American Greed Featuring Amanda Grace

My friend, Amanda Grace, is such an amazing talented actress, model, and singer. She is one of the nicest sweetest people anyone could ever have the privilege to call a friend. If you read my entries on a regular basis then you have previously read what I have written about her. Tonight, all can see in working her magic on the television screen on CNBC's American Greed where she plays one of the Hollywood thieves known as the bling ring Please make sure to tune in at 10p.m. eastern/9p.m. central to watch Amanda Grace.

For more information or to check out other airings in case you miss it, log on to:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/18057119/My

Laura Sturm Directs Ephemera

When I was fourteen years old, I fell in love with talk radio. I spent the next decade dreaming of and pursuing a radio career. Eventually, I realized that maybe I was not meant to be a radio star and hall of fame broadcaster so I sat down to write my first ever full length feature screenplay. After writing it, I knew I had to take acting classes. I searched online and spoke to various people about potential schools. Each time I would read an instructor's biography, I would look for a connection. I would look to see where the instructor went to school or some of the programs with which he or she has been associated. I came across the biography for Laura Sturm who received her MFA from the same school I received my BA and at around the same time. Instantly, I was drawn to her. Like a magnet. I needed to meet her. More important, I had to study with her. I could not quite understand it, but I was overtaken by this desire to have her teach me about acting and to do what she could to get the best out of me. I had not a clue whether she would be interested in meeting or working with me, but I had an overwhelming desire to do whatever I had to do to get into her classes. As it turns out, I registered for my first acting class taught by Laura. Before it was made official, I went in to meet with her face-to-face and she was so delightful and so interested in working with me that my initial meeting felt more like I was seeing a long lost friend. I spent a couple years taking every class I could which was taught by Laura. The changes she would make in my artistic style, voice, and personality was so evident that other instructors would praise Laura's ability to connect, inspire, and change me while tapping into the talent I did not even realize I possessed. There are several teachers and classmates who played major roles in bringing out the best of me, but Laura will always have a special place in my heart because she has done the most work to understand my defense walls then put on her hard hat and go to work breaking it down one brick at a time until I stepped on to a stage for the first time as a professional actor and dazzled audiences with my performances. Laura, who has been one of my greatest supporters and toughest critics, was so moved by my performance and said I was doing things, reacting, and moving in ways that even she had not seen from me during the classes she taught. Dare I say, I love Laura Sturm! She continues to support, motivate, and teach me to this day. She is such an amazing instructor, actor, director, artist, and friend. Beauty, talent, and brains. Laura is one of the most amazing individuals I have ever had the privilege of having in my life.

Please check out the podcast interview featuring the lovely Laura Sturm discussing the latest project which she is directing. The play, Ephemera runs from March 22 through May 1, 2011. As time gets closer and throughout the run, I will post more information as it becomes available. Please enjoy Laura at this site:

http://blog.petheatre.com/

Collaboraction Sketchbook REVERB Industry Night

If you are looking for something to do tonight, head on over to the Flat Iron Arts Building in Chicago to check out my dear friend, the lovely and talented, Laura Shatkus, in Collaboraction Sketchbook REVERB. Monday night's performance is designated Industry Night. A headshot and resume or business card will enable you to get in for $10. It is a great deal to see a collection of wonderful pieces written by and performed by amazing artists. Again, the steal of a deal is that you will see Laura Shatkus!

1575 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago. For more info, log on to:

www.collaboraction.org

On The Brink

Just under seven years ago, I met the talented, beautiful, and amazing Kate Bergeron, in an acting class. I had the great privilege to work on some in class exercises with her. I also had the great privilege to sit back and observe her as she worked on her craft. In those days, there was never a doubt in my mind as well as in the minds of others that Kate was destined for greatness in the theater, film, and television industries. I later found out that she was a model and singer as well. Sure, she had starred in many musicals, but more than that, she was the lead vocalist for an up and coming band. As Kate Bergeron becomes a household name, I wish to invite all to check out this wonderfully talented woman in one of her latest projects. She is the star of this web series entitled On The Brink. If you are a regular reader to this blog, you have seen her demo reel from the internet movie data base a link to which I posted a few weeks ago. Now you can see complete episodes of her fabulous work.

Please check out Kate at the following link:

http://www.zingfactortv.com/otbvideos.html

Sites And Books By Jen Knox

While this blog was created to promote, preview, and review my artistic and athletic ventures as well as the artistic and athletic ventures of my dear close friends who along the way have been supportive, encouraging, and pushing me to achieve my absolute best, I will on occasion take the time to shine a light on some of my favorite resources or individuals. I believe very strongly that any success I have with my theater pieces, films, presentations, marathons, or triathlons are the result of my dedication to put myself in a position to succeed as well as friends taking the time to read my scripts, provide feedback, agree to act in my pieces, go on training runs, or volunteer to be my sighted guides for various races. My name goes down in the records, but it is always a collection of talented people working together which assures my success. Every so often, I read an online article or come across a web site which intrigues me and keeps my interest because the writer is informative, talented, and entertaining. In those cases, I usually do not know the person. In some cases, I may exchange messages with the person. Always, I feel grateful that I have come across that article or person because while I may not personally know him or her, I still feel that I am given an opportunity to learn and grow. Hopefully, the education I receive and the growth I experience can be channeled into my future work.

I have recently been reading a couple sites from an extremely talented writer and I am so glad I have had the opportunities to read her entries. I look forward to the chance of maybe finding her books on audio. I have not learned how to download audio books from the internet so if her books do exist in that format, I am sorry that I have not yet purchased them, but I hope to learn to be comfortable in that method in the very near future because several friends have been publishing books and the only way I can listen to them would be audio downloads as they do not exist in audio CD for purchase. Still, I encourage all to check out the sites and books by the talented Jen Knox. Her book entitled Musical Chairs is a very intriguing piece discussing her personal journey of the ups and downs of life which lead her to rock bottom before she picks herself up and as a champion does, she goes after her life's purpose with a toughness which shows what the human spirit is capable of when it is given a chance. Her book entitled, To Begin Again is a collection of stories. The description reminds me of the Norton Anthology books I loved so much in college.

For more information and to get a better description of Jen's books, please visit both of the following sites and make sure to buy her books:

www.jenknox.blogspot.com

www.jenknox.com

Laura Shatkus Talented Artist

I am always amazed at the wonderful individuals in my life of whom I have the great privilege to call friends. I am constantly in awe of their achievements. One such person about whom I have written in the past is Laura Shatkus who I met about seven years ago in acting class. We ended up having several classes together and it was such a joy to observe her in every single one of them. She was and continues to be a masterful artist. Whether in the classroom, in conversation, or on the stage, I get such a thrill when I am around her because she is an amazing beautiful person who oozes love, happiness, and friendship. I learn so much about being an artist and a friend when I am in her presence. Laura can currently be seen in Sketchbook REVERB presented by Collaboraction through March 27. Of course, throughout the run, I will post more information and links so that people can go out and see her work her magic. For now, please take the time to read this wonderful piece about her which appeared in the Daily Herald.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110215/entlife/702189977/

Brendan's Bar Karma

In the first week of July 2010, Matt Miller, the founder of the C Different Foundation, the organization under whose umbrella I would be racing the New York City Triathlon, contacted me to inform me that he had found a man to be my sighted guide. Matt said the man would reach out to me via Facebook, I should accept his friend request, and begin the bonding process. Matt told me the man's name was Brendan Hermes and his and my interests are so similar, it would be frightening. Sure enough, Brendan reached out to me, we sent comments back and forth, then we had an opportunity to speak on the phone. He was just a few years older than me, enjoyed living an active triathlon lifestyle, and worked for a production company creating TV, film, and interactive online content. He had also appeared in a few national commercials. I was overwhelmed by his accomplishments and experiences. It would be an honor and privilege to swim one mile in the Hudson river, bike twenty-five miles along Hudson Highway, and run 6.2 miles around and in Central Park with Brendan as my eyes. My entries from July 2010 discussing the New York City Triathlon expressed my thoughts of how the weekend with Brendan and his family was more magical than I could have ever dreamt it would be. More than a race day guide, Brendan has been a tremendous supportive friend with whom I have shared what feels like a lifetime of memories in just about six months.

Brendan's latest project has him as one of the producers for the television show, Bar Karma, which debuts on Current TV on Friday, February 11 at 10p.m. eastern time. The show is interactive so viewers and fans will have the opportunity to use the internet to submit ideas and plot or story lines to be written, filmed, and air in future episodes. If anyone has ever wanted to experience what it may feel like to contribute to a television program, this is the perfect way to do so.

Please read more information about the show at the following link and make sure to check out the show.

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/02/bar-karma-will-wright/