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.   :)