The Talented Cafe

This is a wicked website at http://www.theancestraltrail.com go have a look

The story tells the fantasy and sci-fi filled story of a boy called Richard, who is brought against his will to a strange land known as the Ancestral World. This original 26 part series was extended, and Richard’s adventures continued into a futuristic world known as the Cyber Dimension. The television marketing advertising spend on launch in the UK alone was in the order of £1.6 million upon initial publication in 1993/94.

The Ancestral Trail was split into two halves of 26 issues each. The first half takes place in the Ancestral World and describes Richard’s struggle to restore good to the world. After the initial international run, which sold over 30 million copies worldwide, Marshall Cavendish omitted the second of the trilogy and used the third part (Past and Present) being the second series that followed. This part of the series, originated and written by Ian Probert and published in 1994, takes place in the Cyber Dimension. It deals with Richard’s attempts to return home. Each issue centered on an adventure against a particular adversary, and each issue ended on a cliffhanger.

sleighride1.wmv

This is strange… Merry Christmas

 I am a voracious reader. In fact, I was the eight year old kid that held up the checkout line at the public library; begging the librarian to please, please, please make an exception in my case, allowing me to take home more than the 6 book limit.  (She did! Sweet thing!)  If allowed, I could devour about 8-10 books a week.  I still love reading and the ingredient list on a cereal box will do in a pinch (can anybody tell me what BHT and Niacinamide are?). My favorite writers are J.K. Rowling, Rita Mae Brown, John Grisham, Elmore Leonard, Harold Robbins, Terry McMillan, J. California Cooper and Sydney Sheldon. (Not listed in any particular order.)
     My life is all about creating; it always has been! At the tender age of seven, I began a long professional singing career as a member of the original cast of Sesame Street, lending my singing voice to the soundtrack albums and featured televised songs for about 10 years. I was one of the kids who recorded the Electric Company theme song (with actors Irene Cara and Todd Graff) and have sung in over 70 jingles for everything from Jell-O to KFC and in the animated Christmas special, Frosty’s Winter Wonderland. I sang on many educational compilations for Macmillan House. As a bilingual child I was lucky enough to land many other voiceover jobs, some of which I sang in Spanish and English- most notably “Sing” with The Carpenters. After a hiatus lasting many years, I returned to the studio and the stage- opening for the late Illinois Jacquet’s Big Band and opening for and performing with the late Dizzy Gillespie, a neighbor and close friend of the family who I considered my uncle. I enjoyed a successful run at cabaret and jazz clubs in NYC, New Jersey and in Paris, France, while a student at the Sorbonne.
     My love for performing arts extends beyond vocalization. I previously hosted and produced my own cable TV show for 5 years and have appeared on It’s Showtime at the Apollo and as a guest on the Montel Williams Show. My creative work includes production design for award winning films, and for popular television. I love to act and am presently in development of an electrifying Broadway musical with some exceptional and celebrated talent. It is slated to open in the near future.

     I live in New Jersey, with its rich history and beautiful shoreline. Still, like Daphne, the ocean beckons and my secret ambition is to visit every beach in the world before I pass into the collective consciousness once again.

By the way you want a really good video, check this out, the most controversial video and the jury are still out! 

 Gerbals

I sent my resume around the internet via Monster and got a hook from a company in Florida. Not unlike a hungry fish, I took the bait and, after paying them $500.00, I am now an Affiliate, meaning I am a sales person who signs pre-qualified leads up for a $50 fee and $20 per month. There’s no yearly contract, so, I was thinking I’m not putting anyone out of much money if it doesn’t work for them; and the company has been very nice, diligent with their training, and straightforward as far as I can tell.

AFTER THE FACT I read on a website and the following facts are emerging much to my disappointment:

“FACT: People at casting agencies, modeling agencies, and talent agencies see enough potential models in person and receive enough photos through other means that searching online for “new faces” is unnecessary.”

“FACT: Good casting directors, modeling agents, and talent agents are too busy to spend hours online trolling for photos of ‘new faces’.”

Ya reckon I’ve allowed myself to screw myself?

“FACT: I was under the impression that as new faces are always “needed” and as the internet does allow for potential “talent” to be looked at by potential employers, it’s a good thing, and not exploitive.”

Are we now POSITIVE that on-line talent search agencies are unnecessary and thus all just a great deal of hype?

Then it would seem that we need to approach these people (casting directors, modeling agents, and talent agents) directly and this Talented Cafe website does the trick by giving us the email database? Bet there are going to be a LOT of “VERY PISSED OFF” talent agents once this takes hold… Get in line I’m already posting my email. Hahaha!!!

Thanks Talented Cafe People!!!

Attorney General Eliot Spitzer today announced that his office has filed a lawsuit against a Montgomery County man who scammed dozens of actors into believing he was a talent agent and casting director for major motion picture studios.Eric Charles Roselli, also known as Eric Latham, of Amsterdam, is accused of fraud, deceptive business practices, false advertising and violations of a state law that prohibits advertisements for show business employment opportunities when an advance fee is a condition of employment.

“This individual pretended to be a movie talent agent and nearly convinced many people to pay in advance for an opportunity to appear in a movie,” Spitzer said. “But his claims were not substantiated and my office is now seeking restitution for those who were victimized.”

In June 2003, Roselli placed an advertisement in Backstage Magazine, a publication read by individuals in the entertainment industry. The advertisement invited aspiring actors to call a Manhattan telephone number for information about auditions purportedly affiliated with Paramount Studios and Warner Brothers.

Actors who called were told that auditions were being held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Albany. Hundreds of individuals traveled to Albany, at their own considerable expense, to appear for the auditions.

Spitzer’s investigation revealed that Roselli was not affiliated with either studio and that every actor who auditioned was offered a role by Roselli on the condition that they pay him $552 to join the “Artists Union,” a non-existent entity.

Several actors recognized Roselli’s offer as a scam and reported it to Spitzer’s office. Fortunately, no one paid the fee sought by Roselli.

In filing the lawsuit, Spitzer’s office seeks a court order compelling Roselli to pay full monetary restitution and damages to all aggrieved consumers, civil penalties for his violations of state laws and costs. The lawsuit also seeks a permanent injunction against Roselli barring him from future fraudulent, deceptive and illegal practices.

Individuals wishing to file a complaint against Roselli are encouraged to call the Attorney General’s consumer help line at (800) 771-7755 or visit the office’s web site at www.oag.state.ny.us.

This case is being handled by Principal Attorney Robert Vawter of the Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau.