Have a great one and stay safe!!!
December 31, 2009
December 29, 2009
December 26, 2009
Comedy Movie Online… from College Humor
I’m keeping it light this week with a new comedy movie online…
I just acted in a promotional video for my college and I have to say that it was nothing like this one from the folks at College Humor:
December 24, 2009
My Picks for Movies Coming out on Christmas
When I’m with my family for the holidays, we often go out to see a movie or two…
Here is IMDB’s Holiday Movie Guide!
I’m especially excited about…
It’s Complicated (I like romantic comedies and has great cast and love Nancy Meyers who is directing/producing/writing )
Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr. rocks and it looks exciting)
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (with the late Heath Ledger)
December 22, 2009
Happy Holidays!
I celebrate Yule, so today I’m posting my Happy Holidays to you this season!
Whatever you celebrate, I wish you great fun and joyful times with friends and loved ones!

Happy Holidays!
December 19, 2009
And Speaking of New Comedy Online… The Jersey Shore (MTV)

The Jersey Shore on MTV
Or maybe I just heard about it because, while not being guido (or guidette), I am from Jersey (and New York) and I am Italian.
But it seems to be making a lot of hooplah and I can see why…
Aside from it just being outrageous in its portrayal of Italians and New Jerseyites, MTV’s The Jersey Shore brings up a lot of social questions such as “Is it ok for a population to use derogatory terms, such as guido, in a positive way when it’s self-referential? Does it negate the negative connotation of the term eventually? Is it ok because they are proud they embody the characteristics the term suggests?”
Many people are comparing this to the conversation of African Americans using the N word.
So I should totally hate this show, right?
Um… well sometimes I do, but most of the time I find it quite fun to watch.
Sorry for not being all P.C., but if I laugh out loud a few times during a show, I will watch it again…
And, to be honest, I have seen girls and guys like these at the Jersey Shore when I hang out there in the summer.
And I don’t judge them. It’s just not my style. (And I give them credit, because a lot of them are in really great physical shape.)
But still can resist looking through a comedic lens. Or find others looking at things through a comedic lens…
So here is Bobby Bottleservice’s audition tape for next season at The Jersey Shore:
And here are a few more articles about MTV’s The Jersey Shore:
Paul Farhi on Pop Culture: MTV’s ‘Jersey Shore and the guido controversy
Another day at the ‘Jersey Shore’; MTV staff receives threats, advertisers bolt
MTV ‘Jersey Shore’ sucker punch pulled from show: ‘Snooki’ seen in Los Angeles
PS to Actors: Being on a reality TV show is NOT how to become an actor. (Unless you are Bobby Bottleservice.) Well, I have one friend that turned his stardom in reality TV into an ok career, but generally, you will always be known in the public as that guy on __________ (insert name of reality show here).
December 17, 2009
New Comedy Movie Online at Vegas 1404: “C.B.S.”
I’m stoked because I got an Executive Producer credit for this new comedy movie from Vegas 1404, AND had a cameo. YAY!
I give you “C.B.S.”:
The team at Vegas 1404 are getting better and better at making these films.
I have similar feedback to the other ones they’ve made, which you can view at the Vegas 1404 Website…
- Should be shorter & comedy needs to be faster…
- Audio levels are uneven, but there was much less audio “hiss” than in the other ones, so that’s good!
Great Job and keep them coming, Vegas 1404!
PS: ATTENTION… If you are a production person that is in Las Vegas on December 27 and/or 28th, Vegas 1404 is having a mixer! Here’s the info:
WHEN: December 27, 3pm – 5pm
December 28, 10am – Noon
WHERE: It’s a Grind Coffee Shop, 8470 W. Desert Inn Road, Las Vegas, NV 89117 (www.itsagrind.com)
THEY ARE ESPECIALLY LOOKING FOR PRODUCTION PEOPLE AT ALL LEVELS!
And as a side note… (in alignment with the general M.O. of this blog) Vegas 1404 started without any production people and as they have continued to create more and more projects, they have acquired more and more help. That is the power of action and the power of momentum and I highly commend them for that. This is a great group to get involved with, and if you’re in town, I recommend you check it out.
December 15, 2009
December 13, 2009
New York Music Event: Hillary Step @ Caffé Vivaldi on 12/15 & NEW song!
I posted an event in Los Angeles a couple days ago, so I figured I would pass on another event for those of you on the Right Coast (as opposed to the Left Coast)
I have been a fan of the Hillary Step for over 10 years and they are playing out this week! I regularly play them on my radio show on KJAK and am very excited because they will be releasing a new album soon! I will not be in town, but I highly recommend you check them out if you are in New York on the 15th!
When: Tuesday, December 15th @ 8:15 in the PM
Who: The Hillary Step – Rob Schiffmann & Jon Rothstein
Where: Caffé Vivaldi, 32 Jones St. (Bleecker, near 7th Av), New York City
How to get there: 1 to Christopher Street or A,B,C,D,E, F, V to West 4th Street
Here’s their message:
Ladies & Gentlemen, Friends and Family, Gig Card Holders and Future Gig Card Holders,
A chilly midweek greetings from The Hillary Step! Although the ‘cold’ tends to be an excellent (if somewhat overused) songwriting metaphor for emotional distance and inner angst, ultimately, it’s just a pain in the most annoying of places. We hope you are having good and warm days.
This coming Tuesday, December 15th @ 8:15 in the PM, The Hillary Step will be performing at Caffé Vivaldi…that’s an extra ‘F’ for extra “Funk” or ‘Fun’ or ‘Freshnocity” (depending on your personal taste). Caffé Vivaldi is located at 32 Jones St.. There ain’t no cover charge…just a tip jar. So bring your tippy-tips! Along for the ride on this gig will be Greg Hopkins jinglin’ the 6-string, Ale Devries poundin’ the skins and Rachel Dart singin’ the pretties and shakin’ the shakies. Special guest Annie Schiffmann will chime in on a ditty or two as well.
If you have your Gig Card, make sure to bring it to get your second hole punched. Did that sound weird? If you have not already been given a Gig Card, come to this show and you will get your own personal Gig Card with one of five holes punched in it! Once you get to five holes punched, you will get a free Hillary Step show in the location of your choosing for you and your friends / family / pets / neighbors / appliances.
LASTLY, to tease your Hillary Step desires, we have posted another preview of a song, from our upcoming CD, on our website / facebook / myspace. The song is called “Well Anyway” and features lyrics which include the above-mentioned songwriting metaphor. See if you can spot it. Check out the tune and email us with a comment!
See you all on Tuesday @ the slightly odd time of 8:15pm!
Rob & Jon
The Hillary Step
P.S. We’re on Twitter now, too, so…follow us!!!
December 11, 2009
Los Angeles Networking: Six Degrees of Entertainment and Silverlake Film, Music, TV & New Media Holiday Party!
I received this invitation from my friend Ruby Lopez. She and I did several Flash Forwards (along with a number of other Suzanne Lyon’s workshops).
I will not be in Los Angeles on the 15th, so I will not be able to attend, but I figured I would pass it on to you, my readers.
I think a lot of Flash Forward alums are going to show up, and if so, this is definitely worth going to. All the people I met through FF are wonderful and very good at networking and being strategic about their careers.
If you go, have fun and post your experiences here in the comments section!
DATE: TUESDAY, DEC. 15, 2009
LOCATION: THE BUNGALOW CLUB — MELROSE
7174 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles CA 90046
Phone: 323-964-9494
TIME: 7pm to 10pm
NO COVER CHARGE
(RSVP deadline: December 15, 2009 4:00 PM)
http://www.meetup.com/Six-Degrees-of-Entertainment/
Six Degrees is about networking with other professionals in the Film, TV, Music and New Media industries. Everything in entertainment is interrelated. You could be a director looking for an actor, agent or composer for your movie. Or a producer looking for a web marketing expert for a webisode. Or a screenwriter looking for an agent or manager. Come and join us in our monthly meetup events and meet other industry professionals in a fun, casual setting.
FYI: There’s street parking if you get there early. Otherwise, there’s valet.
Looking forward to seeing you there! Please rsvp and bring as many guests as you want.
Thank you! Happy Holidays!
FYI: I’ve extended the invitation to two additional industry related meetup groups. So, it’s sure to be a great turnout!


