A happy ‘hello!’ to you all, and I hope you’re enjoying the Summer weather! This is the first edition of a quarterly newsletter I am beginning in order to provide an easy way to update everyone I know about the professional goings-on in my life. I hope you enjoy what you read, as most of you are a very large part of why I am finally able to do this. In advance, I’d like to thank you for being my friends Here it goes…..

2010 started off with a bang! Early in January, my good friend, Mark Schoenfeld, advised me to begin auditioning for some theatre projects. I followed his advice, and within the week, landed the leading role as “Rose,” in the musical Sleeping Beauty for Galli’s Fairytale Theatre in Manhattan. The show ran for 3 weeks, and it was a fantastic opportunity to get my feet wet in this crazy city’s theatre scene! Shortly thereafter, I became the host of the New York public access show called Extreme Art Television for The Society of Unique Artists. It’s been amazing to experience New York art at it’s finest and interview some of the most cutting-edge artists in the world! In early February, my friend Schoolly D, a legendary recording artist and producer, listened to a partial track I had recorded and invited me to his studio to write and record some songs. Within a few hours we laid down a few really exciting tracks, and we’re continuing to brainstorm some great ideas. I was also involved in the making of his newest music video for the track, “Just Can’t Help Myself.” It was a completely crazy, funny, zany day, and the video turned out really comedic and light-hearted. In early March, at the world-wide premiere of the documentary We Live in Public, about/starring the social media pioneer Josh Harris, Josh personally asked me to present the official We Live in Public uniform jacket to the host of the evening’s events, Adrien Grenier. That was quite an honor!

During the VIP Talent Connect Event on March 13th, I was able to reconnect with the completely fabulous and always stylish, Jess Zaino! That very day, she cast me in the spec commercial she was producing for Brooklyn Lager. What a great day! I was also featured in 4 scenes on an episode of Gossip Girl in which Sara Conte cast me. A few weeks later, my friendJohn Buffalo Mailer asked me to audition for a role in Tell Me the Truth, a short experimental film by the Emmy awardwinning director, Gena Konstantinakos. I nailed the audition and was cast in the film alongside greats such as John Buffalo Mailer (Wall Street 2), Meital Dohan (Weeds), and Steve Colman (Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry). WOWOWOW, what an AMAZING opportunity! Working with people of this level was a dream come true, and Gena’s directorial style was magical!

April was a whirlwind of adventure! Another Emmy award winning director, Benedict Hadley, had begun filming a reality show about VIP, entitled VIP/NYC, and I was cast in a leading role. I was instructed to carry a KodakZi8 camera with me at all times, filming myself throughout the course of my adventures. Some of these adventures included volunteering some time at the 3 Dot Dash International Youth Leadership Summit for global peace, hosted by the great producer, Nile Rogers. I also documented my double-life as a regular on-air model for the QVC Network, modeling cosmetics for (the fabulous) Laura Geller. A ridiculously talented guy, Benedict also wrote an OUTSTANDING script called Boost. He cast me as the principle role of “Keran,” the best friend of the lead character, “Simah.” After spending loads of time filming theElectronic Press Kit (EPK), we are expected to begin shooting sometime in the late summer. I couldn’t be more excited (and impatient) to get started! In late April, I had the experience of a lifetime at the Twitter #140Conf, where I was not only able hang out with Ivanka Trump backstage, but also had the AMAZING opportunity to interview the great and powerful TV personality, Donny Deutsch! I was so nervous my head was spinning, and I think it turned out pretty darn good!

After attending the awards ceremony at the Babelgum Film Festival in May, my good friend, director Ali Hossaini, consulted with me about a screenplay I have slowly begun to outline, and also the development of a book of poetry I’ve been writing in dribs and drabs for years. As summer continues, I hope to delve further into these personal projects. In mid-May, I volunteered 5 days of my life at the HOBY, the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership summit, held in Central PA. During these 5 days, I facilitated an amazing group of high school sophomores as they learned about the art and selflessness of community service, made pertinent political decisions as they sat in the PA House of Representatives, and made great personal strides as human beings. It was an amazing and rewarding week! To top off a crazy month, I also began modeling for (the totally awesome) Kate Somerville Skin Health Line on QVC.

2010 has been quite a year, thus far. I can’t wait to see what the summer will bring!

I have devised a list of goals to accomplish until I update you again. Here they are!

1) Create my own weekly show on YouTube

2) Start auditioning as often as humanly possible

3) Finish my reel (I’m still waiting on bits of promising footag

4) VISIT HOLLYWOOD (finally!)

5) Finish my website (looong overdue)

Thank you for reading up on my life as of late. I hope this update finds you happy, healthy, and enjoying the sunshine!

Want to have a FREE Phone evaluation and interview http://www.alyciakaback.com

So we never believed the rumor about the CEO of VIP Talent Connect being “connected” but recent sightings tell a different story. VIP Reality Project getting your dreams of success to the next level!

Steven Van Zandt (born November 22, 1950) is an American musician, songwriter, arranger, record producer, actor, and radio disc jockey, who frequently goes by the stage names Little Steven or Miami Steve. He is best known as a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, in which he plays guitar and mandolin, and as an actor in the television drama The Sopranos, in which he played Silvio Dante. Little Steven was also in in a band called little “Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul”.

About VIP Talent Connect

VIP Talent Connect is not an agency, not a school, not a management company- VIP Talent Connect is a revolutionary, one of a kind, way for new talent to create personal and professional relationships with leading tastemakers and industry leaders in the entertainment field. We invite you to join us and have discussions with the VIP Talent Connect guests in this unprecedented gathering of powerful entertainers, artists, producers and style gurus.

There are many different avenues to enter the entertainment business. Models can attend “free” open calls at various agencies in any major city. However, many persons interested in a modeling career are not aware of exactly what is involved in attending “free” open calls. Many models are confused at an open call when certain less than reputable companies demand upfront fees for a variety of usually unneeded items, especially “professional” photographs.

http://www.viptalentconnect.com

It was a pleasure for the VIP Reality Project team to sit down and everyone to meet and be inspired by Ann Curry at the NYC 140 Conference. We are really looking forward to what was an amazing interview between Ann and Josh Harris who happens to be on the Board of directors of VIP Talent Connect.

Ann Curry (born November 19, 1956) is an American television news journalist and news anchor on NBC’s morning television program Today since May 1997 and host of Dateline NBC since May 2005. Along with Lester Holt, she is the primary substitute for Brian Williams on NBC Nightly News.

Curry is known for her international reporting of major stories, filing stories from places such as Baghdad, Sri Lanka, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Albania, and Darfur. Curry hosted NBC’s primetime coverage and highlights of the Live Earth concerts on July 7, 2007 and also contributed with interviews for the special with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Al Gore. Curry reported from the USS Theodore Roosevelt during the invasion of Afghanistan in November 2001, and had an exclusive interview with General Tommy Franks. She reported from Baghdad in early 2003, and then from the USS Constellation as the war in Iraq began. Ann was also the first network news anchor to report from inside the Southeast Asian tsunami zone in late 2004.

VIP Talent Connect Event Director featuring a beautiful design from Jules Smith Designs featured on Life.com. It was the hottest event in town as the stars came out to celebrate Corbin Bleu’s unveiling at Tony Di Napoli.

Gina Nigrelli’s JULES SMITH collection is reminiscent of influential runway looks of decades past, infused with modern day influences. Gina’s aesthetic marries her unique contemporary point-of-view with the classic statement-making trends of the 70’s and 80’s. She’s identified the free-spirited essence of the 70’s and the glamour and excess of the 80’s as her brand inspirations. JULES SMITH styles include bold cuffs, star motifs, engraved monochromatic animal print pieces, chain link silhouettes, vintage charms, rings and bangles.
“My collection pays homage to the iconic trends in fashion,” reflects Nigrelli. “One strong accessory, such as a dominant necklace, cuff or bold pair of earrings, completes a look that is timeless and effortlessly chic.”

Great job and everyone at VIP Talent Connect looks forward to more from Danielle. We know one day you will be on the cover of Vogue Magazine.

Garrett Scott Documentary Development Grant

What: This grant funds first time documentary makers for travel and accommodations at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, April 8-11, 2010. For four days, grant recipients will be given access to films, participate in master classes and be mentored by experienced filmmakers. TWO filmmakers will be chosen for the grant in its third year.

Deadline: Applications must be RECEIVED BY Friday, February 5, 2010. Applicants will be notified by email in early March.

About the Grant: Garrett Scott made a distinctive mark in documentary during his short career. Without any formal training in film, he directed Cul De Sac: A Suburban War Story, examining the case of a methamphetamine addict who stole a tank from an armory and went on a rampage through the San Diego suburbs. The film prompted Filmmaker Magazine to cite Scott as one of 25 New Faces of Independent Film. He went on to make Occupation: Dreamland, co-directed with Ian Olds, about U.S. soldiers in Falluja, Iraq. It won prizes at Full Frame and the Independent Spirit Awards. Both films were broadcast by the Sundance Channel. In 2006, Scott died of a heart attack at age 37.

Scott’s work examined how the forces of state power and economics impact individuals. Stylistically, his films broke convention, giving audiences new perspectives on familiar milieus like suburbia or war torn Iraq. He was a beloved member of film communities in San Francisco and New York City and several points in between.

His friends, family and colleagues established this development grant to help other emerging filmmakers reach their potential. The grants selection committee looks especially for filmmakers who somehow fulfill Scott’s example, by bringing a unique vision to the content and style of contemporary documentary making.

Previous grant recipients include Elinyisia Mosha and Cameron Yates in 2009, Rebecca Richman Cohen, Nathan Fisher and Mai Iskander in 2008 and Robin Hessman and Lee Lynch in 2007.

Criteria: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or green card holder and live in the continental United States; any age 18 or older. By “first time filmmaker,” we mean someone who is in the early stage of their documentary career and has not yet received significant recognition (such as major festival play or broadcast). All applicants should anticipate finishing their first project by March 2011. You still qualify as a “first time filmmaker” if you’ve made shorts or student projects, worked professionally as a crew member on other people’s films, or if you’ve recently completed a documentary that hasn’t been released yet. The grant is open to students and non-students alike.

How: Applicants should send a 2 page letter addressing these areas:

1) Project summary: Describe the documentary you’re working on. It doesn’t matter whether the film is a short or a feature, though the judging tends to favor more ambitious projects. Describe the characters, structure, visual approach and what stage you’re at.

2) Director’s statement: Describe how you came to filmmaking and how you’ve trained as a filmmaker. It doesn’t matter whether you went to film school or are self-taught. Describe what you want audiences to take from your film.

Work sample: Applicants must send a 5-10 minute DVD sample of a work-in-progress or a past work. You may send a longer work sample, but judges may only review the opening minutes.

Submit TWO COPIES of both the letter and DVD along with your…

Name:
Address:
Phone:
E-mail:

Send to:
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
ATTN: Garrett Scott Documentary Grant
324 Blackwell Street. Suite 500
Washington Building, Bay 5
Durham, NC 27701

Question or comment? e-mail us submissions@fullframefest.org

Project Proposals Now Being Accepted for the Toronto Documentary Forum

Hot Docs is accepting project proposals for the upcoming Toronto Documentary Forum (TDF), May 5 & 6, taking place during the 2010 Hot Docs Festival, April 29-May 9. Widely regarded as the most effective international documentary market in North America, the TDF is a dynamic pitching event that stimulates international co-production financing for projects at various levels of completion.

Selected documentary producers publicly pitch their projects to over 150 key international broadcasters and financiers from Europe, Australia, Japan, the USA and Canada and to a gallery of accredited observers. For complete submission guidelines visit http://www.hotdocs.ca. Deadline for submissions is January 15, 2010.

Film Submission Deadlines Approaching

Hot Docs accepts Canadian and international documentaries of all lengths and subject matter. All Hot Docs screening programs are curated and all submissions will be fully considered by Hot Docs’ programming team. The early film submission deadline for the 2010 Hot Docs Festival is December 18, 2009. The final deadline is January 15, 2010. For complete submission guidelines visit http://www.hotdocs.ca