Thursday, December 10, 2009

terry gilliam on tech and creativity

molly had the opportunity to interview terry gilliam (and lily cole) at the nyc premiere of the imaginarium of dr. parnassus. i particularly enjoyed his thoughts on tech and our ability to be creative. here's the full episode.



what are you thoughts regarding tech and our imaginations?

top 20 worst holiday songs ever

i love music. but i never think it's a good idea to play one genre of music continuously 24/7 for a full straight month. as you've probably heard (if you go out into the real world now and then) there have been holiday songs playing around the clock since the day after thanksgiving. some are good, classic numbers that hold sentimental value and put us in the spirit of whatever we celebrate this time of year. others should have probably never been produced. here is a list of the worst holiday songs ever according to those of you who responded to my question on twitter and facebook. i agree with all of these. the videos i linked to are equally horrendous. number 20 on this list just blows my mind. i mean, seriously?!?! feel free to add more in the comments below!

  1. grandma got run over by a reindeer
  2. white christmas
  3. any christmas song by britney spears
  4. summer holiday
  5. 12 days of christmas
  6. disney's the weekenders
  7. i saw mommy kissing santa claus
  8. christmas shoes
  9. wonderful christmas time
  10. merry christmas with love
  11. frosty the snowman
  12. little drummer boy
  13. grandma got knocked up by a reindeer
  14. chipmunks christmas album
  15. santa baby
  16. who took the merry out of christmas
  17. do they know its christmas
  18. i want a hippopotamus for christmas
  19. dominick the donkey
  20. please, daddy (don't get drunk this christmas)

looking for more lists of bad holiday songs? click HERE.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

20 movies for the holidays

i recently asked ya'll on twitter which movies put you in the holiday spirit. here's the collective list of 20 films that get you feeling cheerful and bright. i'm putting stars next to my top 5 from the ones you suggested, PLUS i've listed 5 more films that i've always enjoyed watching around this time of year.
  1. a christmas story*
  2. national lampoon's christmas vacation*
  3. elf*
  4. love actually
  5. home alone*
  6. its a wonderful life
  7. white christmas
  8. die hard
  9. silver bells
  10. jingle all the way
  11. a charlie brown christmas*
  12. scrooged
  13. serendipity
  14. little women
  15. the holiday
  16. you've got mail
  17. godzilla vs. mothra (aka gojira vs. mosura)
  18. we're no angels
  19. batman returns
  20. gremlins
here are 5 other personal favorites of mine, which to my surprise, no one mentioned during my twitter survey:
  1. rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
  2. frosty the snowman
  3. how the grinch stole christmas (1966)
  4. how the grinch stole christmas (2000)
  5. miracle on 34th street
if this list isn't extensive enough, you can check out a more detailed explanation of several of these films, plus a review of badder santa (which is so bad it doesn't even have its own imdb page so i have to link to the original movie), from holiday movie critic coach rohn anato. feel free to comment with more suggestions below! happy holidays!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

im long winded

if you want to hear me talk for 73 minutes about squirrels and other random stuff...here ya go...

shake shack squirrel attack

greedy little tree rat...

Thursday, November 26, 2009

The Turkey Song

i hope this gets stuck in your head for the rest of the day. i had so much fun working on this particular episode. i'll let the video speak for itself. what does a space turkey say?

Monday, November 9, 2009

Live at Cafe Vivaldi - "Letting Go"

here it is folks! fresh off the press. sang again tonight at cafe vivaldi's open mic. this is a new original of mine called "letting go". lyrics in the previous post. let me know what you think. borrowed the "blue dolphin" since i went straight from work. matched my dress which was kinda cool.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

letting go

tonight i thought i'd do something a little different and post the lyrics to my most recently completed song before you hear it. as much as i love playing and singing i also love writing. in fact i love it so much that i sometimes hate it. that may sound odd but my problem is once i get started i obsess and can't stop thinking about whatever it is i'm working on. so i try and set aside time at the end of the day to focus on that aspect of my creativity. here it is. enjoy. video performance coming soon.

letting go

i can't really fall asleep tonight my mind is racing i can't keep up this fight i know i'm losing ground i never thought that you could be the one to leave me broken and so undone unraveled on the floor

it doesn't matter to you if i lose my mind its nothing you won't get over with the passing of time but the truth is you pushed me away then you lied i'm letting go

cause its the only way i can be free from this confusion you cause in me i can't go on hurting this way you think its funny oh you think its cute but i'm relentless in my pursuit and i'm tired of losing my truth

it doesn't matter to you if i lose my mind its nothing you won't get over with the passing of time but the truth is you pushed me away then you lied i'm letting go

i'm not the kind to forgive and forget i hold on to the past and i regret all my choices that led me to you so let me know when you're all grown up cause as for now i don't give a fuck i'm moving on and you're miles behind

it doesn't matter to me if you lose your mind its nothing i won't get over with the passing of time so let me wish you the best of luck and i hope you find what you're looking for

but i bet that you don't even know what that is you just go with the flow and live and live its so sad you don't care for anything you're at the center of your universe the way you see yourself is so perverse you're blinded by your own lies

it doesn't matter to me if you lose your mind its nothing i won't get over with the passing of time so let me wish you the best of luck and i hope you find what you're looking for

i can't really fall asleep tonight my mind is racing and i can't keep up this fight i know i'm losing ground

-written by Leah D'Emilio, copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Subway Strangeness

I've been doing Molly's zombie make up this week using the "injury" kit from Cinema Secrets, in addition to their FX blood, blood gel, and flesh latex.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Food, Food, and Food

What else is there to do with your free time and money than to try all the fabulous food around New York City? Here are some of my latest adventures in dining...enjoy!




This place is adorable. They bring you a little basket of sweet breads with two heart shaped cookies. I had the seared Salmon with couscous and cherry tomatoes - it was fabulous! Definitely stop in for a meal if you're in Soho!




Super hip cafe in Soho. I go there for coffee, tea and sometimes for lunch. This is a picture of peppermint tea, which I never knew how much I liked until I moved to NYC. They give you these awesome vintage post cards with your check. Worth it in my opinion. Always a cool crowd inside. Check it out if your in the neighborhood.



I forget the name of the place I ate this...it was in Tribeca...hold on, let me check my credit card statement real quick...ah, yes South's. The service was awful, but the Shepherd's Pie warmed my soul. Great meal on a cool fall night.




Sometimes you just gotta have a $20 burger at midnight. That's what happened here. It was delicious. I had a strange coincidence when I ate here. When I walked in, I just sat down at the bar and the girl next to me says, "Leah?" I looked over at her and answered, "Yes? Wait, do I know you?" and she was like "Wait, is your name Leah?" I said, "Yes." She responded, "I totally thought you were my friend Leah, you look just like her that's so weird you have the same name." WTF!?!? I've never had that happen before. Leah is not that popular of a name so it was pretty crazy. Anyway, the burger and fries were delicious, except the burger wasn't as well done as I would've liked, but I ate it anyway. Definitely over priced, but it's worth going at least once. Maybe someone will coincidentally know your name at the bar, too.

-


Aurora
(Soho)



I discovered Aurora while casually walking through Soho. I passed it often, but kept saying I'd wait to try it with friends. But one rare day I got out of work during happy hour and saw their sign out front and figured now would be a good time to go in. So I did. And it was the best decision I could've made.

The bartender, Andrea, made me a lovely peach margarita (served in martini glass), which was very refreshing - not too sweet, a little fruity, and just nice. During their happy hour, which is every day from 5 -7 pm they have little appetizers on the bar. You can see some of them behind the martini glass. Frittatas, an assortment of Italian meats, hummus, and more.


I was enjoying myself so much at the bar that I decided to stick around for dinner. So I ordered a small craft of red wine (better deal than just getting a glass - highly recommended) and got the butternut squash & ricotta "gli gnudi" with walnuts. Yum.


This is what they bring out with their bread. It's olive oil with radishes, onion, and walnuts. You could just eat this and be happy for the night.


I'm a sucker for dessert, so when Andrea told me about this chocolate cake sprinkled with sea salt and accompanied with figs soaked in vinegar I was sold. It was totally worth it. Please order this when you go so we can bond over the experience.

This picture is from my second visit to Aurora.


This is one of my favorite places in Soho. I go there all the time now. Their staff is so nice and the environment is so comfortable. Definitely check it out if you're in Soho or they also have a location in Brooklyn (haven't been to that one yet). The picture above is of a caprese salad, which is my favorite salad of all time hands down. Aurora's version is buonissima! Go there! Now!

-




Apparently better known for their live music and salsa dancing, Gonzalez y Gonzalez is a huge Mexican restaurant on Broadway and Houston. I honestly don't remember what I ordered, but they were good. I plan on going back and hitting up the dance floor next time! I LOVE SALSA DANCING!

-

Saturday, October 24, 2009

New York City Landmarks

i love this video! great job molly and bob.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Get in the Van!

Last Saturday afternoon, I took to the streets of Chinatown in mad pursuit of a Louis Vuitton with Colleen & Colleen. I thought that just meant a quick stroll down Canal Street, but I soon learned of the whole underground purse market in NYC.



NY Colleen informed us that there are rooms underground and in abandoned stores that have better quality brand purses. She led the way since NC Colleen and I had no idea what we were doing. We met with several different Asian women who led us to these private rooms to check out the goods.


While we were in the 3rd room, NC Colleen looked around and said, in what was definitely louder than a whisper, "Is this illegal?" Um...why do you think we've been following around Asian women to these secret locations and have to ask for permission to leave the room? Yes, Colleen. This is illegal.

On one of the longer journeys to the secret rooms, we were actually handed off to a second guide. I was confused for a minute, ready to keep following the first lady - but I quickly turned to my right to see NY Colleen half way down the sidewalk with another Asian woman.

Finally, we were led to a van on a side street in Soho. We stood on the sidewalk, stared at the van for a few seconds, then the lady unlocked the sliding door, jumped in and waved us all in, "Get in, get in!" So there we were - the 3 of us and our dealer. The inside of the van was pitch black. The dealer turned on the light and you could see the wooden shelves that had been built to hold up all the bags. The windows were blacked out with star-studded black wrapping paper.

She had the bag NC Colleen wanted and NY Colleen also found a Chanel she liked. I was just there to document the whole incident. They negotiated 2 for $95. Before they agreed on this number though, NC Colleen tried to talk the dealer down to $45, which is when she snagged the bag out of her hands and threw it on the floor saying, "NO, I told you, $50, its good deal". Originally, she was asking for $65 so it wasn't too bad after all was said and done. The two Colleens settled on $95 for both, paid the dealer in cash, and then we waited for permission to get out of the van. The dealer made a call and kept saying, "Wait...wait...wait". Finally, we were allowed out.

I had no idea these private rooms and vans existed. If you're in NYC and you want to see more than what's on the street, then just go up to any one of the dealers you see on Canal Street and in the most subtle way possible say you want to see the bags first. Otherwise, they will send someone down to get them and bring them up to you in a black garbage bag. It's way more adventurous to go with them. Just don't do it alone.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Lunch with Leah

i decided to try israeli couscous and poached salmon from gourmet garage. salmon was good, israeli couscous was a little too sweet for my liking. all together it was $9.17. not bad for nyc.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Open Mic

Check out a couple of my originals I performed last night at Cafe Vivaldi in NYC.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Geeen Light! Ahhh!

My cousin Andrew is destined to be a photographer. Flashback early '90s.



So cute! Damn, I feel old...

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Escape from the Internet

Here's our latest Casual Friday on Rocketboom! Did you catch all the memes?

Monday, September 21, 2009

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Handouts Caption Contest

Another photo from "Mack the Knife". Caption Contest - entertain me!

Going here again...sorry!

So a few of you were inspired by the unleash your child post and have been keeping your eyes open for leashed children in your area. I'm sharing a few pics here.



Someone sent me the link to this picture after reading my post. Thank you. You should browse the site for more inspirational photos like this one. There are some real classics.

"Mack the Knife" on Facebook


While out and about in Ohio, this friend saw the monkey backpacks and quickly pulled out his camera to document the incident. Isn't the girl in the pink sweatshirt a little too old for one of these?


I don't think this child is in any real threat or of any threat to this environment.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

NYC Restaurant Recommendations

Here are some pics and links to a few of the restaurants I've been to over the last couple months in the NYC area. Enjoy!



Ok, we're going to start with desserts. I forget the name of this little gem, but it was delicious. Apparently they haven't updated the menu on their website recently cause nothing of what we ordered is on there currently. Regardless, you need to go here at least once, but you'll probably go twice or more. Decent prices, good food and excellent desserts.


Oh, hello again you pretty little flourless chocolate cake! This thing is like eating a 2 inch thick chunk of the best frosting you could imagine. Don't be deceived by its small size. I had to share the rest with the table cause two bites and I was done - and I love chocolate.

Risotto with parmigiano, prosciutto and something that made it green. Damn it I thought the info would be on their website. It was delish.

Melone e prosciutto as an appetizer. I didn't try this, but heard it was nice. We all shared a bottle of prosecco, as well, which is a dry Italian sparkling white wine. Try it sometime if you haven't yet. It was a class favorite when I lived in Italy and traveled in Germany. P-R-O!


Again, we'll start with dessert. This is profiterol, which are dark chocolate pastries stuffed with cream. So, so, so good. This picture doesn't do it justice. I'm still working on my food photography skills here. Seriously, I'd go back just to have these.

A delightful new friend of mine, writer/producer Diane Uniman, and I shared this mixed meze platter to start, which was a sampling of humus, tzatziki, eggplant salad, circassian chicken (amazing), borek & sheperd salad. FANTASTICO. A must order. Paired with a Turkish white wine Emire de Nevsehir - Kavaklidere "Cankaya" 2006 from Anatolia. We then shared the Manti, which I forgot to take a picture of, but are "traditional minced beef dumplings in a yogurt & tomato sauce, seasoned with fresh mint". This place is so charming. They had live jazz the night we were there and the food is just outstanding. Go!


Homemade ravioli stuffed with Shiitake mushrooms in a pesto sauce. A bit heavy with the oil, but nevertheless very good.



This is a special Reuben sandwich they had on their menu that day. Lucky for Dan Delany from Vendr.tv who invited me to brunch at this lovely little place just outside Dumbo (area in Brooklyn for those outside of NYC). And it just so happened that Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon were two tables over from us, who were later joined by Maggie, her hubby and the kids.


I decided to go with the banana pancake, which I believe was an excellent choice. Honestly, I think I can say this is the best pancake I've ever had. It wasn't overly sweet and sugary like most breakfast places. Perfect blend of flavors and consistency of the pancake was solid. Two thumbs up!

I've been to a lot more places than just these listed above, but only recently started making a conscious effort to take pics and mental notes. Do you have some recommendations for great restaurants in NYC? Share them here on the dealio!

Love Letter to the Bartender

During my time out in LA, I bar-tended for a short while to help make ends meet. It was a very interesting experience to say the least. I met some very cool people--like Sonny and Cher's former manager, Joe de Carlo and Moke, the former drummer of Puddle of Mud. The bar attracted a strange crowd--it didn't really have a big party scene, mostly older folks with the occasional group of yuppies.


There was one young man in particular who came in maybe 3 times before he handed this note off to me. And for whatever reason I remembered this letter today. I've had it in the purse I used while bartending for nearly 2 years and feel like its better shared here than buried away. I'm transcribing it as written, so bear with some of the grammar/spelling errors. Mind you, we spoke for maybe a total of 10 minutes over the course of his 3 visits to the bar.

Lea,

Forgive me if this is awkward, but I wanted to evade what becomes routine, and for whatever reasons I think your the kind of woman that could find appreciation for a hand written letter. Maybe it's the respectable way you carry yourself, the perfect posture or possibly your engaging eyes...either way, beautiful. To simply state a reason for writting to you might be a little selfish, but I have to submit to the allure that you radiate so naturally, besides...your hot as hell, haha. So much for sublety right!

Aside from having an amazing figure and a face I could never try to forget the on thing I feel the most, is a desire to know more. Everytime we speak I find our convo tries to run, I don't want it to stop, and it leaves me feeling a void from words that beg to be spoken to a woman hard at work. I'd rather not think of you as just another moment that past, a treasure that just got away. It's obvious that I've found myself smilling when I wonder what it could be like to be lost in your innocense, but tell me love...how does this man who feels miles from your mind bridge the gap and even make most of a minute, a moment just a shapshot in your lifetime? If only for a cameo, give me a chance to audition for a part in your lifes stage...or at least let me take you out for a motorcycle ride or for dinner...whatever we feel is right!

If in your mind, your hearing a desire to say yes...don't give into habit, to many say no. A moment past is never savored, and nothing haunts like "to late". So I'm asking you - will you go out with me and remind this man of lifes favorite blessings, bringing a smile to the beautiful face of a woman like you??


He came into the restaurant one more time after he gave me that letter and I politely declined his offer. Is anyone else as entertained by this note as I am? I mean that took some guts to write. Again, in his three visits before giving me the invitation to go out with him, we spoke for maybe a total of 10 minutes--mainly about acting, writing, and living in LA. Really nothing too special. My favorite line is how he asks for an audition to have a part in my life's stage--"if only for a cameo." Gotta give him points for creativity. If I were his editor, I would've suggested that he leave out the line "To many say no". Not really a good point to include in this scenario.

What's the strangest/best/most unique/weird love letter/date invitation you've ever gotten? Share it here on the dealio!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Thursday, September 10, 2009

The Waterpod Project

@ellamorton takes us on a tour through the Waterpod

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

You Can('t) Go Home Again?

Thomas Wolfe wrote, "You can't go home again." The longer I'm away, the truer this becomes.


Why can't you go "home" again? Because you're a different person when you go back. Because the place you're from doesn't change the way you do. Because the people you know change in different ways. Because "home" isn't what you thought it was supposed to be. Because outside your hometown life holds up a mirror and forces you to take a good hard look at who you are, what you want, and how you operate. And when you figure that out, your hometown doesn't seem to fit anymore--if it even ever did.

In other words, "How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm?"



Agree or disagree? Why? Share your thoughts here on the dealio!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Unleash Your Child

I understand that parents may get tired of holding their rambunctious child's hand, but do we seriously need to put kids on leashes?


I've seen these leashes on numerous occasions over the last couple years, but only now have the time (not really) to sit down and write about them. The most recent siting was in the subway system here in NYC: a little kid secured with a monkey backpack--aka harness--and the leash tightly gripped in his mother's hand. As the kid tried to wander up to strangers, the mom would shorten the leash a bit and reel the child in. The kid honestly looked like a dog being roped away from another dog it wanted to sniff. Is this really necessary?

Childrens' acute sense of curiosity matched with their desire to eat things they shouldn't, play with things that could kill them, explore places that could do the same, and fight with complete strangers (ok, maybe kids don't do that) already make them pretty animal-like and when you put them on a leash it just makes it worse. And that creeps me out. A lot.

I wonder how many kids have ate sh*t because their "handler" pulled on the leash too hard? What if you have 3 or 4 kids around "leash" age? You're gonna look like a professional dog walker.

Teach your kids how to stay within a reasonable distance of you, or just hold their hand for crying out loud.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Kora

Great video from Kornhaber Brown.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Ghostwriter...WORD!

So today I had a total flashback to the early '90s. Take a journey with me back to 1993, when overalls, non-form fitting vests, and backwards baseball caps were hot fashion. The year when the hit show Ghostwriter debuted on PBS. I was about to click the send button on an email today, when a scene from the show, namely when Ghostwriter would appear on the computer screen, popped into my head.


I have not thought, or heard, about that show in years! It was definitely a favorite of mine. Personally, I thought Gabby Fernandez was the coolest kid on the mystery solving team.



Unfortunately, the show didn't exactly launch anyone's acting career. Only Grandma Jenkins, actress Marcella Lowery, and Lenni Frazier, actress Blaze Berdahl, went on to get a few more "significant" gigs after the show was canceled in 1995 due to a lack of funding. Maybe it was m*therf*ckin' Samuel L. Jackson's cameo in 3 episodes (1993) as Reggie Jackson that broke their bank account. Apparently, things were slow for Sammy boy between Patriot Games and Loaded Weapon I. Please send links to those episodes if you can find them!

Oh, Ghostwriter...you're a trip. WORD!

Wait, which one is Michael Jackson?

I'm really glad they made sure to say that MJ is on the left 'cause otherwise I would've been thoroughly confused.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Nothing

I did nothing today and it was amazing.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Conversation

What is happening to the art of conversation? With 140 character limitations, witty--or not so witty--status updates, and text messaging, it seems like we're all trying to outdo each other in who can say the most with the fewest words.

This style of writing, which essentially is our voice, is rewarded by RTs, comments, and the "Bob Smith likes this" acceptance system, so I feel like we're being conditioned into shortening our thoughts and the way we express ourselves.

Some of you are thinking, "...and this is a bad thing?"

It's fine for online communication, but for face-to-face I feel like people are generally losing their ability to carry on an interesting convo.


How we communicate online is starting to bleed over to how we communicate in "real" life. Speaking in soundbites, referencing online resources instead of trying to explain something yourself, and just generally cutting back on the playfulness of language is starting to bother me. I feel like people think they're "talking too long" or think "why should I say more when this person can just go look it up online..."

I know some people are long winded and you wish they'd get cut off at 140 characters, but that's another conversation.

If you're talking to me, then please say more. Unless you truly don't know what the F you're talking about, then don't take the easy road by cutting yourself off and telling me to Google something. Use your brain. Dig that petrified info out of your head and try to express your thoughts, ideas, and opinions about x, y, & z. I won't get mad or think you're an idiot if you say something wrong or that doesn't make sense. In fact, mistakes while speaking usually turn into inside jokes and who doesn't love an inside joke!?!?

One of the best examples of this is my best friend telling me to write a book that wins a "grammy". Even better was the time she meant to say tentacles and said testicles--the context of that conversation really heightened the humor!

This post is about missing long, rambling--but entertaining--conversations that start off discussing Maslow's hierarchy of needs and end with a story about how you went streaking after a Green Day concert. You're not sure how you got there, but the journey from topic A to Z is all that matters. No one broke the flow to verify info online or to check how many comments they got on their latest status update.

Now don't get me wrong. I love how we can communicate online and enjoy the sassy updates and tweets just as much as anyone else. But I am missing REAL conversations, intellectual stimulation, pondering hypothetical situations, and just flat out LMAO moments with other people IN PERSON (not at a computer screen).

I've always been the type of person who likes to hang out 1-on-1 with others, mainly because I've always felt its the best way to really talk and get to know another person. I enjoy going out in groups, but its definitely more difficult to get into deep conversations in that setting unless you "break off" from the others and try to converse on the side.

My favorite thing to do with friends has always been to get a cup of coffee/dinner/drinks and just talk...

Now it's like we're all these hyper communicators who are tweeting, updating, talking, commenting, texting and checking email simultaneously because it's so damn important to let everyone know exactly what you're doing and thinking every minute of the day. Because if you don't then...what?

I really try to put the cell phone down when I'm with other people so I can just "be in the moment" and get back to the basics of human interaction: to share, react, & connect. Fundamentally, that's what all these social sites aim to do. But I've been noticing that the way people write and present themselves online is not always inline with how they speak and present themselves in person!

Why?

I think it's because we're becoming so dependent on written words/thoughts/ideas and having extra time to put together what we express that we're struggling with just speaking off the top of our heads!

What do you think?

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Mustaches

I'm playing around with some old video...here's the first little piece I cut together...

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Monday, August 10, 2009

Renegade Cabaret

Evening fire escape performances near the new High Line Park. This is so New York.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Humanwire on Rocketboom

Humanwire is Rocketboom's international independent journalism channel. We provide our field correspondents with a professional platform for sharing their work while ensuring full rights are maintained by the journalists.

Humanwire is interested in showing our viewers a spectrum of subject matter from varying regions all over the world. We value stories that cover unusual, fascinating, and timely material. Each week, we run one episode from a different region, covering a different topic. We generally do not run episodes with sexual content or graphic violence.

Humanwire is always searching for new correspondents. Correspondents may send us up to 2 submissions per month, so we suggest that you only submit your best and most relevant material. In the case of a major event, we may contact individual correspondents who are in the region to do special reports.

Humanwire is dedicated to curating interesting and inspiring video reports from around the world. We welcome you to send us your best material and help create a broader audience for independent journalists worldwide.

For examples of previous Humanwire episodes, go here: http://www.rocketboom.com/category/field-reports/

For more information about becoming a correspondent, email us at: humanwire@rocketboom.com



Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Really?

The video was getting way too annoying. So you can watch it HERE instead. Careful - you may end up buying one! Those sneaky bastards - they know how to reel you in: dramatized dog whining.

openFrameworks "Nerd Artist" Zach Lieberman

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Personal Thoughts on a Rainy Day

My Perspective.

I've always been on a fast track. For example, I finished my BA in 3 years and my MA in 1. I viewed college as a time to learn fast so I could go out into the world with a solid education and do cool stuff. My uncle introduced me once as his niece "who thinks the world is going to end tomorrow". I guess I've always felt that I have to make the most of each day because I don't know how much time I have in the world--and there's so much I want to accomplish in my lifetime that I don't want to waste a minute of it doing something meaningless.

This way of thinking is the result of losing my one and only sibling, Gina, to cancer when I was 10 years old. She was only 12. Watching someone suffer & fight for their life for 3.5 years and then lose the battle, especially when they're so young (and when you're so young, too) changes you forever. It changes the way you look at life, people, and yourself. For some, those 3 things become sources of bitterness, resentment, and negativity. For others, those 3 things become sources of joy, motivation, and happiness. Life is challenging enough without tragic events thrown in the mix and it's difficult to pull yourself towards the positive. Tragic events like these morph over time as to how you understand them. Who I am, what I do, and how I do it have all been significantly influenced by this event.

Two quotations I strive to live by are from Albert Pike who said, "What you do for yourself alone dies with you; what you do for others and the world remains and is immortal," and from Ralph Waldo Emerson who wrote, "Make the most of yourself for that is all there is of you." Together, I think these two thoughts are good guidelines to reach your full potential as a human being, while making a positive impact on others and, in turn, the world. "World" doesn't need to be literal...that's a bit grandiose..."world" is the circle of influence around you--no matter how big or small--it's important.

How I Ended Up in LA.

In the winter of 2007, I decided to pack up my bags and move from Toledo, OH to Los Angeles, CA in order to advance my career in the entertainment business as a host/actor/model/producer/musician/whatever someone would hire me as. I had been working in local broadcast for nearly 2 years and wanted to put myself in a larger market with more opportunities.

Without too much of a plan, I flew out to LA with two suitcases, my guitar, and enough money to get through about 1.5 months of rent/food. A friend from acting school let me crash on her floor for 3 weeks as I searched Craigslist for a good rooming situation. I slept on an air-mattress that would slowly deflate during the night, so I would wake up with my hip bone against the floor. Luckily, it had a remote control air pump attached. I rented a blue Chevy Malibu (hey, I didn't get to pick what kind--just asked for the cheapest) for the first couple weeks while waiting for my Honda to get shipped out.

From my first week in LA.

Once all of these "life" things got sorted out, I started taking acting classes and worked as a hostess at an Italian restaurant on Melrose Ave. My original "career" plan fell through due to a series of poor advice that I followed from people who I thought knew more than I did about "the business" and about "doing business" in general. The only thing I really got out of it was work as a fit model, where I would try on clothes for designers and they'd make adjustments on me. It was the most money I ever made for putting on clothes. At least I wasn't getting paid to take them off! I worked lots of hours in the restaurant and eventually moved on to another Italian restaurant as a bartender. Taking whatever "opportunities" seemed to come my way, I even worked for 2 weeks as a secretary for a venture capitalist company after being approached in a parking garage by one of the company's employees. It was the most money I had ever made in 14 days for answering phones and ordering lunch, but my schedule was getting out of control, so I quit that job and stuck with making drinks.

The Turning Point.

Four months into my stay, I met an acting coach/actor woman in a gelato bar who recommended that I take classes at the Meisner Center in North Hollywood. I ended up babysitting her son for a couple months in exchange for coaching/business advice until new classes started up in September. Then, from September 2007 - December 2007, I found out why I moved to Los Angeles: it was my time to get broken down.

Broken down only to be built back up--empowered, full of understanding, and with a "toolbox" I did not have before. Those 3 months changed me as a person and as a performer. It is still the most valuable "thing" I did during my two years out West. I got to know myself more in 3 months than in all 23 years of my life. If you haven't put yourself through something like this--a retreat, meditation, class, therapy, etc--I highly recommend it. It will hurt while you're in it, but you will come out healed and ready to take on anything that comes your way. "How you do anything is how you do everything" is one of Meisner's many sayings that force you to look at your core truths. It is so worth your time and money. I cannot stress this enough. Take this class, or at the very least, read his books. You will be thankful.

Your core truths are the foundation for everything you do, think, and feel. If you don't know what they are, you're missing out on knowing the most important person in your life: you.

Validation.

A few weeks after finishing my class at the Meisner Center, I quit my bartending job and started submitting myself for acting/hosting projects online. I started taking a couple more classes around town so I could network into a group of actors, coaches, and casting directors. I landed a few gigs here and there--some short, independent and student films, local commercials, and hosting spots. Finally, in April of 2008, I got called in for "Vlog Idol" with Mahalo Daily.

Two months later, in June of 2008, I was hired as the host of MD and had my first real full-time gig in LA. Soon I was promoted to Executive Producer and was in charge of researching, producing, writing, hosting, and overseeing edits for the show. I absolutely loved this job. I felt it was the perfect combination of things I enjoy doing. All the various shows, from how-tos, to red carpet events, to interesting people/places around Southern California, I loved meeting new people and learning about all the different subject matter. Unfortunately, in February of 2009, MD decided to go a different direction that eliminated the full time hosting/producing position. It was time, again, for me to find work.

The Search.

From March - June I casually searched for jobs, while pursuing a few personal goals and questioning what I wanted to do with my life. In March, I went to SXSW for networking, fun, and celebrated my 25th birthday at a Divo concert (ask me about gin & tonics), trained for a half-marathon (which I ran in 2:58 in April) and started working as a publicist for writer, Christopher Canole. I got new headshots with photographer/actor Jack Brewer, lost 15 pounds with personal trainer & fitness coach Adam Brewer, and worked 1-on-1 with acting coach Elena K. Smith. My best friend was getting married in June, so I spent a few weeks back in Ohio to help her out as her maid of honor--a role I took very seriously! The people who came into my life during this time period are people who I value tremendously and for whom I am extremely grateful. They helped me in ways that I don't think they even know they did. Hopefully this post gives them a little indication as to how much of an impact that had on me during a very transitional period of my life.

While in Ohio for my best friend's wedding, I find out about Rocketboom's openings and applied immediately. Over 1.5 months, I eventually was hired as a producer for RB and relocated from LA to NYC. And now, here I am. Producing for the award-winning web show from one of the best cities in the world!

Thinking Back.

I came across another great quotation today from Chuang Tzu, “Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness.” Maybe this is what put me in such a reflective mood today...that and the rain.

Though I don't fear the world is going to end tomorrow, I do live each day with the philosophy of making the most of myself and having a positive influence on the people around me. One of these posts, I will go into detail about my sister and how her life shaped mine into what it is today. For now, this is just a brief introduction to the most influential person from my life and a summary of what I've been doing over the last 2 years. Of course, there are so many more details I could go into, but those are more for a novel "that wins a grammy" than for a blog.

A couple photos of positive people in my life!

Screen writer and "West Coast Godfather" Chris Canole.

Brothers Jack & Adam Brewer.

See more pictures on my new Facebook Fan Page!

*special note: Through all of my endeavors, my family and friends have been extremely supportive and also helped me tremendously during the ups and downs of my journey. I am sincerely thankful for their generosity and understanding. I couldn't be where I am today without them. No question.

Mom & Dad (and Jen drinking a beer in the background)

Uncle Joe, my "Life Coach"

The Grandparents - seriously my No. 1 fans!

Uncle Jon "You gotta eat."

Thank you all. Who are your biggest influences in life? Share them here on The Dealio.

-Leah

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Facebook

Please RE-join me on Facebook. I had to do a little maintenance and decided to create A FAN PAGE again. Hope to see you on there soon!


You can also follow me on Twitter @leahdemilio

Steamy

Friday, July 24, 2009

Cross Country Blur

@jsto took this pic of me as I was walking into LAX with some of my gear (the rest came in boxes today). I absolutely love this photo. It captures the essence of what my move cross-country has been: a bit of a blur, bright, exciting and fast. Settling in this weekend and then starting work again on Monday. Have a great weekend everybody! My postings should get more consistent now that I'm all in one city. Thanks for all your support and interest!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Eater X - Tim Janus

12 pounds of burritos in 12 minutes, 4 pounds of tiramisu in 6...what does it take to be a world champion competitive eater? Watch below...



What food would you want your title to be with?

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Tomorrowbots

My favorite part is the cell phone attack.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Little Italy

Check out my whole album on Facebook.

Friday, July 10, 2009

I Can Has Stop Motion

We love fridge magnets.




The making of...







What are your favorite stop motion vids on the web?

Rocketboom.com

Lately, you may have been wondering (or not wondering), "what's the dealio, D'Emilio? what exactly have you been doing these days besides running, dining out and going to friends' weddings?"

Well, aside from all those other things, I have been searching for my next big media gig and landed an awesome one this week. Drum roll please! I am moving to NYC to produce for Rocketboom.com! I've been in the city for the past week and absolutely love the crew and location. Check out yesterday's news program with our new host, Molly:



More details on my time here and what's next coming soon! I'm in the process of getting everything settled so I can make the big move cross-country! Happy to be a part of the RBNY team!

THAT'S the Dealio!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

4th of July

This was my "hotel" and view Friday night. Nothing like falling asleep to the ocean except having it wake you up at 5 am cause its crashing like mad against the rocks. Seriously, though, it was beautiful.


Tuesday, June 30, 2009

From Underneath

This video offers up an interesting perspective.

SURFACE : A film from underneath from tu on Vimeo.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Layin' Down Some Guitar

I'm currently working on recording my originals with @angelocaputo at @sanctumsound in Los Angeles. We got the guitar track down. Vocals will be next. Here are a few pics from the night.


This is the room that Angelo recorded me in on guitar. Sanctum Sound is an absolutely stellar studio. Check 'em out in both LA and Boston.


The board all lit up!


The $4000 Taylor guitar I got to record with...just a slight upgrade from my $250 Alvarez. The sound on this baby is amazing. So much fun to play, even though...


My fingers were near bleeding by the end of the night...you could say that I'm out of guitar shape! Playing for over 6 hours is physically tasking.


Looking forward to adding vocals. I'll be sure to post the finished song as soon as its ready to share!