Hello Fans,
I've been MIA from my blog for a while now. But now, with all this time at home during the Corona Virus Pandemic, I thought maybe I'd do a little blogging again. For now, I'll start with a video song I made to inspire during this weird and difficult time!!
**This video is dedicated to all of the Front Line Workers who risk their lives every day & fight to keep us all safe and well.
THANK YOU !!
On this lucky day, since it's my Birthday, I'm gonna wear my Birthday Suit! . . . now who's lucky? ;)
kisses —
Red
I've been waiting for this...The DIsappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them
Two Years Ago in the Summer of 2012 in NYC, I worked on a production called: The Disappeaance of Eleanor Rigby -- a story about the relationship between Conor Ludlow (James McAvoy) and Eleanor Rigby (Jessica Chastain). At the time of filming it was shot as two separate movies: Him and Her in order to convey on film how two individuals in relationship's often have very different perspectives and experiences of each other and the relationship itself.
It was fascinating, and mind-bending, to work on this film because each scene was shot twice, once from Conner's perspective and once from Eleanor's. A lot of thought went into every aspect of these scenes -- from costumes, to camera angles, lighting, acting choices of actors involved -- so that the differences in both characters' perspective was clearly conveyed.
Ned Benson, is a dream director, creating a film set that was fulled with heart. Everyone involved, cast and crew, producers, were to die for. In fact, I can safely say, that this is one of my favorite movies that i've worked on through the years. Each one of us was committed, and eager, to create a new way of telling a story that took both sides.
In September, 2013, both the Him and Her versions premiered at the Toronto Film Festival (TFF).
(Below is the video interview published at TFF with writer/director Ned Benson and stars, James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain about his concept of telling one story from two perspectives.)
By the time The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby got to Cannes in May, 2014 there was yet another, third version of the film. This new version took footage from each of the separate Him and Her versions to make a single film that showed both perspectives in one move (tagline: Them). It did very well at Cannes and will be released in the US in September, 2014.
Be on the lookout for this unique film that shows both sides of being in love. I can't wait!
It has been 14 years since Jason Nabeta left this world, but while he was here he was an amazing and creative soul.
Though I will always have a hole in my heart, I love that his sweet music plays on. It brings me joy to share this piece of him. Listen to this composition he wrote. It was posted on Facebook by Ben Caron on the tenth anniversary of Jason's death and I wanted to re-post it here today because it's beautiful...because it's Jason.
For more go to: All Posts Jason.
I went to see Cougar The Musical at St. Luke's Theatre this afternoon, and it was simply delightful!
What fun! I love a show that celebrates women's sexuality, especially when the women are experienced in life.
Each Cougar in the show goes on a journey that includes encounters with young pups and discovering love along the way. And I'm not necessarily talking about love of their partners, but of love of self, acceptance of sexual prowess as a part of who they are, and a love of life with all it's infinite possibilities.
This fun romp, filled with song, dance and humor (where age is never an issue where love is concerned or when it comes to hooking up for some fun), plays on Saturdays at 2PM in New York at the St. Luke's Theater.
Cougar the Musical is a celebration of life and women who refuse to stop living it... even as they get older!!
Get your tickets here.
If you love Bonnie and Clyde, you'll love Rosie and Tommy ! Based on the true story of Thomas Uva and Rose Marie in the 1990, Rob the Mob is a love story about a daring young couple who just wanted to find the best way to make a buck. When Tommy (Michael Pitt) and Rosie (Nina Arianda) take the mob by storm (uzi's in hand), these two lovers are the kind of criminals we love to love. Steeling from Gangsters, they stir up a lot of trouble for mobsters, while getting caught up in the celebrity of it all, they find themselves in the middle of an FBI Mafia investigation.
I loved working with Tony Award Winner, Nina Arianda again, I worked with her last year on The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (not yet released). She also happens to be a graduate of my alma mater, American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA). Watching Nina bring Rosie to life with such sexy spunk was a thrill. (Nina, I adore you!) Michael Pitt, also fun to watch work, played Tommy with a hint of naivete under his tough exterior. (Michael, or should I call you Tommy -- I hope you still have your hat. HA!) Together these two build a world of adventure that is filled with comedy and romance.
Other great talent that make this movie of mobsters come to life include: Andy Garcia, always a dapper gentleman (who I worked with before on City Island with Director, Raymond De Felitta, and Costume Designer, Tere Duncan) and Frank Whaley, always full of quirky fun (with whom I worked with on his movie called New York City Serenade).
Rob the Mob does not yet have a release date, but it will have its World Premier in March at the 2014 Miami Film Festival. Keep posted on the latest news about the movie on the Rob the Mob Movie Blog so you don't miss this adventure when it comes to a theater near you!
(Side-note: Another film I worked on, John Toturro's Fading Gigolo, will also be presented at the Miami Film Festival before its release date in April.)
It's Awards Season and we all want to know who's who: Who wins and who are the decision makers in this magical world of the movies.
This year it all started on January 8th with the People's Choice Awards, in which the nominees and winners are voted on by "the people," and they can vote as many times as they want! Sandra Bullock was the big winner this year, walking away with 4 awards -- I wonder how she ran that campaign?
But the People's Choice is just a warm up for the drunk fest of the year, the Golden Globes, which was aired on January 12th. Winning Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical, American Hustle was the biggest winner here, getting a total of 3 awards including: Amy Adams' Best Actress and Jennifer Lawrence's Best Supporting Awards.
Golden Globe nominees and winners are determined by The Hollywood Foreign Press Association -- but who exactly is that?
According to my sources, the HFPA is a small but powerful group of international journalists based in Southern California. What? Southern California, is that a foreign land? Well, in a way it is. If you've spent any time there, you know what I mean. Anyway, there are only 90 HFPA members. Their non-profit task is to disseminate information about movies and television to the entire world. Really? Wow!
So, it is these powerful few who ultimately decide on the winners. Winning actors thank them very much, because everyone knows that getting a nod at the Golden Globes can determine who is nominated for an Oscar....
If you'd like to be one of these powerful players in the world of movies, you can apply for membership during February and March. Click here for the HFPA New Member Rules and Instructions.
Following up after the Globes, on January 18th the SAG Awards (or the Naked Actor Awards) created quite a buzz with Dallas Buyers Club, Breaking Bad, and Modern Family actors receiving the most SAG Awards this year.
I love these awards, not only because they are naked, but because all SAG (now SAG-AFTRA) members can vote on the actors that they felt did the best in their respective categories. As a SAG-AFTRA member myself, I get to participate in choosing the winners from the nominees. But how are they nominated in the first place.....? That's the question!
Well, SAG Awards nominees are determined by a smaller group of SAG-AFTRA members who are randomly selected threw a drawing in April of the paid-up members. Those chosen become The Screen Actors Awards Theatrical Motion Picture and Television Nominating Committees. Each committee is made up of 2200 members who review the "For Your Consideration" films and television shows for nominations.
Winning a SAG award is, in my estimation, one of the best indicators of your craft since actors know when acting is real, and we can be our own harshest judges.
BUT the truth is, all of these awards pale in comparison to the press and popularity that comes with winning an Oscar. But we have to wait...the Academy Awards are not aired until March 2nd this year, though the nominees are out now.
Oscar nominees and winners are determined by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which contains roughly 6,000 voting members. The Academy is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures. In order to become a member you must qualify. FIRST, you must be a film artist or crafts-person working in one or more of the sixteen art form's key creative areas (Acting, Directing, Music, Sound, Design, Costume Design, etc.), AND SECOND, your work must represent an unusually high level of quality and distinction....whatever that means.
Nominations for the Oscars are chosen from qualified submissions, and all voting (for both nominees and winners) is done by secret ballots, which are tabulated by a firm of certified public accountants designated by the Academy President. This is why no one knows who the winners are until the envelope is opened on the night of the Awards Ceremony. And almost no one knew, until now, that the very first Oscars awarded were made of chocolate*, now they are made of solid gold.
So, there you have it.
* The statement about the first Oscars awards being made of chocolate may be completely made up, but you can get Chocolate Oscars to present to the winners at your personal Oscar Awards party.
Enjoy Awards Season 2014!! And don't miss the Oscars on March 2nd, 2014.
Fading Gigolo proves that it's never too late to make someone happy. John Tuturro's daring, yet tender, comedy is opening on April 18, 2014 in a theater near you.
Shot in The Big Apple, this film has that good ol' New Yorky feel about it. Focusing on the Hasidic community, we are brought into a world that seems stuck in a different time with all its beautiful traditions. When Fioravante (John Turturro), a flower-arranging lover, steps into this world at the encouragement of his friend Murray (Woody Allen), the oldest profession meets age-old customs . . . and everything is seen from a different perspective.
With Woody Allen acting in a movie he did not write or direct himself, we are blessed to have him on the big screen again -- bringing his neurotic, lovable energy into the mix while John Tuturro plays it straight.
Vanessa Paradis (Avigal) lights up the screen with her beauty and sincerity, while Liev Schreiber (Dovi) is believable and endearing in a role that is both tough and vulnerable. But things get really hot when Sofía Vergara (Selima) and Sharon Stone (Dr. Parker) show up in the story.
Watch the trailer and see for yourself.
Push play to watch trailer if you cannot view video.
I had the pleasure of working on this film. Filled with sex, scandal and sentimentality, it's right up my alley, right?
When we step lightly in an attempt to secure something
we forget that when we are not true to ourselves
we are untruthful to others.
Thus, the very thing we try not to lose by our caution
is already lost in the saving of it.
"If you live by the principal: If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all -- you're probably a secret liar . . . or a mute."
For all Red Says Quirky Quotables Click HERE