Spotted on Robertson Blvd

Spotted on Robertson Blvd 10/31/08

I met Kaitlin Olson aka Sweet Dee (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) at work today. Picture below:



Anticipating her next youtube video by the way. They are HILARIOUS, especially if you watch Sunny every week.

Spotted on Robertson

Spotted on Robertson Blvd 10/29/08

I met Sarah Lancaster (Chuck) and Dave Navarro at work today. No pictures because I was working! Still exciting though.

VA Film Festival With Sissy Spacek

I was given some information on a great film festival coming to Charlottesville, VA this Halloween weekend. I interviewed Schuyler Fisk a few weeks ago and her mother, Sissy Spacek is scheduled to attend opening night of the film festival, for a screening of her new film, LAKE CITY. If I wasn't in LA, I would so be there!

Here is a summary of the press release:

Sissy Spacek will be joining the film’s producers Mark Johnson and Weiman Seid and co-directors Perry Moore and Hunter Hill to present the film.

Sissy Spacek returns to the Festival for the first time since 2006, when she joined an all-star panel at The Paramount Theater to discuss the Rodrigo Garcia film Nine Lives. Spacek has been nominated for six Academy Awards as best actress, including Carrie, Missing, The River, Crimes of the Heart, and In the Bedroom, and claimed her Oscar for Coal Miner’s Daughter in 1981. Spacek will also be starring in Four Christmases which opens on November 26, 2008.

The festival will also showcase early frontrunners for 2009 Oscar consideration on Friday, October 31 at Culbreth Theatre:

The first of these is The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke. The film, hailed at the Toronto and Telluride Film Festivals.
Next, will be Slumdog Millionaire, the latest film from director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days), and the winner of the coveted audience award at this year’s Toronto Film Festival.
Another is Phoebe in Wonderland which showcases a cast of Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson and Elle Fanning.
Finally, two new programs of films by Charlottesville-based filmmakers will be presented.

This year’s festival, built around the theme of Aliens!, will include some 80 films and more than 100 guests covering the alien experience in all its forms, from immigration to extraterrestrials.

The Virginia Film Festival is hosted by the University of Virginia. To learn more and to order tickets, visit here.

Press Contact: info@fatdot.net

Jennifer Hudson/Amber Alert

I am so devastated by the news regarding the murders of Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother as well as the news regarding her missing 7 year old nephew.

There is an Amber Alert for 7 year old, Julian King.
Please be on the lookout.

My prayers are with the Hudson family.

I just have to say that I hate that when tragedies happen to those in the spotlight, the next day or week the press eat it up with their thoughtless headlines and articles. It is one thing to share news but think about how you share it. Don't be so careless as to try and come up with a "clever" headline or "big scoop" to sell your magazine. Have some respect.

Update: Unfortunately, Jennifer's nephew was found but not alive. My condolences.

Bye Bye Broadway

My favorites are closing left and right.

Rent closed September 7,2008.
Legally Blonde closed October 19, 2008.
Hairspray will be closing January 4, 2009.
Spring Awakening will be closing January 18, 2009.

All of the above are on tour or will be on tour soon. Please check them out on tour if you can't catch them on Broadway!

Stacey Farber Update

You know Stacey Farber as Ellie Nash on the hit series, Degrassi. I know that I have the latest interview with her that I am going to share with you right now! I am so grateful to have had the chance to interview Stacey because she really is busier than anybody I know - filming in Canada and going to school in NY! Right here at HTWW, Stacey talks Degrassi, a new pilot that she is attached to, and more!



What would you say has been the biggest change for your character on Degrassi throughout the years?
I’ve been lucky enough to work on Degrassi for the last seven years and so I’ve truly grown up with my character. I was introduced as Ellie when I was fourteen and I’m now twenty one—physically, I’ve changed a lot and for better or worse, it’s been documented on film. Emotionally and intellectually, I think the biggest change for my character came with her move from high school to college. While attending Degrassi, she was more reserved and standoffish, and generally regarded as an “outcast.” In her first year of college, she began writing for her school’s paper and she dated an older guy. Onscreen, she interacted with a different set of people and so she appeared to be a lot more sociable. I think this was a realistic character development, proof of Ellie’s maturation as a result of a change in setting. But it also could have just seemed like a big change in behavior because the storylines shifted from focusing on Ellie’s difficult home life to highlighting her romantic relationships and the experiences she shared with her friends.

After working on Degrassi for so many years, how would you say you have grown not only as an actor but as a person?
I’ve grown as an actor because I’ve had to portray a range of scripted experiences, handed to me by Degrassi’s Writing Department. I’ve had to cry, console, confess, laugh, and fall in love— many times since I began working on the show. It’s been difficult at different points (acting drunk, for example, is something that I both struggle with and dread), but I enjoy each challenge. My professional life is definitely abnormal, but my personal life is quite tame; I don’t experience much drama. Because Ellie’s life is so much more complicated than mine, I take pleasure in living hers whenever I’m on set.

How often when you are not working do you have moments where you instinctively do things as your character would?
It depends where I am. Often, if I’m in a room full of people, I instinctively behave how I imagine Ellie might: I keep quiet and observe those around me. If I’m with my best friends, I’m more assured and so I’m talkative, sometimes even vulgar. At a party, however, though I’m still confident, I’m usually detached from the heart of the action.

Regarding the Degrassi cast, how does everyone get along?
It’s clichéd but we’re like a family. We’ve all shared this distinctive experience—working on a hit Canadian TV show—and so our bond is inherent and I don’t think it’s something we’ll ever lose. I’m better friends with some people than others (because of our age and because I’m almost always working only with them on set), but everyone is friendly and we’re always to happy to reconnect at meetings and events and parties.

Degrassi has touched on pretty much every issue possible so how do you hope that the show stays fresh and does not exhaust all of the issues that a teenager may face?
I have complete faith in Degrassi’s writers. New writers join that team annually, which helps to keep both the storylines and dialogue “fresh”. Teenagers experience so many different issues that vary depending on their cultural background, their sexuality, their relationships with family members, and their health, etc. Recognizing that fact is what makes it possible for the writers to readdress issues raised earlier in the series, from an alternate angle.

As the cast continues to gets older, does this mean that the audience can expect a whole new group of kids to take over the halls of Degrassi?
Yes! Viewers will be introduced to some new, younger characters this season.

Is it true that you interned at Teen Vogue in NY and if so, what was that experience like?
It is true! I interned in Teen Vogue’s editorial department (I worked on the magazine’s website), during my junior year of college in New York. I could not have asked for a better internship experience. My boss, EJ, assigned a lot of exciting tasks like reporting from fashion week, attending industry events, and maintaining an online blog. I loved contributing to the production of a publication that I admire so much.

For years to come, do you see yourself continuing to act, doing acting and journalism, just journalism, or do you see yourself on another path?
Like most college students, and graduates, I’m so lost at this point! I hope to graduate this year with a degree in Creative Writing/Journalism, but I don’t want to start working in that field immediately. I think I’d like to devote some time to auditioning for acting projects because I love working as an actor. I’ve been a full time student all my life and so I haven’t yet given that objective much effort.

Do you currently have any upcoming projects outside of Degrassi?
I shot a pilot called 18 to Life, this summer in Montreal, Canada. It’s a comedy and it’s adorable so I’m hoping that it will go to series.

What do you have to say about thoughts that true journalism is dying?
If “true journalism” correlates to print, then I know what you mean. Online publications are less costly and more accessible and so I understand why they are thriving. I can’t imagine my life without the internet; I’m always browsing various sites, emailing, and reading blogs and articles. Still, I’ll always love printed magazines—fashion magazines, in particular. I flip through them in stores, I buy them, and then I study their content from cover to cover. Reading lengthy articles and examining the photos in a magazine is an experience that cannot compare to scrolling through whatever information (recorded like sound bites) is onscreen. For that reason, I don’t think “true journalism” will ever die completely.

Do you have a Myspace or official website that fans can reach you at?
I do not have an official website or a MySpace account. I never had MySpace so please don’t encourage the fakers by adding them!

Spotted on Robertson

Spotted on Robertson Blvd 10/19/08

I met Christian Siriano (Project Runway) at work today. No pictures because I was working! Still exciting though.

Declare Yourself/Greek

Today I went to Borders in Westwood to support:

A) Registering to Vote thanks to the Declare Yourself Campaign
and
B) The cast of Greek (ABC Family), as I just interviewed Amber Stevens earlier this month.

Declare Yourself has had numerous events this year to register people to vote and on a few occasions, the cast of Greek has been there to support them. The cast held a meet and greet with fans while there was a table nearby full of voting info/gear. Also nearby was one of the original prints of the Declaration of Independence, which the founder of Declare Yourself owns!

On November 2, 2008 make sure to visit my site for a message from the Cast of Greek!

Li Cari Fashion Show

Last night I attended the Grande Finale Show for LA Fashion Week, thanks to WCM. Jazmin Whitley, designer of the Li Cari Fashion House, debuted her spring/summer 09 collection, Nautical Meets Neon.



Jazmin has been featured in everything from LA Direct Magazine and 944 Magazine to US Weekly Magazine and Wired Magazine. At just 19 years old last year, Jazmin was the youngest designer to ever show in NY fashion week. All summer long this year, she has had MTV cameras following her around for the show, “Catwalk.” The MTV cameras were with her last night as well.

When I arrived, Jazmin's staff was busy at work getting ready for the show that would happen in only a matter of time. Jazmin, curlers in hair, was directing a few staff members and soon after the final dress rehearsal for the models. The DJ had the music blasting and off to the side, there was a Guitar Hero area. Time passed and the red carpet began. Guests mingled and soon the fashion show began. All of the pieces were beautiful and unique and most of it seemed very 60s inspired, which I love! I really believe that she is the next big thing in fashion, the next household name, so I am very lucky to have been able to attend one of her fashion shows.

Pictures from last night can be seen here.

Courageous Women

Last night, I had the opportunity to represent Hollywood The Write Way on the red carpet at the International Women’s Media Foundation’s 2008 Courage in Journalism Awards. Thank you to Dharmata Public Relations, Inc. for making it possible for me to attend this event, which took place at the Beverly Hills Hotel. I had the great honor and pleasure of seeing and meeting some phenomenal women.

Who I Saw (In order of appearance):

Emmanuelle Chriqui



Angie Harmon



Ginnifer Goodwin



Amy Adams



Renée Zellweger

On Honorees
"Their work is extraordinarily inspiring and important, especially now when the world is so complicated and the news seems to be edited to serve whoever might be financially involved in the media that is presenting it."



Who I Met (In order of appearance):

Christiane Amanpour
Mistress of Ceremonies for the Event
IWMF Board Member & '94 Courage In Journalism Award Winner

"I want to do my bit for the women who are out there courageously defying the odds to bring the truth. Truth is an increasingly scarce commodity. These women deserve to be recognized for their courage."



Julie Chen

Favorite moment of Big Brother 10
"When Dan turned the game upside down, confused everybody, and made it to the finish line. I think he might be the best player that we have ever had."



Diane English
Director and Screenwriter of The Women

Best Part About Filming The Women
"The best part about filming The Women was the fact that I got it done! It took 14 years to get this together. This is probably the most satisfying thing that has happened for me in a long time."



Kerry Washington

Upcoming Film You Are Excited About
"I just finished a film with Eddie Murphy called 'A Thousand Words' and I am really excited about that film."



First Lady Maria Shriver

Biggest Accomplishment in Journalism
"The fact that I survived. It is a very tough and competitive world."



I also met IWMF 2008 Courage in Journalism Awards winners, Farida Nekzad of Afghanistan (managing editor and deputy director of Pajhwok Afghan News and vice president of the South Asia Media Commission), Sevgul Uludag of Cyprus (investigative reporter for Yeniduzen newspaper), and Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Edith Lederer (chief correspondent at the United Nations for the Associated Press). Also a Courage in Journalism Awards winner but unable to attend the event was Aye Aye Win, an Associated Press correspondent in Myanmar.

I talked to Farida Nekzad and she had this to say, "Even in my childhood I wished that I could do something to impact the lives of women in Afghanistan."

I asked Edith Lederer which country has had the most impact on her (since she has pretty much been to every country) and Edith answered, "I started my career in Vietnam and I think that covering the Vietnam War really set the stage for my career as a foreign corespondent and war corespondent for the next 25 years. It really changed my life."

Pick up the November issue of Glamour Magazine for a better detailed look into the lives Farida Nekzad and many other phenomenal women around the world.

The awards will also be presented at ceremonies in New York on October 21, 2008.

Photos: Credit

Spotted on Robertson

Spotted on Robertson Blvd 10/15/08

I met Hugh Hefner's ex girlfriend, Holly Madison & actress, Diane Farr (who I loved on Rescue Me on FX) at work today! No pictures because I was working! Still exciting though.

Thank you Moonlight fans!

Thank you so much Moonlight fans!!!

My interview with Alex O'Loughlin brought me the most visitors to my website in one single day since Hollywood The Write Way was created!!!

Thanks so much for the support and please keep reading!

Feel free to add my site as a bookmark to stay up to date on what is going on with Hollywood The Write Way!


*Melody*

Alex O'Loughlin

As a huge Moonlight fan, it was a top mission of mine (ever since Hollywood The Write Way was created) to interview Australian born actor, Alex O'Loughlin. After CBS cancelled Moonlight earlier this year, thousands of fans were left wondering what that meant for Alex O'Loughlin. How soon would it be until we saw him as a lead on the small screen? This past August, fans got their answer - well sort of. Keep reading to see what our favorite vampire has to say about his upcoming projects, Moonlight, and more.

Tell us about the one year deal you recently signed with CBS.
Moonlight came to an end, which was very sad and then I just went away for a couple of weeks to Mexico. When I came home, there were a few offers from different studios and networks. The deal that sat the best for me was what CBS was offering. They were open to negotiation points that I wanted to bring in, which was great and I discussed where I would like to go with my career. Since then, I have been developing an original series with executive producer and head writer on Criminal Minds, Simon Mirren that we have been putting together under Mark Gordon. It is an original concept that we are in the middle of pitching at the moment. It will be a one hour drama that I will be producing and starring in. It is a story of redemption but from a very different point of view.

What is the plot for your next film, Whiteout and explain your character?
It is based on a graphic novel. I play an Australian pilot living on a base with a group of people. I am an ambiguous character, I am not quite a cheeky guy, who is up to a little more than we know. It is directed by Dominic Sena, produced by Joel Silver, and I worked with such a great group of people. It is a thriller set in Antartica. I am very excited to see it, I actually have seen very little of it so far.

Do you remember the day that you found out you got the role for Moonlight?
Yes, I do! I was in Montreal and I got a call from Joel Silver. He said that he needed me to get on a plane and come to NY immediately. I think it was 5pm and the stores were closing at 5:30pm so I had to race into town and get a suit. I had to book a flight in about 45 minutes, get on a plane to NY and then as I got to NY I was told that the cast from the Pilot had been let go. You know what, I am talking about when I found out the show got picked up, not when I found out that I got the role.

That is okay, you can talk about whatever you want.

(laughs) So I didn’t have a cast! I also found out that they were no longer calling it Twilight, they would be calling it Moonlight and there were a few changes in the script. Then I found myself standing on stage at Carnegie Hall and the police did not know who we were or what we were doing…and that was the beginning of Moonlight.

Walk us through the last day of filming Moonlight.
I kind of blocked it from my memory a bit. The last few days kind of string together for me. They were very busy and we were shooting like mad, finishing at all hours of the morning. The sun would come up and we had been there for 18, 19, 20 hours. The end of the last day everyone was kind of dragging themselves to their cars and leaving to go home and get some sleep. I wish I could tell you it was a little more poetic but we believed that we were coming back. It was sad.

What characteristics did you bring towards your character that were not displayed in the script?
I tried to bring a sense of humor and a sense of irony. People around him did not understand the irony in situation. I tried to bring more of a passion to him. All of that being said, this was very well written. The writers and original creators were amazing. There were so many different avenues that I could have gone with my character but their writing, it made my job easy so I have to thank them a lot.

Tell me what you would have liked to see happen, not what you think would have happened if there was a Season 2 of Moonlight as far as the Mick, Beth, Coraline love triangle.
I would have liked to have seen Mick & Beth start exploring a relationship together and see where that goes. Also throw Coraline in to spice things up and put an obstacle in Mick & Beth’s way for dramatic purposes. Coraline wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon and there was a lot to explore there. I also would have to explore whether Mick’s true nature as a vampire, as an immortal creature that lives on human blood would ever come to the surface and if Beth would mind being in more danger than if she was not with Mick.

Do you have a favorite quote from Moonlight?
I do, Lola says “Remember darling, half the world is night.” (Episode: B.C.) I love it! I write it on some photos when people ask for autographs. (laughs) I love it!

Can you tell us your favorite episode of filming, The Shield on FX?
The last one because I didn’t want to leave that whole experience. The Shield is so well written and all of the writers are so smart! To be able to kick doors open, work with guns, arrest people, have car chases… it is all so much fun. The dialogue was just as much fun because the writers are incredible. I really can’t pinpoint my favorite episode we shot because the entire experience was amazing. Every episode I did just got better and better.

Tell me about filming the movies, The Invisible and August Rush.
The Invisible was shot in Vancouver and I was a lead but I was not the main lead. So I had a bunch of time off in Vancouver at such a beautiful time of the year when winter was approaching. My character worked out a lot since he had a lot of time on his hands so I ran 10-12 miles a day for 5 days a week, and shaved my head for the role. It was very physical but that was fun. There is one part in the film where Margarita Levieva’s character, Annie has me at gunpoint on the edge. When she kicks me off the small edge, she actually did that! I had a wire on me. The take that they used was actually when I almost lost my balance, so that was fun.

August Rush was a wonderful experience for me. I read the script all the way through while I was shooting The Invisible and I loved it and I read it again. I knew I had to be part of that film. I put down 2 tests at a studio in Vancouver. I played guitar and sang a couple of songs and did a few dialogue scenes. That was all actually for the lead role that Jonathan Rhys Meyers ended up playing. I spoke to the director, Kirsten Sheridan and she said that they needed a known name for the role but she would love to give me the role of Marshall. She re-wrote the character, she pumped that role up because it was a much smaller role in the beginning. We all lived together in NY and I had never lived in NY before so it was one of the greatest times of my life.

What is the most important thing that you have learned about yourself coming from Australia and making your way into Hollywood?
I have learned to be able to back yourself up and give yourself what you need. It is such a cut throat industry where you get knocked down so much and get rejected so much. If you do not back yourself up, no one else is going to so you really need to learn to get up, shake the sand off your chest and keep going. Do not take yourself so seriously. All of this stuff is really wonderful if it all crumbles tomorrow, it is okay. I can go home and do something else. Not that I want to do that but it is about keeping the right perspective.

Going Greek With Amber Stevens

For those of you who can’t get enough of the ABC Family hit series, Greek or are just now getting into this amazing series, have I got a treat for you! I got a chance to talk to actress, Amber Stevens who you know on the show as Ashleigh, the go-to party girl! Not only did I talk to her about Greek but did you know that Amber is a talented singer? Check out this interview and tell all your friends because this interview is a must read! Dedicated to everyone in the Greek system of course!

Tell me about the audition process for Greek?
I got a notice from my agent saying “You have an audition on this ABC Family show, called ‘Greek’ and it is for the role of Ashleigh.” The audition was very short, I think it was a few pages of 2 scenes. I really thought nothing of it, I thought of it like any other audition…you just do your job, you go in and then you forget about it. I did not know a lot about the progress but then I got called in again and after that I got called in again! Finally I got all the way up to network, where I met the heads of ABC Family, the creator of the show, producers, etc... and it was down to me and 3 other girls. I just happened to get it and it was just a Pilot at the time. I had no idea it would go anywhere but I was not surprised that it got picked up because it was a great Pilot.

How are you different from your character, Ashleigh?
I am very different from my character. She is kind of a follower and she lets guys walk all over her. She does not really have a sense of direction as much and I am a little bit different in that aspect. I think of myself as more of a leader and I do things that I want to do, not because someone tells me what to do. I think I am more self motivated. She likes to party and I like to stay home and watch TV and play board games. Maybe she’s a little bit more fun than me (laughs)?

Where would you like your character, Ashleigh to go?
I think she definitely has some surprises coming up that are really amazing for her. I think before the season finale, you will find out the big twist in the show. That will change things for all of the girls in the house, especially for Ashleigh. I would like to get a real boyfriend. She deserves a hot man in her life (laughs). I do kind of like the direction she is going right now. She got into severe debt, which happens to a lot of college students. She is getting herself out of debt by getting a job. It is nothing glamorous and she was not too excited about in the beginning but she has made it her own. She is having a lot of fun with it, becoming a leader for once in her life and running the show her way.

What main message do you want fans to get from your character?
I like that Ashleigh is a very relatable character. When people watch the show, they can feel like they know these characters. The writers are realistic in the portrayal of these characters in the show. Ashleigh does not make Sorority girls look dumb, so I have fun watching.

Did the cast of Greek meet people who were in the Greek system so that they could get a better idea of how to play their parts in sororities or fraternities?
No we didn’t actually. Everyone kind of did their own research. Half the cast was in college and half of us were in a sorority or fraternity. Many of us have family and friends who were in sororities and fraternities. Along the way we have learned more about rituals and what it is like to be in the system.

What have you learned about misconceptions in the Greek community?
We try so hard to make sure that we are as realistic as possible. Real Sorority/Fraternity life alone is dramatic that we do not really need to embellish it too much. Our creator and our writers were part of the Greek system so sometimes they will take a story from their experience and bring it to the table and change names. Hopefully we are not letting anyone down.

Is there anything for the fans you have not done as far as events that you would like to do?
We have been traveling a lot lately meeting fans. We had a mall tour and signed at book shops. I am not sure what we haven’t done yet. We definitely could go visit more schools across the country. I would love to have a big Frat party somewhere and meet fans.

You could put that on the DVD.

Wouldn’t that be awesome?

That would be awesome. Now which filming locations on Greek has been the most fun to shoot?
When we were filming the Spring Break episode, we didn’t actually go to Myrtle Beach since we film in Los Angeles. We just went to Seal Beach. Because we were filming on multiple days down there, we were put in a hotel. That was really cool because we all got to party together, go swimming, and we had a Girl’s Night In one night. That was a lot of fun, to hang out outside of the normal place that we hang out.

Take us through a day of filming Greek?
Mondays start very early in the morning. A crew call is usually around 7am so that means that the hair and makeup crew, some assistant producers and assistant directors, and cast need to get there by 5:30am. Hair and makeup takes about an hour and a half. Then the whole crew shows up and we will do about 4 scenes in a day. It takes quite a few hours to shoot one scene. A good day usually lasts about 12 hours. Then we start all over the next day. If we go over time, the next day of work will start later. So by Friday, crew call usually is not until noon. It is a long day but it is a lot of fun and thank God we all get along!

For sure. Now there is no doubt Greek has had great musical guests on the show, so do the Producers come to the cast for advice?
Actually no, our producers are really young and know what is cool so we have gotten lucky!

You are also a talented singer, having sung backup vocals on American Idol so can we expect an album from you in the future?
I would love that! It is definitely on my agenda of things to do before I die. I adore singing, it has always been a part of my life. I started playing piano really young too. I kind of thought music was where my life was headed and it turned into acting somehow. I definitely want to release an album one day!

What do you think are the important qualities of good music that have been lost over the years?
Music is always evolving. One thing though that has been really popular is that there has not been a big focus on lyrics. That is one of my favorite things, good lyricists. They really get to you and make you feel a certain emotion so that is something I pay attention to. A lot of new artists are starting to pay attention to that again. It is also important to keep music fresh and alive so it does not get mundane. There is a band that I am obsessed with called, Tally Hall. They are so creative, cool, and not preoccupied by their image. The beginning of a song will start off slow with rap and then it will turn into rock in the middle and then it will turn into a melodic ballad. They make it flow so well!

Do you find yourself wanting to do more television in the future, more film, or an equal amount of both?
I have always loved both. Actually, my dad was in a sitcom when I was a kid. I grew up going on set and watching a lot of the show for years every Friday. I know they say live sitcoms are dying so if it ever makes its way back, I would love to be on one. My favorite show of all time is Friends. It is not just my favorite show, it is an obsession. Doing something like that would complete my life (laughs).

What is your process for remembering your lines?
It is really just hearing it aloud over and over. I memorize responses. The way that they write on the show is so well done, it rolls off the tongue like I would say it so it is not that hard.

Tell us about your upcoming film that is scheduled to release next year, Fired Up.
It is a very, very funny movie. It is about these high school friends, these football guys that go to cheerleading camp to meet girls. I had a small part in that and I am excited to see how it turns out because the table read that I went to was hilarious. Everyone that was cast was incredible.

Switching angles, what do you have to say to the young people who have not register to vote yet for the Presidential Election?
Time is running out! It is a very quick and easy process. You are not allowed to complain about what is going on in the world if you do not go out and vote. Make your statement heard.

Greek: Chapter One is out on DVD now.



Greek Airs Tuesdays at 9pm on ABC Family.

Kath & Kim

Recently, I watched the Pilot for the American version of Kath & Kim (NBC). Instead of explaining what the show is about myself, just click here for the official website. Watching the Pilot only reinforced what I thought about the show beforehand, which is that it is such a silly show to watch but you really have to have a certain humor to be able to enjoy it. I laughed at some points but at other points, the jokes fell flat. The show in a sense tries too hard to be funny. I only gave this show a chance because I love Molly Shannon but unfortunately, that will not keep me watching every week. I have not watched the original version of the show, but from what I am hearing, the original is amazing and this remake is not. I hate to say it, but I would not be surprised if the show was canceled if it doesn’t step up.

My Favorite Quote from "Pilot":
"The wedding was fun...but now I have to do stuff?!" - Kim

The End Of CosmoGirl

I remember when Teen People Magazine , YM Magazine, and ElleGirl Magazine folded...now CosmoGirl Magazine is folding. The last issue will be the December 2008 issue. Cosmogirl Subscribers will be switched to Seventeen Magazine.

Source

Seventeen and Teen Vogue are still standing strong, 2 teen magazines that I still read. I enjoyed CosmoGirl while it lasted. Every good thing must come to an end. I wonder if those working at CosmoGirl will be merged into the Seventeen staff or not. I wonder when our economy will get better.

The Secret Life of Bees

Earlier this week I attended an advanced screening of The Secret Life of Bees hosted by Creative Screenwriting Magazine. Afterwards, there was a Q&A with the Witer-Director of the film, Gina Prince-Bythewood. The Q&A should be posted as an episode on the Creative Screenwriting Magazine Podcast soon.

I really enjoyed the film and I cannot wait for the DVD release! It had such a wonderful balance of drama and comedy. This film is going to get a lot of positive buzz! Everything about the film was amazing. I also really enjoyed the Q&A because I learned so much more about Gina Prince-Bythewood, whereas previously I only knew of her because of her film, Love & Basketball. If you have not read the book, the film does not come out until the 17th, so read fast! This is one film you do not want to miss in theatres, so mark your calendars!

To learn about the Advanced Screenings in the Los Angeles area that are hosted by Creative Screening Magazine, go here.

Starting Gossip Girl and Lipstick Jungle

So I finally read the first in the Gossip Girl series by Cecily von Ziegesar and really enjoyed it. I should be done reading the second book by tomorrow and will start the third over the weekend.

I also watched every episode of Lipstick Jungle online, thanks to Hulu. I really love that website. Anyway, the show is really great (based on the lives of 3 powerful women in NY) and eventually I plan on reading the book that the show is based on. I have the feeling that with this show, whether you watch first or read first, you are going to really enjoy both...which is why I was not strict on myself about reading the book before I watched the show.

So anyway, get into Gossip Girl and Lipstick Jungle if you are not into these shows, and if you like to read, be sure to catch the books that these shows are based on. Enjoy!

What's Going On With Scott Krinsky

If you are not watching Chuck (NBC) on Monday nights at 8pm then you are totally missing out. This show is entertaining in every aspect and today I am focusing on one. I enjoy every character on the show, although one really stands out. It was love at first wink with this character. Jeff, who is played by Scott Krinsky is one creepy sales guy. We have all bumped into a “Jeff” more than a couple of times and it is just so entertaining to see this persona played out on the screen. I got the chance to sit down with Scott Krinsky on 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, CA earlier this month to get to know more about the character, Jeff and more about Scott, himself. Enjoy!





You play Jeff on Chuck but was the original character for Jeff as creepy as you make him out to be?
Yes. The casting breakdown for Jeff was a creepy guy who was a little bit inappropriate with the customers, so he was meant to be creepy (laughs).

Your character is so much fun so is there anything difficult about getting into this character?
No, I’m so creepy. Look at me. (laughs) The casting was spot on. It’s a lot of fun to play those kind of creepy characters. I know from my experience, I think everyone can relate to going into a store and encountering people like that at any type of job where there are sales people on the floor.

Do you have a favorite quote from your character or any of the other characters?
I really like the Thanksgiving episode with the pineapple. I said my dad used to throw them at me when I was a kid. That seemed to register with a lot of fans and that was kind of fun.

Were there any pineapples on set as a joke?
There weren’t any pineapples on set that day. That would have been a little creepy and would have…scared me.

If you could be any other character from the show who would they be and why?
Maybe Captain Awesome because look at him…he’s a built, good looking guy. Maybe that is like a fantasy and I’ll come back in another lifetime as Captain Awesome.

What about this show made you want to become apart of it?
Well the work (laughs) but I worked on The OC with Josh Schwartz so the part kind of came about from working with him. He contacted me and basically offered me the role and it looked like a lot of fun.

You also played (a bit of a creepy) homeless guy on The OC!
Yeah! Let’s pretend this guy got a job all of a sudden and give him a different name and I think that’s how it all came about (laughs).

Which episode would you say was the most fun to work on?
That is such a hard question because they all are a lot of fun. The Thanksgiving episode always sticks out for me. It was Black Friday so we had the crowd rushing in and then I am cowering under the Buy more desk all scared. Plus, I think it was sort of the first time Jeff got to be emotional and scared, worried.

Can you tell us anything at all about what’s in store for Buy More and the Nerd Herd in the coming weeks?
The show is going to get more into the relationship between Morgan and Anna. We are going to learn a little bit about Jeff’s background. We are going to learn a little bit about Jeff’s past and how I came to working at Buy More. It’s interesting and fun to see Jeff back in his early days.

Do you ever visit any Chuck message boards or fan sites?
A little bit, yes. It is fun to see what people are saying about the characters. Hopefully it is always good and fun so yeah it is nice to see what the fans think.

Coming from Washington, D.C as an aspiring actor, did you always know that you wanted to move to Los Angeles or was New York an option?
I did spend a little time in NY but LA was my main focus because I hated winters back East. So I really could not wait to get out here and live where it was warm year round. I love the ocean and the beach so that sort of played into it.

The first few years that you were out here trying to make it in the entertainment business, what would you say was the hardest challenge as far as living in LA whether it has to do with auditions or just in everyday life?
It is a lot of patience and persistence. You get tested and you really have to have a lot of faith in yourself and believe in what you want to do. They say that anything is possible but it is only possible if you work hard and stick to what you believe in. At a certain point, there really wasn’t anything else that I wanted to do. This was it. I did a lot of odd jobs, I did theatre, and just stood it out.

Speaking of theatre, can we expect a musical episode of Chuck?
I don’t know. That is probably something that they have thought about. I would love to do it, so we’ll see. I would think that they would try to do that at some point.

Would you like to stick with television or continue to do both television and film?
I don’t really look at it like that. I consider myself a character actor and I am not quite a leading man. For me I just want to have fun roles, interesting characters. If it is TV or film, that doesn’t really make a difference. Hopefully I will get to do a lot of both.

As far as being a comedian, is there any topic that you will not talk about in your show?
There is nothing I really won’t talk about. I wouldn’t talk about something if there isn’t anything interesting to say about it or could not somehow make it funny. I don’t really censor myself.

Have you encountered many hardships in your life and turned them into comic relief or do you take inspiration from everyday experiences?
As any performer or artist, you draw from your whole life. All of your experiences, good or bad, the memories are part of you. I draw from them all and try not to forget anything because that is who I am.

As far as writing goes, what genre would you like to get into sharing?
I don’t see myself really getting into journalism as a career. I like to write my stand up and I have some ideas for scripts and shows. Those always tend to be comedy or dark comedy.

IMDB says that you majored in communications and broadcast journalism in college, but were those always the majors you were going to choose?
In college I definitely had the acting bug and the desire to perform. I was sort of the class clown, always getting trouble in high school. Sometimes you think some of the things that you really want to do are your dreams and fantasies but you have to be practical. So I think journalism was being more practical. I am very interested in journalism. I watch CNN and the news constantly and I love to read newspapers. I think that is what I studied because that is what I thought was more practical. Ultimately I ended up following my dreams. At a certain point when you get out of college and working, you think “Well what do I really want to do with the rest of my life,” you have to make a decision.

You also went to school for culinary arts, so what is your favorite dish to make?
Anything with chocolate. That is my addiction, I am a chocoholic. A chocolate layer cake, chocolate cupcakes… I like baking, I love sweets, and I love chocolate.

Catching Up With Schuyler Fisk

You may know her as Kristy Thomas from the film, The Babysitter’s Club or as Lane in the film, Snow Day. But you probably do not know what she has been up to the past couple of years. Since Snow Day, Schuyler Fisk has appeared on episodes of One Tree Hill and Law & Order SVU, and has appeared in numerous films, most recently, I’m Reed Fish. Today, Schuyler is recording her debut album and songs of hers are already available on iTunes! Wouldn’t you like to hear more from her? Here you go!

It has been awhile since we have seen you on the big and small screen so are you going to only work on your music from now on or do you plan to get back into acting?
I don't think I could ever completely give up acting and say I'd never go back to it, but right now I'm just completely focused on my music and I love getting to do it for a living.

Do you wish that people would see you as Schuyler Fisk and not Kristy from The Babysitter’s Club or you do not mind that people still see you as Kristy?
I'm just so excited when people recognize me at all. It always makes me laugh when someone mentions "The Baby-Sitter's Club" because it was SO long ago.... but it's cool to see that people remember that movie and still connect the dots that that was me then and this is me now. So funny! I love it when people bring BSC tapes or DVDs to my shows for me to sign. Usually they are embarrassed, but really I should be the one that's embarrassed, right?! (Laughs).

What was it like touring in Europe with Tori Amos?
It was fantastic. I loved watching Tori's process. She's quite an amazing performer, not to mention that I got to see so many amazing countries. Jonny (Flower), Josh (Radin) and I also played lots of poker in the van on the long drives from country to county. I'm pretty good now.

What are some of your favorite memories from the 2006 Hotel Café Tour?
That tour was a total blast. I was just soaking it all in....so happy to be on tour and grateful that I was getting to hang and sing with amazing people like Rachael Yamagata and The Weepies, sharing a very cramped bus, and drinking lots of whiskey. Fun times.

So when can we expect your album to drop and is there a name for it?
I haven't named the record yet and I think it's supposed to be out around February '09.

How has the process been like recording your album?
It's been amazing. I've been waiting so many years to get to make this record and it is finally happening. It is surreal and wonderful and overwhelming at the same time. I am trying to enjoy this process and make something I am really proud of.

As far as making your own music, were you always attracted to the folk music genre or did that come as you were writing and making music?
I picked up the guitar at 15 and started writing songs, and what came out was just kind of "my sound." It was definitely influenced by the music I grew up listening to (Bonnie Raitt, Rickie Lee Jones, Billie Holiday, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, the Beatles, Bob Dylan) and has for sure evolved as I have gotten older.

Who would you love to sing a duet with?
Ben Harper, Emmylou Harris...

When you moved to LA without her parents at just 17 years old, how did you get involved in Los Angeles social scene? What did you do to network with people, create friendships, and get closer to your dreams?
It was really hard to find good friends here at that age because most other kids my age were either still in high-school or heading to college. I was lucky that I moved out here with my best friend Leslie who was also my age. We helped to keep each other sane. I also had some family friends out here, but it was hard for a while. Now that I am older, I have had a lot of friends from back east move out here and that has been amazing! I have never been huge on the "LA social scene." I like to hang with my friends, my family and my dog. That is what makes me happy. Period.

What have you learned about the entertainment business from your mother, Sissy Spacek and father, Jack Fisk?
To enjoy the journey and be grateful that I get to do what I love. Also, to treat everyone the way I would want to be treated. The golden rule - it is a good one.

Do you feel more at home in Los Angeles, California or Virginia?
Virginia will always be my true home. I just feel like I belong there, you know? I have grown to love LA though and I have an amazing group of friends out here that makes LA feel like home too. I feel lucky to have a home on both coasts where I have people that I love.

You played the ukulele as a young child but can you still play?
Haha, not really.

How long have you been a vegan and what are your favorite vegan/vegetarian places to eat at in LA?
I became vegan almost 5 years ago. I originally just decided to do it as a kind of cleanse for my body....and then ended up enjoying the way it made me feel. I was vegan for a few years, but now I have started eating meat again. I still don't eat eggs or dairy though and probably never will. It's really amazing how much healthier I have been since cutting eggs and dairy out of my diet. I love the nachos at Real Food Daily, go to Scoops for the best vegan ice cream EVER, Native Foods for their fabulous vegan pizza...

For more Schuyler Fisk, visit her website here.