Happy New Years!!!!
Posted by Leslie on December 31, 2009 | No comments
Have a great one and stay safe!!!
Happy 2010!
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“Ten Steps to Wrapping up 2009…and Giving Yourself the best Holiday Ever!”
Posted by Leslie on December 29, 2009 | No comments
It is tremendously helpful to start the new year with a clean slate and I, in some way or another, usually go through my previous year and review all that has happened, all the successes I have achieved, where it has left me at the end of the year, and, most importantly, where I am headed in the next year.
I have done many different systems that all work well, depending on the sort of mind frame I am in and the sort of experience I see myself having in the new year.
Suzanne Lyons runs a workshop in December called Launching the Future, and though the even has already passed, here is a message from Suzanne on how to get “complete” with the previous year, so that you may step into 2010 full steam ahead and with all of your energy moving toward what you want to achieve.
“Ten Steps to Wrapping up 2009…and Giving Yourself the best Holiday Ever!” by Suzanne Lyons
1) Take a thorough serious look at your year. Go through your calendar, day timer, diary, etc. See where you are out of communication, out of touch, and out of integrity with colleagues, family and friends. Make a complete list.
2) Take your list and write up what you would need to do or say to clean things up (to be complete). I am not saying that you have to take the actions. You can take the actions if you want to, but often just the act of acknowledging what is incomplete will have it disappear.
3) Go back through your year and take note of all the projects, areas and anything from your “To Do” list that is incomplete or unfinished.
4) Take this list and write out what actions you could take to be finished or be complete. It is up to you whether or not you take the actions, but once again in order to be complete with 2009 it is important to take note of the above and acknowledge what is left unfinished.
5) Accomplishments: Now it’s time to brag! I love this part. Go through your year again and this time make a list of all of your accomplishments…no matter how small you think some of them might be. All too often we focus on what’s wrong, what we didn’t get done or what we should have done. So now I want you to focus on everything you accomplished. Claim it! Be proud of it! Take joy and pleasure in it!
6) Acknowledgment: There are two sides to this one. Giving and receiving. Both are very important and both are missing in our culture. And it is all part of being complete. In all of 2009, what would you like to be acknowledged for. For example, “I would like to be acknowledged for sticking to my weekly exercise program.” Write out a list of all the things you want to be acknowledged for and share it with a friend. Perhaps you could have a friend or family member do the exercise so you can share your lists with each other. A friend of mine, with her family, does the accomplishment and acknowledgment lists every Christmas. Wow!
7) Acknowledging others: Who do you want to acknowledge? Make a list and include the acknowledgement in your holiday cards, calls and emails. Acknowledge not only what they did, but also who they are for you and the difference they have made in your life.
Expectations: A friend of mine once said that “human beings are walking expectations just waiting to be unfulfilled”. So that said, what about going into the holiday with your friends and family with absolutely no expectations at all! Just allow them to do what they do and be who they be and have no reaction. Just keep falling in love with them over and over again no matter what. Wouldn’t that be a fun adventure to take on for the holidays?
9) Appreciation and Gratitude: There is a great quote by Melody Beattie where she says that “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Create a list of all the wonderful things you appreciate and are grateful for. Come up with at least 50! Look at this list everyday and keep adding to it.
10) Contribution: Since this is the season for giving, the greatest gift you can give is yourself….your time, your love, your kind words, your ongoing commitment to be an example for humanity…bringing excitement, possibility, joy, love and passion to everything you do and everyone you touch!
(BTW, I recommend you sign up for Suzanne Lyon’s newsletter by going to her website!)
Comedy Movie Online… from College Humor
Posted by Leslie on December 26, 2009 | No comments
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:
My Picks for Movies Coming out on Christmas
Posted by Leslie on December 24, 2009 | No comments
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)
Happy Holidays!
Posted by Leslie on December 22, 2009 | No comments
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!
And Speaking of New Comedy Online… The Jersey Shore (MTV)
Posted by Leslie on December 19, 2009 | No comments
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).
Happy 50th Anniversary to The Second City!
Posted by Leslie on December 15, 2009 | No comments
The Second City
In case you were not aware, some of the greatest comedians of our time were gathered in Chicago this weekend to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Second City…
Second City is considered the Harvard of comedym and almost everyone involved in comedy for the past 35 years is an alum or is in some way related to the famous comedy school.
(For example, I studied improv in New York at Chicago City Limits, which is an offshoot of Second City.)
Anyway, it’s exciting and it must have been quite a fun party!
You can see pictures from the event if you become a fan of their Facebook Page…
An NPR article states:
“From the beginning, The Second City has always been an unparalleled incubator of talent, launching the careers of a who’s who of Hollywood, television and Saturday Night Live stars: Alan Arkin, Paul Sand, Barbara Harris, Fred Willard, Robert Klein, Peter Boyle, Joan Rivers, Harold Ramis, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Eugene Levy, Tim Kazurinsky, Mary Gross, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas, Martin Short, George Wendt, Shelly Long, Bonnie Hunt, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Tim Meadows, Steve Carell, Steven Colbert, Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Horatio Sanz and many, many more.”
Here is the link to the rest of the article from NPR on the Second City 50th Anniversary Celebration.
New York Music Event: Hillary Step @ Caffé Vivaldi on 12/15 & NEW song!
Posted by Leslie on December 13, 2009 | No comments
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!!!
Los Angeles Networking: Six Degrees of Entertainment and Silverlake Film, Music, TV & New Media Holiday Party!
Posted by Leslie on December 11, 2009 | No comments
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!
New Moon… New Post: Review of 2nd movie in Twilight Saga
Posted by Leslie on November 28, 2009 | No comments
I’ve been a little out of commission due to the holidays and my computer being on the fritz…
So I apologize for the inconsistent posts.
Quick question…
Did you see New Moon yet? How did you like it? I have to say that I was looking forward to it even though, from a cinematic point of view, I didn’t really like the first one.
I just saw the 2nd one at Arclight yesterday and I liked it better but there needed to be more action scenes and I feel my cousin said it best by summarizing the movie as being about “a bunch of people who couldn’t make up their minds.”
And they held many of the shots too long. Like the one of Bella being angsty by sitting in a chair for 3 months.
Yep… It felt like 3 months alright.
I know this sounds like a typically cocky director thing to say, but I think I could have done a better job and I feel many of the directors I know could have done a better job.
But I’m still hooked on the story, despite the “he loves me… he loves me not” oscillations of all the characters.
Please tell me the books have more to them than that.
Oh, and I’m Team Jacob. I liked Robert Pattinson in Harry Potter, but he’s weird in Twilight, and it’s not just the Vampire thing. I think he’s Robert Pattinson acting out James Dean acting out Edward. Weird.
Twilight Saga; New Moon
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