S: Is for ShowBiz!

So you are or have always wanted to be in film, TV or theatre? Are you clueless at how to get started? Have you always wondered who your peers are? The Film, Stage & Showbiz Expo ("ShowBiz Expo") (www.TheShowBizExpo.com) is a FREE five-star event that brings everyone in the Entertainment Industry (performers, producers, directors, designers, company/general managers, crew, musicians, etc.) together under one roof. This event is FREE to attend if you register by Saturday and then is $10 at the door. ShowBiz Expo is the only event of its kind that simultaneously offers great exhibitors, industry workshops (ranging from producers panels to casting directors to festivals), HeadShot Lane, Movie Reel Showcase, Designer’s Showcase, Project Boards, Focus Groups, actual casting calls (Telsey + Company conducting talent searches for Wicked, Rent, Hairspray, Spider-Man, Legally Blonde, High School Musical, and more…), and networking opportunities in a professional all-entertainment related trade show venue.

MOVIE REEL SHOWCASE: Offers Film Makers, Cinematographers, Directors, Editors an ability to showcase your film/video/movie reel for Producers and Production Companies. Providing you with a private screening area all day during the Expo your video reel is on a repeating loop so it plays all day long.

DISCUSSION/FOCUS GROUPS: Are you a Producer and ever wonder what goes on in a Director's head? Directors, do you ever wonder what goes on in your writer's head? No need to wonder any longer. Discussion groups bring together particular professions and give you the opportunity to talk and discuss the industry as a whole and the best ways to interact with one another.

BROADWAY AUDITIONS: Telsey + Company is conducting an open talent search for some of the hit Broadway shows they represent including: Spider-Man, Wicked, Rent, Legally Blonde, Godspell, Hairspray, In The Heights, South Pacific, The Color Purple, Catch Me If You Can, Addams Family, Ever After, Leap of Faith, Minskie's. ANYONE MAY AUDITION AT THE EXPO!
However limited audition slots are available so the lines extend down the street. My advice get their early!

HEADSHOT LANE: Performers: Reach out to casting directors, producers and other decision-making professionals. Get a personal 'mailbox' for the day at the Expo with your headshot posted for producers, casting directors, & directors. Casting Directors, Producers, & Directors will be able to drop business cards and/or notes in your mailbox for you to contact them if they are interested in you. This is a great opportunity to gain exposure to thousands of Entertainment Industry professionals in person.

DESIGNER'S SHOWCASE: Are you a Designer and want to showcase your work to thousands of Producers and Production Companies? Designer's Showcase is perfect for Costume, Graphic, Lighting, Set, and Make-up Designers. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your portfolio and get your name out there to interested parties. You are provided with a 3' x 3' table to showcase your work and provide business cards.

SHOWBIZ PROJECT BOARD: You may post projects that you are working on and any cast/crew/additional help that you may be needing along with your contact information. Need a writer, composer, editor, photographer, actor, etc? Leave your project description and information on the ShowBiz Project Board for attendees to contact you.

VIP CYBER LOUNGE w/ Computers, Internet & Lounge Seating: The VIP Cyber Lounge has accessible computers, printers, internet access, food and lounge seating. Need to print important documents (i.e., Resumes)? Need to check your business or personal email? Food and beverage is also available for purchase along with comfortable and private seating and tables. This is also a great place to conduct production meetings, network with other industry professionals and get away from the busy Expo.

There are also panels with industry experts. Topics include: Financing Independent Feature Films - The Landscape & New Opportunities, PR: What is it? How do I get good Press Coverage for Me and/or My Project?, The Secrets to Getting your Film Accepted into Film Festivals, Screenwriting: Writing the Next Blockbuster, Producers Open Forum: Q&A With Successful Theatrical Producers, Lights! Camera! Tracking! - Performers, learn the Submission, Audition and Booking secrets to propel your career!, Get Your Movie Distributed: Exploring Your Options, How to Get an Agent in 30 Days or Less, How to produce Flying and Special Effects for your own production, Licensing Footage & the Digital Era for Your Movie, Working with a Camera: What you need to know after the director calls ACTION!, Acting Success Now Workshop! When Living Your Dream Means Everything, Filming in New York State: What Every Filmmaker Should Know (Presented by the NY State Governor's Office), Insider Secrets to Auditioning: Open Q&A with Broadway Casting Directors and I HATE INSURANCE!....but it can be a producer's best friend (Insurance 101)

There is a lot of info here, and the good news is it is all found under one roof. As it has been said there is no business like show business but what most people don't understand is it is a business. This event is designed to help and to clarify and that is a F.A.C.T.

T: Is for OUR TAXES!

Why is our government intervening with the companies on Wall Street and using our tax dollars? Do we not get a vote on this? Why when this was escalating did their salaries not decrees? Their bonuses not be stricken? Their over spending not being stopped? This started years ago and has continued and yet nobody seems to see the pattern. When Alan Greenspan was head of the Federal Reserve he did not believe in regulation; when the excesses of the financial system was noted. The tax cut of 2001 was not designed to stimulate the economy but to allow the wealthy to continue accumulating more wealth. The Iraq war has our money diverted abroad. While the housing market has plummeted to zero. America has and is living, on borrowed money and borrowed time. The financial institutions and even more their executives are to blame and yet we are bailing them out. Why?

Consider the following: 1999: Enron: "Attorneys, accountants, brokers (notably Merrill Lynch) and bankers (especially Citibank and JP Morgan Chase) were aware of Enron's bending and then breaking of various laws but were earning so much in fees that they chose to remain at the Enron "trough" side-by-side with Lay, Skilling, Fastow, and other Enron executives."

In 2005, after a 2004 AIG scandal on insurance and mutual funds costing $126 million to the SEC and Justice Department. AIG is again under investigation for accounting fraud. The company already lost over $58 billion worth of market compensation because of the AIG scandal.

In 2007 Regulators were slow to crack down on what became an open secret. The U.S. Attorney's Office and the Securities & Exchange Commission have accused brokers from Lehman Brothers (LEH ), Merrill Lynch (MER ), and Citigroup (C ) of allowing clients to listen in on their internal speaker systems, over which traders announce their desire to move huge blocks of stock. Those clients then allegedly kicked back commissions and cash. A former Merrill broker pled guilty. "Any disclosure of confidential information is a violation of policy," says a Merrill spokesman. "We cooperated with the government." Citigroup and Lehman declined to comment.

Instead of being punished we are bailing them out. They are being rewarded for mismanaging risk and faulty/reckless capital allocation managing risk and allocating capital, which is to improve the efficiency of the economy and they justified it with their generous compensation. This is not the first crisis in our financial system, nor the first time they have come running
to the government for bail-outs. There is a pattern here, one that suggests deep systemic problems. These days, many people are wondering what our government will do to stop the insanity. The government has a role, but it is not to be a business partner or a sugar daddy there to provide a helping hand to the bad business practices of the banking system.

This week has cost taxpayers a total of $400 billion and it is climbing. It has not stopped the stock market from plummeting. The only thing it has stopped is excess spending. We need to stop this insanity and like the people in the film "Network" shout "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore." Maybe then we will be heard ALL THE WAY TO ASIA and that is a deafening F.A.C.T.

(financial markets opened tonight in Asia in a downward freefall as a result of lack of confidence in US Markets)

C: Is for Cuisine and Cabaret!

With all the mortgage companies floundering on wall street, the $280,000.00 salary is sorely lacking. So, where's a broker to go, to drown his sorrows? Rick’s Cabaret in Midtown has the answer, a strip club lunch for a price fixed $10. It turns out that there may be many tasty delights to be had at Rick’s Cabaret. The pluses are numerous. The waitress are "hot and naked ( an excellent, great guy pick me up). You will get an amazing amount of quality food for $10 ( say what?). Choice of different entrees and desserts that will put you in a happy food coma. Option to sit comfortably on the 2nd or 3rd floor away from the stage and strippers (though I can’t imagine why??). Elevator access to the above floors that avoids the main attraction (again, why?) ? Did I mention the strippers are downstairs!!) The minus: obviously, there is the temptation that could easily make this runneth over the $10 price limit. When you enter Rick’s at 50 W 33rd St. (off 5th) you are offered a choice of seating. Option one is the ground floor- furnished with comfy armchairs and cocktail tables surrounding a red-lit main stage with mirrored walls and disco lights. Option two is a seat upstairs at the bar and lounge, set off from the attractions going on below (but includes a lovely lobster tank.) Drinks are ($8 bucks a pop) so you might go over the $10 price fixed lunch. The prix-fixe lunch includes soup or salad, entree and dessert. For the first course your choice is onion or barley soup and caesar salad. Entrees included a grilled sirloin steak sandwich, steak frites, strip steak, grilled shrimp salad, cheeseburger, grilled chicken club, salmon fillet, or jumbo lump crabcake sandwich. For $10, the salad, main course, and scenery would clearly be enough. But wait. There’s more. Dessert is included, and the offering of dessert options are a big and round apple crumble with vanilla ice cream; dark chocolate cake with drizzles of tangy raspberry puree; or a creamy cheesecake topped with plump blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream. Simply a hedonistic way to get all your desserts. A 3 course meal where lap-dances are just a part of the menu.

There is one more plus to the wall street crowd Rick's Cabaret International, Inc. Trades on the NASDAQ under RICK, ricks.com)

Now this is one tasty bail out and that is a F.A.C.T.

A: Is for Academy of Art!

One of the most impressive shows at Fashion Week was Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Not because it was the best but because it was the most innovative. These are the designers of tomorrow and it is great to see their take. Since September 2005, the university has showcased graduate work during New York Fashion Week in the areas of womenswear, menswear, accessory, knitwear and textile design. This year for the first time, two online degree graduates were also included. It also had one of the best moments. Making the point of what I have been saying about the shoes that are way too high. During the show the models were wearing these chunky heels that were obviously too big for them and the shoes actually began falling off them as they paraded down the runaway! Well instead of becoming fashion roadkill the models began whipping their shoes off in unison right in the middle of the runway. The crowd erupted in applause and cheers for the models! Maybe the models at Peter Som's show should of taken this same tact and they would of stayed upright.

First up was Russian on line student Elena Akoulova who completed her degree online while in Marietta, GA. She has created a womenswear collection of simple, oversized A-line linen dresses with draping techniques and colors inspired by orchids. Petticoats in pastel purples, yellows and pink, reminding me of flower pot children. She even top that all off with big bows in the hair. They were like costumes for the characters in little girl books. Elena plans to go into production with her RTW line here in the U.S.

Tara Bradley gave us tailored looks of white cotton shirts and silk pants that had feminine appeal with a tinge of masculine tailoring.

Eric Tan's mens wear was a interesting look of thermal pajama's and that rolled out of bed look that I am sure collage students are going to love.Inspired by prisoners mending their clothing with patches - and the story comes through. With a muted palette and layered silhouettes of cotton shirts and pants, these are some stylishly grungy prisoners.

Anna Jones and Michele Clark's idea to pull tights over the shoes captures a look that I am sure will catch on.

Desire Daniels sheer inserts were beautiful and I loved the lavender silk pleated dress.


Warot Subsrisunjai and Mike Feeney created the most interesting concept. Accessories, like a sci-fi film. With works in acrylic, bronze and nickel. In a strange way they reminded me of the "Hellraiser" poster but I could easily see them in the MoMA.

Ali Kahn completed his degree online while in Pakistan. He has created a clever mix of classic wearability in his shapes and color-scheme with avant-garde surface textures and details. His humor shows through in his slogan Caution: For External Use Only. Ali shipped his menswear collection to San Francisco for his thesis presentation, which was held by videoconference. Sadly to say he was not allowed to attend the Fashion Week show.

Daniel Armosilla’s knit wear bordered on over the top but this bathing suit and poncho was completely stunning and I loved the ties up the leg.


Kara Laricks decided to take the concept of the "morning after" dress shirt and create a sexy collection of garments that are not only brilliant but also wearable for those ladies who stay ahead of the fashion curve. All I know is if this shirt dress had been for sale I would of been first in line to buy it.

Students are the way of the future and that is an artistic F.A.C.T.

F: Is for Feminists Speaking out!

You would think the prospect of a woman and a working mother in the White House as US vice-president would be welcomed by the feminine gender. The answer to that is a resounding ......NO! The largest American feminist group, the National Organisation for Women, (NOW) wasted no time in issuing a statement, saying it does not endorse Palin because she does not speak "for" women. Yet Palin calls herself a feminist. In The Huffington Post's Sarah Seltzer described her reaction when she heard of Palin's nomination. "I was on the elliptical trainer, and my rage propelled me to the most furious workout I've had in a while … I am appalled by her cynicism and condescension. She is a prominent women sent to keep the rest of us down. She is an absolutist in wanting to ban all abortions, no matter the reason.

Roughly 62 million women will vote this November. What is most ironic is that upper-middle-class white women, historically those most supportive of feminist causes and candidates, have been the most negative about Gov. Palin. Many of these women are personally offended by her selection, fearing it could redefine feminism in ways they would find unacceptable. Anti-Palin forces see her as a dangerous "right-wing extremist" "fanatically anti-abortion", "hard right", "global warming-denying", and a "rabid conservative". How can a mother of five with a disabled baby manage to campaign for the vice-presidency while giving adequate attention to her children? Does it expose a selfish ambition? After all, there's no such thing as a superwoman, and children of driven moms make their own sacrifices. Palin has set off a fierce argument among women about whether there are enough hours in the day for her to take on the vice-presidency, and whether she is right to try.

On September 3, 2008, two New York women sent an e-mail to their friends (who sent it their friends, and so on). The e-mail called on American women to fight back against Palin: "First and foremost, Ms. Palin does not represent us. She does not demonstrate or uphold our interests as American women. It is presumed that the inclusion of a woman on the Republican ticket could win over women voters. We want to disagree, publicly." That one e-mail has made it around the world and back, and inspired its authors, Quinn L. and Lyra K. of New York, to start a blog to record responses and share the thoughts of women worldwide. Reflecting upon the number of responses which have poured in thus far, the authors remarked: "As the hundreds of responses above show, Sarah Palin does not represent American women. Her policies fly in the face of everything our mothers and grandmothers have fought for. While some of us may relate to her trials as a mother, we refuse to accept Hallmark tales as a substitute for real political qualifications. The responses have truly been inspiring and demonstrate that, despite the fact that Palin's struggles resonate with many American women, her politics do not." To respond to the Women Against Sarah Palin blog, send an e-mail to womensaynopalin@gmail.com. womenagainstsarahpalin.blogspot.com

Another women wrote: What is remarkable to me about Sarah Palin is that she seems to have no awareness that feminists of previous generations are what have made it possible for her to present her unwed, pregnant daughter without any public shame. As few as thirty years ago, Bristol would have been shipped off to have her baby in private and the child would have been put up for adoption. Because of Roe v. Wade feminists, unmarried women can now have children free from the shame of previous generations.

Eve Ensler, the American playwright, performer, feminist and activist best known for "The Vagina Monologues" just sent out a letter to all her friends and ask us to send it around. She states " I don't like raging at women. I am a Feminist and have spent my life trying to build community, help empower women and stop violence against them. It is hard to write about Sarah Palin. This is why the Sarah Palin choice was all the more insidious and cynical. The people who made this choice count on the goodness and solidarity of Feminists. But everything Sarah Palin believes in and practices is antithetical to Feminism which for me is part of one story -- connected to saving the earth, ending racism, empowering women, giving young girls options, opening our minds, deepening tolerance, and ending violence and war.

I am not a feminist in the truest sense of the word, but Palin has started a war and it is that women including me do not want her to represent us and that is a F.A.C.T.