Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Odds and Sods for Wednesday, April 9, 2008

If you only knew all the reasons I have not been blogging...

But I think I will spare the details - just know that since the first of this year, Gary and I have gone through a series of mind-boggling events, any one of which would bring most people to their knees -- and they just keep coming and somehow we are still standing but let's put it like this - we're only managing by holding each other up.



All I can do at this point is shake my head and be thankful the two of us live a day at a time and also have a dark sense of humor.

Anyway...

Let's talk about some good stuff.

Over the past several months, I've mentioned (more than once har har) a little documentary I'm in, written and produced by my pal Kimberly Wetherell, which is making the rounds of several film festivals. Well, guess what. "WHY WE WAX" won BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY at the Phoenix Film Festival this past weekend!!!

The next festival screenings are in Indianapolis, at the Indianapolis International Film Festival, screening on April 25 & 26 and it's also just been accepted by the Portland Women's Film Festival, screening on May 16th.

Here's an interview with Kimberly's co-producer, Amy Axelson. I feel that I should, um, clarify that my contribution to the film is talking about growing up at the beginnings of the Womens' Liberation Movement and how we didn't even wear a bra let alone shave our legs -- I know I was young at the time but I am pretty sure no hippie worth her salt would have ever considered a bikini wax and I would normally have added "and I doubt they were even invented yet" but after seeing Why We Wax, I learned otherwise as you will as well after watching this clip:



In other news, I will be in New York City this coming Monday, April 14, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. for a reading at the Boxcar Lounge.



I'm going with a brand new essay called "My Brilliant Writing Career" which sounds sarcastic and okay, okay, it is, but actually I have had some good news in that regard lately so it isn't as bad as it seems and I should probably change the title to "My Brilliant Film Career" though with my recent "successes" in both co-starring in a short film and writing a story upon which another film making the festivals is based, I can't really say that, either...but oh boy do I have a story about something else.

Here's the first paragraph of the essay I intend to read:

"So right before Labor Day weekend, 2007, I got this email:

Dear Robin,

I am a Movie and Television Producer/Director based in Los Angeles. I recently read your book Three Days In New York City - and wanted to discuss with you the possibilities of adapting it for Film and or Television.

Please contact me."


And from there, my friends, it all goes rapidly insane.

Anyway, here's a couple more pics of the Boxcar Lounge - very nice garden, huh - and an article about just how cool it really is:





Yeah, so when I said I did have some good news in writing world, I just wanted to announce I have a new agent, Claire Gerus, and so far it has been a real pleasure to work with her.

"Claire Gerus has been Editor-in-Chief of two publishing houses, worked for eight major publishers, including Harlequin, Rodale, Random House and Doubleday, John Wiley, Kensington, and Adams Media, written articles for national media, and taught corporate communications to such clients as IBM, Kelloggs, Mutual of Omaha, and Procter & Gamble.

In 1996, she established a thriving business as a New York literary agent, selling publishers books on a wide variety of subjects: business, history, memoirs, religion, health, spirituality, psychology, politics, pop culture, and women’s studies.

She has sold a 3-million copy health bestseller, and brought film star Esther Williams’ story to Simon & Schuster. It went on to become a New York Times bestseller and is now being made into a feature film.

In 1999, she joined Kensington Publishing in New York and founded Twin Streams Books, an alternative healing imprint. Later, as Executive Editor at Citadel Press, she acquired and edited a variety of titles: celebrity biographies, self-help, relationship, spirituality, new age, diet books, and health books.

From 2001-August, 2002, she was Executive Editor at Adams Media, where she published the first biography of Laura Bush. She also published a wide range of new age, business, self-help, and inspirational books.

She is presently working as a literary agent and book development consultant. Among her clients are an ex-CIA agent, a psychologist, ten CEOs, a private eye, a scientist on the verge of a major health breakthrough, a specialist in Soviet history, and others too fascinating to describe in just a few words."


So I am pretty psyched about that, yes.

I also mentioned that on April 20, 2008, I am a guest on a radio program known as The Writing Show and my spot is aptly named "Is There Such a Thing as an Erotic Comedy?"

Trust me, there is.

On to music news, and I hope you've read this far, oh music lovers who stop by, because today at 2:00 p.m. eastern, Trent Reznor will be interviewed via telephone over at XPN radio, and you can catch the live internet stream right here. According to XPN, Trent is going to discuss his upcoming tour, the new CD, and hmm, do you think he'll be mentioning the musicians who participated? Like, um, Adrian Belew? Oh, and by the way, if you click on the link, you will see new shows have been added to the upcoming Adrian Belew Power Trio tour and there will be even more additions within the next few weeks.

I was teasing Eric yesterday that while he may not be rich and famous yet, he's at least getting there. Semi-famous, that is, anyway. (Insert smiley face here) (Oh, and you need to scroll down when you click on that link)

Speaking of Eric, and when don't I, tomorrow he begins an eight day tour with Delicious at Toy Eaters Studio in Jersey City, New Jersey. You gotta love that name...

And yay, someone posted a You Tube of the Adrian Belew Power Trio which Eric gives a thumbs up - he says this one finally captures the energy/quality of their performance...you can hear the audience singing along but damn it, it's only an excerpt! I need more!



Okay, I must go back to polishing my essay and practice reading it out loud for New York on Monday night, but as usual, if there is any breaking news, I will be back.

Don't forget to tune in to XPN Radio this afternoon and hear what Trent Reznor has to say. It could be very interesting...

Later,
xo

10 comments:

  1. Welcome Back Robin! I couldn't agree more. What a long, strange trip it has been so far in 2008. And get ready, because really it's only just begun. But I believe in miracles and karma so will it go round in circles? I know where there's a good hideout.

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  2. Sounds like we have two million things to talk about when I see you Monday. Great post.

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  3. MONDAY! MONDAY! MONDAY!

    ps - I'm sure I told you before that I'm a stickler for "Kimberly" vs "Kim" but I forgive you this one last time since you gave us such an awesome shout-out! :-)

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  4. Rena, get that hideout ready - our bags are packed. I'll email you later about today's latest horror...

    Sue, we don't have enough hours but I'll try and give you the abridged version...gah...let's just say I've seen enough of the police and hospitals this year to last a lifetime and even though I'm thinking I was crazy to say yes, I am really looking forward to a night out on Monday.

    Hi there, Kimberly...heh...no, I do not remember you telling me that but I am missing some brain cells right now and I can assure you I will never forget again! I'm so excited for you, and that interview was wonderful. I also saw the blog post a fellow filmmaker put up and was going to link it but forgot...I think someone has a serious crush on you and I know you saw it because you commented...but for everyone else, this is an awesome read:

    http://wdbgproductions.blogspot.com/2008/03/fear-and-loathing-at-lake-county-film.html

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  5. tee hee - I DID see it and it's so funny to see how many times he mentioned us in that article (how much do we LOVE 'google alerts'?)

    since you're in philly - did you see this article and were you just as appalled as I?

    http://www.phillymag.com/articles/pretty_babies/page1

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  6. Now I know what Gary looks like under the beard!
    I hope things get better. I'm right there with ya, hang tough and keep it surreal-
    best to all dem Slicks!

    Bob G.
    1600

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  7. Glad you're back. Miss you. Oh yeah, check out 39 and Holding...Him on ABC23 and Bakotopia...

    I've had the article linked up to other articles that made cnn.com

    ;)

    - n.l.

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  8. See you tonight if nothing goes dreadfully wrong in lab.

    I'm happy to have something fun to look forward to on a Monday.

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  9. on a musical note, caught a really great night of music at J&Ps Tuesday night Robin, and your son was a machine! Really, his drumming has really tightened up, and he was in some very talented company...

    take care,

    pete

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  10. Kimberly and Susan and Jess: It was so awesome seeing you Monday night...I am waiting for Ms. Rich to send photos so I can blog all about it.

    1600 - argh - I don't think I ever linked your review! Oh well, I will rectify that shortly - it was truly wonderful. And ha ha about Gary.

    Nick, you are a sweetheart and thank you for your email. You know what I'm going through and I may call chingpea tomorrow...

    Pete, I am so jealous! Unfortunately my life is utter hell right now and I could not make that show..I felt bad enough being "out" on Monday night and not at the hospital...don't even ask.

    Which reminds me - the same wonderful show Pete saw Tuesday is taking place tonight in NYC at Ace of Clubs...doors at 7:00 p.m. and yes, Eric Slick is pretty fantastic and he will be playing with two bands tonight just as in New Hope this past Tuesday.

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