39 Steps

I've been wanting to see "39 Steps" for a long time, but I kept putting it off because I felt like I needed to see the movie first. So I missed my chance to see the actor who originated the lead role, then I missed my chance to see Sam Robards in the role and finally due to another friend's interest I decided to forget thinking I was going to see the movie first and just go. So we did and I'd only wished I'd gone sooner!

What a great night of entertainment! It's clever, smart, fast paced and full of talent by the small cast that plays multiple roles. (I can't imagine how many calories they must burn each night!)

Man #1 & Man #2 reminded me of Conway & Korman. At one point it looked like they were about to crack as one kept blowing the loose strand of wig hair up to bother the other one's face. It made me wonder if this was a bit that happened every night or just a random moment...

I still need to see the movie (which I see is on Hulu now) and when I do, I may just have to see the stage show again! If you can get a cheaper ticket it's definitely worth seeing - oh, and bonus...you can pose w/ Hitchcock's silhouette in the lobby! :)

Hooters

I'm a firm believer that everyone should celebrate their birthday rather than let it go by like it's a regular day. It's the one day of the year that you can claim as your own so why not do so? I know age is often an excuse but I figure why not celebrate that you ARE a year older rather than be unhappy about it? It's another year you "survived", learned from and build from as you start to knock down another year....

Anyway... w/ all that in mind, I emailed a friend to see what he was doing for his b-day. He had nothing special planned so I suggested dinner somewhere- his choice. And his choice was....HOOTERS! Yep. I verified that he wasn't joking-he wasn't. And since I suggested dinner it wasn't like I could back out so... Hooters it was.

W/ only a few days notice, we managed to get a decent sized group together and for the first time I experienced Hooters. (Prior to the visit the only knowledge I had mostly came from "Big Daddy" and being aware that they used to have a trivia night at the now defunct location in Lincoln that an old boss and my parents used to go to.)

It was pretty much what I expected. You pay for the "ambiance" - not the food. (A combo platter of wings & dom perignon, anyone?!)

We debated about whether our waitress, "Olga" had a fake name or not as she was rather unresponsive when her name was said in an attempt to get her attention. (I wonder what the average length of time working at Hooters is for a Hooters girl before she's over the short shorts, spanx and cinched Hooters tops?)

Would I go again? For another friend's birthday-yes. Just 'cause-no. But at least now I can say I've been, right?! Right.

Keeping Busy = Lack of Blogs in the New Year

So I was trying really hard to make myself wait until I got caught up with last years blogs before posting in the New Year and by doing that I'm just getting farther behind so.... Here I am posting. And when I post belated posts - I will point them out in present time, because even though they may be delayed there's still some good stuff to be shared....no, really! ;)

Currently my time spent outside of the work day has been occupied with casting and starting rehearsals for a play I wrote and am directing for Phare Play Productions called "Call Waiting". Back in Omaha, (a couple drafts back) it was called "Why Can't This Be Love?" and had a reading @ the P.S. Collective sponsored by the Shelterbelt Theatre. Although I had decided I was moving to NYC at that point 2 years ago (read this article and you'll see what all I was up to about the time I decided to prepare for a leap - crazy), I would not have imagined that said script would be getting produced in NYC 2 years later. In fact, I had shelved it, aside from an excerpt posted on my site. I never felt it was quite ready yet. But Phare Play saw the excerpt and asked me to submit the play to them for consideration. After looking it over and finally tweaking and adding things that I should have done a long time ago I did submit it and now...here I am!

It's a shorter script (no intermission) but one that I hope people will find entertaining and easily identified with. While directing these scenes and watching them being brought to life I've had this sensation of being in a weird time warp of past and present as I reflect on the path the play/script has taken and the real life situations I've experienced and witnessed that inspired it juxtaposed with being in the present and accomplishing something that wasn't even in scope 2 years ago.

I am very fortunate to have a talented and professional cast to work with. Even though we are only in the first week of rehearsals they are adding their own special touches to their characters and we aren't even off book yet! I can't wait to see how the show grows as they become more familiar with the script and their castmates. I know there's a lot of work ahead but I'm truly excited about the potential of the finished product!

So when I'm not directing...I'm baking. I'm in the process of starting an online baking business w/ an emphasis on "bite size treats." Right now I'm figuring out a plan of attack or launch or something like that... In the meantime however, buzz has started and that has motivated me to get a website in the works - www.nibblesbynora.com , start a Facebook Group - Nibbles by Nora and make sure I have a logo (which was created by the very talented Pam Felthauser.) Of course, looking @ the economy it is probably not the best time to start a business but I'm being cautious and it is encouraging that last week, USA Today had an article on their front page about bite size treats thriving in bitter times...so that may be a good sign? We'll see...

In other news- Although I was unable to be there, Amerigo the Brave was shown on the big screen this past week for the Omaha Film Festival and seemed to get fairly positive reviews. The guys from H-Minus have submitted to other festivals as well, so I'm hoping they get one accepted near me soon so I can go see it! :)

On 2/25 I became an "aunt" again. A friend gave birth to her second child/son, Hunter Troy. I've only seen one cell phone pic but he is quite the cutie and has a bit of both Mom & Dad in him. I'm told that his new 4 yr old big brother was the first one to visit Hunter after his birth and they got the meeting on film. I hope to get a visit on the calendar to see him in person later this year. ;)

And this Tuesday I'm headed out to Vegas for a fam vacay (yep - we'll all fly in to meet each other - I don't think we've actually done a fam vacay since a trip to the Mall of America about 10 years ago...) and then Friday we'll depart and I'll head to Cali to visit my West Coast friends and see one of those friends in Opening Night of "Taming of the Shrew". Then it's back to NYC on Sunday!

Needless to say, multiple to-do lists are made daily but everything will get done in due time...yes, even blogging...even when it keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the list, at least it still is on the list! ;)

Amerigo the Brave @ the Omaha Film Festival

A short film that I flew back to film in NE about a year and a half ago had it's official "premiere" at the Omaha Film Festival last night. There were preview screenings prior to the public screenings (a second one will be held Friday) and this is what Leo Adam Biga of "The Reader" had to say about the film already... (Note: the stars are out of 4)

Amerigo the Brave ****
Of the 20 films I screened, the single best work of art is this short by Omahan Jonathan Trvdik. He’s a serious filmmaker to be watched. Shot in expressive black and white by Bill Sitzmann, it is reminiscent of the best original “Twilight Zone” offerings. There are hints of Arthur Penn’s Mickey One and David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks.” It ultimately stands as something all its own. It plops us into some backstage netherworld on the vaudeville circuit for a few telling moments in the lives of three people on the edge of existential abyss.

A sense of impending doom drives the story. Jon Purcell, Bill Hutson and Nora Vetter distinguish themselves among the small cast. Kudos to Michael Arch for lighting design and Justin Thompson for set design. I can’t wait to see another film by Tvrdik, his producing partner Purcell and his DP, Sitzmann, who reportedly have new projects in the can and on the drawing board. Add Tvrdik’s name to Nik Fackler’s, Dana Altman’s, Alexander Payne’s, Vince Alston’s, John Beasley’s and Omowale Akintunde’s as Omaha’s best hopes for a homegrown feature film industry.

Wheeeeee! This group that I worked w/ are up and coming for sure. I'm happy I was able to be a part of their film and hope the opportunity arises for me to work with them again.

"United States of Tara" Preview

Another free preview only this time it is for a cable television show and not a movie...

Shotime sponsored a premiere @ Sunshine Cinema to show the first 2 episodes of "The United States of Tara". And provided a free medium soda & popcorn to each member of the audience as well (bonus that this theater has half a dozen different popcorn flavorings to choose from. :))

While I was in the theater waiting for my friend to arrive, a guy sat on the other side of me w/ his headshots and Diablo Cody's "Candy Girl" in his lap. He talked under his breath as he was organizing his headshots (apparently he thought this preview would be a chance to network?!) and then he turned to me and asked if I'd read Cody's book. I haven't. He said I really should. Duly noted.

That guy must have been disappointed because it appeared that no "bigwigs" involved w/ the show were there and no intro was given before the lights went down and the first show started.

It was interesting to watch a "tv show" in a movie theater atmosphere and hear a crowded theater audience's reaction.

TUSofT has a unique premise and offers a great acting challenge for Toni Collette but I wasn't totally taken by it. There's a lot of storylines to choose from and I feel like it will take a few more episodes to get a better feel of where the show intends to go w/ the premise. Since I'm cable-less I'll probably form an opinion much later than others will about the show! ;)