"The Towen II" Trailer (Instagram Version)

Proud to be a coproducer on this one! Steve Yank has been working on this for the past year and will complete it and release it in August!! On the dl, this may become a low budget cult classic from what I've seen so far!

N8

Steve Yank’s Towen 2 After Party!!!

 People came from as far away as 3 hours drive to attend this cookout! Amongst them were my producer/actor friend, Brian M. Wixson and E. Vincent Burrows (who acted in The Towen 2 along with other films that I made)… Spock aka Brian gets special thanks for driving hour and half to the event with E. and myself… E actually drove 2 hours before hand to reach my house before jumping in the car with us!!! This was (minus a few) the first first time so many of the cast of Kevin Caruso’s The Yard had gathered in one spot!!! HB Gibson would’ve come but he was on a panel at a voice over actors convention.

And there were special guests! Emma and Angel Martinez jr who just happened to have a home 30 minutes from the cookout. He is running for Councilman in Brooklyn but has a home in Pennsylvania and stopped by due to my request!!! He has a great script based on real life events that he wants me to organize a zoom reading for in the next month so I was glad he showed up to discuss it!!!

Anyway, Spencer (one of the actors in Towen series) worked the grill with Steve and towards the end they all signed posters, shared gifts, took pictures and had a wonderful toast from Buddy (the eldest actor) to the cast and crew of The Towen films!!! Even the writer, Heather Gengaro aka Gen17, was there signing books and getting some pictures taken!!! I got a shot of her and her children holding up a signed copy of the book I bought!!!! BTW-Heather enjoyed the cigars I brought the most and took a few which made me feel good 👍!!!

Below are a few pictures of the small event but it had great memories!!!

N8 

Dear Mother…

 My mother doesn’t get out the house much even though we try to encourage it! But today was kind of nice so she came out for a little bit and saw my sister’s herbal garden. To cheer her up for weeks my sister has been planning to bring home some parakeets and she did today as well!!! I’ll post pictures of the birds ( salt and pepper (although they are green (lol))) later! But for now, here’s a few pictures of my family enjoying the day!

I Love You, Mom!!!

N8 

I Couldn’t Get To The Mixer BUT I Still Have News LOL

 My ride into NYC thought that the mixer was Wednesday and didn’t realize that it was Tuesday… he didn’t read my blog close enough lol 😂 and even though we spoke about it he just got the 27th confused with the 28th at work so we canceled and are going next month when the next date is announced! 

In other news, the producer I met at the first mixer read several of my scripts and liked one so for the past few weeks I have been doing a rewrite of that script according to the notes he gave me in our meeting! Last week I finished the rewrite and I have been awaiting his response! More than likely I will have to do another rewrite because I gave him a barebones version of the script looking for more insight.

Also, I got the chance to talk to Kevin Caruso (who now lives and writes in California) about the writers strike. He’s one of the fortunate writers who have a backup job and insider info is that the strike will go on past Labor Day BUT my Spiritual gut and inside man says it should be resolved in July because I am pretty sure that the BIG STUDIOS don’t want the writers and actors striking at the same time… just my 2 cents!!!! FYI - *BEEP*, HG3 and The Choice have all been doing well in the festivals so hopefully I’ll have more GOOD NEWS in the future months!!!

Keep pushing forward and I’ll see at the places to be!!!!

N8 

Some of Chris Saunders Music

 I first met Chris at a NY Film/TV Networking event. He was quiet and kept to himself but was always near the promoters of the event. I later found out that he was actually one of the promoters who kept a low profile! He actually does a podcast with Daron Jenkins that focuses on music and that was how I found out that he is a talented musician!!! Below are some of the videos from his YouTube channel!!! From cover songs to originals, he’s a great musician with a laid back melodic voice.

JUNE 27TH NETWORKING AT THE GLOBE NYC

  Well, DARON JENKINS is hosting the next networking event for the NY Film/TV Collective and it is Tuesday, June 27th!!! Everyone who's up and coming in the entertainment industry will be there!!! The mixer will be held at THE GLOBE (158 E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010, USA) 

FYI - Until June 7th, tickets are half priced (just $7) then they gradually increase as it gets closer to the date so hit the red link below and get your tickets NOW!!!

​​⏰ Time: 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

​SUPER EARLY TICKETS: $7 (on SALE 5/31 until 6/7)

​EARLY TICKETS: $10 (on SALE 6/7 until 6/14)

​GENERAL ADMISSION: $15 (on SALE 6/14 until 6/27)

Hit this link to get TICKETS For NETWORKING

The SIFF just awarded THE CHOICE with The Award of Eminence!!!

 The Swedish International Film Festival (SIFF) just notified me that my script, THE CHOICE, was given the winner's Award of Eminence and Certificate of Appreciation for Best Screenwriting. This the second time in about a year that I have received this award from the SIFF which really feeds my ego and makes me believe that my writing is GOOD!!! The certificate is below. 

CHEERS and if you believe and see it in your mind it can be yours!!!

N8

Chris Saunders @ Brooklyn Music Kitchen

 Join us on June 16 at 9 PM for an unforgettable evening as For The Love of Music Presents: Chris Saunders live at Brooklyn Music Kitchen! Singer/Songwriter Chris Saunders is a native New Yorker, born and raised in Manhattan. Coming from British and Jamaican roots, he takes you on a musical journey like no other with his unique blend of genres and soulful melodies. Don't miss out on this incredible event. Tickets are only $10 at the door. 

When: Friday, June 16 at 9 PM

Where: Brooklyn Music Kitchen, 177 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Tickets: $10/Available at the Door

Follow Chris Saunders on Instagram @chrissaunders_music

Steve Yank's The Towen!

So my friend and fledging filmmaker, Steve Yank, made his first film and because of my contacts plus know-how of getting into festivals he made me a coproducer. First time out he gets the Ed Wood Award at The Highlands Film Festival and places in several other competitions with the film below! He had no budget for this but a lot of will power and hope! I also included the trailer just for fun!!!

A Song That Inspired Me While Writing *BEEP* And A Few More Photos from Author's Faire

 Radiohead's Creep was always on my mind when I did the rewrite of the script BOY and turned it into *BEEP*!!! A producer liked *BEEP* and said make some changes so this month I'll do just that!

Plus, the Union Public Library sent a few pics that I like so I am posting them. ENJOY!!!

June 27th NY Film/TV Collective Mixer at THE GLOBE

 Well, DARON JENKINS is hosting the next networking event for the NY Film/TV Collective and it is Tuesday, June 27th!!! Everyone who's up and coming in the entertainment industry will be there!!! The mixer will be held at THE GLOBE (158 E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010, USA) 

FYI - Until June 7th, tickets are half priced (just $7) then they gradually increase as it gets closer to the date so hit the red link below and get your tickets NOW!!!

​​⏰ Time: 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

​SUPER EARLY TICKETS: $7 (on SALE 5/31 until 6/7)

​EARLY TICKETS: $10 (on SALE 6/7 until 6/14)

​GENERAL ADMISSION: $15 (on SALE 6/14 until 6/27)

Hit this link to get TICKETS For NETWORKING

Betcha can’t spot me!!!

 Back in 1998, I got my first commercial with Tostitos!!! My appearance is brief but it paid about $750 and they fed us twice. We also shot it in the locker rooms at the Meadowlands so we got the chance to see what only some of the biggest fans get to see! Heck, it played at two Super Bowls… if only I were SAG/AFTRA lol 😂!!!

Enjoy 😉 

N8 

The Globe 🌎 Networking for May 23rd

 The mixer for NY Film/TV Collective had a stronger than usual tech presence! One of the first people I met was an AI specialist who was checking out the mixer to see how AI was incorporating into the entertainment industry. She was basically telling people not to worry about it but to look for balance in it’s usage especially when dealing with celebrities dead and alive. Daron Jenkins was there hosting and Chris Saunders was there supporting the networking. You can see them both in the pictures below… FYI - I got Chris to hold up my postcard in one of the pictures! lol 😝 Promo, promo, promo!!!

A number of composers, producers and reps from production companies showed. I was surprised that there weren’t too many actors! At the end of the night I did meet one actress/model from the Ukraine named Anastasia Kotenko who surprisingly lived just 10 minutes away from me in Jersey! Spock (Brian M. Wixson) was with me and he gave her a ton of his personal experience about acting seeing that she was a newbie.

Below are some pictures of the event! I gave away a ton of my cards and several of my books. I must get a new phone because all of the QR codes I took were not saved on my phone…. This is the second time that this has happened so if you shared your info by QR code please contact me via email to share your info with me… that’s why I pass out cards because the technology doesn’t always work!!!

Enjoy the pictures 

N8 

ISA Writing Gigs, The Union Library & May 23rd Networking!!!

 This post is really to promote the mixer/networking on the 23rd for the NY Film/TV Collective BUT I have an update on several previous posts that I would like to talk about... So, the Mixer and a link to it will be at the end of this post.

As many of you previous readers know, I placed in the Semifinals of Emerging Screenwriter's Sci-Fi/Fantasy Competition. Part of the prize was a three-month membership to ISA (International Screenwriting Association) which meant I could enter contests and writing gigs on their site for free!!! The ISA stands with the WGA Strike and because a lot of their gigs are agent and manager driven this means that during the strike all submissions will be sent to ISA for representation instead of being sold or optioned to an agent or manager. So, fingers crossed because ISA representation is golden, and I have been submitting especially to their writing gigs!

Also on the local front, the Union Public Library will be moving into their new building next year and as a bonus to those who participated in the 1st Annual Author's Fair all books submitted will be added to the local author's section of the library system. This means that if you live in NJ you can request through inter-library loan the books which are now being entered into the system. HOORAAAYYYY!!!! D@MN! It took long enough but finally I'm in!!!!

Finally, the NY FILM/TV COLLECTIVE'S NETWORKING is this TUESDAY, MAY 23rd from 6:30 to 9:30pm eastern at THE GLOBE in NYC. It'll be during the happy hour, and I am bringing cards plus postcards promoting this blog, books and my other social media sites. The link is below if you'd like to attend. Tickets are just $15 and are basically a way for you to get on NY FILM/TV COLLECTIVE'S radar!!! I was officially made a media partner and can't wait to see my dude DARON JENKINS who recently made FORBES BLK membership for media influencers!!

https://lu.ma/happyhour523

NY Film/TV Industry Happy Hour

Event by DARON JENKINS

Tue, May 23, 2023, 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM 

158 E 23rd St, New York, NY, US, 10010

The Globe

Event link  https://lu.ma/happyhour523

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY and The 2023 Union Public Library Author's Fair a day EARLIER!!!

 First off, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!! I just want to remind both males and females of all ages that we are all mothers (and fathers) to our hopes and dreams (our thoughts and emotions) so today is special for all of us to LOVE ourselves and others who nurture us!!! The Universe takes care of us all when we send it the energy that we want to receive!!!

So, yesterday was the first Union Author's Fair at the public library and all I got to say was that we were not alone!! Some of the author's had multiple books and projects there and in the works. I was seated with my family (Mother & sister) on one side and made quick friends with the writer on my left side. Her name was Kristine Hope Kowalski and she had wrote an excerpt from a book about women and resilience called "The Event" from the book "What Doesn't Kill Her". I read it that night and was surprised to find out that someone else in this world had experienced a psychosomatic pain incident like the one I had (only hers lasted for a day while mine continued for close to 10 years). Another interesting writer (with a super cool hat) was Al Cook of Kreative Rytings Unlimited LLC. I asked him about his hat and he sair that he sold them amongst other things through his sites. I have pictures of the authors signing and showing off their books. 

To make that day even better was that my cousin Esther Dillard and her husband, Skip, and son, Nick, dropped by. It was the first time in 48 years that our families had met in person. I have picks below of all of us together. I gave her signed copy of The Zen Cookbook and made sure she signed my copy of her book about Black hair and being in the media's eye!!! It was a joyous experience and made today even sweeter for my mom because it clarified some of her fading memories.

Pics are below and remember to let your MOTHERING/LOVING/NURTURING NATURE be expressed everyday both to others and towards yourself!!!

Peace

N8