BJS020: Reflections on 2009

I spend a few moments on the morning of New Year's Eve reflecting on the positive moments of 2009, and why it's critical to be grateful for the things we have in our life. I also discuss Facebook's "My Year in Photos" application, the Facebook group "I Claim 2010 As the Year of Abundance," and how the principals of Kwanzaa can apply to non-African-Americans as well.

Links:
FB My Year In Photos: http://apps.facebook.com/my-year-in-photos
I Claim 2010 As the Year of Abundance: http://tinyurl.com/2010abundance
ThinkBanc - Law Of Attraction And Beyond (Antonio Thornton): http://antonioblog.com
The Official Kwanzaa Web Site: http://officialkwanzaawebsite.org
Kwanzaa (Wikipedia): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa

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BJS019: I'll Be Elvish For Solstice

Listen as I join fellow members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair as we bring toys and books to the children of the Newton Street School in Newark, NJ, assisting Santa (as played by congregation member and television actor Andre Braugher). I interview fellow member Courtney Allen on our seven-year relationship with the school, and discuss the winter solstice, accepting the benefits of abundance, and New Moon rituals. Concludes with music by Mr. Steve and Miss Katie (used with permission).

Links:
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair: http://uumontclair.org
Newton Street School of Humanities: http://nps.k12.nj.us/newton_st/index.htm
Andre Braugher (on IMDb): http://imdb.com/name/nm0105672
Frankie Faison (on IMDb): http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0265670
About.com New Moon Manifestation Ceremony: http://healing.about.com/cs/spirituality/a/moonrituals.htm
Zeitgeist - The Movie: http://zeitgeistmovie.com
Andre Braugher is superior to Jack Bauer, Chuck Norris, and George W Bush: http://facebook.com/group.php?gid=2226160794
Mr. Steve and Miss Katie: http://steveandkatie.com
Download "Must Be Christmas Time (It's Snowing Now)" here for free!


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BJS018: Crazy Nights

Join me as I talk about the Festival of Lights known as Hanukkah - the story behind it, our family's observance of it and what it means to me as a non-Jew. I also discuss my Paramount Pictures hat given to me by Joe "Joey Pants" Pantoliano, Jacob's "bad witch/good witch" dream, starting to live with "The Secret" and the controversy over "Happy Holidays." Music by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair Choir.

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Links:
Joe Pantoliano: http://joeypants.com
Joe Pantoliano on IMDb: http://imdb.com/name/nm0001592
"The Taxman" on IMDb: http://imdb.com/title/tt0138862
The Secret: http://thesecret.tv
Hanukkah (Wikipedia): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah
Neil Diamond performs "The Chanukah Song": http://youtube.com/watch?v=BOegH4uYe-c
The UU Montclair Podcast - "Hanukkah: Taking a Chance": http://uumontclair.blogspot.com/2009/12/hanukkah-taking-chance.html
"Chiribim" lyrics: http://hebrewsongs.com/song-chiribim.htm

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That guy gave me this hat.

BJS017: There Ain't No Secrets in Jonestown

Join me on my commute from New Jersey to Brooklyn for the shooting of the final scene of "The Jonestown Defense," followed by another trip to Shop Rite. I'll catch you up on all of the projects I've been working on, plus take you a little deeper into my personal situation, dealing with a bit of "seasonal depression" and the "Secret" I'm starting to learn about that might help me bring it all around. Music by Chris McElroy, used with permission.

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Links:
Garden State Equality: http://gardenstateequality.org
"Prop 8 - The Musical": http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c0cf508ff8
The Jonestown Defense: http://nigrita.com/Nigrita.com/Jonestown_Defense.html
Blue Marble Ice Cream: http://www.bluemarbleicecream.com
TK Music: http://tkmusicnutley.com
The UU Montclair Podcast: http://uumontclair.blogspot.com
Artis Wodehouse on YoutTube: http://youtube.com/keyboardwizards
Alfredo Villela: http://azteclibrary.com/mixcoacalli/us/aboutus.html
Sanjay Music: http://sanjaymusic.com (Does NOT work with Firefox - I think. Safari is ok)
Sanjay Music on YouTube: http://youtube.com/sanjaymusic
DVD Funhouse: http://599dvd.com (website isn't up yet)
DVD Funhouse on Twitter: http://twitter.com/599dvdfunhouse
Tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com
Trailer for "The Plan Doctor": http://tinyurl.com/plandoc
DCT: http://digitalcafetour.com
DCT on TV.com: http://tinyurl.com/tvdct
DCT on YouTube: http://youtube.com/digitalcafetour
Friday's Child: http://frichild.com
Goals for Life: http://goalsforlife.org
The Secret: http://thesecret.tv
Chris McElroy: http://myspace.com/chrismcelroymusic
Chris McElroy - "Ain't No Blues At Christmas": http://tinyurl.com/tvcmanb and http://tinyurl.com/ytcmanb

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Director Gregory Takoudis discusses the scene with actor Michael Weimann.


Props can be delicious!


Call to fight terrorism, but put down the phone!

BJS016: Q&A at the Old Bridge Filmmakers Showcase

Three local New Jersey filmmakers participate in a Q&A session at the first installment of the Old Bridge Filmmakers Showcase at the Old Bridge Public Library. Hosted by Matt Helme, the filmmakers discuss their short films presented earlier in the afternoon. Marla Cukor discusses "The Masquerade" (directed by Natalia Garcia), a mystery thriller which she wrote, and which stars Christopher Masterson of TV's "Malcolm in the Middle." Jamal Hall talks about his short film "Strivin'," a stylistic story about an inner city kid who dreams of becoming a dancer while coping with an abusive father. I ramble on about "The Last Days of Frank Whyte," which I co-wrote, directed and produced with the film's star Franklin Correa, and which tells the tale of a drug dealer's downward spiral of life. (If you haven't already, check out BJS016a - my first video episode which contains my film in its entirety.)

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Links:
"The Masquerade" on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/themasqueradefilm
"The Masquerade" on IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1073238
"The Masquerade" trailer: http://imdb.com/video/wab/vi467468569
Dynomitefilms' YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/DynomyteFilms
"Strivin'" tralier: http://youtube.com/watch?v=eWxbWgOqTXk
Dragon Rider Productions: http://dragonriderproductions.com
Old Bridge Public Library: http://oldbridgelibrary.org
Exit 131 Productions Yahoo Group: http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/exit131
Exit 131 Actors' Yahoo Group: http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/exit131actors
Exit 131 Filmmakers & Actors on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/exit131film
Garden State Film Festival http://gsff.org

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Jamal Hall, Brian Jude & Marla Cukor
Photo by Steve Womack

BJS015: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Thankful Pagans

If you listened to BJS002, you'll remember I picked up props for T. Schreiber Studios' production of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead." Yesterday Melanie & I saw the show, and today I returned the props back to Anything But Costumes i Flemington, New Jersey. Later on, I attended the 19th annual Pagan Thanksgiving, hosted by two former college classmates - and Student Government Association presidents - of mine, Tony Susco and James "Appetite" Cotter.

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Links:
T. Schreiber Studios: http://tschreiber.org
Cat Parker: http://catparker.com
George Allison Designs: http://www.gadesigns.net
Anything But Costumes: http://anythingbutcostumes.com
Pagan Thanksgiving: http://tinyurl.com/paganthanksgiving
Church Street Kitchen: http://churchstreetkitchen.com
Tony Susco's Blog - Rock-it Docket: http://rockitdocket.com

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BJS014: A Short Time Ago In A Concert Very, Very Close

Join me and my friend, Maestro Tracy Glenn Murray, as we attend "Star Wars in Concert" at the Izod Center at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey. I recorded our commentary immediately after the show, and we met up with our friend P Jay and his sons, then I called my mother to thank her for getting us the tickets - none of which you'll hear, because I inadvertently deleted all of that! But you'll hear us talk about the concert on our way back to nearby Lyndhurst, New Jersey where I had to pick up my son.

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Links:
http://starwarsinconcert.com
http://izodcenter.com
http://visitxanadu.com

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BJS013: Oops I Did It Again

After the last episode, I vowed never to leave the house without my iPod microphone, just in case I had the opportunity to record. Well, today I did remember to take it with me - but I left it at The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair (where I was heading later that night) and did NOT have it with me as once again I left my acting gig at Kaplan Medical even earlier than I did the other day! Too bad, because the trip via the Newark Light Rail and NJ Transit Bus #28 would have made for an excellent Rampler-esque episode! I will, however, offer the episode to Frank Nora for release on his Overnightscape Underground. Plugs include KillingBoxx.com (two films I produced made it to their Top 13 list!), The Fave and Natalie Gelman.

Links:
The Overnightscape Underground: http://onsug.com
Kaplan: http:/kaptest.com
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair: http://uumontclair.org
Pennsylvania Station (Newark): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Station_%28Newark%29
Go Bus 28: http://www.njtransit.com/var/var_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=GoBus28To
KillingBoxx.com's 13 for the 13th: http://www.killingboxx.com/articles/RAWart20091113_13ForThe13th.html
The Fave: http://thefave.com
Natalie Gelman: http://NatalieGelman.com
Natalie Gelman videos: http:/Youtube.com/NatalieGelman


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BJS012: He Left Home Without It

I found myself done with my acting gig at Kaplan Medical early today, so I had time to record. But did I bring my microphone? NO! So I decided to record on my laptop.

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Links:
Kaplan: http://www.kaptest.com
Pennsylvania Station (Newark) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Station_%28Newark%29

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BJS011: Reunited

Hear some behind-the-scenes rambling before, during and after my 20-year high school reunion at the Sheraton in Eatontown, New Jersey. Celebrity Guest GPS Voice: Hannibal Lecter.

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