Hello, chaps and chappettes. Time for a year ending thingamapost to placehold my wordpress account before they kick me off for lolligagging. Truth be told––and those of you who know me already know this––I’ve been attacked by many projects at once. Those of you who really know me also know that I tend to check out from the world when embroiled in a number of creative adventures, and I’ve come to find that includes online worlds, as well. Sure, I supply my share of comments in this forum or that blog but when it comes to concentrating on reportage of the more personal variety, I tend to leave it go. The idea overwhelms me a bit, and I’m sure you’ll see why very soon.

Novels –– I’ve completed what really feels like a polished edit for sWitch. I’ve queried it around, gotten some positive feedback and some garden-variety rejections. Next up: get it to print so I can send it around in its complete form (I think of it as an art piece of sorts, so it has to be framed) and create a website for it. I’m thinking of using social networks to create a naughty buzz. I feel I’ve written something the likes of which you’re not likely to find at your local bookstore, and I’ve decided to make that an asset rather than an obstacle. You don’t get the chance to review your own work in a query, and to be honest it’s not really my style. Still, I’d like to take this opportunity to say that sWitch is challenging, smart, fun, scary and not afraid to push all of your dirty buttons. Who knows, if it becomes cultishly popular in the next year, maybe I’ll work up an illustrated coffee table version that will offend and delight your guests in equal measure. Or perhaps I’ll edit a trailer for the outrageous film it’s begging to be. My ultimate dream is for people to throw “sWitch Parties” where everyone dresses like a suburban square save a few sexy, paganistic touches and dances to lounge music while eating pentagram cookies. Can you dig it, man? Anyway, also coming soon is Square One –– a science fiction novel about the rediscovery of humankind by our own cybernetic creations centering on the most unlikely love story of all time against an all-too-familiar sounding rebellion. Notes are being taken with the first chapter not far off in the horizon.

Screenplays –– I’m still querying Shelf Life and am considering a few fledgling filmmakers to send it to. I’ve given some thought to making this one, as well. Since becoming pretty handy with my relatively new Canon XH A1s digital video camera, the idea to shoot something for a festival has greatly appealed. I write like a filmmaker, so why not take the next step? Ditto for Welcome to Cydonia, which needs making in a bad way. Cape May is still waiting, and you don’t keep an old girl like that waiting for long.

Other writing projects –– my animated vignette The Ballade of Haunted Hill will hopefully be completed sometime early in the new year thanks to the extraordinary efforts of my wonderfully talented collaborateur and sometime tea lady Teodora Parvanova (Soon to be Teodora Jones, which is probably the coolest name since Cleopatra Jones). She and I are also working on an animated TV series that we’ll be entering into a European animation contest. The story is based on an old Bulgarian Fable of sorts about an incorrigible young boy who finds his heart after losing his head in hell and it’s pretty rad in an Alice in Wonderland kind of way. And if you’re wondering, yes, finally getting my big break with an animated TV series after collaborating with a Bulgarian animator I met over the Internet by answering her “ad” for a writer is exactly how I envisioned my career path to go. All kidding aside, Teddy’s a delightful gem with a bright future and it’s been educational and fun to work with her. Whatever comes of our projects, I’m already proud as punch to have created what we have and hope to continue our partnership long into the future.

Music –– because there’s still a little time left between working, eating and sleeping, in addition to gigging and embarking on various projects with my band Surrounded By Idiots I’ve been putting my solo acoustic act together and am available for hire come the new year. It’s been an embarrassing amount of fun to get serious about––not only writing new songs and finding my identity as an acoustic artist––but honing my guitar skills. Most of my weekend is taken up playing and rehearsing and if you’re interested in learning more, head to my website and check out my artist list (which is constantly growing).

TV/Web Productions –– for the past few months I’ve been developing a cooking/reality show called “Table 42 with Chef Darryl Harmon” that takes place at The Water Works Restaurant in Philadelphia. Chef creates special dishes for a lucky couple who have been selected to dine at the famous “Table 42″ where over 300 wedding proposals have taken place as well as all sorts of other special moments. For more info on that, check out the website and look us up on Facebook. Shooting is scheduled to begin next month and we’re hoping to host a premier party at The Water Works for Valentine’s Day. Forks and fingers crossed we’re able to pull it off. So watch all spaces and keep an eye on your HDTV sets, as the table is set for us to be there, too.

And that, folks, is all the time I can afford to give you. It doesn’t mean I don’t love you, it just means you’re a few pegs down the list. Hey, at least you’re on the list, you ungrateful, time-stealing, bas–just keeding. Allow me to leave you with one of the most beautiful folk guitar performances I have ever seen and a song I hope to include in my repertoire. Ladies and gentlemen, Jesse Winchester singing Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding on Elvis Costello’s excellent Sundance Channel series “Spectacle“.

I agree, Neko. Have the best damn holiday ever, everyone. Peace to you all.

Exams are done and out comes the Ork armycast we did a while.  Talk about old rumors and some Christmas specials, and then dive deep into the codex.  General tactics, individual units, and some example army lists.

As always post here or leave us an e-mail at 40kwarcasting@gmail.com.

Oh yeah, and the episode:

http://www.groovygeckosgames.com/podcast/40kwcepisode20.mp3

~ Shrek

This week, along with the commentary of Mild Mannered (But Not Really) Girlfriend Carolyn, we open debate over David Peterson’s Mouse Guard: Winter 1152; and let’s just say that tiny mouse-befitting swords will clash! Also, we hear the latest intallment of “Sam Bitches a Lot”, Mike talks about his favorite serial killer (Dexter Morgan) and his comic-book like webisodes, and Alex is forced to lock horns with Carolyn in a heated discussion of Marvel Super Hero Squad. There is all this and much more awaiting you listeners this week on the Mild Mannered Podcast!

 youtube has definitely been getting business today

(they need to pay me! j/k)

but i was warming up before recording and I somehow ended up:

1. Rearranging the Chorus of “Always Strapped” by Little Wayne and singing it (NeoSoul Style, although I am not an R&B artist).

2. Trying my hand at (my fave that I posted earlier) “Uninvited” by Alanis Morisette.

Have Fun!

OMG, this is the most hilarious video I’ve seen in a while. It’s so true!

The vampire craze goes unchecked in Hollywood, until a ragtag team of long lost action heroes (lead by Sylvester Stallone) take matters into their own hands.

The jazz ensemble gets groovy for Vytautas Miškinis’ Light Mass!

SYC closes the year with a special concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall on 13 December, with special musicians on stage. We have Vytautas Miškinis (from Lithuania, land of choral giants) to direct the SYC Ensemble Singers in an evening of music from the Baltic states, and also local jazz musicians Tamagoh and Tony Makarome to premiere a work for choir, jazz trio and additional piano, the Light Mass (by Miškinis himself). We are privileged to have such luminaries as our friends, on stage with us. 

Share this extraordinary celebration with us!

This is your LAST CHANCE to grab your tickets from SISTIC at:
$20, $25, $30, $35 (incl. SISTIC fee)

HEAD OVER TO SISTIC NOW at: http://www.sistic.com.sg/cms/events/index.html?contentCode=syc1209

sorry guys… I had to break it into 2 parts because it’s just over 10 minutes, but Enjoy!

also, here’s a little something extra!

I cannot freaking believe this, a new ‘Buck Rogers’ serial. I’ve been wondering when they were going to resurrect this series. Of course, it will be on the web but I’m still super excited.

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century is currently planned for twenty serialized forty-minute episiodes to start streaming on the web in Fall 2010 with young actor Bobby Rice in the title role. Source www.scifisquad.com

Here’s a clip from the original with Erin Gray surrounded by the “little people”.

   Zolitics.

Yup. Zolitics. You read that right. Zolitics not politics.

It is a new network. The world’s first political entertainment network. For more details about it, check out this previous POLITICS 24/7 post  about it. But to see the fist three episodes of Zolitics premier sit-com “Moving Numbers”, just scroll down and enjoy.

Moving Numbers is an original series that deals with a fictional U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania. Anyone who has ever been on the inside of campaign can, in one way or another, relate to the events depicted in the series. Those who haven’t been on the inside do get a glimpse at the less technical and often farcical side of campaigns.

Moving Numbers is not rocket science but it is also not meant to be, but for what its worth, it’s an amusing break from the often intensely contentious side of politics that we engage in or are witness to.

Personally, I like both the concept of Zolitics.com and their product and I wish them much success. Hopefully you too will find Zolitics and Moving Numbers an entertaining break from the usual.

The World Fare is a London RouteMaster bus that is currently being converted into a high end gourmet restaurant on wheels–a “bustaurant.” The World Fare is going to be serving food on the streets on Los Angeles in early 2010. Kaloopy Media is working with the World fare guys on their social media marketing strategy and campaign. The first step of what we are doing is creating a mini series documenting the “building out” of the bus. Below are a few videos for you to watch that we’ve created.

George and Albert from Pacific Cater Truck are absolute cards, they really do make these videos worthwhile:

“The Dumb Waiter”

“George and Albert on the World Cup Soccer”

“The Flat Screen TV”

“The Layout of the Bus”

You can see all Kaloopy Media’s Videos on Vimeo HERE

For more info on Kaloopy Media go to the OFFICIAL SITE

Follow Kaloopy Media on Facebook

and of coarse, tweeting, twotting, twatting follow @kaloopy

My first blog is about the Saskatchewan Motion Picture Industry Awards dinner held last night at the Casino Regina. I was priveleged to be nominated in the category of “Best Supporting Actor” for a role I did in Finn on the Fly. Now, unfortunately these awards only happen every couple of years, because of the size of the film business here in Saskatchewan, and I totally forgot what I had done on that movie. I remember hot days on set in Moose Jaw, working with a great director, and breaking the cardinal rule of working with kids and animals, but that is it. The clip they showed of me reminded me of how ridiculous I looked in that film…fanny pack and all. I lost out to my friend Josh Beaudry who won for his role on “Interpersonalities” which he deserved. I’m glad not only for Josh but also because I wouldn’t have remebered who to thank on the production (I tend to forget everything about a show I’ve worked on after I’m done). My comedic performance also looked out of place amongst the dramatic nominations I was up against.

My nomination wasn’t as odd as the “Dramatic Script” and “Dramatic Show” category that contained amongst the dramas computerized commercial spots written for Sasktel. That was bizarre and illicited some queries from the folks at my table (mostly actors). I’m not sure how I would’ve reacted if I were one of the writers who had written a 60 minute drama and found myself up against a 30 second animated commercial.

I was surprised to see the comedy Corner Gas listed as a “drama.” Also, I thought the best written and most visually interesting pieces (based on the clips)  were from Wapos Bay, which I don’t think was even recognized. It was a great time meeting up with folks I haven’t seen for a while. Bumped into Corbin Bernsen (of LA Law fame) whose film Rust is prenmiering tonight in Kipling, SK. I’m sure I was way too familiar, having only worked one day on set with/for him, but he’s a genuine person who is easy to talk with, and besides it’s not every day you get to converse with someone of his notoriety who seems enthused about the projects he is bringing to this part of the film world.  So, if you get the chance, see “Rust,” which will also be on SCN channel in the provincve thsi Saturday, Nov 5th.

Another plug of which I am involved in is Anita Smith’s “Rise n SHine Og” which is premiering in 10 minute episodes on their same-named website. Webisodes…entertainment of the future-present, more on that later.

Product placement has existed for years. Companies pay big money to get their product placed in a movie or TV show. The blockbuster hit “New Moon” has a Burger King bag precisely placed in the middle of a scene, and “American Idol” may as well be called “Coca-Cola’s Idol” with the grotesque amount of product placement on that show.

But what happens when the entertainment outlet doesn’t exist for your product? You call in the advertising agencies that know how to get creative, and then you create your own entertainment outlet. Welcome to the world of Webisodes.

According to Wikipedia, “A webisode is simply a web episode – collectively it is part of a web series, a form of new medium called web television that characteristically features a dramatic, serial storyline, where the primary method of viewership is streaming online over the Internet. While there is no set standard for length, most webisodes are relatively short, ranging from 4–15 minutes in length.”

Stuart Elliot in a New York Times article writes, “Webisodes — part of a trend called branded entertainment — are growing because marketers feel compelled to find new methods to reach consumers in an era when the traditional media are losing eyeballs, ears, hearts, minds and perhaps other body parts to the Internet.”

Webisodes are being created to advertise everything from makeup to cleaning products and salad dressings. And, like most advertisements that run when and where the target audience is viewing, Webisodes are being placed on specific Web sites that reach the most appropriate audience. Hidden Valley Ranch Webisodes, for example, star Jenny Garth and will be featured on ivillage.com starting this January. I personally like Jenny Garth, the new queen of Webisodes, but I hope the “entertainment” is strong since I can’t really get my head around being interested in ongoing mini-shows about salad dressing.

A Webisode currently getting plenty of attention is Maybelline’s “The Broadroom” (also starring Jenny Garth). Episodes for your entertainment are below.

What do you think? Are Webisodes the new marketing platform that will get your attention? Not cheap to produce, are they worth the cost? What products would you like to see in a Webisode?

Hi Everyone! I thought it would be nice to chronicle our journey with The Undead Diaries.  To begin with, my name is Angelique Mechel and I’m the creater/writer/producer/Danny of the web series.

I have always been fascinated with vampires, ever since I was a little girl. I was even named after one! I had just finished reading the Twilight series and as much as I loved the concept, I realized that most of these movies/shows/books all seem to portray their vampires as broody and angst-ridden. Why couldn’t they be funny? Or at least, funnier? And thus, the series was born.

Originally, the part of Alistaire was written for an actor friend of mine. We had numerous discussions and meetings about getting the series started. Unfortunately, there were some creative differences and we parted ways. Alistaire is half the show.  He and Danny have a long history and an incredibly strong friendship. I needed someone that could create that with me instantly. Without the right Ali, the series wouldn’t work. I kept writing, but put everything on the back burner.

Two years later, my good friend Greg  (and the director of the series) knew that I had been writing the series and asked me one day if I was ever going to film it. Of course! I’d love to but I had to have the right Alistaire. I just couldn’t think of anyone I knew that would work in the part. Greg convinced me to audition actors we knew. One of them might make a good fit for Ali. All of them did a wonderful job, but they just weren’t my Ali. We were running out of people and started thinking about putting out an audition notice. Then Greg suggested our friend Steve. I have to admit, I was hestitant at first, but thought what the hey, it can’t hurt. Steve came over to our apartment and read the first two episodes with me. His read was really amazing, but it was the Steve we saw after the audition that got him the role. So much of his personality is similar to Alistaire’s it’s scary. It’s as if I wrote the part for him.

Now that I had my Alistaire it was time to get to work. After long discussions with Greg and numerous hours of research into other web series, we decided to film the entire first season, a total of 10 episodes, before releasing anything. Our first day of shooting was October 7, 2009. We shot 3 episodes in 3 evenings. I was amazed at how quickly it was all happening, especially since Greg was wearing the director/dp/crew hat that first night. Steve and I helped where we could, but it’s hard to hold a reflector and be on camera at the same time ; ) Thankfully, my friend Tye came and helped out. It was only one extra pair of hands, but it made a huge difference.  That weekend, I sat down at the computer and started editing.

We’re now into the first week of December and are shooting the last 4 episodes of Season 1 this week. The website, Facebook, MySpace and Youtube pages have been created. I’m thrilled that people are actually viewing all of the above and there really isn’t even any content as of yet. We’ve already shot one promo and will be shooting two more this weekend in addition to the episodes. I’m amazed at how much we’ve accomplished and how incredibly generous and supportive everyone has been with this endeavor. So many friends have donated their time and talent to this little web series and I will be forever grateful.

I got a bit of a late start, but my plan is to chronicle our journey with The Undead Diares. I will be giving Greg and Steve access to this blog as well. Hopefully they will add their experiences so that we can share this exciting journey with you!

It’s Saturday morning and raining outside,  the perfect weather for sitting at my computer and surfing the internet. I have made some wonderful discoveries over at FEARnet.com this morning and although I know it’s old news, it’s new to me. Enjoy FEARnet’s 20 Days of Vampires with 3 original vampire series for your viewing pleasure.

 30 Days of Night: Blood Trails Part 1

FEARnet and Ghost House pictures present an original series based on the New Orleans’ vampire hunter from the award-winning graphic novel “30 DAYS OF NIGHT.” In this episode George make a grisly discovery when visiting one of Judith’s contacts.

View 30 Days of Night: Blood Trails Part 1.

30 Days of Night : Dust to Dust Part 1

In this episode Nick’s sister, Sara, is caught in the crossfire when vampires descend on Orleans County Penitentiary in an effort to assassinate George. Nick ignores the wishes of his former partner, Gina, and sets off to find Sara.

View 30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust – Part 1.

Dark Path Chronicles Episode 1

In this episode, reclusive Samantha studies the horrors of war while waiting at home for her sister, Lisa. As the sun sets, Jurgen, a long buried vampire, awakens to the sound of Samantha singing.

View Dark Path Chronicles – Episode 1.

This is one addictive web show.

by TheRealParis.

The DubRx (Prescription Dub) radio show, broadcast exclusively on WECB, the Underground Sound of Emerson College, has begun a web series to keep its hungry dub patients satisfied while they wait for the weekly broadcast. Each week the Dub Doctors will give you a taste of their antics as they try to invade the world using their DUB!

The Madame speaks of the Maestro (codename: Miškinis), the Music (origin: Lithuanian) and the Mystery (what will Jen do on concert day?!). This is the 4th segment of a 4-part interview.

SYC closes the year with a special concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall on 13 December, with special musicians on stage.  We have Vytautas Miškinis (from Lithuania, land of choral giants) to direct the SYC Ensemble Singers in an evening of music from the Baltic states, and also local jazz musicians  Tamagoh and Tony Makarome to premiere a work for choir, jazz trio and additional piano, the “Light Mass” (by Miškinis himself).  We are privileged to have such luminaries as our friends, on stage with us. 

Come share this extraordinary celebration with us!

Tickets from SISTIC at:

$20, $25, $30, $35 (inc. SISTIC fee)

Promotions:

Keppel Nights 50% subsidy $11 (excl. SISTIC fee, conditions apply)

Visit www.keppelnights.com to obtain a valid Keppel Nights password.

Showtime no falla y nos da lo que prometió: el origen del barco de Dexter. Nuestro querido asesino fue en busca de información respecto a una potencial víctima y terminó comprandole un barco, algo parecido a lo que pasó en la segunda temporada con el vendedor de vehículos Roger Hicks. Por lo visto no le gustó el nombre y se lo cambió, obviamente dándole su toque personal y totalmente irónico

Gene Marshall – Capítulo 2

Como verán, este no está alojado en YouTube como los anteriores, y es porque no tiene sentido que siga subiendo los videos ahí ya que recibí un aviso de denuncia de copyright de la CBS (Showtime pertenece a esta cadena). Lamentablemente tengo que avisar -una vez más-, que dejaré de subir los videos subtitulados. No tiene sentido seguir haciéndolo si me van a terminar borrando todo… igualmente podrán encontrarlos en sitios de descarga directa y en las redes ed2k (eMule), y los subtítulos en SubDivX. Para saber la fecha de emisión de los próximos webisodes simplemente tienen que entrar a la página oficial que ahí está toda la información (vienen emitiendo uno por semana, no sé cómo será cuando termine la cuarta temporada)

Host Natalie Casper (Definetly Disney Thursdays from 10-12 PM) talked to Honor Society backstage at the Paradise Rock Club.  Check it out right here and enjoy.

This is a bit of a repeat since I’ve posted this clip before, the Post Office scene from Safety First: the Rise of Women! But as my gift to you, I’ve added some very valuable shopping tips for this holiday season at the end.