Live Sitcom Taping Success!

Tonight, the fourth year of my Summer Entertainment Camp came to a close with the taping of two live TV sitcoms.  It was a wonderful event that everyone truly enjoyed.  This historic evening marked the first time scripted material was taped before a live studio audience in the state of Wisconsin by young adults.  Check out our posters for the two different shows:

These sitcom tapings were an opportunity for children from all backgrounds to come together, create a unique story, and share it with the community.  They went from script to screen in just two weeks time. The kids did all the work - creating the scripts, finding the props and costumes, building the sets, running the lights, sound, and cameras, and countless other tasks.  At the end of the evening, our children were confident that what we did this summer was 'rare' and 'cool'.  I couldn't agree more.  These are children with a sense of humor that shows an awareness of the world around them that is authentic.  Unlike a regrettable number of young men and women in their generation, these kids embrace and thrive on hard work.  Their eagerness to learn and deployment of learning means they are ready and most able to succeed.

The taping of "The Robert and Rosie Show" before a live studio audience!

Sarah Kick and Valerie Lighthart have a conversation on camera while Miranda Campagna records.

It was great to see our live studio audience enjoying the evening just as much as the kids on stage.  I think audience-goers found it special to see such a unique event happening in Milwaukee.  My camp (and these sitcoms) proved to the community that you don't need big budgets and famous movie stars to create a successful project that brings people together.  Everything you need can be found right in your own backyard.  I've watched these kids go from script to screen and inspire a hometown with their initiative and ability to lead.  This young generation is showing that they can rise to the challenge of tomorrow.  

One of our campers, Brooke Briesemeister, operates a camera for the sitcom.

Camper Kyle Johnston chooses between shots for the live sitcom.

Tonight was a great reminder that hard work always pays off.  It's hard to believe I've been offering this camp for FOUR years already.  A lot of people have asked what's next, and to be honest, I'm not really sure.  But in any case, here's hoping whatever comes next is JUST as awesome! :)

Walt Disney Imagineering

Today, I had the honor of speaking at Walt Disney Imagineering.  To say it was awesome would be an understatement :)

For those who may not know, Walt Disney Imagineering (also known as WDI) is the design and development arm of the Walt Disney Company, responsible for the creation and construction of Disney theme parks worldwide.  Founded by Walt Disney himself in 1952 to oversee the production of Disneyland in California, it was originally known as WED Enterprises - from the initials of Walter Elias Disney.  The term "Imagineering" was popularized to describe the blending of imagination and engineering.

Imagineering is responsible for designing and building Disney theme parks, resorts, cruise ships, and other entertainment venues at all levels of project development.  Imagineers often possess a broad range of skills and talents, and thus over 140 different job titles fall under the banner of Imagineering -- including illustrators, architects, engineers, lighting designers, show writers, graphic designers, and countless more.  Most Imagineers work from the HQ facility in Glendale, California, where I was today.

Days like today keep me going forward strong and with full speed!  Who could have imagined that I would be speaking to a group of Disney employees at just 23 years old?  Crazy!

Check out the picture below of the awesome event :)

Computer Crash!

I've been home for less than a week, and slowly but surely, I have been unpacking everything from my trip home to Milwaukee.

Today, I had an unexpected glitch that threw me off!  My computer crashed and burned, after faithfully serving me for almost six years.  The good news is that I'm a computer NERD, so I was able to salvage everything off of the computer -- absolutely no data was lost.  The bad news is that, sadly, I have to get a new computer :(

I guess life has it's fair share of ups and downs!  Here's hoping I find an up soon ;)

Pixar In Concert

Last night, I attended a WONDERFUL concert at the Hollywood Bowl called "Pixar in Concert".  The concert was a two-hour tribute to all of the pixar films.  The scores were played by the LA Philharmonic Orchestra and members of the pixar team who actually worked on the original film!  It was great to hear the stories on how some of the most popular movie scores were created.

South Milwaukee Commercials

This summer, I was hired by the School District of South Milwaukee to create three commercials for the school district and city of South Milwaukee.  I was thrilled to have an opportunity to create videos for my hometown and alma mater.  I think the commercials turned out REALLY well, but I will let YOU be the judge!

A VERY special thanks to Crystal Schreiner, Sean Love, Abby Bakke, and Michael Callahan for their help on this awesome project.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

To celebrate the day, I went to the Hollywood Bowl!  One of my FAVORITE artists, Barry Manilow, was hosting a special "Americana" show! It was an absolutely wonderful night!  The house was packed with Americans from all walks of life and by the time the evening was over, we all felt a little closer together thanks to the music of Barry.

Check out a short video I caught below.  Sorry for it being so shaky.  I swear I know how to use a camera...I was just a little excited and trying not to be too big of an @$$ in the audience with my technology :-)

Paley Center Visit

Before I head home for Year 4 of my Entertainment Camp, I decided to take a day to check out the Paley Center in Beverly Hills, CA.  The Paley Center is an institution dedicated to the discussion of cultural, creative, and social significance of television   Right now, they are hosting a special exhibit from Warner Brothers that celebrates the "Best Of" WB Television & Entertainment.

I am SO glad that I was able to experience this exhibit!  I had the unique opportunity to see props from some of my FAVORITE TV shows, like "The Big Bang Theory".  I was also able to see rare set pieces from shows like "The West Wing", "Friends", and "Seinfeld".  There was also a room dedicated to displaying costumes from some of the most memorable TV scenes of all time.  As an added treat, there were also animated film cells from Warner Brothers cartoons, like "Animaniacs", "The Jetsons", "The Flintstones", and "Tiny Toons".  It was SO COOL!  It was a  big trip down memory lane as I re-lived some of my favorite television shows that I used to watch as a child.

Check out some of the awesome pictures I took of these glorious exhibits!

The podium seen on "The West Wing"

A prop version of THE WASHINGTON POST seen on "The West Wing"

Props from "The Big Bang Theory" 

Costumes from "The Big Bang Theory"

Central Perk - Set from "Friends"

Monk's Diner - Set from "Seinfeld"

Yogi Bear Animations

One of my absolute favorite cartoons growing up as a kid.

Flintstones animated cells

Jetsons animated cells

Tweety Bird "fan mail"

How cool is this?!

Iris at the Kodak Theater

To celebrate the end of another great cycle of Top Model, I had the unique opportunity to visit the Kodak Theater to see the new Cirque Du Soleil show called “IRIS”.  

Set in the heart of Hollywood, the show is a true celebration of film and all things entertainment.  The action starts when you first walk into the theater.  You immediately become immersed into a world of classic cinema and vaudeville.  Once the show begins, the action only continues in a number of circus-style scenes.  Each one delivers a different little snippet of Hollywood history. 

The sets were incredible and the actors did a superb job.  The lack of story bothered me, but I guess that’s how a ‘normal’ circus would be, too.  Overall, good times were had!  I can’t complain one bit : )

First Official TV Credit!!

Tonight, I received my first official TV credit!!  I've worked on a number of shows in the past, but the positions worked were never credited on the air -- just online on sites like IMDB and such.  This evening, a new chapter in my "Hollywood Adventures" was written when my name appeared on screen during the final credits of an episode of "The Bachelorette".  Get used to seeing this name on your televisions, America ;)

Next Goal: Get them to spell my name right...

Top Model - Cycle 19

Hey, guys!  I know it's been a little while since I updated my blog, but this is mainly because I recently started work back on America's Next Top Model!  It's hard to believe this is already my fifth season working with them.

As usual, there's not much I can say about the show and such, but I CAN share the following picture with you.  This season, the audience has a vote!  It should make for a great season!  So be sure to vote -- and stay tuned for my blog, as I'll be back writing as soon as there's something I can talk about again! :)

Camp 2012 Trailer

Greetings, everyone! I hope all is well. I just got back from Charlotte and things have been CRAZY busy. 

One of the big projects I've been working on is the camp trailer for our 2012 season. I really want to bring my camp back to Milwaukee for Year 4, but the only way it will be possible is with help from people like YOU! If you are reading this blog and know somebody or some business who might have an interest in sponsoring our camp, PLEASE reach out to me! I think our video speaks for itself -- we've had a deep history in Milwaukee and the show MUST go on!

Thanks for all the love and support! Fingers crossed, we'll be back in Milwaukee this summer for our biggest year yet!

 

Charlotte Highlights

Over the past month, I have had the pleasure of working and living in Charlotte, North Carolina.  I've had a fantastic time being able to travel and work in an industry I love so much.

First, a special thank you to Kristi!  Kristi is my cousin Tabitha's best friend, and for the past month, she has been kind enough to host me in Charlotte.  I could not have done this trip without her, and I thank her dearly for being such an awesome person!

Second, a BIG thank you to all my new Charlotte friends.  I am going to miss you all terribly, but I hope to be back some day soon!  I can't remember the last time I've had such wonderful laughs.  I also enjoyed getting to learn a whole new southern language during my time down year.  Y'all are great!

I'd also like to thank the fine folks I worked with in 'TV Land' for helping to make my time working on this production so wonderful.  Duy, David, and Lauren -- you guys rock.

It's really nice to be back in Los Angeles.  Right now, it appears as if I will be hitting the ground running -- since I have a lot of exciting projects on the horizon!  More soon!

Until then, enjoy some quick pictures from my trip below.

Atlanta Visit!

This weekend, I celebrated my last few days in the south by heading to Atlanta, Georgia! This was an exciting trip for numerous reasons.

For starters, I got to see Mallory -- who has been a friend of mine for the past 8 years. Mallory and I met during the filmmaking workshop I attended in Orlando, Florida. I have not seen her in person since. We have remained in contact all this time via Skype and e-mail, but it was nice to actually meet face to face again for the first time in years!!

 As if that wasn't exciting enough, I also had the chance to see some great places! I visited Olympic Park, the CNN Center, and the World of Coke -- all in one day! It was a great way to end my trip to the south, and I'm very glad I was able to make it happen! Check out some pictures in my album below!

 

Greetings from Charlotte!

Greetings from Charlotte!

I’ve been here for a few days now, and things are going well. I am staying with Kristi, who is my cousin’s (Tabitha) best friend. She was kind enough to let me fill her empty room for a month and borrow one of her cars so I can get around town!

During my short time here so far, I have made a few strong observations about this area. Below are some of them.

1. The Food Out Here Rocks – Southern food is the BEST. Not only do they have Cracker Barrels here (which is a lovely change of scenery from California), but they have numerous other fantastic places to grab a bite to eat at. Fried chicken has never tasted as good as it does here in the south.

2. Welcome to the ‘Bible Belt’ – I’ve been told by numerous locals that this is the ‘Bible Belt’. As if it wasn’t apparent by the “Billy Graham Freeway” I traveled on the first night I got into town, it’s clear when you see how much this city changes on Sunday. VERY different from California. This makes shopping during Sundays a unique challenge. Ah well!

3. Charlotte Weather is Unpredictable – This place has the wackiest weather! The first day I was here, it was a pleasant 78 degrees. The next day, it was barely 40. Tonight, it is a wild thunderstorm and there are numerous Tornado Watches in effect right now. Crazy. Trying to pick out what to wear is difficult when the weather changes are so extreme on a daily basis.

For now, that’s about all the excitement out here. Things keep moving along, and as we keep moving forward, the job gets more and more awesome.

Stay tuned for more updates soon!

I'm going to North Carolina!

Ladies and Gentleman!

I am thrilled to announce that I have just booked a great new gig!

While I cannot go into details, I CAN tell you that the show has been on the air for quite a while -- and it is a very well known series. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work on it!

The series is shooting in North Carolina. It will be a nice change of scenery from the LA lifestyle. I am lucky enough to have some friends and family in this area, so I am stoked and grateful that they will be helping me out during my visit.

I feel like a pretty lucky guy right now :) I'm bursting with excitement because I cannot wait to get started!

Ironic?

Call me crazy, but do you think this picture seems a bit ironic?

Milwaukee Magazine

Today I was blessed with some exciting news. A new article has surfaced about my Summer Entertainment Camp!

It was written by Mr. Mack Bates of Milwaukee Magazine's "Movie Goers". He did a spectacular job writing the article, and I am thankful for the support he has shown for our camp.

If you'd like to see the article, please CLICK HERE. Be sure to share it with family and friends!

Also, for those of you who have asked, I would LOVE to bring the camp back this coming summer. However, the only way we can do so is with support and sponsors. We are currently on a search to find businesses or arts-supporting angels who might be interested in sponsoring our camp this summer. If you know of any business / person that might qualify, please reach out and let me know!

Enjoy the article!

Welcome, Ms. Brown!

Today, I went down to The Grove to meet up with a friend of mine. While we were there, they had a ceremony hosted by M&Ms to unveil their new character -- Ms. Brown.

It was different, to say the least! But certainly fun :) And I got free M&M's!

Check out some pics and video from the event!

Visit to Nick Studios!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of spending the day at Nickelodeon Studios. It might be a little known fact that Nickelodeon owns numerous properties around LA. My trip was to their popular "Nick on Sunset" location. What a great experience it was!

For starters, I met some fantastic people! From the security staff, to the executive producers, and everyone in between -- it was so neat to meet and work with the people who had a giant influence on the shows that shaped my childhood.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was how cool the building was! If only those walls could talk! So much history resides at this place. Nick on Sunset originally opened on December 26, 1938 as the West Coast location of the Earl Carroll Theatre. The supper club-theatre offered shows on a massive stage containing a 60-foot wide double revolving turntable, staircase and swings that could be lowered from the ceiling.

(This is what the theater looked like back in the day!)

After Carroll and Wallace died in the crash of United Airlines Flight 624 in 1948, the theater was sold. In 1953, it became the Moulin Rouge nightclub, then later the Hullabaloo Rock and Roll club, and then the Aquarius Theatre in the late 1960s. The Pick-Vanoff Company, who owned Sunset Gower Studios, purchased the property in 1983, converting it into a television theater where Star Search, the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, Alf's short-lived talk show, and The Chevy Chase Show were once broadcast.

In the mid-1990s, Nickelodeon decided to move production of some live-action series' to the West Coast from Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando, Florida at Universal Studios. Nickelodeon obtained a lease for the 6230 Sunset Blvd facility, acquiring the soundstage and rebranding it "Nickelodeon On Sunset" by 1997. It has been the home for shows like All That, The Amanda Show, The Nick Cannon Show, Drake and Josh, iCarly, and Victorious.



I'm not sure why, but I was not expecting to see so much Hollywood history in a Nickelodeon soundstage. Nickelodeon has done a fantastic job preserving the rich and deep history they now own.

Special thanks to everyone at Nickelodeon for a great day with some great people!

2011: Looking Back

It's hard to believe, but another year has come and gone. I always like to take some time at the end of each year to look back and see how far I've come over the last 365 days. Here's just a few of the highlights...


I attended the People's Choice Awards at the beginning of the year.


This summer, I brought a bit of Hollywood to my hometown by offering the third year of my Summer Entertainment Camp.


I directed my FIRST 'real' comedy production in LA -- called "Mouth to Mouth".


I witnessed Hollywood history in the making as John Lasseter, one of my 'industry idols', received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.


I made some INCREDIBLE new friends while working on numerous TV shows.

Overall, I think I've had a great year. I look forward to 'raising the bar' even more as we enter 2012. I have many projects on the horizon that I cannot wait to keep moving on. I have also set some big goals for myself, and I sincerely hope to reach and exceed all of them.

Until then, here's to a great 2011! More very soon as we enter the new year!

Happy New Year!