Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Sandy and Karma

 Sandy - and How We Got Here

(Pardon typos, written by person in a hurricane disaster zone)

So, I usually post about jobs in and out of the industry, but I felt a need to voice some frustrations/observations.  Firstly, I am not political, but I have to give credit where it's due.  Thank you to the politician for mentioning, flat out, that Hurricane Sandy and the 100-year storms that we have been having every two years, are a direct result of climate change (global warming).

I'm not a scientist, so I can only speak from what I know, and what seems like common sense.  When people talk about global warming, they are usually talking about climate change and more drastic and unpredictable weather.  And that's what we've got.  And that's what we've earned by our pure neglect of our environment and the laws of karma.

I'm a huge believer in karma. I know that what goes around, comes around. And I know that when it comes around, even if we feel that the person deserves it, we are then accumulating our own karmic debt for rejoicing in another's misfortune.  Tricky, right?  In my quest to understand and live with good karma, I question my intent about most of my feelings/actions.  Do I want to do this because it's the right thing to do, or because of what I will reap if I do it (ego driven) - it can make a person dizzy!

Let's get back to the environment.  Mother Nature is pissed, and rightfully so.  We American's love our creature comforts, and that's fine - but do we respect the price paid for them?  And here's what I mean -

1) Pick-Up Trucks/SUVs - Do we really need those monster pick-up trucks that use tons of gas?  You might say, "why, yes I do.  If there's an emergency, I need to get to safety."  But do you really mean, "so that "I" can get to safety, even if I have to run over all those in MY way?"  If so, not cool.  We're all in this together.

2) Smoking- I know it's a touchy subject, and there are addictions involved, but, if you must smoke - why on earth are you throwing your cigarette butts out of the window of your car??? You don't want to dirty your car, but it's okay to throw your crap out into the street?  What's wrong with you?  This is OUR earth, stop that now!

3) Littering - there was a real push to stop littering when I was in grade school.  Remember the native American with the teardrop looking over the soiled land?  Have we given that up?  Maybe we should bring it back.  You really can hold onto your trash until you reach a garbage pail - really.  Seriously.  Keep a bag in your car, throw it out when you get home.  Put it in your pocket or bag till you see a pail.  Simple.

4)Energy. It's very possible that solar, hydro and wind energies are more expensive then oil, gas or coal.  You know what else, sometimes money is not the most important issue.  We've got to wean ourselves away from foreign dependency and from depleting our resources, especially ones that add to the pollution level which in turn adds to global warming - because we see how well we're doing with that.  Don't just think about what we are going through, think about seven generations down.  What legacy will we be leaving them?  Oh, and if you believe there's even a chance of reincarnation, you might be the one suffering in the future for what you did today. We have to invest in wind, and solar, along with gas, and oil and coal.  Haven't you learned anything from the stock market? Diversify, diversify, diversify.  The only thing I can't advocate for are nuclear power plants.  The problem with those is that they are run by humans.  Humans make mistakes.  When you deal with something that powerful, it's not an eraser we're dealing it, it's poisoning our citizens, and the environment for decades.  Oh, and hydrofracking and excessive drilling? Stop that. Stop that right now.  Does anyone think that maybe the more common earthquakes we're having might have something to do with drilling deep into the layers of the earth?  Forget about all the pollution and damage from oil spills etc.  Okay, don't forget those.  Everything has consequences, everything has a karmic debt.  Think, think, think.  Err on the side of clean air, water and good will in all cases!

5)Conservation.  Yes, we love our toys, we love our conveniences, and a lot of us are acting like spoiled brats. Do we really need everything we buy? I have a friend who has a couch in her basement piled with clothing that needs to be pressed.  She wanted to hire someone a while ago to help her iron as she works very long hours.  I suggested someone who could help her, and her response, "I don't have anywhere to put them anyway, so why bother?"  But she keeps on buying new clothes.  Insanity, and I can write about it here because she doesn't use facebook or the internet much.  Do we need these megamansions, McMansions, newer, bigger, less efficient homes?  If we're building new homes, we should have building codes to go along with the new homes demanding that they be built using alternative energy capabilities.  And if we're building new developments, put the wires etc underground, will you?  I know it's expensive.  As a homeowner, I know this - but it has to be done.  Eventually, the infrastructure will need to be revamped, and man, will it be expensive and a major pain, but necessary.  This weather is the new normal, and it's not getting better any time soon.  Power underground, means less outages in cases like Irene and Sandy. Less outages, less clean-up, less repair. EVENTUALLY, less cost.

6)Money.  Money is important, money is good.  Money is NOT the most important thing in the world.  The idea of money is not to get as much as you possibly can, even if it means poisoning the environment and hurting people. Stop that. What's wrong with you? 

and while I'm at it:

7) Telling the Truth/Personal Responsibility.  We can all do this, really.  If you screw up, take responsibility, correct it, and move on.  Everyone makes mistakes.  I know it's hard to believe, but even I do, as anal as I am.  Keep your dignity, accept that you did it, forgive yourself, move on. Your mistake does not define you as a person.  Other people may try to label you, but you live in your skin.  Know that "YOU" are okay. And if you have dignity, everything else will be fine. 

7)School system - sorry, have to get this in here.  Stop bashing teachers.  And stop teaching subjects no one (at least with regards to 99% of the population) needs.  Whose idea was this anyway?  Teach towards a students ability and learning style. We do not all learn the same. Some need to read, others to see, some to hear, some - two or three of those at once.  I don't know the way to do this, but you torture kids by teaching them things of little value because you have to teach to tests, because how else can you evaluate a school's performance - because it's harder to track if they've just become creative, productive beings.  Some of us are a little odd, that's okay, use it.  We're all different for a reason.

I'm sorry about the gazillion typos, but I'm tired, and I had a need to vent.

What makes you crazy, and what do we need to change?  And, most importantly, how do we do it?

Namaste,

Debbie

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Casting for Television Series


Casting for Television Series 

TRUE LIFE: I CAN'T AFFORD MY RELATIONSHIP!

Are you at the end of your rope because your relationship is breaking the bank? Ready to move in with your boyfriend but know he won't ever pay rent? Have you fallen in love with a high-maintenance gal and your spoiling her has put you in debt that you're hiding?

If you’re deciding between a break up and being broke, MTV’s Emmy Award-winning documentary series, True Life, wants to hear from you today!  

Email us at TLcouplescasting@gmail.com if you've had to open up your wallet as much as your heart and it's taking its toll! If you appear to be between the ages of 16 and 26, and you can't keep up with:
your boo, who’s sporting all the latest and greatest gear YOU bought him...
your girlfriend, who is demanding  that only YOUR salary goes to plane tickets for your long-distance relationship...
your wife, who is shopping with your paychecks while you’re deployed
or your partner, whose taste is WAY more sophisticated than what you can afford...
we are waiting for ya!   

Email and tell us...

• A little about your relationship – how long have you been together, what the problem is and how it’s affecting you.
• Where you live
• How we can contact you
• And include photos!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Ac

Casting - Models Needed as per below

Any Males or Females Interested in Making extra money..... If you are interested please email Angela Gulizio at ggtalent@gmail.com

YOU CANNOT JUST SHOW UP YOU NEED TO BE ON A LIST.......

JOICO / ISO / ALOXXI / UNIONDALE NY BEAUTY FASHION HAIR SHOW AUDITIONS


{{{{{ AUDITION DATE : FRIDAY OCTOBER 12 2012 [ SEE TIMES BELOW ] }}}}}}}

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CASTING INFORMATION FOR ALL 3 BEAUTY COMPANIES


MALES & FEMALES: AGES 15 - 40 / MODEL TYPES

ALL ETHNICITIES & HEIGHTS

NO WEAVES / WIGS / EXTENSIONS / BRAIDS / RELAXED HAIR
NO SHAVED / BUZZED / BALD / VERY SHORT HAIR

HOW MUCH CUT COLOR STYLING IS DONE IS DETERMINED BETWEEN MODELS & ARTISTS

MODELS UNDER 18 YRS MUST BRING A PARENT & WEAR A NICE BLACK OUTFIT

PLACE: LONG ISLAND MARRIOTT HOTEL
101 JAMES DOOLITTLE BLVD
UNIONDALE , NEW YORK 11553
[ NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE . GOOGLE FOR DIRECTIONS ]

PREP DATE : SATURDAY OCTOBER 13 2012 [ MORNING TO LATE AFTERNOON ]
SHOW DATE : SUNDAY & MONDAY OCTOBER 14 & 15 2012 [ MORNING TO LATE AFTERNOON ]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CASTING # 1 / COMPANIES : JOICO & ISO 5:30 P.M - 6:00 P.M

MODELS GO TO ROOM " LL-2052 [ LOWER LEVEL ]

RATES: $ 425.00 FLAT [ 1 PREP DATE & 2 SHOW DATES ]
$ 290.00 FLAT [ 1 PREP DATE & 1 SHOW DATE ]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CASTING # 2 / COMPANY : ALOXXI 7:00 P.M

MODELS GO TO ROOM " 2044

RATES : $ 500.00 FLAT [ 1 PREP DATE & 2 SHOW DATES ]
$ 300.00 FLAT [ 1 PREP DATE & 1 SHOW DATE ]

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Locations Needed AND the Long Island International Film Expo is open for submissions





Locations Needed AND The Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE) is Open for Submissions

The 16th annual Long Island International Film Expo is now accepting submissions for the 2013 LIIFE to be held July 11 - 18, 2013.  You can enter at www.longislandfilm.com.

Also, the following locations are needed for film/tv/commercial jobs 

(These must be in Nassau County)
1) For a superhero movie, London Calling, they're looking for an area on the water that they can erect a beach house, and then blow it up.
1a) They also need a very film-friendly town that can simulate Greenwich, CT.
This is for the spring.  If you have any suggestions, please e-mail debfilm@aol.com and reference, London Calling.
2)Working on a Airborne commercial. They're hoping to film at Cantiague Park in Hicksville, and if so, they'll need a conference room VERY close by.  If you have any suggestions, please e-mail debfilm@aol.com and reference Schmidt.
3) For television series, Golden Boy, they're looking for a large bus terminal for filming a chase scene.  If you have any suggestions, please e-mail debfilm@aol.com and reference Golden Boy.
That's it for now.
Thank you.
Best,
Debbie

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Filmmakers Connection Meeting and Newsletter


 Filmmakers Connection Meeting and Newsletter

Hello everyone, We hope you got a chance to visit during this past Long Island International Film Expo.  What a terrific time, and it was wonderful meeting filmmakers from Poland, Italy, the Philippines, England and Australia, just to name a few.  And of course our local filmmakers!  The 2013 LIIFE will be held from July 11 – 18, 2013.  We will begin accepting submissions for consideration mid October, and the cut-off will be April 1.  We will keep you posted!

There will be a Filmmakers Connection Meeting on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in room 303 (305 North Service Road, Dix Hills, NY  11746). The speaker will be Mark Steiger.  He is producing and directing a film titled Taking Back Vegas(Facebook), Taking Back Vegas(2012)(imdb) which is in-development and will be the topic of discussion for the night as well as the services of his two companies 86'd EntertainmentEnterprises, Inc. and Off The Lots, Inc., to a network of film industry professionals.  He will answer any and all questions for aspiring filmmakers, actors, producers, directors.

Jim Cook will be holding another one of his exciting and informative panels on Tuesday, March 5 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Adelphi University.  We’ll provide more information on that as it becomes available.

If you’re interested in finding out up-to-the-minute information on film jobs that I hear about (both cast and crew) or locations needed for film/tv/commercials, plus other film related information (or my own personal musings), check www.debramarkowitz.blogspot.com  You can also sign up for our twitter account below, and I will tweet whenever I have anything film-related of interest.   Let’s keep the work here!!  If you are a filmmaker/casting person who knows of any positions, I can post those for you as well.  Please e-mail me details:  Union or nonUnion, personnel needed, whether it’s a paid position, when, where and what.  Thank you.

We’re now on Facebook, Twitter, Myspace AND have our own Youtube channel!  Come join us at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Long-Island-International-Film-Expo/125921132847, youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/LongIslandFilmExpo, myspace at: myspace.com/liifilmexpo  and Twitter at: www.twitter.com/liintlfilmexpo

If you had a film in the Long Island International Film Expo and have received a distribution deal (DVD, theatrical, and/or television), please send us a blurb and a link, and we’ll promote it for you on the Long Island International Film Expo facebook site.

If you have a home in Nassau County and would like to list it as a possible location for film/tv/commercial production, please contact debfilm@aol.com or call 516 571-3168.

If you have a business, service, or headshot you would like to bring to the attention of the dedicated audience that visits LongIslandFilm.com – consider placing a banner ad.  They are quite reasonable.  You will have your ad shown in random rotation for an entire year.  Small banner ads are $150 – (120 x 60 pixels).  Large banner ads are $300 (468 x 60 pixels).  If interested, please e-mail your banner ad in the appropriate amount of pixels to debfilm@aol.com.  Please include the URL you would like your ad to be connected to.  You can pay by check to LIFTF, or by PalPay under “The Foundation” and then “Donations.”  Just let us know when you send in your banner ad.
You can now pay for your membership to the Filmmakers Connection through PayPal on the www.LongIslandFilm.com website.  Please be sure to include your name, address, phone #, e-mail address, which area of the film industry you are involved in (ex. Writer/director/producer) and whether or not you are already getting this newsletter by e-mail.  Cost is $30 per year fee.  If you are a student with current ID, it is $15 to join.)
If you would like to become a member (or renew your membership) of the Filmmakers Connection, please send $30, made out to the LIFTF to the Long Island Film/TV Foundation, c/o Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Avenue, Side Entrance, Bellmore, NY  11710.  You may also pay at the meetings.  The $30 membership fee entitles you to attend the Filmmakers Connection meetings for free.  It also entitles you to discounts on Foundation functions such as the Long Island International Film Expo, the Awards Ceremony party, all mailings and newsletters, and (if all other criteria is met) a chance at winning the $1,000/$500 Finishing Fund Grant. (When you send in your $30, please be sure to include your name, address, phone number, e-mail address and how you are involved with the film industry, i.e. director, producer, voice overs, etc.) and whether you are already getting this newsletter by e-mail.  If you are a student with appropriate college/high school ID, the cost is $15 to join for the year.  If you do not join, you can still attend meetings for free.

Please be advised that the Foundation/Film Commissions/Film Offices are not responsible for speaker cancellations.  Every effort will be taken to insure a speaker’s availability on the date mentioned.  In case of a cancellation, every effort will be made to book an alternate speaker.

For information on the Long Island Film/TV Foundation contact Robert Hansen at 516 707-2237.  For information about the Long Island International Film Expo, please contact Debra Markowitz at 516 571-3168.

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