam was filled with more boldness and power. On the TV show Sam wasn’t afraid to stand up for what she believed in. I don’t blame Ms. Kidman for this I think she did her best with the script that was given to her.

Will Ferrell played Darrin. In the movie Darrin was portrayed as a self-centered actor not the aggressive businessman from the TV series. Like the portrayal of Sam, Darrin lacked the same empowerment that was present in the TV series.

Endora was played by Shirley MacLaine. I think this part would have been a delightful part to play in any movie yet it lacked the vitality of Agnes Moorehead’s portrayal. The magic zaps kind of fizzled. They were more like bongs. I just didn’t see Ms. MacLaine but her heart into the role. Ms. MacLaine is an extremely talented performer but this performance just got away from her. She looked beautiful in the part but her characterization of Endora lacked the evil edge that was present in the TV Series.

Overall I did like the twists in the plot toward the end of the movie. I could see that the writers tried to put their own twist on the series. It is just that too much was taken away from the original series. It needed more let’s say: “Cow Bell” to quote a famous Saturday Night Live sketch.

All smoke, mirrors and cow bells aside the movie is fun to watch with the kids.

Check out this link on YouTube for Bewitched the TV Series: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgncLPRLd2E

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A Very Beautiful Book - Satellites Mistaken for Stars

2009-08-31T16:50:00.001-07:00

Understanding the poetical potential of a refined everyday occurrence. Describing a disbelief in a fixed balance of power, normative aesthetics, and hierarchical contemplative concepts by taking a position and documenting a process of changing values.

Objective elements with a translocated place of abstraction are extracted from the immediately visible. Intersubjectivity and metalayers avoiding a one-dimensional easy meaning, but offering a set of viewpoints instead. Giving up the distance represented by the artificial differentiation of marketable, selfsatisfied image-building in order to establish an open discourse regardless of the risk of being vulnerable. Activating the recipients, heightening their sense of awareness, and offering involvement and differentiation in order to shape an identity through friction with the surrounding system. Simple, open results animate the viewer to proceed further with a more complicated interrogation. Omissions raise new questions. Noise, superimpositions, failures and misunderstandings, disturbances, errors, interruptions, resonances, corrections, breaks, encroachments, details, notes, bits and pieces, details and space, emptiness, and silence delineate a relational system of de- and recontextualisations.

Apparently unimportant everyday elements and processes, perfectly integrated into our daily life, adopted and completely assimilated, become banal. Changing the encoding, or else the context, will bring them back into our field of vision. The construction of a subjective system by processing the external influences through deconstruction and exclusion and by suspending and breaking down relationships or establishing different ones. Interpretation and resignification. Varying of the existing rather than heading for the new. An amalgamation of the seemingly contradictory — of coinciding states, a transformation of stagnation into a movement: the moment of change. Shapes interact and react with each other. Individual parts create a new coherence that is visualised by adhering, judging, or simply dealing with it. Establishing a plan of action through a re-politicisation of micro processes: everything is equally important. At the same time, everything could also be different. The definite is obvious and therefore uninteresting. Things are not completely ascertainable through rational logic but are probably already outlined by means of a certain intuitiveness. Confusion, deficiencies, and surprises are weaved into the process as errors, interferences, patterns, and routines and imply an addition of concrete meaning. Contexts, conflicts, and confrontations spark images and impulses that are affected by the viewer’s imagination and personal experiences. The pictures remain transient, intermediate results of the development, as fields of possibility; so absorbing them constitutes a continuance and reprocessing.

Alexander Egger

Explaining someone’s output on the basis of a biography would be short-sighted, ineffective, delusive, and wouldn’t do justice to the variability of life and its complex conditions. A set of completely insignificant random facts: Alexander Egger lived the first third of his life on the Italian side of the Alps in a little village where Ezra Pound used to spend his summer holidays. In his childhood Alexander was found playing with building bricks suspiciously often and spent time researching the life of ants while sitting for hours on a milk can in the middle of the street. He was truly impressed when he saw the sea for the very first time at the age of eighteen. He can’t drive even though he has got a driving license, doesn’t like eating, especially not vegetables, and likes people sometimes. He is not easily impressionable, but can fall in love with certain incidental gestures which are not intended for anyone at all. Shyness and discontentment with his own inadequacies provide him a strong driving force.

In 1995 he went to Milan, Italy, and created, among other objects, a number of dustbins. He met quite a few interesting bands there just before their first big album releases. He is still convinced of being personally responsible for their lack of commercial success because of the album covers he designed for them, yet he continues to believe design must never be art. He went to Vienna in 1998, where he still frequently steps in dog shit because of his habit of walking about with his head in the clouds. He stumbled into the advertising business by mistake. Two years later he started working for Nofrontiere as art director and later on as head of the design department. He is presently working in a variety of media on a range of cultural and commercial projects for either very small or very large clients. He plays music with the band “ Waiting for J.“ and started the record label “Arm the Lonely“ in 2006 to establish a platform for sounds conceived to occur in banal surroundings. His work has been published in international magazines and books and has had exposure on every continent but Antarctica during the last year.

Satellites Mistaken for Stars

Design and Concept: Alexander Egger

22 x 27,5 cm

180 pages

4 c

Softcover

29,80 Euro (D)

30,80 (AT)

ISBN: 978-3-940393-16-6

www.rupapublishing.com

An Interview with Comedienne Susan Alexander

2009-08-27T16:43:00.000-07:00

By Lorraine Messina

NYC Friars Roaster and host/creator of 5 Funny Females national tour, Susan Alexander, brings her Singles Who Mingles show to Gotham Comedy Club. The first part of the show features a variety of comedians from TV, festivals and national tours.

Location: Gotham Comedy Club
Address: 208 West 23rd Street, NY , NY 10011
Date/Time: Wednesday, September 30th @ 8 PM (arrive by 7:30 PM)

Recently I had the opportunity to talk to Susan about her show and how she got started in comedy. Susan has a degree in Journalism from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1993. She has worked as a sales and marketing executive in media and worked with a top video game company for eight years. After the DOT com companies went bust Susan wanted to do something creative and started to work as a stand-up Comic in San Francisco. During her years in San Francisco her passion for comedy increased and she wanted to experience making people laugh more and more. Susan's advice to young comics is that they must become an entrepreneur and create their own path in comedy.

To keep up with Susan and her events please visit her websites at:

http://www.susanalexandershow.com/
http://www.5funnyfemales.com/
http://www.singleswhomingle.com

MySpace

http://www.myspace.com/5funnyfemales
http://www.myspace.com/susanalexandershow

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=717335828

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Another Amusing Word Book

2009-08-19T02:36:00.000-07:00

Does Tony Blair speak differently from the rest of us?

What might Iggle Piggle tell us about how children learn language?

How many words do we know and how fast do we talk?

What does your doctor mean by UBI or TEETH – and do you really want to know?

Professor Vivian Cook addresses these and hundreds of other wordy issues in It’s All in A Word – a delightful guide to the wonders of words.

Discover the theojollylogical joys of infixation. Find out if you’re a charva, what it means to be nithered, and how to hoy. Delve into the hidden nature of words. Consider how they’re born, why they change, and how they die. Learn about the words that are never spoken and others that don’t get written, and how children learn English in the first place.

It’s All In A Word shows how English has romped across the world, from America (where men wear suspenders and display their pants without looking like Superman) to Singapore - world-renowned for its makan (food) – to West Africa where a hot drink may make you a little tipsy. There are fascinating differences between regions too - where in the UK is a butty a chum and a jetty an alleyway?

As Aldous Huxley put it, ‘words are magical in the way they affect the minds of those who use them’. Here is a book that shares that word-magic – a must for word-lovers of all ages, from a yaar (friend) to your gogo (grandma).

www.profilebooks.com | www.serpentstail.com

Follow the latest Profile news on twitter.com/profilebooks

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An Interview with Comedienne Linda Smith by Lorraine Messina

2009-08-13T17:15:00.001-07:00

You may know Linda Smith from her stand-up comedy routines, comedy classes, or her comedy writing. She has received three Emmy nominations as a staff writer for The Rosie O’Donnell Show. Recently I had the opportunity to interview Linda. It was a pleasure speaking to Linda. She is a very funny and truthful woman.

Linda’s current projects are teaching private comedy writing lessons, providing stand-up comedy coaching, or teaching comedy classes. Her comedy classes are held in New York City at Caroline’s Comedy Club and the Manhattan Comedy School.

During Linda’s three years of teaching stand-up comedy she has had the opportunity to coach a lot of CEOs. She says humor of course creates sales and she would like to teach more classes to business executives. She is pursuing doing more business coaching in the corporate sector. The comics she has coached are not without there own successes. Recently a pupil of hers received a review in the New York Times.

For people interested in Linda’s services but do not live locally to New York City, Vocation Vacation offers a two day vacation with Linda in which you will receive eight hours of coaching a day for two days and a spot in a show. For more information, visit their web site at: vocationvacations.com/DreamJobHolidays/linda-smith.php

One question I especially wanted to ask Linda was how Reality TV is affecting the employment opportunities of comedy writers and comics. Linda’s advice is to write material for Cable TV, commercials, acts or shows. Linda says: “There isn’t as much opportunity in TV any more”. She says that comics are doing a lot of club acts now.

Linda enjoys teaching and would be happy to discuss her services with any one that is interested. She does offer free seminars about getting into the comedy business at the Caroline’s Comedy Club in New York City.

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