Barzhini! Tonya's Brainchild

I've been lucky enough to meet with brilliant and beautiful Tonya Hall a few times lately for talk and yummy food.  It's about time I wrote about it. Besides many, many (many, many, many) other topics, we discussed Whole Wheat Treats, LLC (i.e. Sean and Marshall), teenage prodigies of the video world.  (See past blog entries on Barzhini commercials).  I was educated on the fact that Sean and Marshall are part of Barzhini and actually work for Tonya.  Lucky guys! 

Barzhini, a company based on the idea that social media such as Twitter and Facebook possess the power to pass along information and ideas at a more rapid rate than traditional mediums and therefore make for a fabulous way to promote, is not afraid to take gifted young people and give them an opportunity to prove themselves.  That might seem like a gamble, but in Tonya's case, she feels the odds are very much in her favor when it comes to her hand-picked team.  I agree!

Another quality of Tonya's is the personal touch.  Meetings with Tonya are never boring and they always begin and end with a hug.  You have to love that.  In my opinion, they are how all meetings should be.  How much more productive would you be if your boss began each meeting with a truly genuine inquiry into your life and passions, passed along a little praise, then got down to business while you both enjoyed something delicious?  This method should be passed along...  Spread the word.

I'm adding Tonya to my list of people I both admire and consider my friend.  I've linked her website to this blog, so check it out!  Click here.  Yes, now!  And no, she didn't ask or pay me to say any of this.  :) 

        

P.S. Tonya, I hope you don't mind that I swiped the photo from your website.  Want to do lunch?  

Barzhini Commercial Shoot, Part Deux

I have no excuse for the length of time it has taken me to post this. Sorry!  With that out of the way, I'll tell you about our fearless leaders (pictured above with Troy).  Whole Wheat Treats, LLC is the dynamic duo of Sean and Marshall.  They are EIGHTEEN.  I know I was surprised!  I believe it was their professionalism on set that led me to believe they had to be in their late 20s.

As they day progressed, we all got to know each other a little bit better--possibly too well.  It was about the time I mentioned I write a blog about my modeling (and apparently now acting) and writing experiences while we were all helping ourselves to the free pizza that questions about exactly WHAT I put in the blog came up.  It was about that time that Mark Bittle, fellow actor and all-around fun guy started asking me for his business card back.  I counted at least five other requests after that one.  You're not getting it back, Mark!  Hopefully you've come to terms with that.  :)  No worries, guys.  Your secrets (and random bits of personal information) are safe with me.

Mark

I was a little jealous of Troy who didn't originally have a single line.  His impromptu line may or may not be in the final cut.  We'll all soon see.  I'm all about the acting, if only memorization didn't come into play so often...  It takes a great actor to pull off a screen presence with sheer movements and facial expressions.  Hats off to Troy.

I also has the chance to meet the lovely women of Barzhini.  Tonya and friends were fantastically supportive, although nearly invisible as they stayed out of Marshall and Sean's way.  As some of our scenes were all over the place, that move was probably a very wise one. 

What a great experience--I don't regret for a minute answering that casting call.  I miss you guys!

Note:  My aplogizes to Troy, whom I've been calling Eric.  Not really sure why... I'm sure there were deep psychological reasons.   :)     

  

    

Filming Day for Barzhini or A Day in the Life of Celebrities

I can't say I was expecting filming day to be quite so... entertaining.  I always expect to make new friends and hopefully do a good job, but I actually miss my pretend company of incompetent indiots.  We all arrived a couple hours early to allow the beautiful Kelly to make us all pretty with her ten pound case of Mac.  It's quite fun to watch men get their makeup on--they look so uncomfortable.  Except for AC and Denim, that is--our seasoned actors who act like having someone put makeup on them is what they do every day.  Maybe it is.

Our fearless leaders had some impressive looking equipment and let me do the filming once they realized I had a natural talent for it.  (See photo for proof).  It was difficult to both film and act in the commercials, but I pulled it off.  Alright, Santa (AKA Denim), snapped a photo of me behind the camera when no one else was looking.  I could've done it though.

Denim Pete delivered his lines with gusto and looked like he was meant to sit at the head of the conference table.  I stayed focused and stopped laughing at all the men long enough to stumble through my two lines.  I'm going to blame the two and a half hours of sleep I got the night before for my absolute loss of the power of memory.  I'm lucky, actually, to be remembering enough to write this blog.  What was I saying?

AC and Austin were the perfect duo and fought like best friends in fifth grade.  They made acting dashingly juvenile look easy.  Oh, wait, maybe it is...  My BFF Tucker was BRILLIANT at sleeping on the job, but really shone during the scene when everyone tries to get away from posessed me.  It was the thumb-sucking that really brought the whole scene together.  I didn't get to actually see it all, as my eyes were rolling up in my head at that time, but I saw clips later.  Hilarious!!! 

I'll leave it there for now.  I'm off to Vail for a shoot and haven't actually finished packing yet.  I should do that.  Stay tuned for all about Troy, the strong and silent and Mark who keeps asking for his business card back....

  

Vegas Hotel #2--The Encore--ooooo, shiny

Hotel #2 is the Encore by Wynn.  Last time I was in Vegas, it didn't exist, so I am quite excited to explore somewhere brand-spanking new.  Any ideas for hotel #3?  I am presently leaning towards the Mirage or possibly Bellagio or Caesar's Palace.  The hotels that didn't make the list are:  Mandalay Bay for a subpar remodel, the Luxor, Excalibur and all those like it because although they are fine, they're not in the luxury category, and New York, New York for noise (or thin walls combined with constant screaming from the roller coaster outside).  I LOVE roller coasters, but not having a room next to one.  :)  I didn't include the Signature at MGM or the Venetian this time for my own reasons, but just an FYI if you don't already know--both of those hotels are absolutely wonderful and I highly recommend them.  If you have a favorite, please pass it along!    

Vegas, Baby!

I'm finalizing plans for a luxury in Las Vegas series due to be published in April for Examiner.com.  I will be reporting on Trump International Hotel and possibly the Mirage and MGM.  Erin McCleskey of SK+G has been my liason for Trump.  Her professionalism has been so very appreciated!  When I decide and make final arrangements for the other two hotels, you, Dear Reader, will be the first to know. 

Don't you just LOVE Vegas?  I don't think there is another place on earth that has so much to do in such a small geographical area.  I will definitely be reporting on at least one Cirque Du Soleil show, possibly O at the Bellagio.  If you are a Vegas-lover as well, write to me with your favorite hot spots/shows/cuisine and I will try my best to check them out.   

redwriteandedit@hotmail.com

Goodnight!

Script Reading Tonight

Tonight, all of us famous actors gathered to read through the Barzhini script for filming on Friday.  It was a fun group--very diverse.  Of course by diverse, I mean as diverse as a group of white males could be.  I am the only woman.  The filming is not one commercial, but sevenish thirty second spots.  My character, Janet, has only two lines (nice).  Janet, does, however:

*become possessed

*levitate

*fall drunkenly to the floor and

*die

I'm going to have fun with this. 

Upcoming Broadmoor Story/Getting Ready to Film

Ivy Canady (very nice and helpful) has just sent me my itinerary for my percursory stay to my upcoming series of stories on the Broadmoor, Colorado Springs.  I've always loved that hotel.  I stayed there once a long time ago, but not with an eye for a story.  I'm ready to discover it again!  I will be touring the hotel in the middle of next month, so please look for the stories at the end of March.

The mezzanine--Gorgeous!

In modeling/acting news, I have a script read tomorrow evening, then filming on Friday for my first commercial.  I plan on bringing my camera and if allowed, will post a behind-the-scenes look.  Should be fun!!!

       

The Joy of Commercials/My Audition 2/11/2010

I've had yet another brand new experience today.  I auditioned for a Kodak commercial.  This time I had to prepare a monologue with a day's notice.  I found the perfect one--a piece from Oscar Wilde's, "An Ideal Husband."  I chose Mabel's speech about Tommy.  Mabel is an adorably self-absorbed character whose main interest is to get Tommy (who proposes to her daily) to propose louder in order to attract more attention.  She often gets distracted and find herself on long tangents.  I found myself perfect for the part. :)  My favorite couple of lines from the play:

"Musical people are so absurdly unreasonable. They always want one to be perfectly dumb at the very moment when one is longing to be absolutely deaf." 

I did manage to memorize the monologue perfectly this morning, but, unfortunately, that is about the only part of the day that went well.  I am badly in need of new pants.  However, my size is not very common and absurdly hard to find.  So, I wore a new pair that are about two miles too long.  I thought I could make up for this by wearing my boots with the two inch heels, but that didn't quite do the trick.  I made do last minute by pinning them in places.  I nearly died when the gaps got stuck on my stillettos.  As I was going to be late (gasp--can't have that), I painted my nails in the car. 

Arriving slightly early, I answered a few texts then went inside.  The husband and wife production team duo was very nice and had I not been preoccupied with trying not to fall and die, I may have done a good job on camera.  Well, we'll see.  Don't hold your breath for this one!  Although miracles do happen...  I did arrive early, after all.

Afterwards I needed retail therapy to put a smile back on my face, so I headed to the Cherry Creek Mall.  I had forgotten what an absolutely fantastic place that is!  I hit Neiman Marcus, Saks and Juicy Couture with enough time to get back to Colorado Springs and pick up my pumpkin from Kindergarten.  I think I'll write a piece for Examiner on overnights in the Cherry Creek area with a focus on shopping.  Yum.

 

Barzhini Commercials, Casting Calls and Cambria Suites

The Barzhini casting call a week or so ago was a first for me.  I have never done any acting except for in high school and even then, not in an actual production, just an "easy A" class.  Or so I thought.  Acting is not easy (at least not for me! Lesson #1 re-learned for the day).  Neither is modeling, which requires a lot of acting.  It can't matter if you're exhausted/ hormonal/swamped with work/dealing with relationship issues/dealing with a naughty, but adorable five-year-old at home who flatly REFUSES to go to bed before 2 am, etc.  On camera you need to be whatever the photographer (or director, I suppose) envisions for the project, i.e. most likely the opposite of whatever you are at the moment.

The day of the audition I was perfectly happy and I'm sure it showed.  I hear I smile a lot.  I was handed a monologue to cold-read from and told I could read it over first.  I did, but only enough to get the basic gist--I was reading something having to do with a parent and child in a crowd.  I really should have read a bit more! (Lesson #2 for the day).  I gave the camera my best smile and read with feeling.  Halfway through, it dawned on me that I was reading about the Holocaust.  So, smiling was probably not the way to go.  Oops.  I felt utter despair was a little too much of a jump from happy-go-lucky to attempt mid-sentence, so I opted for "grave concern."

Yesterday I received my part for the commercial.  I am "Janet," a businesswoman who smiles too much and whose emotions seem forced.  I have a suspicion the part may have been written just for me. :)

Tomorrow I have another casting call in Denver for another commercial with a different company.  I have to prepare a monologue.  As I have no aspirations (delusions) of Broadway, I think this time I'll go with something, well,... lighthearted.

I just wrote my first not-so-glowing report for Examiner.com.  It's not that I don't like Cambria Suties, I do--the value is fantastic and how many budget hotels have nice decor?  That matters to me!  I just felt I needed to mention the fact that the rooms are the same, everywhere.  Now why would they do that?  Surely, they see the allure of a little variety?  Hopefully I didn't hurt any feelings or get myself banned for life...

Click here to read the story.

If you have any comments or story suggestions (for travel writing.  I have enough for my life), please write to me at redwriteandedit@hotmail.com.  I would love to hear from you!

              

TV Commercial

OMG, I got the part.  Well, this ought to be interesting.  Feel free to wish me luck!

Teatro Hotel Photo Shoot

Yesterday was the photo shoot at the lovely Teatro Hotel in downtown Denver.  I met my photographer, Roy Daniel, marketing guy David, and fellow models for the upcoming Vail shoot, Randi and Alex.  What a great group!  The atmosphere was relaxed, friendly, collaborative and just fun.  This is how all shoots should be.  On the down side, I wasn't aware valet parking was free for the shoot and I parked in the garage across the street.  That wouldn't have been a big deal except for the fact that I brought as much of my closet as would fit in my ginormous suitcase (of course Randi's super cute continent-sized polka dot suitcase outweighed mine).  I'm not going to lie--my upper body strength is somewhat lacking.  I had to stop to breathe a few times on the trip down the one hundred and ten flights of stairs and nintey miles down the street to the hotel.  Oooo, baby, the suite was nice though.  Associated with the fine arts center, authentic costumes are framed on the walls as well as photos from productions.  It's just too bad the hotel didn't deem an overnight necessary.  Hopefully, I gathered enough info to to do a writing piece for Examiner. 

The Vail shoot is three weeks away--whoo hoo!  :)

Casting Call Today

Today I have a casting call for a TV commercial.  I have mixed feelings about this--I got a mercy C in Drama in high school.  I model--I don't act!  You're probably thinking, why go then?  I've been thinking the same thing.  :)  I guess I'm going for the new experience.

On a related topic, I just got two new photos from my last photo shoot.  It was located in the dirt and weeds in the middle of nowhere, but it was worth it.  I'm always happy to get shots that show a little of my personality. 

   

Vista Verde Day Two

Where to start for day two?  I woke up feeling as serene as I think I've ever felt before.  The large windows in the vaulted ceilings gave me a panoramic view of the white world outside.  It snowed almost the whole time and that morning was no exception.  In a word--it was beautiful. 

The day began with yummy breakfast.  Chef Rob (whom I met later) makes everything from scratch--everything.  I think he should make and package his granola.  It would make a fortune.  I talked quite a bit with my favorite dining room staff member--Sallie from Alabama.  I didn't realize that places in Colorado are always as wintery as Steamboat and she thought that all of Colorado was covered in snow for a good part of the year.  Imagine that.  After breakfast was the highlight of my trip--horseback riding lessons.  Being the citified city girl of cities that I am, I honestly didn't think I'd do very well, but I'm always up for a new experience.  It was, after all, my idea.  Liam went first on his cute little horse.  His sensitive nose was obviously in overdrive--he held it clamped shut for the first hour.  Erik, who had taken care of him the night before during adults-only dinner, led him around on the horse, then did circles in the arena in a motorized cart with him in the passenger seat.  I could tell he really, really liked Erik because he actually spoke to him after a while.  I think I even caught a smile on his adorable little white face.  (Liam's :)).  

My horse was D.B.  I had a close friend in high school named D.B., which stood for Darling Boy.  I have no idea if the acronyms are the same, but the horse was darling, for sure.  He must have liked me as I didn't get bucked off and he did everything I asked him to do.  When I got off and held the lead, he nuzzled me.  Awwwwww!  I've never been an animal person, but I wanted to take D.B. home.  Brian's horse decided he was done near the end and flatly refused to cooperate.  Frustrating for him--funny to me.  My biggest surprise of the day--riding horses is WORK.  I still ache and have new respect for the most boring of movie genres--the western.  Our teacher, Terry, will go to cowboy heaven for his incredible patience and true skill.

After lunch was hot tub time and cooking class.  I'm not sure it was meant to be a private lesson, but that's what I got.  The executive chef, Rob Citto, let me think I was cooking as he deftly created around me.  I mostly enjoyed the dry humor.  I did learn that it does, in fact, matter which order you throw in ingredients.  I was hoping to never find that out.  Knowledge is dangerous, you know.  I have no excuse now for my speed method of cooking.

It was difficult to say goodbye and even more difficult to drive home.  At one point, the white of the sky, the road, the land and the scenery (non-existent) blended into a white-out.  We were driving by the relative positions of the thin, green-grey posts placed every-so-often on the sides of the road.  I'm always happy to be home after a trip, but never so happy as that day.  However, I cannot wait to get back to Vista Verde this summer!

Click here to read VVR part two on Examiner.com.


      

Vista Verde Ranch, Day One

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to stay and review the lovely Vista Verde Ranch near Steamboat Springs.  Brian, Liam and I packed up and headed out early (8am--super early) with the hopes of being there by noon.  Six hours and wayyyy too much snow later, we were there.  The kind and considerate staff fed us immediately, then showed us to our cabin.  It's not what I expected!  Ranches and cabins bring to mind cold, drafts, outdated decor and suspicious furniture.  Not so here--it was tastefully decorated (always vital to me) and comfortable.

Liam ran upstairs to the loft and claimed the largest bed even though he had no competition.  Next, he let me know that he loved it here because he had his very own Kleenex and garbage can.  (Why do I bother buying him toys???)  The rest of the day was spent sledding.  Since we came (well, mostly I came) woefully unprepared, Charlie, our sledding guide, lent us snowsuits and gave Liam goggles.  I only brought my thin boots with heels, so yes, I went sledding in heels.  The ride up on a sled pulled behind a snowcat was as much fun as the rush downhill.  

Dinner was fantastic.  The other two couples at our table, from Steamboat and New Jersey, had plenty to share and made us feel like we had been expected there.  I practiced my sad and sorry French on Martine, originally from France.  She was kind enough not to comment.  Liam searched the room for a stuffed Moose housekeeping had hidden for him that night.  Before bed, I sat in a leather chair by the fire and typed away on my laptop.  Eventually I made my way to bed and slept well (unusual for me).

Click here to see part one of my Vista Verde Ranch series on Examiner.com.  

I'll save the next day for a post tomorrow.  Time to go watch "House."  Goodnight!