Your Entertainment. Period.
Here you will find out what new entertainment media is coming out and interviews with today's celebrities and tomorrow's rising stars! Get our blog on the Kindle!
Nashville, TN (December 10, 2013) - Rising country music star Billy Dawson and legendary NFL football coach Vince Lombardi never met but they both acknowledge the power of leadership in success and recognize the importance of “leading the pack.” With Lombardi’s legacy as their inspiration, songwriters Dawson, Amy Jack and Gannon Adams, penned “Born To Lead,” as an inspirational anthem that motivates followers to become leaders. The songwriters echo Lombardi’s sentiments with the line “it’s not the size of the dog it’s the size of his fight”. The song and accompanying music video will hit airwaves for millions of viewers during the Rotary Lombardi Award Ceremony live on CBS Sports Network December 11 at 7:30 pm central. “Born To Lead” will be available for download on iTunes immediately following the broadcast. An encore presentation will air on December 12 at 3:00 pm central on CBS Sports Network.
“It’s such an honor to co-write and record ‘Born To Lead’ for the iconic Lombardi awards,” says Dawson. “We were all born to lead but only some step into that position and become a positive influence to everyone around them.”
The video, filmed in Nashville at LP Field, features a performance by Dawson and profiles each of the Lombardi Award finalists. This year’s finalists include Anthony Barr (UCLA), Aaron Donald (Pittsburgh), CJ Mosley (Alabama) and Michael Sam (Missouri).
Dawson adds, “I am honored to be involved with such a great organization and excited to work with Mr. Spencer Tillman, a man of great integrity that is the true definition of being a born leader.”
About Billy Dawson
Rising country star Billy Dawson is a multi-talented singer, entertainer, author and writer. He is currently in the studio working with Grammy award winning writer and producer Skidd Mills on a new album to be released in 2014. Songwriting heavyweight Rivers Rutherford, who penned hits such as When I Get Where I'm Going (Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton), Real Good Man (Tim McGraw), These Are My People (Rodney Atkins) and Stealing Cinderella (Chuck Wicks), is a longtime supporter and mentor for Dawson.
Earlier this year, Dawson was invited to be part of the Pat and Emmitt Smith Celebrity golf tournament as the celebrity country artist along with celebrities Marcus Allen, Eric Dickerson, Alfonso Ribiero, Anthony Anderson, Michael Irvin, Jay Novacek, David Justice, Coach Nick Saban and Trent Richardson. He is slated to participate again in 2014.
Dawson has shared the stage with artists including Lady Antebellum, One Republic, John Hiatt, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Skillet, Five For Fighting, Colt Ford, Charlie Louvin and Cross Canadian Ragweed. He was the winner of the 2010 "Get Discovered" (iHeart Radio/Clear Channel) National Competition and was featured live on the iconic Jerry Lewis MDA telethon in Las Vegas and on the airwaves for over four million viewers. He was included in iTunes/Tunecore Country 2010 album featuring Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford.
In addition to his musical endeavors, Dawson is the author of You Never Know, the first book in a series of children's books focusing bullying, racism and other societal issues involving children. He brings his book to life when he speaks at schools about the importance of respect and love in everyday life.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Jamee Natella, founder and executive producer of Blueyed Pictures via email.
From this picture, I can see where Jamee got the name for her company!
TeeJay:What happened to make you start your company?
Jamee: I was living and working in Tokyo for Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) – a highly unusual gig for a foreigner. I soon realized that there was a need for someone to provide production services to visiting producers. So I decided to launch my own venture, Blueyed Pictures Inc. My first job was producing a commercial for Virgin Cinemas.
What has been you favorite project? Hardest?
I have produced a great deal of work the past 15 years.
I like the commercials that bring us to different locations. They are most memorable to me because you travel, live with your crew and discover new situations. Pepsi for BBDO in the Caribbean, Land Rover for Y&R in Japan & Sony In China are amongst a few.
I also really dig commercials that I get to work with accomplished individuals i.e Visa- athletes in the Olympics
The most challenging I believe become your favorite commercials. It makes you strive to be a better producer and gets you out of your comfort zone.
The Lexus Superbowl Spot was challenging (2011) - creating a massive sci-fi environment in the Long Beach Convention Center--- AND our other Producer, Jon Goldberg would agree, Scion Declaration (2008)- a 3 day desert shoot featuring over 150 picture vehicles, 25 precision drivers, helicopter shots, and an 80+ foot crane shot.
What is coming up in the future?
We just wrapped a Bud Light spot for the Superbowl and for SC Johnson a product called, "All Out".
Currently running , is our campaign for Toyota Scion's 10-year anniversary, University of Arizona and BBDO's Fight Dengue.
Next year we will also go into production on Blueyed Pictures' first feature film.
There’s so much more to come in January 2014!
What is the process behind a commercial, because many people think it is a quick process, I know otherwise.
You have to be able to move quickly. A lot of preparation goes into it as well. Firstly, the ad agency does market research on the product, and comes up with a campaign. Then I have to win the job - and there’s always competition! The agency will pick a director - usually someone from our roster. Or there might already be a director attached, in that case we execute their vision. Of course, after the job has been awarded, we do a lot of prep work and get everything ready for the shoot, which can last anywhere from one to four days.
What do you want people to know about what you do?
This job requires dedication but also a huge amount of energy – it really is 24/7. You must have passion but also the ability to focus. You need to be up to date on the latest products and innovations - they may be future clients. But you also need to be informed about the latest directors and DPs, and have watched all of their reels. Social media plays an important role in this business, from a branding and marketing perspective. And always know your immediate competitors – this environment is constantly changing and you need to stay one step ahead of everyone else.
I had 2 glorious days off in a row... So I decided to go see a Marvel superhero movie, since they are my favorite type of movie to watch nowadays.
Thor 2: The Dark World
Great movie, all of our favorite characters are back, they built off of the first Thor movie, even had a few mentions about The Avengers. Great cameo by Captain America in the middle. Lots of action, good story line. I even got sad when *SPOILER* Renee Russo dies. Anthony Hopkins loses a wife, Loki and Thor lose a mother. Of course I saw it in 3D but nothing really stands out as of why I saw it in 3D like Oz or Avatar.
Don't forget to stay for the credits where an Easter Egg is laid, I don't get it right now, but I'm sure it will make sense when the next Marvel movie comes out.
On another note
Man of Steel comes out this Tuesday, if you are close to a "Hastings Entertainment" store, they will be having a midnight release party, if you go (I will) send me pictures to post!
So... I took yesterday off to catch up on some of my movies that I am behind on.... It was a long day!
It felt like a day of the sequels!
Grown-Ups 2
Adam Sandler and crew strike again! Lots of funny moments, some great jokes, I laughed the most at Kevin James but the movie as a whole was good. Didn't like the huge product placement by Kmart... Pick it as a must watch! Great cameos by Taylor Lautner, Shaq, and Steve Austin! Buy it!
The Hangover 3
Ummmm.... Only a few laughable moments, maybe since it was the exact same movie as the 2 before it. John Goodman shows his acting chops as playing a bad guy, but any real acting in this movie stood put above the rest of the shenanigans. Skip it.
The Conjuring
Loved it.... Except where some of the same spooky details came straight from paranormal activity. The history of the house was very intriguing and more emphasis should have been placed on it and that the 2 main characters are based on real people! A good frightful movie. Buy it!
Pacific Rim
This is a great action movie, when the monsters are attacking hongKong I couldn't help but think of old Godzilla movies! Loved the premise of the movie, but they could have spent 20 more minuts explaining things a little better, like why some people have a better 'connection' than others, the different types of robots built, etc....
Parkland
It's a Tom Hanks movie, so you know it will be good! A historical look at the Kennedy Assassination but including people they don't show you in main stream history books. It was interesting to see the inner turmoil of the guy that shot the most famous footage where Kennedy was shot to Bob Oswald (Lee's Brother) and his mother. I never saw/learned about these people in school. It also shows a different time where people actually cared about people they never met on a deeper plane unlike today. This is a MUST WATCH movie for everyone, I think it should be shown in schools as a teaching tool, even though some of the dialogue is made up.
The Heat
One of the funniest movies I have seen al year! Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy are a comedy team that I hope I see again in the future... These lady cops really know how to kick butt better than the boys. Buy it!
Sometimes it is hard to get an interview or to find the time to watch a movie so that u can review it. Sometimes my other blogs are grabbing all kinds of content while another one waits for something. Right now I am in that predicament. My other blog, www.TheFoodieWithin.com has gotten some great interviews with some very famous chefs with more to come, so I invite you over to read those while I get some content for this blog!
Cody Belew was a finalist on Season 3 of The Voice where he was mentored by CeeLo Green. Cody has his own album coming out, so we thought we needed to get in contact with him... This is what we learned:
TeeJay Today: Give us a quick bio.... Mom and Dad, siblings, hometown, etc... Cody Belew: Grew up in Beebe, Arkansas. Steve and Lisa Belew- parents. Casey Belew- younger brother
TeeJay: Tell us about some of the jobs you've done in the past that aren't music related that got you to where you are now.
Cody: When I was a kid, I worked for a man that cut and baled hay during the summers. I worked my way through every job (starting with dishwasher) at a local restaurant. They used to call me out of the kitchen to sing happy birthday and present a piece of pie to customers.
I worked on a chicken farm, in a grain mill, a Christmas tree lot, and a coffee shop. Most notably, I worked for a number of years as a tailor altering clothes. That lead me to designing and building costumes for my college theatre program. I went on to minor in theatre.
TJ: Tell me everything about your first big show that you played.
CB: My first big show wasn't a big show in terms of capacity, but it really set the tone for every show after that. I was set to play a Wednesday night at the little jazz club in Little Rock, Arkansas. I told them I felt that I was ready for a weekend slot, and promised that I could fill the place if given the chance. They wouldn't allow it. Wednesday it was. I played the gig, sold out the show. They only had one waitress on duty and the crowd nearly ran her to death. My crowd drank their bar completely dry!!! HAHA. I never played another Wednesday night. From then on, I was a top draw. :-)
TJ: What one artist do you look up to the most and why? CB: I really look up to Lady Gaga right now. Not because of her music, but because of her work ethic and how she as structured her business. She is very savvy and knows how to build a good, strong team of people around her. I want to do that for my own career.
TJ: If you had to choose one song that summed up your life and challenges, what would it be? CB: "thank you falettinme be myself" -Sly and the Family Stone.
TJ: In 3 words, describe your freshman album?
CB: Refreshing, Sexy, Twerkable
TJ: Tell us about the tour coming up!
CB:Planning a few dates in the Midwest at the moment. Chicago being the one I'm very excited about. I'm playing the Hard Rock Cafe there on November 8th.
TJ: Tell us about the album dropping sept 3rd in your own words!
CB: Its my pride and joy. It's my soul's work. This album achieves what I said I was going to write- timeless pop music that is relevant, catchy, and fun to listen to. I want listeners to fall in love with this project.
TJ: Favorite song on the album? (We know its hard to choose just one)
CB: "Give Me Your Love"
TJ: Biggest inspiration?
CB: My family. I want to make them proud.
TJ: What is one thing that you want future fans to know about you? CB: I am not artificial, and I am not in the business chasing celebrity. I want to leave a legacy of good music and good, strong live shows. If you're willing to go on this journey with me, I promise I won't let you down.
Rapid Fire: Favorite: (one word answers)
Animal- Falcon
Color- Olive Green
Food- Grilled Pork Chops
Sports team- Tennessee Titans
Song- "Up To The Mountain"
Sport- Tennis
Artist- Spencer Tunick
Magazine- Architectural Digest
Actor/Actress- Shirley Maclaine
Number- 12
Astrological sign- Taurus
Movie- Fried Green Tomatoes
Book- "The 13th Tale"
Drink- Whiskey and Coke
Interviewer- Oprah
TJ: Single or Taken? CB: taken
TJ: Describe your perfect date? CB: A really great restaurant and an amazing bottle of wine, OR going to the movies.
TJ: Favorite music collab you've done? CB: Cee Lo Green, of course!
TJ: What is the last dream you remember? CB: I dreamed a tornado came through during a snow storm and after it over it was a sunny, summer day.
TJ: Can we get some tips from "The Voice" ? CB: SMILE- there's ALWAYS a camera on you. haha
TJ: What is one fact about you that no one else knows, not even your close friends and family? CB: If I told you then it wouldn't be something no on else knows!!
TJ: Where can we find your Album? CB: iTunes with physical copies in stores around the US soon.
TJ: What was it like working with CeeLo? CB: A genuine artist. It was a dream working with him. He always keeps things fun.
TJ: Any dirt or weird habits you can spill on CeeLo? CB: He has 3 little diamonds embedded in his teeth.
TJ: If someone were to write the Cody Belew biography the first sentence would read..... CB: They used to call him "the boy that sings." TJ: If the same biography were made into a movie, I want ___CB:Richard Madden_______ to play me!
Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my silly questions!
Don't forget to go buy Cody's NEW ALBUM at the link below and as always please follow us on twitter! @CodyBelew and @TeeJayToday
I went and stayed the entire day at the movie theater the other day to catch up on all of the new releases then I watched a few oldies on Netflix the other night.... Let's dive in shall we..
Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters
I was lucky, I was able to see this movie a full day before everyone else. It was great. It has been getting mixed reviews because it is not Twilight, Harry Potter, or The Hunger Games. As much as I like those films, I think it should get bonus for NOT being like those other films. It took a different route. This installment adds a few more stars to the mix (Stanley Tucci, Nathan Fillion) and of course all of your favorites including Logan Lerman. The best lines go to Stanley Tucci and Nathan Fillion, but you will have to watch it to get those. The special effects are amazing, I especially liked the water horse thing that pops us in the movie.
Another thing is that parts of the movie are actually rooted in Greek mythology: golden fleece, the gods, their attributes, the metal bull, etc...
Go see it in 3D in the theaters, you won't be disappointed!
Turbo
This CGI animated cartoon film was enjoyable. It has Ryan Reynolds as Turbo, the snail that dreams of entering the INDY 500. It was funny, had some heartfelt moments too. I took my 2 younger brothers to see it, they really wanted to see it, I wanted to see something else. They really enjoyed it, but if you don't have some younger ones to go see it, you might want to wait til this one comes out on video.
Wolverine
Easy... LOVED IT. I am a huge action super hero person. This one felt more gritty than any other of the Wolverine movies, (including XMEN). In this one we get to meet new mutants, The Viper! Great movie, it really builds onto Wolverine, Hugh Jackman is still ripped and can carry this franchise even further. I like how it explains some of the Nagasaki and that it was just another theater of war that Logan was in. Go See It! *I was extremely excited to see the Easter Eggs at the end of the film!
I also watched a couple older movies, if you remember them or have something to say about them, comment below or send me some tweets!
I also watched: The Faculty The Rescuers: Down Under
I had a much needed day off today and am taking full advantage of it.
First of all, I slept in til 10AM... I cant believe I did that! Played on my iPad a bit, went to the movie theater and saw RIPD.
RIPD
It was a great movie! I have been reading where this movie is getting a bad wrap when it comes to online reviews. But I went into the theater with an open mind. I liked it! Ryan Reynolds is his normal self, full of one liners and some action thrown in too! Jeff Bridges is hilarious in this movie, he steals the show! From seeing the previews I even had a surprise in the theater... Did you know that Kevin Bacon is one of the main characters? I had no idea! If you like Sci-fi and Action with a bit of comedy, you will enjoy this movie!
When I got back from the movies I stopped at the Rusty Taco and got a shrimp taco and fish taco with a Mexican Coca Cola. (Breakfast was a smoothie so I was pretty hungry)
When I got home I decided to make some Peach butter since I was out of jelly and I bought a bunch of fresh peaches at the farmers market the day before. I then took a nap which I normally dont do. Watched a few YouTube videos, drew and painted a Spider Man painting that I had been wanting to do. Ate some Mexican food. Now I am typing this and I have Paranorman playing on netflix and my xBox.
TeeJay: Give us a quick bio.... Mom and dad, siblings, hometown, etc...: Micheal: Born in Liberty, TX, mom played the piano and I quickly followed suit by starting at 6 months old. Dad played the guitar well enough to get me interested in the guitar. I grew up with an older brother and sister who were always listening to everything from Willie Nelson to The Police, and I subsequently raided their record collections when they left home. I started singing when I was a little boy, around 5 or 6, but I didn't really get introduced to serious singing until I joined the school choir in the 6th grade. At that point we lived in McAllen, Tx. My choir director was Mr Emby Tanner, and he pushed me to keep singing and convinced me to join high school choir when I got there. The whole time I was exploring songwriting, and synthesizers. This would've been around the time I was 13. It all culminated in me wanting to make a living playing music. Whatever that would entail. Since that time I've worked as a church music director, I've been music director for several bands, toured as a keyboard player for some major label acts, mostly Christian artists. Today I pay the bills playing piano and singing as an entertainer at Petes Piano Bar in Austin, Tx. That job certainly takes every skill I have to make it successful. My family and I currently reside in New Braunfels, Tx and couldn't be happier living here.
TJ: Tell us about some of the jobs you've done in the past that aren't music related that got you to where you are now. MA:For a musician every job is to keep you afloat to play music. When I was young my dad owned a small fleet of vintage airplanes for a cargo business. I swept the floor in the maintenance hanger. At another time my wife and I were janitors in a church. But the weirdest job I ever had consisted of taking staples out of papers in old medical files.
TJ: Tell me everything about your first big show that you played. MA: The first big show I ever played was at the High School auditorium at Memorial High in McAllen, Tx. Well over two thousand students. I had played other shows, but never for that many people. I did a one man band act playing eclectic music. Everything from The Stones and Howard Jones to Jean Michele-Jarre, who I thought was extremely cool at the time. It was crazy, I played intermission music for the other bands. There were at least ten bands that night.
TJ: What one artist do you look up to the most and why? MA: I'd say the one artist that I keep returning to over and over throughout my life is Peter Gabriel. He seems to always be creating true musical and sonic art, and seems to consistently push boundaries. He inspires me, though I sound nothing like him.
TJ: If you had to choose one song that summed up your life and challenges,> what would it be? MA:The Late Greats by Wilco.
TJ: In 3 words, describe your freshman album? MA:Total musical disregard.
TJ: Tell us about any shows coming up. MA:Pete's Pianos keeps me busy enough that I really can't tour, but I am able to keep writing and recording. At the moment I'm working on music with a great artist in San Antonio named Chris Taylor. I'm also working on a series of EP style records that will be mainly piano and vocals. One will be all original material, one will be covers of my favorite songs. And one will be a reworking of old hymns.
TJ: What is one thing that you want future fans to know about you? MA: That I try to write songs that come from a place of honesty. If I haven't experienced it in my life it's hard to write about. Others are really good at writing made up stories in song. I'm not.
Rapid Fire: Favorite: (one word answers) Animal : Tiger Color : Blue Food : I'm having a love affair with sushi Sports team : The Roswell Grays Song : The Long And Winding Road by The Beatles Sport : Hiking Artist : Ansel Adams Magazine : Keyboard Actor/Actress : Benedict Cumberbatch/Karen Gillam Color : Blue, is this a trick question? (Just making sure you are paying attention! LOL!) Number : 13 Astrological Sign : I'm a cancer. You can't get much better than that. Movie : Star Wars (1977) Book : Psalms Drink : Skinny Vanilla with heavy cream Interviewer : TeeJay of course Single or Taken : Taken
TJ: Describe your perfect date. MA: Gourmet lunch at the Huisache Grill in downtown New Braunfels followed by a walk through the town square, and coffee somewhere in there. I'm pretty simple these days.
TJ: Favorite music collab you've done? MA:Working with producer Matt Erickson on my EP Box of Letters.
TJ: What is the last dream you remember? MA:I don't remember the details, I just remember my cat kept showing up. Just sitting in the corner. Creepy!
TJ: What is one fact about you that no one else knows, not even your close friends and family? MA:It may seem trivial, but I once tried to cross a low water crossing in my first car. Nearly got swept away but managed to get out. That cured me of ever doing that again. (Good PSA)
TJ: Where can we find your Album? What is your twitter handle, Facebook,> etc..... MA: Box Of Letters is on iTunes, I'm also on Reverbnation at reverbnation.com/atkinsmusiconline, @funkdaddyone on twitter, My fan page on the book of faces is Mike Atkins
TJ: Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my silly questions! MA:Thanks for interviewing me!
The 4th of July weekend is over and today is the last day of my vacation....
What I did:
Went to a new zoo,
Played glow in the dark puttputt
Went to a Giant Farmers Market
Went to an IMAX Dome theater
Went to a Science Museum
Saw The Lone Ranger
Watched Fireworks
The Lone Ranger:
I love it... a lot of the reviews that I am seeing are kind of bad. People don't understand that my generation or the next don't know about the Lone Ranger...That is why it takes a 2:30 hour long movie to reintroduce him and Tonto to mainstream again. Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp did a wonderful job of bringing them back to life. Tonto has some of the funniest lines. My favorite parts are at the end of the movie when they start making references to the old series. You hear the theme song to the old series at the end of the movie during the "Big Scene" and the whole theater starting clapping along with the music! That was Awesome! I love when a theater of people really get into a movie together.
*I was probably one of the youngest people in the theater, but I went for the 3P showing.
World War Z
Epic movie... I loved it... made me completely disinfect my home after watching and I will probably become a "prepper" now. Great story line, great actors, awesome special FX and makeup. Plus... I LOVE ZOMBIES.
This DVD will become a part of my home collection. SPIOLER ALERT>>>The only thing is that I wish they would have made it a 3 hour long movie and shown more of how they cleaned up after the apocalypse and how they got the vaccine to the masses.
Later that night I went to a Fireworks Show in Downtown Longview TX. Here is THE WHOLE THING! I recorded it for you, and got a lot of ant and bug bites in the process! Enjoy!
This is a post that I will keep adding to and updating as I read more books.
Here Is a list of all o the books that I have read lately and what I currently have on my agenda to read.
On the List to Read ASAP:
The Harry Potter Series ("Ive only watched the movies)
The Great Gatsby
World War Z
Jurassic Park
All of the books by James Franco (he fascinates me)
Books I have read and recommend:
The Hunger Games Trilogy
I loved this series, and cant wait for the other movies to be released. Lots of action
The Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy
I think I am one of the only guys that read this book, but it was pretty good! (I caught myself blushing during some of the parts though)
Life of Pi
I watched the movie first. This book took FOREVER for me to finish, its not a long book, but just too many chapters, I'm bad about reading a chapter then stopping for the night, instead of reading like 10 pages or something. Good book!
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
This book now ranks right up there with the Hunger Games Series as one of my favorite books. I loved the movie too!
Just like the title says, I spent 8 hours in a movie theater over the last 2 days watching movies so that I could get some reviews posted!
Man of Steel!
The much anticipated reboot of Superman from DC and Christopher Nolan. It does not disappoint. Henry Cavill (Superman) is one of my new favorite actors at the moment (I loved him in "Immortals") The ladies behind me whistled when they saw him without his shirt on.
The graphics are amazing! For a second at the beginning, I though I was watching 'Avatar'! I did see this movie in 3D but this is one of the RARE instances where I will not recommend it in 3D simply because there is only one time where the 3D is used correctly. This is a very much a guys movie.... lots of action and explosions through the entire movie.
I am glad that I saw this movie in 3D because there are 2 times in this movie that my eyes started to sweat (tear up) because Kevin Costner is the perfect father figure, that really tug at the heart strings. Amy Adams plays a perfect Lois Lane with plenty of great lines in the movie. Diane Lane, Lawrence Fishburne, Russell Crow, and many others make a well rounded and perfectly chosen cast. P.S. the bad guy is a REAL bad guy.
You know a movie is good when everyone in the theater claps when the movie was over, that is exactly what happened last night! And I got a pair of limited edition "Man of Steel" blue 3D glasses.
While waiting for my movie to start, (I had to buy my ticked many hours in advance) I decided to run next door to target to waste some time. I saw that "OZ" had just come out on video, (see my older posts for a review) I knew I had to have it, so I bought it!
In the theater I noticed that James Franco was in another movie that was playing and that his little brother Dave was also in a movie that was playing....so....
Franco vs Franco was born
This is the End.
What a hilarious movie. I am not a fan of Seth Rogan but I am a fan of James Franco. This movie is a "Who's Who" of relevant comedy for today. It also has a few cameos from big stars like Emma Watson (another one of my faves) and Rihanna. Lots of drug references, sex, etc... All of the comedians play larger than life portrayals of themselves. It is refreshing to see stars poke fun of themselves.
The guys that were sitting behind me were obviously high. They laughed at the previews which were boring. During the movie, the entire theater was is hysterics. My most favorite scene was when Danny McBride and James Franco are arguing over an adult magazine. Also seeing how Jonah Hill gets possessed if freaking to die for!
Now You See Me
The second Franco movie that I watched co-stars the younger Dave Franco. They look a lot a like. This movie also stars: Woody Harrelson (The Hunger Games), Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers), Morgan Freeman and Micheal Caine, both with too many movies to list.
I am a fan of magicians and illusionists. I was really impressed the last time I went to Vegas and saw Chris Angel perform live. So I had high hopes for this movie. The illusions were OFF the CHAIN. The thing that got me was I am watching this as if I am watching a live magician. I am looking for how these are done, but since they are CGI, I never see any hints, but my mind does not make the connection and I more impressed with the illusions. The twists at the end completely throws me for a loop, I was thinking of a complete different ending! Go see it.... I hope that this leads to more and larger roles for Dave Franco.
"I’m Sam from Amsterdam, But really my name is Samantha Stomphorst… I changed it because no one could pronounce it. When I lived in Snyder TX, I played at my FAVORITE venue, the Belle Opry House, every weekend. The owners, Robert and Suzi Q would introduce me on stage as Sam from Amsterdam. So since then, that’s my new name
I grew up in the Netherlands, lived there until I was 17. I moved to Texas by myself, and my family still lives in Holland. I go around Texas and play music, that’s my favorite thing to do. I’m just an overall music fan. I listen to every style of music, and know lyrics to so many songs its ridiculous!"
TeeJay Today: Sam, you are from Holland, but relocated to West Texas. What was the biggest culture shock you had to get used to in Texas?
Sam from Amsterdam: To this day, I learn new things about this country every day. New expressions, new words.. Plus each state sort of has a different culture to it, so it never gets old. One of the biggest culture shocks though, was the portions of food. My mom has always taught me to finish whatever is on my plate, so I did.. Here that caused me to gain quite a few pounds haha! Also what surprised me is that y'all have a drive through for everything! I used to think it was so cool to go to the bank so I could send one of those bottles up the pipe. I still think that's pretty dang cool. Just little things like that are still awesome to me.
TJ: You said that you worked 3 jobs for about 80 hours per week to save up enoughmoney to get back to Texas, What where those jobs and do you have any stories you would like to share that happened while working on those jobs?
Sam: I did, it was tough to get myself back to this country. It’s pretty hard to get into this country if your home country doesn’t share a border. I've been trying hard to do this the legal way. The government has so much paperwork to go through it's ridiculous! I can't afford a lawyer, so I read and do all the paperwork myself. The easiest visa to get was a student visa, so that's the first one I got. On there it wants you to have a certain amount of money available in the bank.. This is why I had to save all that money. My parents made me a deal.. They said if I'd stay with them in Holland, they'd pay for my school, board, food, everything! But.. If I'd move away to the USA like I wanted to, I would have to do everything myself. They didn't think I'd be able to save up all this money by myself¦ it was pretty tough, being so young and never doing anything but work.. Literally! I would get up at 4:30 do my paper route, then run to get my scholarship, then go work at the restaurant all day.. And from Monday through Wednesday the restaurant was closed at nights, so I worked at McDonalds for a while and as a telemarketer. I never went out, or did anything that cost me money. On my only afternoon off on Sunday, I would watch tv all day, lay in bed and eat. I looooved my job working as a waitress.. That helped a lot, doing something I loved. I had the best co workers that even put out a jar with "Sam's USA Money" on it so our regulars could help me out.
TJ: Tell me everything about your first big band show that you recently played.
Sam: The first full band show I played was at Rockin' Rodeo in Midland, TX. Brian Milson lent me his band to open his show. It was so awesome! Best feeling ever! A bunch of people came out to watch, which meant a lot to me. It was to my surprise easier than playing acoustic, It wasn't all up to me. Me and the band got to share, and I loved that.
TJ: What one artist do you look up to the most and why?
Sam: I look up to Gretchen Wilson.. I read her book and she reminds me of me.. Just strong willed and do whatever she feels like kinda person. She chased her dreams and would not stop, and that's what I'm doing right now. I don't have a rich daddy filling my pockets with money either.. Like Gretchen I'll have to fight for what I want and pay my dues, and that's fine with me.
TJ: If you had to choose one song that summed up your life and challenges, what would it be?
Sam: Probably "Born to Fly" by Sarah Evans.. I had always known I was going to leave Holland, move to the USA and do something big with my life. I'm just not a person that would ever be happy working a 9-5 job the rest of my life and come home to a bunch of kids. I feel like I was born to fly. I've never really felt like I fit in anywhere.. But that has helped me a lot, because I don't ever get comfortable in situations.. Because I just don't fit in.. I keep moving forward.
TJ: In 3 words, describe your freshman album?
Sam: I would say it's Soulful, Unique and Truthful.. I wrote 4 songs on there and they all mean a lot to me. They all have their own meaning. Like Only 21, I wrote that when I was in a really low place. And Mexico helped me out of that. I wrote Mexico when I met my parents over there a few years ago and kinda got to get away and relax for the first time in a long time. All these songs have a meaning to me, and I feel like a lot of people can relate to them. I might not be raised in the country, but I sure as hell know how to work hard.
TJ: I saw that Rich o'Toole purchased your album from iTunes, how did that make you feel when you found out? (If you watched my TV show, you saw me interview this Awesome TX Musician!)
Sam: This was the coolest thing ever! I've admired Rich's music for a long time. When I moved here he was one of the first Texas acts I saw. I could watch his show every day and not get tired of it. I think he's a true entertainer and love learning from him as an artist. He's always been very supportive and always has time to give advice. I tweeted him that my album was out and he bought it right away and then advertised it on twitter and instagram for me.
TJ: What is one thing that you want future fans to know about you?
Sam: To keep their eyes out for me, I'm gonna fight till I get to the top. What I would want my future fans to know is that I'm the real deal. I'm not just someone who sings other people's songs and is told exactly how to sing something. I'm not someone who gets everything handed to them and will only eat of gold plates haha. I play every gig I can get, I love every person I see smiling when I play a show. Whenever I moved here and was all by myself, it always made me feel like I wasn't alone when I would listen to music. I want to make people happy with my music and help them through tough times and stand by them through good times. I feel like I'm born to do this
Rapid Fire: Favorite: (one word answers)
TJ: Animal Sam: dog
TJ: Color Sam: Red
TJ: Food Sam: Ribs
TJ: Sports Team Sam: Crimson Tide
TJ: Song Sam: Speechless
TJ: Sport Sam: Running
TJ: Artist Sam: Gretchen Wilson
TJ: Magazine Sam: Runners
TJ: Actress Sam: Jennifer Aniston
TJ: Number Sam: 17
TJ: Astrological Sign Sam: Aquarius
TJ: Movie Sam: Overboard
TJ: Book Sam: A lotus Growing in the Mud
TJ: Drink Sam: Diet Coke
TJ: Single or Taken?
Sam: Taken!!
TJ: Describe your perfect date?
Sam: My perfect date would be going to see a band play, or going to see a movie and some dinner.. I'm a pretty simple person.. My favorite time of the day is just laying on the couch with my favorite person in the world and fall a sleep watching tv..
TJ: What is the last dream you remember?
Sam: Pff.. I have the weirdest dreams I swear! Last night I dreamed that I ran into Tom Hanks and that I got mad at him because we were on a plane together and he wouldn't shut up.. Who would get mad at Tom Hanks talking to them?? I don't know where this came from haha
TJ: Where can we find your Album? What is your twitter handle, Facebook, etc.....
Sam: You can find my album on iTunes and on my website www.samfromamsterdam.com my twitter is samfrmamsterdam and my face book is www.facebook.com/samfromamsterdam
Okay... I had 2 days off in a row... so I visited Hastings Entertainment and loaded up on movies that I haven't seen yet... and I went to the movies!
The Great Gatsby
First of all, I have to apologize but I have not read the book YET, but it is on my list for 2013. I'm going to make out my reading list later this month of books that I have read and the books I plan on reading!
The remake of the Great Gatsby was epic in my opinion. It really shows the grander of living during the roaring twenties and how many people throughout this time achieved (or missed out) on the American Dream. The soundtrack was impressive. One of my favorite things is how they made Gatsby Great. To start out the movie, you don't get to see Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby. You DO get to see the back of his head, his ring, etc... It really builds the tension and when you finally get to see him as the Gatsby, you are not disappointed. I also have to say that he looks much younger in this film then he looked in some of his other films. The villain in this movie is really hated. The women in this movie (especially the lady that they try to set up Toby with) is my new favorite leading lady. The visuals were amazing, none so more apparent then during the party scenes and where you see the Dr. Eyes where people are cleaning up the spent coal from a growing New York.
Mama
I guess I was in a dark mood when I was renting movies because I picked up a few horror movies. Mama takes place when a father drives his 2 daughters out of town, has a wreck, finds an abandoned house in the woods, attempts to kill the girls, then a random ghosts stops him and kills him. The daughters are then taken care of by the ghosts in the woods for 5 years when they are found. They are now WILD and act more like animals than children. The ghosts decides to follow the children to take care of them even though they are moved into the city. I liked this movie, it has a few spooky moments that warranted me to turn the lights on every time I heard a random noise. They only thing that got me was that I didn't like how it ended. I will not spoil it for you, but let me know what you think about the ending.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Okay, I am from West Texas, currently living in East TX. The urban legend that we grow up with is that this story is real (its not) so every time a new version of this movie comes out, my friends and I have to go see it. It helps propagate the urban legend. This one is by far the WORST one I have seen. The whole set up of the movie doesn't make any sense. It leaves too many questions open for any person that has made it past the 3rd grade. Don't waste your time with this one, go see the original! This version don't even have any parts that make you jump, absolutely no tension in this installment. I think Rob Zombie should helm a reboot of this franchise!
The Last Stand
YES!!! Arnold is Back!!! Everyone likes to root for the small town sheriff that can get the job down over the entire police force of a huge town. The best part is when the big police force guy calls Arnold and tries to give him orders, Arnold says, I don't know you so I don't answer to you! YES! Growing up in a small town (pop 2500), I saw this mentality from our own police force. They did what they want when they want. For the most part we had a stress free town! Why you will like this video: Explosions, guns, cars destroyed, Johnny Knoxville, hot women, Arnold is back!
Hitchcock
Of all the movies I rented, this one was my favorite. Anthony Hopkins is completely transformed to become Alfred Hitchcock. We follow Alfred behind the scenes of "Psycho" and of all the hoops that he and his wife had to jump through to finish this movie. Did you know that the Hitchcock's mortgaged their house to pay for this movie themselves, even though Hitchcock was a proven money maker? You learn how their marriage nearly falls apart and more private details of this Hollywood royal family. It is almost a documentary, but with Scarlet Johannson, Hopkins, and Helen Mirren. Buy this one!
Jack the Giant Slayer
I actually loved this movie... it had humor, great special effects, and it tied the legend into todays history by incorperating the crown jewels. Everyone knows the story, now you can see it larger than life. Ewan McGregor was great too! Look for the golden harp and golden eggs!
Identity Thief
OMG! This movie had me laughing out loud! So many funny remarks, sight gags, and it has a sweet ending. If you need a laugh, this one with "throat chop" you right into a better mood. I like this one so mcuh, I all making my parents watch it when they come to town in the next few weeks! Funniest part to me was the snake part in the woods. Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy have real chemistry in this movie, and I am anticipating the new movie that Melissa is in with Sandra Bullock later this year!
GENIUS!
I have to admit, I am getting behind on my movie watching, but I make you this promise; I will not write a review for a movie that I have not personally watched. That would be a lie. That being said, here is what I saw last:
Star Trek; Into Darkness 3D
Great movie, it had me guessing the whole time. Just when you thought the movie was over, there will be a twist. Spock even gets to show off some of his action moves that were a little lacking in the first movie. In my opinion, this installment is better than the first. I saw the first one at a drive in theater in 2D... Seeing this one is 3D in a theater was awesome. Seeing the phasers, shrapnel, and warp speed beams go by was just too cool for school. The only thing that gets me is that I don't know all of the terminology since I am not a true Trekkie, so when they talk about rectors and proton torpedoes, I am a little lost. But other than that, I was able to keep up! [SPOILER] The budding friendship between Spock and Kirk starts to really develop and at the end I even started to get a ball in my stomach when Kirk dies!
Okay...lots of hype for the latest installment of the Iron Man franchise. It doesn't disappoint either! You know I had to see it in 3D! I was impressed with all of the twists and turns, and Tony proves that he can kick ass without the Iron Man suit! Excited that Pepper gets to wear the suit. Funny twist with the Mandarin too! Lots of special effects! Good storyline too! Love all of the different suits, wished they would have talked about them a bit. You also get to see a hulk-like suit!
I am definitely adding this to my collection when it comes out!
Favorite quote of the movie?
I am, and will always be Iron Man!
I also watched DJango Unchained.
If you are easily embarrassed by harsh language, please don't watch. If that doesn't bother you, please see this movie. Tarantino does a splendid job of creating emotion for a slave (FOXX) while utilizing some amazing actors (Jackson, DiCaprio) and merging fiction with history. While seeing Jamie Foxx hanging upside down buck naked is not my definition of a good time, some people will enjoy it. The way that people meet their end in this movie is extremely violent (dogs ripping apart slave) Anyway, my opinion of this movie overall is good, you need to make up your own opinion and let me know on Twitter at @TeeJayToday.
I had a few days off, and after I cleaned the house, went to some events, shopping, treasure hunting, and alligator wresting, I decided to watch a few movies.
Lincoln
I thought I knew a lot about Lincoln, but this movie blew me away. I have visited Ford's theater and the attached museum. I've red books about Lincoln and he has been a background story of many other movies that I have seen. (Not to mention "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Slayer"
But this movie puts the focus on Lincoln and many of the verbal battles (and all of the politics) that it took to pass the 13th amendment abolishing slavery. This is an "Epic" movie, meaning, that your 10 year old child will HATE this movie, but if know anyone history buffs, this is a must have. It really is touching to see the internal struggles that Lincoln has about the death of his son. How Mary Todd was extremely involved in the politics of the time (almost more than Lincoln). My favorite 2 characters (other than Lincoln) are Mary Todd, she has a great break down in the middle about Bob going into the way; and the character played by Tommy Lee Jones, about how he must give up on his 30 year endeavor to "tone down" his dream of complete equality of the races to persuade democrats to ratify the 13th amendment. Great Story, Great Movie!
The Paperboy
Wow!What a movie… I
am a HUGE fan of this movie… it is a little dark and twisted, but good
none-the-less.Staring Matthew
McCanaoughey, Zac Efron, John Cuscack, and Nicole Kidman.Nicole proves that she is still a
heart-throb, Zan dances in the rain in his tightie-whiteys, Matthew is the
closeted gay older brother who is a famous writer.He comes back to his home town to help make
sure that Justice was not passed up on a suspected killer (John Cusack) that is
in the local jail.Nicole Kidman plays
the pen pal that is in love with John Cusack.Zac Efron is in love with Nicole Kidman.Best part of the movie????Nicole Kidman pees on Zac Efron!
I thought I had already wrote this but I guess I didn't do it. I remember writing his publicist but I need to share my post with you (my readers and favorite people in the world!)
When this album first came out I downloaded it immediately because Bruno Mars is one of my favorite artists!
"Unorthodox Jukebox" is completely different than anything we have heard from Bruno before, and I personally love it! I listened to it on repeat for 6 straight hours on my last road trip and never got tired of it. Every song was so different from the one before, one track would sound like a pop song, then r&b, then something from the 70's funk area!
My favorite track is "Gorillas". It hasn't received much radio air time yet, but once it does, it will blow UP! It is catchy, fun to sing along with, etc....
Please let me know what you think of this album and what is your favorite track off of it! Tweet me
your response! @TeeJayToday
At the time of writing this "Unorthodox Jukebox" has spent 162 days in the top 100 charts on Amazon. Congrats Man!
was off of work today, try to stay at home and clean, do laundry etc.... but at about 3P I was starting to go stir crazy. I pulled up the Flixter app on my iPad and noticed that Evil Dead was about to start at my local theater and I had just enough time to get there for the matinee!
Evil Dead
What a Gore fest! It literally has hundreds of gallons of blood in it. I wasnt so much scared of the movie as I was wincing in pain at some of the stunts that the actors had to endure. Not sure if I am going to add this to my home theater collection but it was a good movie. Not as witty as I thought it would be. My favorite part was listening to the macho guys behind me jump and shriek when they got scared! This would be a great date movie, not a first date, but maybe number 10 if you what her to get in close to ya!
First, before you start reading, everyone needs to go and donate at least $1 to Chris' KickStarter to help fund his latest movie! I already donated! Click HERE!
I recently had the chance to catch up with Chris through email, twitter, and phone... He is a very busy man.... Here is our conversation:
TeeJay: How are the pups doing? (Stella & Tucci) Chris Riggi:The dogs are great, they are upstate with the family, too much going on right now to have them here.
TJ: I would like to invite you to be my first big interview for IndieArtistMagazine.com! Chris Riggi: Congratulations on IndieArtistMagazine!!! Yes, I would love to interview asap for you.
TJ: I was just looking at your IMDB and when do you have time to breathe? CR:I Don't!
TJ: What is going on with Police State? CR:I am close to finishing "Police State" which is roller coaster ride. The director is trying to make me the next Tom Cruise, which is impossible but FUN. I went to the hospital a few times due to doing my own stunt work. One stunt brought me to the eye doctor with two scratched cornias, from a botched explosion. I also got blown back from the same explosion and missed the crash pad nearly breaking my arm, luckily no permanent damage. But the scene looks amazing! I also got to work with Sean Young (Blade Runner and Ace Ventura) which was really cool.
TJ: I cant wait for Police State... How much longer until we can see it? The Next Tom Cruise huh? I'd buy that.... as much as you are working... I think you can pass him. Be careful doing those stunts!
What is the plot of Police State? I have an idea but I think it would sound better coming from you.
CR: Police State is an action/adventure film centered around my character as he tries to protect the love of his life from unknown terrorist attacks in New York City.
TJ: On IMDB.com I see you have a credit on Wolf of Wallstreet, how was that? (releases in 2013) CR:I got to work for 3 days on "Wolf of Wallstreet" and had a few lines, mostly improv. But I got to audition for and meet Marty S (Martin Scorsece) and the crew which was intense. Leo (Leonardo DiCaprio) is probably who I would want to model my career after. He is a role model for young actors. He had this monologue where his character is shouting at a crowd of coworkers and he went all out the entire time, never pulling back. He was out of breath and on the floor after each take. And let me tell you, that guy is awesome to see up close. I learned so much from watching him work. He really deserves a break from all this noise.
*FYI* Wolf of Wallstreet has a huge and talented cast, including but not limited to: Martin Scorsece, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill, John Favreau, and of course Chris Riggi amonh many others!
TJ: What has been some of the best advice you have gotten from fellow actors/artists? CR:Best advice I got was from Jonah Hill, "stay single" ha.
TJ: You are really busy right now with multiple movies, pilots, etc... I'm guessing you don't have any downtime. CR:Right now its pilot season and I am keeping myself busy with 5 different characters at once, its a mess. But I am staying sane by writing my own material. Right now, I have an unfinished screenplay called "Cake" that I am writing and would like to direct someday, Ed Burns has been a huge help, inspiration wise. The short film I directed: "Bazaaro" is somewhat done and up on youtube, its a rough cut. I have a few movies in post and pre-production and a possible TV pilot called "Promo Life" in the works.
Bazaaro:
TJ: So how did you like being behind the camera on bazaaro (and infront of it), was it harder to direct yourself or the other actors?
CR:I have never wanted to just act, so many actors JUST act. I respect that, but I cannot be one of them. I respect people like Ed Burns, he is a role model for me.
TJ: From your KickStarter Link, I see you are working on a movie called Chrisalis, What is it about?
CR: I am super excited to talk to you about my next project "Chrysalis".
John Faughnan (winner best writer *Boston Film Festival for "To Redemption"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2091459/) has crafted yet another dark drama to be directed by his wife Alexia Oldini. Heres the trailer for "To Redemption".
Its a story based on true events: two cousins who believe they can become famous by killing an entire family (the judge who put my character away being the father). These two characters film the carnage and death...without the use of guns. A lot of the footage will be shot with the combination of iphones, flip cams and GoPro cameras.
These are the darkest characters I have ever read. I plan on taking on a Christian Bale type transformation (The Fighter,Machinist and Rescue Dawn, eating clean, vegetarian food, juices and a lot of cardio. We start rehearsing and creating a KICKSTARTER next week to raise money, a purposed budget of around $9,000 (smallest feature budget I have worked on).
This is a bare bones production consisting of myself, John, Alexia (who is the director and DP) and a few techies on set. There are only 3 other actors besides John and I. This is a gritty, in your face indie thriller that will leave its audience shocked.
TJ: Is $9000 enough? Is that enough to get equipment, food, editing costs, etc....
CR:Having a bigger budget can create certain problemsespecially when the people who gave you that $1 million want to add their creative input. Raising the money ourselves will allow us creative control.
TJ: Chrysalis sounds really dark and I am immedietely drawn to it. You are playing one of the cousins that kill, right? Everything I have seen you in is totally the oppposite (except for bazaaro... you were pretty intense in that). How hard was it to go dark?
CR:Yes, I am playing one of the cousins that kill the whole family. I am going in the opposite direction of "nice". I made a promise to myself when I was in school that I would not settle and I would push myself as far as I could go for this craft. I have NOT done that, I have settled and I have picked up bad habits along the way. Recently I am working very hard to correct those habits . My goal is to move the audience and make them feel. That is why I need to drop weight and look like garbage for "Chrysalis", even though its an art house, zero budget project, I need to push this thing as far as it can go.And the filmmakers believe in me, oddly enough.I should be fighting for the high profile, high paying jobs but right now I am just trying to do good work. The creative team behind "Chrysalis" have told me to "stop doing cute work Chris!!!", I am trying to listen.
TJ: You are playing so many different characters right now, how do you keep them all seperate?
CR:We have to find a way to let them all go. Its not an easy career, but neither is anything else if your going to be good at it. This "Chrysalis" film is very moving and dark, I would be lying if I told you that I was not walking around NYC with a few deranged thoughts here and there.
TJ: Wow Chris, you are an extremely busy man and I wish you the best of Luck in all of your endeavors AND with Chrysalis....
*Update.... Chrysalis was fully funded BUT a deadbead donor pulled out and now we need to raise over $1000 all over again.... please... if you can spare $1 it would make a difference!
For the latest news on Chris and Chrysalis, make sure your follow @ChrisRiggi and @TeeJayToday on Twitter!
