Toy Story 3 - A Reflection

Toy Story hit theaters November 22, 1995. I had just turned 7 years old.

Toy Story 2 hit theaters November 24, 1999. I had just turned 11. I celebrated by going to the movie theater to see Toy Story 2 with friends.



Toy Story 3 hit theaters on June 18, 2010. I am currently 21 years old.

Many other bloggers have beat me to the punch and said it best, so I'm going to take a direct quote from them. "Toy Story is a staple of our generation, and despite Toy Story 3 closing up an amazing trilogy of movies, it's never going away".

Toy Story has been around for approximately 50% of my entire life. If we are comparing me to Andy, I am about two years older than he is.

Everyone knows that I love a good movie. People know that I REALLY love a good Disney movie. But Pixar...they usually take the cake. Until this point, WALL-E was my favorite Pixar film, with Toy Story 1 and 2 being close 2nds. Now, I can say, without any hesitation, that Toy Story 3 is my all time favorite Pixar movie. I can also say it's easily one of my favorite movies ever.

The 'magic' that Pixar was able to capture in this film is simply breathtaking. It's incredible, awesome, and inspiring all at the same time. I was rendered speechless more times than I could count. For two hours, I traveled out of the real world.

They say that a good movie should make you laugh, cry, or sit on the edge of your seat. If you get one of these three elements, it's a good movie. Two makes it even better, and three makes it golden. Very few movies are able to move an audience in the way Toy Story 3 did. I laughed...HARD! I sat on the edge of my seat...ALOT! And I cried...SO MUCH! Veryyyyyyy few movies make me cry. If they do, it's usually a small tear and that's it. In the movie theater last night, it was clear that this movie made hundreds of college aged guys (myself included) hold back an incredible waterfall of tears.

As far as I'm concerned, Pixar will never top this. I said that about WALL-E, and I was proven wrong...but this time I think I might be right. I grew up with Andy...I grew up with all his toys. He moved on to (pardon the Disney pun) a whole new world, and so did I.

We grew up.

Did you see me?!

Hey Everybody! Did you see me on the finale of Glee? I was kind of like a "Where's Waldo", but it seems like everyone was able to spot me. In case you didn't (since some of you were asking), here's some screenshots!




Also, what do you think of the next new banner? Thanks again to Laura for making it :) I really like this one even more than the last, so I think this banner has found a home for a while...unless Laura makes something even MORE amazing soon!

Summer Entertainment Camp is BACK!

Hey Everybody!

As usual, things have been pretty crazy over here recently. I know a lot of you have been curious and asking about my new adventure -- working on America's Next Top Model. Due to confidentiality reasons, I will not be able to blog about anything, really, that happens during my time on the show. For now, I will just say that it was a great first day, and I'm really looking forward to the season ahead :) That's about all you'll hear on that for a while, I think.

In other news, I have confirmed that I will be returning during the second half of July to offer YEAR 2 of my Summer Entertainment Camp. Check out the promo video I made (and the slideshow of Year 1 reflections, just for fun) below :)





Also, check out the new banner on the top of the blog? You like? My friend Laura has been working on some experimental project son Photoshop lately, and she wanted to try her luck at a few of these banner things. You may see some more new ones soon!

Sara Visits Hollywood!

Yikes! A lot of really fun things have been happening lately. This last week was full of some REALLY exciting things...including a visit from one of my best friends, Sara Albrecht.

During Sara's time here, we had a chance to tour Hollywood and see the new Wax Museum, which was fun. We also had a character dining experience at Disneyland which was really enjoyable, too. However, the highlight of the trip (for both of us) was the night we got to spend at the Magic Castle.

For those of you who are not familiar, the Magic Castle is a very well known magic establishment that the best magicians in the WORLD come to. The only way you can go to the Magic Castle is if you know somebody, and lucky for me, I met a man (by the name of George) a few months ago during a CPR class. He gave me an incredibly generous invite to the castle for me and my friends! It was a great night of incredible magic and fun socializing, and I think it's safe to say it is something neither of us will be forgetting about for a long time.

Sara's trip ended on a high note, too, because during her last night here, we went to see GLEE: Live! It was a really fun show that featured all of the best songs Glee has had during Season One. It was very neat to watch the whole ensemble perform!

I could go on and on about the amazing time I had with Sara when she visited, but sometimes it is just best to let the pictures do all the talking. Take a look at this album below!

California Exploring

Earlier this week I've had a chance to travel around Los Angeles a little bit and explore some of the more 'hidden' areas in town. I traveled with Jessica and Becky to find some fun, nature-ish places just out of town, and I got some AMAZING pictures. Take a look!








Stay tuned tomorrow for some more updates from my adventures with the Red Cross yesterday! :)

Results

So I received an email the other day from ABC Studios informing me that I did not receive the position. Yes, I am a little bummed out that I didn't get it, but to be perfectly honest, I have absolutely no regrets.

This process (as cliche as it will sound) has taught me alot. Perhaps the most important thing I realized is that I am still VERY young in this industry. Most people that were applying for this position were 5+ years older than me. I know that just getting to the Final 20 was a major accomplishment in itself.

Furthermore, I have learned that I have the most incredible support system. Everyone has been so supportive and kind to me these last few weeks...giving me words of encouragement and wisdom...and it really has meant a great deal to me.

I also know that this is not the end. In fact, it's just the beginning. Some of my friends that work at ABC / Disney have told me that, often times, people that don't make it into the program the first year will make it in their 2nd, 3rd, of 4th. It's all just a matter of time.

In the words of Conan O'Brien, "Nobody gets exactly what they thought they were going to get in life, but if you work hard, and you're kind, amazing things will happen."

And on that happy note, I am pleased to report that I will be working with America's Next Top Model this coming June :) It should be an amazing opportunity to gain experience and make friends in the industry, and I am certainly looking forward to it.

For now, that's it. I'll be updating much more as the week goes on. Sara will be visiting during the second half of the week and I am SUPER excited about it, so there will be a ton of pictures and updates to come. Also, there will be an exciting post later this week about another adventure I am embarking on. I can't say anything yet, but I'll be able to post info at the end of the week. You WON'T want to miss out!

Thanks again to everyone who's been there for me and shown me nothing but support and love these last few weeks (and always, for that matter). I hope it shows, but in case it doesn't, I greatly appreciate it.

A Good Day

Well, today was my interview at ABC Studios. I must say, I think it went pretty well. I feel confident with how everything went. Better yet, I feel good...just an overall good feeling that I really brought my best foot forward and did all that I could. This has been quite a wild ride, and now the hardest part is just sitting and waiting. Hopefully we'll hear results soon.

I'd like to give a HUGE shout out to everyone who has shown amazing support for me during all of this. Some names that come to mind include: Jeff King, Ana DeLaNoval, Laura West, Debbie Thatcher, my parents, and COUNTLESS others. It means the world to me that I have your support.

In other news, we have a giant hole in our wall. It was bigger before, but now it's much smaller. Today they actually came to finish it off and re-paint it to make it look all nice and new. When the smaller hole was there, I decided to take a picture. You'll notice I covered the hole with a picture of Rita Hayworth. I'll be curious to see who gets this joke / reference.


Also, I recently had a visit from Chrissy Olson and her friend. We took the day to tour downtown Hollywood and such, and we had a great time.


That's about all for now, folks. More news will be posted when I hear it!

Here Goes Nothin'...

So tomorrow is the big day. Or rather, one of the two big days. Tomorrow night is the social mixer, and then Friday afternoon is the interview. I'm as ready as I can be. I'm a little nervous, but not too bad. This week has been pretty overwhelming, so while I'm excited for this, I'm also excited for it to be over and out of my mind so I can have a good night's sleep again!

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for their incredible support and kind words. Whether it was via email, Facebook, or a quick text / phone call, it has meant alot to me. It's really nice to hear encouraging words before going into something big like this, and I will be taking all of it to heart.

Stay tuned for an update. Rumor has it that we should have results Friday night.

Daughtry / Lifehouse Concert

This past week was jam-packed with excitement! On Monday, I attended the Chris Daughtry and Lifehouse Concert at LA Live. It was a VERY neat concert that featured great talents on stage and behind the scenes.

It was really neat to hear Daughtry talk about how he got started in the entertainment industry. He talked about how he grew up in a small town, and how he realized that he needed to move to LA to make something of himself. It kinda hit home for me.

Some pictures and videos from the event can be seen here:






Here's some videos from the concert. Once again, pardon the shaky-ness of the video...I was trying to enjoy it, too (without just enjoying it through a view finder!)

Conan O'Brien Show

Tonight was a VERY cool night! Jessica and I both went to Conan O'Brien's variety / stand-up show in Universal City. The night was full of fun, laughter, and a TON of celebrity appearances, which included Jim Carrey, Seth Green, and Sarah Silverman. As awesome as the show was, it made me miss watching Conan on television :(. Ah well...just a few more months! Check out the pictures and videos I took from the show! If you'd like to see a picture bigger, just click on it.








The video below feature Conan O'Brien singing his heart out to the song "Superman", with special guest Jim Carrey. Pardon the shaky-ness of the video...I was trying to enjoy it, too (without just enjoying it through a view finder!)

A Taste of Milwaukee

Today was a pretty fun day!

Earlier today, I taught a Red Cross class to a large class of 70 students. I had 3 co-instructors for the class...one of which was a new guy! As always, it was a lot of fun and very enjoyable. Here's some pictures:








Tonight was also a very good time because I had the chance to (FINALLY) check out Comedy Sportz in Los Angeles. Elliot and I went over to check out their 8:00 show and we had a blast. It was Elliot's first time, so that just added to the overall enjoyment. After the show, I went to the Box Office to buy tickets for a second show they were doing, called "U-Sical". "U-Sical" is a feature length improv musical that is based on the life of an audience member. It was REALLY impressive to watch...I seriously thought I was sitting in a professional Broadway theater at points! To make things even more fun, a friend of mine - Robyn Roth - was one of the cast members for the show! Too cool!

It was really nice getting a chance to check out Comedy Sportz. Being there reminds me a lot of home, and just about everyone there has some roots that travel back to Milwaukee. I was able to talk to a few people throughout the evening who have all been to or lived in Milwaukee at some point, and it was just a really cool chance to interact and socialize with people.

Some people go to bars on Saturday nights, but you'll find me at Comedy Sportz. :)

Incredible News!

Hey, Everybody! I have some really good news. I don't usually like broadcasting things until they are finalized, and I sure as heck don't want to jinx anything, but I think I should share with my blog readers the news I recieved today:

"Congratulations! You have been chosen as one of 20 finalists in the ABC Studios 2010-2011 Production Associates Program in the area of Creative Affairs."

That quote is part of an email I received today from ABC Studios. I am so excited, but at the same time, a little nervous and also cautiously optimistic. Everybody please keep your fingers crossed for me. Interviews will be held in a few weeks, and as soon as I hear something, you will. I want this SO bad, and I will be putting everything I can into it.

Until then, fingers crossed!

Health Fairs and Fires

Today I was at a Health Fair on behalf of the Red Cross with one of our new instructors, Andrea. The fair was at Mattel, where they make all the Hot Wheels and Barbies! It was a really fun time and we both had the opportunity to meet some really cool people and do some really neat stuff.



On the way home, I passed by the scene of a pretty big fire that happened just a few blocks from my house. I went back a little later to see the aftermath and it was pretty nasty. The fire destroyed a whole block of shops (including some local businesses and the Goodwill).

Glee Taping!

Hey, folks! Boy, what an exciting day it was today.

I had the very special privilege of being one of the extras in the Season Finale of "GLEE". Whenever the finale airs, be sure to look for me! I am in the front row of the balcony in the dead center.

I'd post information about the taping, but I would probably be hunt down by some folks at the FOX Network. What I CAN tell you, is that the episode is incredible -- with tons of talent and drama. The musical numbers were jaw dropping and so much fun to watch and be a part of. Below is a picture of the prop programs we were given.



Be sure to watch for me when the episode airs!!

Hot Stuff at the Red Cross!

Check out this hilarious video spoof Eugene (a co-worker and friend of mine from the Red Cross) and I shot a few months back. Special thanks to Elliot and Art for helping out, too! It took a little while to complete, but the end result was well worth it!

Note: The video is MUCH funnier if you have seen the original "Heat Related Emergencies" video that is part of the Red Cross' First Aid DVD. THAT is the video we are trying to spoof....you'll see comparison clips of it in the credits :)

Enjoy!

Photo Booth Fun - Reception Slideshow

Hey Everybody!

Check out this video I created from Tab and Chad's Wedding. It features some of the best pictures taken at the reception from the Photo Booth.

By the end of the week, a website will be live that features all the photos and video from the Wedding, Reception, and other festivities. Stay tuned for the information / links on that! :)

RIP Eddie and Meinhardt

This week, Hollywood lost two legends.

First, was the loss of Eddie Carroll. He was the voice we all know and love as Disney's Jiminy Cricket.

The second, was the loss of Meinhardt Raabe, who was the coroner from "The Wizard of Oz". He is the one who announces that 'the Wicked Witch is dead".

I feel lucky that I had a chance to meet BOTH of these people before they passed. I met Eddie about a year ago, and Meinhardt a few years before that. I'm not sure where the picture of Meinhardt and I is right now (it was taken on "film"...gasp! so it's probably not scanned in yet...), but below is a picture of Eddie and I.

Quiet on the Set!

They are filming a new medical drama about a block away from my house. It's so close, I can walk there in about 2 minutes.

Some production company bought out what was an old, abandonded hospital and gave it a makeover. They've been filming for a few weeks now, and I decided to grab a shot of it.

Take a look:


On a somewhat related note, have you seen the new promos for Carson Daly? His show came back (thank god) under the watchful eye of a new producer (which is probably the best decision NBC has made in a while!). The new promo is kind of fun, and as a Red Cross geek, I like it...

Updates, Updates, Updates!!

Hey Everybody,

WOW - things have been crazy lately. There has been A LOT going on, and it's been keeping me busy. Special thanks to Laura for kicking me in the butt to get up a new blog. I really do enjoy blogging, but when I'm so busy, it's hard to keep up when so much else is going on. There's been soooo much excitement recently...I'm not sure where to start. Here's a quick flash that highlight some of the excitement I've been involved with lately...

Tyra Banks - I had the pleasure of meeting her and teaching her CPR a few weeks ago. She's an incredible person and I really feel lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her!

Tab Got Married - My cousin got married a few weeks ago in Charleston, SC. Pictures and video highlights from the wedding will be up online in the near future, but for now, here's a sample picture to get you excited.

Visit to Milwaukee - A few weeks ago, I traveled home to South Milwaukee for Mr. Bill Jackson's final musical at SMHS. It was fun to travel home and reconnect with friends and family. A few pictures from that weekend are below!




During my time home, I created two videos. First, was a 'revised' version of the popular theater-highlights video titled "See you in the Dark". Second, was a video dedicated to Mr. Jackson titled "Farewell, Mr. Jackson". Although the Farewell video did NOT have a screening in front of an audience like "See you in the Dark" did, it has received a ton of kind, heart-warming comments. You can see the video here:



Earthquake in California! - I'm sure most of you heard that there was a pretty heavy Earthquake that rattled the West Coast on Easter Sunday. I was in a movie theatre at the time, and it was quite a wicked experience....non-stop ground rumbling for 30 seconds. Here's hoping the after shock isn't as bad!

For now, that's the bulk of the updates. I am striving to keep this blog up as much as possible, and although I can't promise I will update it as often as I may like, I am working hard to update whenever I can. I CAN promise that when I DO update, it will be exciting! Keep following my twitter for the most accurate, up-to-date updates I can provide. I usually throw an update on there every few days at the least.

COMING SOON!

I know, I know...I'm behind on blog entries again!!

BIG updates are coming this Easter Weekend...check back soon!