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!

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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

The Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, Woodstock, NY 2010 residencies, deadline
Mar. 1

2010 Artist in Residence Program: The Byrdcliffe Arts Colony / The
Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, located in the Catskill Mountains, Woodstock, NY
USA. Founded as an Arts & Crafts community in 1903, it has been a haven for
visual artists, potters, writers, crafts people, musicians and theatre
artists for almost a century. The Residency Program offers writers, visual
artists and composers one-month residencies from June-September. The cost
per 4 week session is $300. (Playwrights US citizens only may apply for the
Handel Fellowship.) (Writers under the age of 35, who need financial
assistance, may apply for a $100 scholarship from The Patterson Fund.)
Fellowships available for artists!!

Deadline: March 01, 2010

Application fee: $35 USD

For more details and an application: www.woodstockguild.org or (845)
679-2079

Short Play Lab Seeks Scripts for Dec. 5 – 6!
Dear Friend in the Theatre,

We’re still looking for plays for the Short Play Lab on Dec. 5 and 6. Our ambitious program of as many as 4 programs a month, curated by 4 playwright/producers, has created an opportunity for some NYC playwrights. The rules are easy-peasy:
Plays should be 1 – 10 pp. in standard playscript format.*
Submit scripts in MS-Word.
You produce the play; the SPL provides the theatre (the 65-seat Studio Blackbird at Where Eagles Dare).
Productions must be non-union: no showcases please! (You may get an Equity waiver if you want.)
Keep production values to a minimum: costumes and hand props are okay. We provide rehearsal cubes, chairs, a table or two, and a couch.
We provide a board op, box office, and venue management.
There are no fees. The SPL keeps the door.
Tickets are $15. Each playwright and director gets 1 comp each. Comps are non-transferable. If you’re involved in more than 1 play, you still get only 1 comp. There are no industry comps.
There is a tech rehearsal. Plays get either 15 mins of tech (1 – 5 pp.) or 30 mins. of tech (6 – 10 pp.).
Where Eagles Dare rehearsal studios offer 10% off on rates.
Every play gets 2 performances.
*12 pt Times Roman; character names in the middle on their own line; line spaces between speeches and stage directions; indented stage directions

Many of last season’s SPL veterans ended up in the Midtown International Theatre Festival’s Short Subjects series, not surprising since I produce both events. We are also seeking longer one-act plays for the ongoing Short Subjects (cont.) series. Regardless of your plans for your play, the SPL is a lot of fun and a good way to see your work on its feet in a supportive environment. It’s also a great way to see actors and directors at work.

To submit a script, send it as an attachment to john.chatterton@gmail.com.

Thanks,
John Chatterton
Where Eagles Dare rehearsal studio and theatre

Characters to Die For

What makes a great script? A riveting story – or memorable characters? You may say, both. But for the star whom you want to attract to your script, only one thing matters: a great role.

Seen from that point of view, you might want to ask yourself whether your script is not just ‘a good read’, but offering something that’s important to an actor. Because like it or not, without stars attached, your script is unlikely to get made.

The question is, what are actors looking for?

In this great article by Josh Golding he looks at what makes a character stand out to actors – http://bit.ly/30VrmQ

Manhattan Monologue Slam featuring casting director Sarah Conte from Gossip Girl
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20TH 7PM DOOR – 7:30PM CURTAIN
at Bennett Media Studio
723 Washington Street in the West Village of NYC
CLICK FOR REDUCED TICKET PRICE
AND DIRECTIONS TO THE VENUE!
Grand Prize sponsored by NYCastings.com
SIGN UP TO PERFORM AT THE SHOW AND BE SEEN BY INDUSTRY LOOKING FOR TALENT! ALSO YOU’LL RECEIVE A COPY OF YOUR PERFORMANCE ON DVD!

November 20th Judges Include
Susan Batson, Founder, Black Nexxus
Sarah Conte, Casting Director, Central Casting
Joe Trentacosta, VP, Springer Associates Broadway PR

November 20th Cast Includes:
Current MMSlam Champ Verlon Brown with Ben Hersey, Tora Brava, Leslie Goshko, Miles Del Ray, Shawn Williams and more TBA.

CLICK FOR REDUCED TICKET PRICE

What’s at stake?
1st Set – Championship Set: The title of “The Manhattan Monologue Slam Champion” qualification for the National Title, $100 sponsored by NYCastings, assorted gifts and a consultation with any one of that evening’s panelists.

2nd Set – Audience Slam: A spot to perform in next month’s “Championship Set”, $30 sponsored by MMSlam, a DVD of your performance, assorted gifts and a spot in next month’s 1st set.

***Sign up and perform in the :30 Slam at the show…
Judges subject to change

The ONE Festival NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS

New York — Teatro LA TEA and Caicedo Productions present the 5th annual The ONE Festival. This new exciting festival begins on April 5th through April 18th, 2010. Submissions are currently being accepted until February 28, 2009.

The ONE Festival will have a two-week theatrical run, with multi-talented playwrights and performing artists from all over the world. This annual event will showcase theatrical works from men and women of solo performances.

The ONE Festival will be accepting original non-published theatrical works, full length and shorts. Each work will perform at least two times during the festival. One of the theatrical works produced by the festival will receive $500 cash prize, plus a full theatrical production at Teatro LA TEA at The Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center in NYC’s Lower East Side. The audience will be the judges by voting for their favorite play. Only finalists with 75 votes or more will qualify for the cash prize. The performance with the highest votes will be the ONE winner!

Submission requirements for “The ONE Festival” 2010:
$30-Full Length – Maximum 1hr, Minimum 45 minutes
$15-Short Length – Maximum 30 minutes or less
Please send submission fee with 1 copy of each of the following:
• Playwrights bio. Please include: name, address, telephone number and email
• Treatment of theatrical work
• Complete script of theatrical work, plus a 10 minute DVD “sample work”
• Actor/director/crew bios, if available
• Description of Set and Props
• Deadline: Postmarked by Friday, February 28th, 2010
• Include SASE if you would like materials returned

Please send submissions and fees payable to Caicedo Productions or Teatro LA TEA (no
drop-ins) to:
TEATRO LA TEA
P.O. Box 20673
New York, NY 10009
Attn: Veronica Caicedo

For more information, please contact Veronica Caicedo at theonefestival@gmail.com

If you are a playwright, or know a playwright, please note that there are still openings for one-act plays in the lineup at Where Eagles Dare’s studio theatre.

The deal is that the playwright/producer must produce the play (casting and rehearsing the actors, among many other tasks), including provision of a board operator (we can help you find one). Where Eagles Dare will provide the theatre, box-office services, and some promotion. THERE IS NO FEE. Tickets will be $15. Where Eagles Dare keeps the door.

Plays must be 45 – 60 minutes, on any subject. There are various dates and times available throughout December 2009 and January 2010. Each show will receive 3 slots in 1 week. Producers who succeed in this format are often invited back to produce under a door-deal arrangement.

We’re looking for experienced producers with a script ready to put on its feet and a wide base of potential audience. Production requirements must be kept to a minimum, as the amenities of the studio theatre are spartan. But Off-Off-Broadway, sometimes two boards and a passion are all it takes!

Please send scripts, in standard playscript format* (and in MS Word), to john.chatterton@gmail.com. Queries welcome.

*12 pt Times Roman; 1″ margins; character names centered on a separate line; stage directions indented; a line space betwee stage directions and dialog; title page with contact info.