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The Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival Celebrates its 10th Anniversary:
Remarkable Films for Unprecedented Times
Ridgewood, NJ - Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival and watch a curated selection of interesting, new and impactful new films virtually. The #RGIFF is back to deliver some of 2020’s most exciting indie cinema in a new virtual format. From February 27, 2021 to March 3, 2021 enjoy over 85 films and 21 hours of content ranging from dramas, comedies, student films, music videos, international flicks, and everything in between from the comfort of your couch. Films will be available for viewing in custom blocks according to genre at specific times throughout the festival. To find out how to purchase tickets visit https://ridgewoodguildfilmfest.com/. The festival will be viewed on the Eventive platform which you will get a link for on the Film Festival website. Please note the website will be updated often until the day of the festival. Gold Star Sponsors for the 10th Anniversary Film Festival are Blue Foundry Bank and Coldwell Banker Realty.
In addition to the films which will be available at reasonable prices, there will also be special free presentations and Q & A's with filmmakers, actors and directors. Scheduled this year so far are master classes on film distribution (by Liz Manashil), film marketing (by Suzanne Ordas Curry), an interview with Charles Riccardi of the NJ Motion Picture and Television Commission, interviews with actresses Annapurna Sriram and Anna Rust, and more. There will also be a FREE networking zoom meeting on Sunday, February 28th. The winners of the 2020 Awards for Best Feature, Short, Documentary, and more will be announced during a special presentation shown online from Pearl Restaurant in Ridgewood, NJ at the conclusion of the festival.
A ticket for a block or "bucket" of films is $10. Three buckets can be purchased for $25. Ten buckets are $45.
For questions contact Film Festival Director Dotti Fucito at ridgewoodfilmfestival@gmail.com..
HIGHLIGHTS
The festival lineup includes two feature length films: Dana H. Glazer’s romantic drama A Case of Blue, starring Stephen Schnetzer and Annapurna Sriram, and Michelle Ekizian’s Love Songs Showscape from Gorky’s Dream Garden, a genre-bending hybrid opera. Some other notable entries include: Trent Dawson’s The Six, a crumbling romance shot entirely in an NYC subway; Elsa Levytksy’s Goodnight Death starring Callum Blue of The Tudors, where the Grim Reaper follows a young girl out to stop a serial killer; Dylan Skinner’s documentary about the fashion industry’s effect on body image UNCAGED; Spencer Muhlstock’s beautifully filmed and chillingly presented The Woods; Luz Cabrales’ Sing To Me, which explores the relationship between friendship, grief, and love.
Other films of note include: Nora Mariana’s heart-poundingly intense story of an escape attempt from a Warsaw Ghetto in Alina; Lioness Studios’ Merrick Carlyle Has a Problem, which pits a teenage sociopath against the power of young love; Emergency Contact’s witty and socially relevant web series Coup!; Eddie Shieh’s In Sync, which hilariously asks what to do when both husband and wife bring home a new partner at the same time; Pat Battistini’s Ms. Rossi, a clever and whimsical foreign language short; Bob Klein’s comical depiction of justice in the MeToo era in The Interrogation, Ethan Wilk’s deep dive into the world of professional hacking in the documentary, Hackers: The Misfit Superheroes and many more, many of which are premieres.
The RGIFF has also included exclusive bonus content ("specials") to watch for free. As Film Festival Director Dotti Fucito states, “We decided to make up for this year’s lack of a red carpet with more Q & A's, presentations about aspects of the film industry, interviews and some interactive content including a networking meeting. We have a fantastic slate of films this year, and we’re excited about how we’ve adapted to the virtual format.”
The Ridgewood International Film Festival will be held online from February 27th to March 3rd. For information on how to purchase tickets and view the specials: https://www.ridgewoodguild.com/ Socials: https://twitter.com/RidgewoodFilmFe, https://www.facebook.com/TRGIFF.
A Case of Blue Film Wins Awards at New York Film Festivals: Chelsea Film Festival and Imagine This! Women's International Film Festival
The film A Case of Blue by Dana H. Glazer took home numerous awards from the Chelsea Film Festival as well as the Imagine This! Women's International Film Festival in New York City in October 2020. It won the Special Jury Award and Best Actor Award (Stephen Schnetzer) at the Chelsea Film Festival. It took home Best Feature Film, the Best Actor in a Feature Film Award (Stephen Schnetzer) and Best Actress in a Feature Film (Annapurna Sriram) Feature at the Imagine This! International Women's Festival.
The movie follows Richard, played by Stephen Schnetzer as he finds a new love and new meaning to his life after retirement. Executive Produced by Scott Rosenfelt (Home Alone, Mystic Pizza) it is co-produced by Suzanne Ordas Curry (Equity) and Dottie Fucito (Bad Parents).
Hope Runs High to Distribute Indie Folk Rock Film Killian and the Comeback Kids in Theaters Fall 2020
Soap Actors, Oscar Winner Appear in Taylor A. Purdee's Original Film
New York - Nathan Purdee (Young & Restless, One Life to Live, The Return of Superfly) stars alongside 4-Time Emmy Nominated Kassie DePaiva (Days of Our Lives, One Life to Live) in Taylor A. Purdee's (Nathan's son) new movie called Killian and the Comeback Kids. This movie will be in select theaters and drive-ins starting Fall of 2020. It is scheduled to appear in Regal Cinemas September 18th at the Regal Northamption in PA and will roll out across the country in the next few months after that. Check the website for details: https://www.killianandthecomebackkidsmovie.com/ .Some dates include September 25th in Atlanta at the Regal Tara 4, and then October 2nd Chicago at the Regal City North.
If you like soaps, you'll like this movie. For fans of One Life to Live, it's a treat to see Nathan and Kassie together again as they play husband and wife. Nathan plays the dad to his real life son Taylor. The film is a drama about a mixed-race millennial (Taylor A. Purdee) coming home to live with his parents in a depressed rural town after getting a college degree in the big city. The film showcases many of the issues and problems faced by American's youth today. In the movie, music is the vehicle in which to spread hope and look towards a brighter future. The movie is filled with original music by Taylor A. Purdee, Liam Higgins and their folk-rock band called The Cumberland Kids. The film has a positive message which is supported by music.
Taylor, a graduate of Fordham University, wrote, directed and stars in the movie. It is produced by Karmic Release, Ltd. (Wallowitch and Ross (Oscar Shortlist), Baghdad ER (Emmy winner). The movie is executive produced by Suzanne Ordas Curry (Equity, A Case of Blue with Stephen Schnetzer, and Emmy-nominated Tainted Dreams) and Liam Higgins.
The movie also stars Broadway actress Shannon O'Boyle (Once, Kinky Boots), Emily Mest (Spring Awakening National Tour, American Horror Story), Shane Andries (Tomorrow Ever After, Blue Man Group) Youtuber Maddi Jane in a cameo, Oscar-winner Lee Grant in a cameo role and newcomers John Donchak, Andrew O'Shanick and Yael Elisheva.
The movie is being distributed by Hope Runs High Films. When possible members of the cast will attend screenings to play or for special panel discussions. To find out when and where you can see this film, visit: https://www.killianandthecomebackkidsmovie.com/
To view a trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPT9G9JPocg
On twitter: https://twitter.com/KillianRoxMovie
On FB: https://www.facebook.com/KillianandtheComebackKids
Emmy-Nominated Series Tainted Dreams Now Available to Stream on Reel Women's Network
July 29, 2020 NEW YORK -Tainted Dreams, the Emmy-nominated digital series about what goes on behind the scenes of a soap opera, is now available for viewing on The Reel Women's Network. Created by Sonia Blangiardo, who is part of the Emmy-winning director team at Days of Our Lives. the series is loosely based on what Sonia has experienced in her vast career in daytime. Expect romance, deception, love, jealousy and all of the other characteristics we expect and love in good drama.
The streaming service is a joint venture between Crystal Chappell, President of Open Book Productions and Jessica and Linda Hill of Bella Productions. To access it click here: https://watch.reelwomensnetwork.com/tainted-dreams://reelwomensnetwork.com/
Tainted Dreams is a "soap-within-a-soap" which follows the backstage drama of the fictional soap opera Painted Dreams. 2014 - Daytime Emmy Nominee - Outstanding New Approaches/Drama Series 2017 - Daytime Emmy Nominee - Outstanding Digital Daytime Drama Series Daytime Emmy Nominee - Outstanding Lead Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series - Michael Lowry For playing “Jordan Bradford."
Tainted Dreams originally debuted on Amazon Prime in 2016 and since that time has amassed a large following of passionate fans as well as 7Daytime Emmy Nominations. Tainted Dreams features a cast a soap opera veterans and favorites, a few reality stars, theater actors and even a popular wrestler. The cast includes All My Children veterans Alicia Minshew, Walt Willey, Michael Lowry, Bobbie Eakes, Terri Ivens and the late Larkin Malloy, General Hospital's Natalia Livingston, As the World Turns' Colleen Zenk, Austin Peck, Marnie Schulenburg and Kelley Menighan, Guiding Light's Grant Aleksander, One Life to Live's Ilene Kristen, Tonja Walker, Nathan Purdee and James DePaiva (plus famed Soap Opera Digest columnist Carolyn Hinsey), Big Brother's Jessie Godderz, The Real Housewives of New Jersey's Dina Manzo, WWE’s Lisa Marie Varon, Off-Broadway’s Paul Moon, Anthony Wilkinson, Debra Toscano, Brian Patrick Murphy, Brett Douglas, Erik Ransom, and Meagan Robar.
Sonia Blangiardo states, "I am thrilled that Tainted Dreams is a part of this new platform that focuses on female creatives. Everyone in the industry is always talking about how women need to be more inclusive and the opportunities for women just aren't the same as they are for men. Reel Women's Network is taking an amazing step in the right direction to change that reality. I hope this new audience will love Tainted's characters and stories."
About Tainted Dreams
Tainted Dreams, a seven-time Daytime Emmy-nominated digital dramedy, is a ‘show within a show’ following the cast and crew of the fictitious soap opera, Painted Dreams. It is written by Lindsay Harrison and is loosely based on experiences of show creator, director, executive producer, and Emmy Award winner Sonia Blangiardo's 20+ years’ experience working as director/producer on daytime dramas All My Children, One Life to Live, As the World Turns, General Hospital and currently Days of Our Lives.
To connect with Tainted Dreams:
Website: https://www.tainteddreams.com/#home-section
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tainteddreamstheseries/)
Twitter: @https://twitter.com/TaintedDreamsTS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tainted_dreams_the_series/
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#CareCardsforCoronaCaregivers Raises over $3000 For Gifts Cards for Healthcare Workers Inluding
$1500 worth of Cards Donated by Emerson Dairy Queen
Ben's Bells #BeKind Coins Also to be Distributed
Teaneck, NJ - CareCardsforCoronaCaregivers would like to thank everyone that donated to the program as over $1500 has been raised for workers at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck NJ so that they can be thanked for their service with Dairy Queen gift cards. We are also very happy to announce that the Dairy Queen of Emerson has matched the raise by donating $1500 worth of cards. In addition, each worker will also receive an additional token of appreciation with a Ben's Bell's #BeKind coin.
With a donation to #CareCardsforCoronaCaregivers healthcare, maintenance, food, administrative and other workers at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, which was at the epicenter of the pandemic in Bergen County, NJ will receive a gift card as a means of saying "thank you." We are also happy to announce that the workers will also be receiving a #BeKind Kindness Coin by Ben's Bells. Ben's Bells is a National Organization headquartered in Arizona, with a regional studio in Bethel, Connecticut. The mission of Ben's Bells is to teach individuals and communities about the positive impacts of intentional kindness and to inspire people to practice kindness as a way of life.
Dairy Queen gift cards were selected as the cards to disseminate. It was not long before Toni Plantamura-Rossi owner of Dairy Queen of Emerson, which has been in existence in Bergen County since 1952, offered to help with the donation of another $1500 worth of cards. Toni states, "I was very happy to hear from Lisa Bermudez, who is part of this program. We have been wanting to do something worthwhile for first responders and this seemed a perfect fit. I am donating because it’s the right thing to do. Being a former police officer I understand the stress of being in a first responder capacity, but I can only imagine the stress and chaotic conditions that these courageous people work under EVERY day that they go to work. It really is remarkable. Thank God there are people in life who choose a career where they run into the line of fire as opposed to the majority of people who choose to run away from danger. It’s inspiring."
Lisa Bermudez of Westwood is donating the Ben's Bells coins. She said, "When I saw the CCCG program, I thought to myself, these workers need to know how much we all appreciate them. These Kindness Coins are something my family has used to thank many people that have shown us extraordinary kindness and it is an initiative especially dear to my heart. Including a Ben's Bells Kindness Coin along with their gift card seemed like the perfect combination. My hope is that the coins give workers something tangible to remind them how much we appreciate all their hard work and sacrifice. I am so grateful that Kindness Coins are now a part of the CareCardsforCoronaCaregivers mission to thank and support frontline workers. Kindness: Something so basic, easy to do and something our world needs so desperately, especially now."
Suzanne Ordas Curry, founder of the program states, "I just can't believe the generosity of people. It is true, the helpers come out during times of crisis. I was thrilled to see monetary donations coming, so happy to get a call from Lisa about the donation of Ben's Bells coins and just amazed to hear that Toni Plantamura-Rossi of Emerson Dairy Queen was going to donate $1500 worth of cards. In addition, I got calls from two women in my town who were packaging up some other useful items for the workers that we will also bring to Holy Name Medical Center.
Below is the link to donate to Holy Name Hospital which is at the epicenter of the fight.
Holy Name Medical Center - Teaneck: https://www.holyname.org/help/ - Use hashtag #CareCardsforCoronaCaregivers in NOTES box by Recurring donations (but don't check that off).
Suzanne adds, "If you want to donate to other hospitals, consider a donation to their foundation." Go to their websites, and click on donate. You can specify that you would like it to be used to support staff, for gift cards or anywhere it is needed most."
For questions contact CareCardsforCoronaCaregivers@gmail.com. For more information on Ben's Bells: www.bensbells.org
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HERFLIX Announces Free Movies for Summer 2020
The new online movie theater for women, Herflix, is announcing a line-up of movies just in time for the summer which can be streamed for free. These movies are sponsored by Martha Stewart Perfectly Roasted Coffee by Barrie House. They can be viewed for free at anytime at www.Herflix.com. No membership is required. Herflix strives to show quality content for and about women. From Geena Davis to Nora Ephron, you'll find something to entertain and inform you. The movies available free to stream are:
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING - Geena Davis, Meryl Streep, Reese Witherspoon, Taraji P. Henson Maria Giese, and a star studded cast diss on why Hollywood’s gender inequalities persist and how it can be fixed. Link: https://herflix.page.link/xhST
GIRLS IN THE BAND - New York Times Critics’ Pick. When they told them they couldn’t play, they did it anyway – -the inspiring stories of female jazz players & musicians from the late 1930’s to present day. Language:English. Link: https://herflix.page.link/ZJ5Z
CHAVELA - Award-Winning documentarian Catherine Gund explores the life of singer Chavela Vargas, a Lifetime Achievement Grammy winner who bravely came out as a lesbian in the 1950’s. Language : Spanish, English Subtitles. Link: https://herflix.page.link/JdNS
SAND DOLLARS - Geraldine Chaplin in an Award Winning performance. A new look at a woman’s love and obsession. A wealthy European lady enters an unexpected relationship with a young Dominican woman. Language: Spanish, English Subtitles. Link: https://herflix.page.link/hLdn
Herflix is now in its initial launch period. All movies are available on the Web so can watch on your iPad, Laptop, or Smartphone.
Brandon Barash Stars in New Short Film The Mourning Hour Streaming now on The Reel Women's Network
Brandon Barash (DAYS, GH) stars in a new short film called The Mourning Hour. The film is available for purchase on The Reel Woman's Network as of July 5, 2020. The Mourning Hour is a film written and produced by Shevaun Kastl. Shevaun plays Virginia Bakely. Brandon plays her husband. Set in 1950's America, Virginia Bakely embarks on an emotional and psychological journey of reawakening upon learning of the death of her husband.
Brandon Barash states, "I love supporting Independent Films. You really get to get in there and explore these characters and these relationships from all sides. Shevaun wrote a great script. The story that came out of her soul was beautifully poignant. Our director - Susan Cohen - was beyond brilliant and I got to meet and work with one of my favorite character actors - Robert Knepper. So it was a lot of fun." Brandon is also a producer of the film.
You can watch The Mourning Hour here: https://reelwomensnetwork.com/. The Reel Women's Network is a new streaming service that is a joint venture between Crystal Chappell, President of Open Book Productions, and Jessica and Linda Hill of Bella Productions.
Katonah Classic Stage Begins Inaugural Season: Artistic Director/Emmy-Nominated Actor Trent Dawson and Broadway's Michael Park Team up for First Event - Cast and Crew Needed for Future Performances
Katonah, NY - Katonah Classic Stage is pleased to announce its inaugural season. Katonah Classic Stage (KCS) is a new theater company in Katonah, NY whose mission is to offer exceptional, diverse and professional productions of classical and contemporary plays. This new theater company, (hosted by the Harvey School, 260 Jay St. Katonah), will bring professional plays as well as classes on the theater arts to the lower Hudson Valley. The plans are to host productions throughout the year tht will have an appeal to all ages. Though Katonah is near New York City, this theater will fill the void in the area as New York caliber productions will now be available on this side of the bridge. You can visit the website at (https://www.katonahclassicstage.com).
The goal of this company is to provide seasonal productions as well as offer educational programs to children and adults alike in the theater arts with a emphasis on Shakespeare and other master dramatists. Staffing, casts and crews will draw from the exceptional talent found in the area as well as New York City. The theater company is founded by Actor/Director/Producer Trent Dawson, a three-time Daytime-emmy nominated actor. Best known for his role as Henry Coleman on As the World Turns, Trent is also an accomplished Shakespearean actor and has appeared in many tv roles. He has worked on Broadway , Off Broadway and at regional theaters across the country. He can be seen in the lastest season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Trent's plays have been performed at Manhattan Rep and The Barrow Group. his directed his original screenplay, The Six, which will be seen at film festivals this season.
Trent states, "These plays are still performed not because they're studied in English class, but because they're some of the greatest things ever written. When put into professional hands, the classics can lift the human spirit in a remarkable way. Imagine your favorite piece of music, wether it's Mozart or Abbey Road or whatever does it for you. That feeling you get when you hear that - that lifting, transformational effect. Imagine that happening with a play while sitting next to 200 other people who are experiencing the same thing. We hope to bring this to you."
Also on the team is Christa Scott Reed as Associate Artist and Sharon Kearney as Executive Director. Christa is a New York City actor and director with numerous theater credits who is also a faculty member at the School of Drama at the New School. Executive Director Sharron Kearney is an attorney with a passion for the arts.
Events scheduled for this inaugural year include The Eve of the Ides on March 14, 2020. This is our first event, a party celebrating classical theater at the Harvey School in Katonah The celebration will include appetizers from some of Northern Westchester’s finest chefs, beer and wine, a silent auction and live entertainment. Performers scheduled to attend include Trent Dawson (KCS’s Artistic Director), and Michael Park (original Broadway cast member from Dear Evan Hansen, Tuck Everlasting, & Smokey Joes Café as well as Stranger Things ).Tickets are $115. Also scheduled is a Derby Day Sing-along on May 2 at the Katonah Village Library. The inaugural production will be Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, directed by Christa Scott Reed. It will open on June 18th and run until June 25th at The Harvey School.
Katonah Classic Stage is currently auditioning for cast members for its productions. The company is also seeking crew members and designers. Volunteers are also needed for many aspects of this theater company. If you love the arts this is a great way to help out, use your skills or learn a new one. Sponsors are also being sought. ickets and other information can be found at http://katonahclassicstage.com. Visit and like on social media for updates:
https://www.facebook.com/KatonahClassicStage
https://www.instagram.com/katonahcs
Event: Film Forum in New York City Presents a Retrospective of Actress, Filmmaker, Visionary Lee Grant with Special Appearances by Lee Grant
A celebration of the life of the iconic actress Lee Grant will be held from November 17, 2019 to February 12, 2020 at the Film Forum in New York City. There will be screenings of the movies she appeared in as well as made.
This legendary woman was not just an actress but also a groundbreaker. According to the press release, at 26, Grant won Cannes’ Best Actress award and was Oscar-nominated (for Detective Story); within the year, she was blacklisted for over a decade. Coming back strong, she won an Emmy for Peyton Place, then appeared in a series of modern movie classics, winning an Oscar for her brilliant comic performance in Shampoo. But a whole new career beckoned as the director of acclaimed documentaries (including a Best Documentary Oscar for Down and Out in America), both warm portraits of friends and cutting-edge films on women’s gender issues.
She made her film debut in William Wyler's Detective Story, starring with Kirk Douglas. Lee Grant is also known as being the first woman to win a DGA Award. Her stellar career spans decades, and she is still active, having a small role in a new film called Killian and the Comeback Kids, to be released in 2020.
Lee states, “I discovered directing at fifty. It freed me from being an aging actress in Hollywood,” says Grant. “The burst of freedom to explore what I want and to expose the bad guys was like kicking in the door to the world. As an actor who was blacklisted from film and TV from1952 to 1964, my acting career restarted on Peyton Place, which aired 3 times a week. It was so popular, I went from the Blacklist one week to the most popular TV show the next. My first Hollywood movie after the Blacklist was In the Heat of the Night and I would go on to receive four Oscar nominations, receiving one for acting (Shampoo) and for my documentary Down and Out in America. I’m so grateful to Film Forum for inviting me as I turn 92 years-old this year."
Note: Film Forum’s Repertory Calendar is programmed by Bruce Goldstein.
For Tickets and Info: https://filmforum.org/
Specific Inquiries: raj@filmforum.org
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TEEEM.ORG Presents a Local Concert on a Global Mission:
BERGENFEST features Local Bands and Wé McDonald of The Voice in Ridgewood on June 29th
Ridgewood, NJ - Hear the music. Save the world. The non-profit humanitarian organization TEEEM.org presents Bergenfest, a benefit concert run by students that is full of music and fun for the family. TEEEM works with Bergen County high school students to provide medical care, economic empowerment, food and education to communities in in the developing world. Headlining the concert will be Wé McDonald of Paterson, NJ, who drew national attention on NBC's The Voice along with local bands playing throughout the day. Bergenfest will be held at the Benjamin Franklin Middle School, 335 North Van Dien Avenue in Ridgewood NJ on Saturday June 29th, from 12-7pm. There will be food trucks, games, arts and crafts and face painting. It is a day of fun for the whole family. Tickets can be purchased online at http://teeem.org/. You can also text Bergen Tix to 41444 to pay via text. If you cannot attend the concert but would like to donate, you can visit the website or text Bergenfest to 41444 to donate. Tickets are $20 per person, $15 for children under 6 and seniors, and $50 for a family of up to six. tickets can also be purchased at the door day of the event. One hundred percent of all the monies raised at this concert goes to TEEEM sites across the world.
The bands scheduled to perform throughout the day are Collision Theory, Fat Boi's Brass Band, Wishbone, Jason Recht & Friends, Jake Thistle, No Soap Radio, and Samantha Haase. Wé is currently scheduled to perform at approximately 5pm. Check the website www.TEEEM.org for times and updates as new bands may be added as well. William McKee, NHRHS alumnus and student of Jazz Performance and Music Management at William Paterson University is volunteering his services as Musical Director for Bergenfest. The concert is rain or shine. Chairs and pets are not allowed. To date, because of the help of the students, TEEEM is proud to announce that over 1,000 tickets have already been sold.
About Wé McDonald - Singing since the age of 12, Wé attended the Harlem School for the Arts after school and on weekends, where she studied theater, piano and further cultivated her unique and righteously robust voice. She is a singer as well as songwriter and has been touring internationally and sharing her sultry vocal gift with the world. In 2017, Wé had the opportunity of appearing on the Emmy Award winning PBS Gershwin Awards honoring Legend Tony Bennett and also sang the National Anthem at Yankee Stadium.
Her latest single “If I Didn’t Love You”, was released early 2019 and in Late 2019 her self-titled EP is scheduled to be released featuring a diverse slate of songs written by Wé that showcases her soaring vocal presence. A newly published children’s and young adult book author, Wé released: Make It Happen! Wé McDonald: Singer, part of the Make It Happen! series of books that help middle school students build skills to reach their own goals; and a picture book, The Little Girl with The Big Voice, written by Wé for younger children. Wé’s captivating story as a singer, songwriter and as a teenager courageously embracing her uniqueness resonates with kids as well as adults looking to expand their own understanding of themselves and the world around them.
About TEEEM - TEEEM stands for The Empathic Entrepreneur Equality Mission. This benefit concert is being put together by local high school students who participate in the TEEEM School Program. During the event, there student made films will be shown. In Bergen County, the TEEEM School program is currently active in 7 high schools but hoping to add more. These schools and the countries they provide humanitarian help to are: Ridgewood High School, (Cambodia), Northern Highlands Regional High School (Senegal), Pascack Valley High School (Burkina Faso), Westwood High School (Ethiopia), Bergenfield High School (Peru), Waldwick High School (Kenya) and Hackensack High School (country to be determined). TEEEM empowers students and social entrepreneurs with funding and operational support to become innovative leaders of global nonprofits. TEEEM provides medical care, food, education and economic support, such as by providing micro loans for women wanting to start a business, providing doctors for medical days in rural villages or giving hot meals to students in Africa.
Jarret Schecter, TEEEM Founder states, "TEEEM's vision is to help create a more connected and equal world. We hope that we can move in that direction by giving today's students and tomorrow's global decision makers here in Bergen County, NJ, an opportunity to aid and empower those much less fortunate in other parts of the world."
Abby Hoffert, a student who participates in the TEEEM program at Northern Highlands Regional High School states, "Bergenfest is a really exciting event because it is the culmination of all of our hard work. Not only is it going to be a day filled with music, great food, and fun, but the money we raise is going to make a real difference in the lives of so many people around the world." Ridgewood Student Kaylin Marshall of Ridgewood High School adds, "I love that we can come together as one huge community and raise money for an extremely important cause by having fun and sharing the arts with each other. Overall, Bergenfest is an amazing way to add more beauty to the world through education."
TEEEM's activities and successes are chronicled in a full color book which the students contributed to. Entitled Humanitarians of New Jersey it will be sold at the event. At a cost of $20 the full proceeds from the book can provide up to 200 meals for malnourished children. The TEEEM students at Bergenfield High School created a film about TEEEM. You can view it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBsn-2m3PO8
TEEEM.org would like to acknowledge its sponsors for Bergenfest. They are Shop Rite/Inserra Supermarkets, Greater Alliance Federal Credit Union, RE/MAX Properties, Wells Fargo. For more information on the organization or concert visit http://teeem.org/, on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TEEEMinc/ , on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/teeeminc/. You can also email TEEEM volulunteer Dan Recht at danrecht@yahoo.com or call him at 973-768-5814 with questions.
Lights, Camera, Action! The Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival Starts April 10, 2019:
Actor Eric Roberts to Grace the Red Carpet for the Premiere of His New Movie Hollywould
Ridgewood NJ - Mark your calendars for the 9th Annual Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival. This growing festival is the place to be for action and excitement in Ridgewood this spring. The festival starts with a screening of Oscar-winning film ROMA and other world films at the Ridgewood Public Library, continues with its main nights at the Bow Tie Cinema in Ridgewood on April 24th and 25th, both nights which start off with an exciting Red Carpet in front of the theater. After Thursday's Premiere showing of the film Hollywould, the festival is featuring a Hollywood-style After Party with its cast and crew and including many of the Filmmakers at Felina’s Restaurant in Ridgewood.
The festival continues with a Human Rights Festival at the Unitarian Church in Ridgewood. Along with the premiere of a new independent film Hollywould starring Eric Roberts, this film festival boasts 88 films in total. There are documentaries, animation, shorts, music videos, experimental video, web/new media and digital shorts. The prices are reasonable compared to other film festivals and offers a lot of entertainment at a small price. For those not familiar with film festivals, the two main nights are pay one price to attend as many films as you want for the night.
2019 LINEUP
April 10 World Film Night at the Ridgewood Public Library showing the multiple Oscar-winning movie ROMA. FREE ENTRY.
April 18 Foreign Film Night at the Ridgewood Public Library (A series of foreign shorts submitted to the festival). FREE ENTRY.
April 22 Launch Party: Raymond’s Restaurants 101 E. Ridgewood Ave. 7:30PM $40 per person for questions call 201-493-9911
April 24 Opening Night at Bow Tie Cinema, Red Carpet at 6pm Cost is $12 for the evening (Seniors $5)
April 25 Closing Night at Bow Tie Cinema, Red Carpet at 6pm (Hollywould Film Premiere Night) Cost is $12 for the movies only or $30 which includes the movie & entry to the After-Party at Felina Restaurant. Note: The Awards & After-Party at Felina starts immediately after the film festival concludes. (approx. 10:30pm) Your chance to mingle with “Eric Roberts” the cast / crew and the other filmmakers. Tickets for After-Party alone at the door are $20 each.
May 10 Human Rights Festival in conjunction with the Unitarian Church 7pm- $10 per screening block
May 11 Human Festival in conjunction withe Unitarian Church 7pm $10 per screening block
Premiere of New Film
This year, Hollywood really does come to Ridgewood… The film Hollywould will premiere at the festival on Thursday evening April 25th This Joshua Coates film is a crime - mystery - thriller about an award winning writer named Mark Travis who seeks inspiration by returning to his hometown. What he finds is not what he expected. Her name is Holly. What Holly would do, is like nothing Mark has ever experienced before. Starring: Eric Roberts, Torrei Hart, Pete Postiglione, Caitlyn Fletcher & many others including Ridgewood resident RJ Konner. As a Special Bonus there will be a “Meet & Greet” with Academy Award and a three-time Golden Globe nominee “ERIC ROBERTS” at the After Party.
Festival Highlights
Skin - This Oscar-winning film stars Lonnie Travis from This is Us
Out Fox the Holidays - This comedic short stars Andy Richter and is made by Bergen County's Emmy-winning director Glenn Clements of the Late Late Show with James Corden
Awakening Arlene -This short by returning filmmaker and former Ridgewood resident Brad Forenza stars Vince Pastore (The Sopranos).
Silk City Artists and Musicians - By award winning Paterson filmmaker Vince Parrillo
A Case of Blue Trailer - The premiere of this film shot in Ridgewood made by many Ridgewood residents starring Stephen Schnetzer and Annapurna Srirum. It was written and directed by Ridgewood resident Dana Glazer. The Executive Producer is Scott Rosenfelt, the EP of Home Alone,
TEEEM – Videos will show how local high school children are giving back and helping families in Africa and Peru. Viewers of this films will gain an understanding of how this organization helps children learn about families in third world countries and also how it activates them to help them.
The Lucky Ones - A film and a movement about hope which includes a new streaming platform, by Ridgewood Resident Joseph Alvaro
Films by Students: From Bergenfield, Ridgewood, Allendale, Waldwick, Mahwah, Middletown, Hudson County, NY and elsewhere. Several of these films deal with social issues faced by students.
The Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival awards prizes in several categories and also gives a $500 scholarship to the director of the Best Film by a student. The festival attracts top-quality films from our area, the country and internationally. Guild President Tony Damiano states, "We had a record number of submissions this year, over 150. We like to feature local filmmakers and have young students as well as grad-students showing this year. And we always get a premiere.. we are very honored that Eric Roberts is joining us this year."
To purchase tickets: https://rgiff9.brownpapertickets.com/
Wednesday April 24th all films, pay one price
Thursday April 25th all films, pay one price
To purchase tickets for the Thursday April 25th Hollywould Premiere including the Awards Party at Felina’s visit: https://hollywould.bpt.me
Special appearances are still being coordinated. In the past the Festival has hosted such celebrities as Danny Aeillo, Tony-award winning actor Christian Borle, Three-time Emmy Winner Martha Byrne, Chris Mann (Oscar-nominated for Loving), RHONJ Dolores Catania, Executive Producer of Home Alone Scott Rosenfelt, Soap Icons Terri Conn, Austin Peck, Tonja Walker, Cady McClain, Orange is the New Black's Alysia Reiner, David Alan Basche (Equity and Egg films), Sarah Megan Thomas (Equity, Liberte: A Time to Spy), Vincent Curatola (The Sopranos), Jack Mulcahy (The Brothers McMullen) and more. Check our media for updates.
Always check the website for updates and a full schedule, www.RidgewoodGuildFilmFest.com. Use the hashtag #RGIFF to find information. Platinum Signature Sponsors as of this date are Boiling Springs Bank, TEEEM and Sotheby’s Prominent Properties. Gold Signature Sponsor is P.E. Guerin. Silver Signature Sponsor is BehindtheScenezz.com.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RidgewoodFilmFe
Instagram: @RidgewoodGuildNJ
Website: www. RidgewoodGuildFilmFest.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TRGIFF/
General Inquiries: Contact Tony Damiano 201-493-9911
The Other F Word Premieres Season Two at La Femme Film Festival in LA
LOS ANGELES, October 2017 - The hit comedy The Other F Word (#TOFW) about life over 40 streaming on Amazon have its Season Two Los Angeles Premiere at the LA Femme International Film Festival on Saturday, October 21st at 1PM, at the Regal Cinemas at LA Live. The series, created, written and produced by Caytha Jentis, stars Judy Gold, Steve Guttenberg, Stephanie Little, Alysia Reiner, Reiko Aylesworth, Gilbert Gottfried, Nancy Giles, Ben Bailey and Michael Boatman. The Other F Word will be featured as a seminar at the festival. The entire season of web series will be shown followed by a panel discussion featuring Jentis, series director Barbara Kanowitz, actress Stephanie Little and series producer Chris Janney. Former Disney Channel executive and LA Femme Board Member Denise Carlson will moderate.
Last year, Season One of The Other F Word was awarded an Amazon Video Direct Stars bonus four month in a row as one of its top titles.
"I call it the Power of Mom," says Jentis, her comedic series anchored by a stay-at-home empty nester whose husband, finding himself thrown into his own mid-life crisis, suddenly leaves to join the Peace Corp.
"It's so much more than one woman's journey of self discovery," notes Jentis. "The supporting characters are women who all find themselves a bit disoriented, discovering they live in an unfamiliar world after their kids are grown, after spouses die, and after not having worked for a couple of decades."
"The F originally may have stood for forty or even fifty, but it's come to be more about the female friendships that is the core of the show," she adds.
While truly unique in its own right, The Other F Word is part of a growing movement of film targeted to this market. Other similarly targeted projects include the Netflix series Grace and Frankie, the TV Land series Younger, and the recent film Bad Moms, which surprised Hollywood analysts by topping $140 million worldwide.
"Hollywood may have been surprised, but I wasn't," says Jentis. "And just like The Other F Word, the success of Bad Moms was fueled not so much by marketing as it was by word of mouth. The audiences saw something they could relate to, and they spread the word."
Caytha Jentis is an award winning independent filmmaker. Her features include Bad Parents starring Janeane Garofalo, Cheri Oteri and Christopher Titus (Cinedigm), And Then Came Love starring Vanessa Williams, Eartha Kitt and Anna Camp (Warner Bros) and The One starring Jon Prescott (TLA Releasing).. Her current project The Other F Word is a web series that streams on Amazon. A former literary agent, she has also has an extensive background in sales including a stint at the Bergen Record in internet ad sales. Jentis was recently selected as one of Good Housekeeping magazine’s 50 over 50. She earned an M.F.A. from UCLA in screenwriting and a B.S. in TV/film from Syracuse University. She is a member of the Producers Guild, Writer’s Guild and NYWIFT.
Now in its 13th year, the LA Femme International Film Festival is a premiere festival that focuses on women filmmakers who create commercial films for a worldwide audience. The festival offers a unique opportunity for women filmmakers who seek a more creative approach to filmmaking as well as domestic and international film distribution. Among the festivals sponsors are CBS and Sony Diversity, WGA Women’s Committee, SAG Diversity and Columbia College.
The Other F Word will screen on Saturday, October 21, at 1 PM at the Regal Cinema Complex at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles, 1000 West Olympic Blvd. Tickets are available at the box office or by visiting the festival’s website www.lafemme.org/festival.
A Soap Fan's Dream - New Series Tainted Dreams Streaming on Amazon Tells the Story Behind the Scenes of a Soap Opera in New York City: Cast Includes Iconic Daytime Talent from All Networks and Reality Stars
NEW YORK CITY, January 2017 – Tainted Dreams, the Emmy-nominated web series about the "behind the scenes" drama of the fictitious soap Painted Dreams found a new home on Amazon as of December 26, 2016. Tainted Dreams (#TaintedDreams) will be available free, even for non-subscribers (without ads for prime members and with ads for non-prime subscribers). Tainted Dreams is produced by NYC Brand Productions which includes the critically acclaimed film Equity’s Executive Producer, Candy Straight. Visit www.tainteddreams.com for more info. View the Sneak Peak Trailer here: https://www.facebook.com/tainteddreamstheseries/
Tainted Dreams follows the often funny, often painful, twists and turns in the lives of fictional soap actors on and off-screen. Creator and Executive Producer, Sonia Blangiardo calls it "a soap within a soap...it's like Grey's Anatomy set in a soap production studio instead of a hospital." Blangiardo has served as a producer/director on five iconic soaps, including All My Children, One Life to Live, As the World Turns, General Hospital, and currently Days of Our Lives so she has lived more than 25 years of soapy dramedy both onscreen and off and knows her subject when it comes to Tainted Dreams.
Tainted Dreams is filled with huge daytime talent, including Alicia Minshew (Angelica), Michael Lowry (Jordan), Austin Peck (Max), Terri Ivens (Kassandra), Walt Willey (Gregory), Kelley Menighan Hensley (Veronica), Grant Aleksander (Adam), Bobbie Eakes (Courtney), Natalia Livingston (Liza), Marnie Schulenburg (Peyton), Nathan Purdee (Ethan), Colleen Zenk (Sofia), James DePaiva (Eddy) and the late Larkin Malloy (Henry). It also taps into the Reality TV world with stars Jessie Godderz (Dylan) of Impact Wrestling and Big Brother fame and Dina Manzo (Alessandra) of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, as well as a very talented Off-Broadway supporting cast, including Anthony Wilkinson (Anthony) of the My Big Gay Italian franchise. Renowned Soap Opera Digest columnist Carolyn Hinsey portrays herself and well known mainstream news anchor Ron Corning of ABC, Daybreak makes a cameo appearance (Jake). Lindsay Harrison is the writer.
Over the next few weeks, new and exclusive special teasers and behind-the-scenes footage will be available each week on the Tainted Dreams website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Visit: www.tainteddreams.com
(@TaintedDreamsTheSeries) and follow us on Twitter (@TaintedDreamsTS) & Instagram (@Tainted_Dreams_The_Series).
Real Housewife Of New Jersey Teresa Giudice to Conduct Book Signing
at Gina Avino's Artistic Design Studio
June 2013 - Ramsey, NJ - Real Housewife of New Jersey Teresa Giudice will conduct a book signing and sampling of her new sparkling wine at Gina Avino's Artistic Design Studio, 103 East Main Street in Ramsey on June 17th from 7-9pm. Copies of her latest cookbook, Fabulicious! On The Grill will be available for purchase and can be signed by Teresa. Light refreshments will be served and there will be an opportunity to sample Teresa's new sparkling wine, Fabellini.
Fabulicious! One the Grill is Teresa's fourth cookbook. Teresa is featured on the Real Housewives of NJ, which started its new season on June 1st. Gina Avino is an interior designer with over 25 years experience. Her store features handpainted furniture, floral designs, window dressings and fine decorative accessories. The event is open to the public. For more information contact Gina Avino at 201-825-2232 or www.ginaavinodesign.com.
at Gina Avino's Artistic Design Studio
June 2013 - Ramsey, NJ - Real Housewife of New Jersey Teresa Giudice will conduct a book signing and sampling of her new sparkling wine at Gina Avino's Artistic Design Studio, 103 East Main Street in Ramsey on June 17th from 7-9pm. Copies of her latest cookbook, Fabulicious! On The Grill will be available for purchase and can be signed by Teresa. Light refreshments will be served and there will be an opportunity to sample Teresa's new sparkling wine, Fabellini.
Fabulicious! One the Grill is Teresa's fourth cookbook. Teresa is featured on the Real Housewives of NJ, which started its new season on June 1st. Gina Avino is an interior designer with over 25 years experience. Her store features handpainted furniture, floral designs, window dressings and fine decorative accessories. The event is open to the public. For more information contact Gina Avino at 201-825-2232 or www.ginaavinodesign.com.
GOT TALENT? Search Begins - ShowBiz Bootcamp Seeks Talented Actors and Singers
for Full Scholarship to Acclaimed Program
January 2013 - Paramus, NJ - Are you an aspiring actor, actress, singer or songwriter or know someone that is? Bergen County native and Emmy Award Winning Actress Martha Byrne, known for her long-standing role on As The World Turns, is seeking young talent for her talent training and management business in Paramus, NJ. The program, ShowBiz Bootcamp, is a 6- week program taught by herself and award-winning industry professionals, that provides young talent with the foundation and expertise they need to seek out a career in entertainment.
Auditions for the Spring Semester are now being scheduled. Prospective students can call for a private audition or audition in February 2013. Full Circle Talent is seeking young male and female performers between the ages of 10 and 25 who are interested in a career in show business as well as gaining education in the fields of singing, songwriting, acting and other aspects of the entertainment business. Auditions are typically held on Saturdays starting at 3pm. All prospects are asked to bring a photo (need not be professional). All will be asked to perform for approximately 3 minutes. Actors are expected to perform a one minute monologue. Singers will be asked to perform and songwriters can perform or bring a recording of their work. A piano will be available if necessary. When available, auditions can be arranged for other dates and video submissions are accepted. Please pre-register at www.showbizbootcamp.com or call 201-483-8262. Full Circle Talent Group is located at 26 Park Place in Paramus, NJ, 201-483-8262.
ShowBiz Bootcamp is a unique program which consists of clinics and workshops on acting, singing, songwriting, music/video production, resume development and other courses geared to getting started in the entertainment business. With the completion of Showbiz Bootcamp, qualified students will be invited to meet with agents, music producers and casting directors. In addition, The Vine Records and Full Circle Talent Group will be recruiting artists/actors for potential record, publishing and talent contracts. Master classes and other training are also available in addition to the bootcamp.
ShowBiz Bootcamp is a program of Martha Byrne and Mario Costabile’s Full Circle Talent Group, LLC. In addition to being a TV, movie and Broadway actress, Ms. Byrne is also a director and singer and producer of the webseries, www.gothamtheseries. She also has an up and coming TV project in the works. Her partner Mario Costabile is an experienced producer/director and owner of The Vine Records and Publishing Company (Universal Music) and Visual Energy Entertainment, an audio/video production company.
The staff also includes Michael Park, who recently won for the second year in a row the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor for his role on As The World Turns and who currently stars on Broadway in "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"; John McCracken, A&R at EMI, music producer; Lisa Brown, Emmy-nominee, TV/music/video director, Alison Rinzel, talent manager and independent casting agent, Peter Bliss, platinum-selling songwriter/producer/performer and staff member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame; Buddy Nielsen, Lead Singer of Senses Fail (Vagrant Records); Freddy Shehadi, songwriter, music writer for NBC, writer/producer for Def Jam recording artist, Burnham; Jennifer Marks, award-winning singer/songwriter, and Deborah Zuke Smith, vocal coach/Brett Manning Certified.
NJ Author A.J. Colucci Debuts "The Colony", Book Signing at Barnes and Noble
November 2012 - Mahwah, NJ - A series of gruesome attacks have been sweeping New York City—three men are found dead, their bodies nearly dissolved from the inside out. The culprit is a supercolony of ants; an army of one trillion soldiers with razor sharp claws and stinging venom. So begins A.J. Colucci’s debut novel, The Colony (St. Martin’s Press), available November 13th nationwide in bookstores and online booksellers. It is also available prior to that date for pre-order on online bookstores everywhere.
A resident of Mahwah, Colucci will be signing books at Barnes & Noble, 765 Route 17 South in Paramus, NJ on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 from 7-8 p.m. Books purchased at the store will be signed and all visitors will have a chance to meet the author. There will be short discussion, contests and giveaways.
“I don't remember a time when I wasn't writing,” comments Colucci, who recalls writing fiction since childhood. “Growing up in the suburbs of New York, I had an overactive imagination and far more spare time than kids have today. I spent a lot of weekends at the library and penciled my first book at the age of seven.”
Nature was another passion for the author, who can remember hiking through the woods, searching for frogs and salamanders. According to Colucci, it was her combined interest in fiction writing and nature that attracted her to science thrillers, a genre popularized by the late Michael Crichton. "The Colony explores the chilling side of some of earth's most fearsome creatures; killer ants. It combines real science and technology with a riveting story and compelling characters.”
Advanced copies of The Colony have received excellent reviews. Publisher's Weekly gave the book a starred review, noting, “Colucci's exciting thriller debut.... balances scares and science nicely. Michael Crichton fans will hope that this is but the first of many such outings from the author's pen." New York Times best-selling author James Rollins states, "Few debuts cut to the quick as effectively as A. J. Colucci's The Colony. Razor-sharp writing, scientific intrigue and political brinkmanship create a story as plausible as it is frightening."
A. J. Colucci resides in Bergen County with her husband and two children. A former newspaper reporter, magazine editor and corporate writer, she is now busy at work on her second novel. A portion of the proceeds of her sales will go to support local environmental organizations. For more information visit her website at www.ajcolucci.com, on Facebook at A.J. Colucci and @ajcolucci on Twitter. The author is also available to speak to local organizations. For information contact Suzanne Curry, publicist at 201-264-7349.
For all archived press releases please contact Write Ideas.
for Full Scholarship to Acclaimed Program
January 2013 - Paramus, NJ - Are you an aspiring actor, actress, singer or songwriter or know someone that is? Bergen County native and Emmy Award Winning Actress Martha Byrne, known for her long-standing role on As The World Turns, is seeking young talent for her talent training and management business in Paramus, NJ. The program, ShowBiz Bootcamp, is a 6- week program taught by herself and award-winning industry professionals, that provides young talent with the foundation and expertise they need to seek out a career in entertainment.
Auditions for the Spring Semester are now being scheduled. Prospective students can call for a private audition or audition in February 2013. Full Circle Talent is seeking young male and female performers between the ages of 10 and 25 who are interested in a career in show business as well as gaining education in the fields of singing, songwriting, acting and other aspects of the entertainment business. Auditions are typically held on Saturdays starting at 3pm. All prospects are asked to bring a photo (need not be professional). All will be asked to perform for approximately 3 minutes. Actors are expected to perform a one minute monologue. Singers will be asked to perform and songwriters can perform or bring a recording of their work. A piano will be available if necessary. When available, auditions can be arranged for other dates and video submissions are accepted. Please pre-register at www.showbizbootcamp.com or call 201-483-8262. Full Circle Talent Group is located at 26 Park Place in Paramus, NJ, 201-483-8262.
ShowBiz Bootcamp is a unique program which consists of clinics and workshops on acting, singing, songwriting, music/video production, resume development and other courses geared to getting started in the entertainment business. With the completion of Showbiz Bootcamp, qualified students will be invited to meet with agents, music producers and casting directors. In addition, The Vine Records and Full Circle Talent Group will be recruiting artists/actors for potential record, publishing and talent contracts. Master classes and other training are also available in addition to the bootcamp.
ShowBiz Bootcamp is a program of Martha Byrne and Mario Costabile’s Full Circle Talent Group, LLC. In addition to being a TV, movie and Broadway actress, Ms. Byrne is also a director and singer and producer of the webseries, www.gothamtheseries. She also has an up and coming TV project in the works. Her partner Mario Costabile is an experienced producer/director and owner of The Vine Records and Publishing Company (Universal Music) and Visual Energy Entertainment, an audio/video production company.
The staff also includes Michael Park, who recently won for the second year in a row the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor for his role on As The World Turns and who currently stars on Broadway in "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"; John McCracken, A&R at EMI, music producer; Lisa Brown, Emmy-nominee, TV/music/video director, Alison Rinzel, talent manager and independent casting agent, Peter Bliss, platinum-selling songwriter/producer/performer and staff member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame; Buddy Nielsen, Lead Singer of Senses Fail (Vagrant Records); Freddy Shehadi, songwriter, music writer for NBC, writer/producer for Def Jam recording artist, Burnham; Jennifer Marks, award-winning singer/songwriter, and Deborah Zuke Smith, vocal coach/Brett Manning Certified.
NJ Author A.J. Colucci Debuts "The Colony", Book Signing at Barnes and Noble
November 2012 - Mahwah, NJ - A series of gruesome attacks have been sweeping New York City—three men are found dead, their bodies nearly dissolved from the inside out. The culprit is a supercolony of ants; an army of one trillion soldiers with razor sharp claws and stinging venom. So begins A.J. Colucci’s debut novel, The Colony (St. Martin’s Press), available November 13th nationwide in bookstores and online booksellers. It is also available prior to that date for pre-order on online bookstores everywhere.
A resident of Mahwah, Colucci will be signing books at Barnes & Noble, 765 Route 17 South in Paramus, NJ on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 from 7-8 p.m. Books purchased at the store will be signed and all visitors will have a chance to meet the author. There will be short discussion, contests and giveaways.
“I don't remember a time when I wasn't writing,” comments Colucci, who recalls writing fiction since childhood. “Growing up in the suburbs of New York, I had an overactive imagination and far more spare time than kids have today. I spent a lot of weekends at the library and penciled my first book at the age of seven.”
Nature was another passion for the author, who can remember hiking through the woods, searching for frogs and salamanders. According to Colucci, it was her combined interest in fiction writing and nature that attracted her to science thrillers, a genre popularized by the late Michael Crichton. "The Colony explores the chilling side of some of earth's most fearsome creatures; killer ants. It combines real science and technology with a riveting story and compelling characters.”
Advanced copies of The Colony have received excellent reviews. Publisher's Weekly gave the book a starred review, noting, “Colucci's exciting thriller debut.... balances scares and science nicely. Michael Crichton fans will hope that this is but the first of many such outings from the author's pen." New York Times best-selling author James Rollins states, "Few debuts cut to the quick as effectively as A. J. Colucci's The Colony. Razor-sharp writing, scientific intrigue and political brinkmanship create a story as plausible as it is frightening."
A. J. Colucci resides in Bergen County with her husband and two children. A former newspaper reporter, magazine editor and corporate writer, she is now busy at work on her second novel. A portion of the proceeds of her sales will go to support local environmental organizations. For more information visit her website at www.ajcolucci.com, on Facebook at A.J. Colucci and @ajcolucci on Twitter. The author is also available to speak to local organizations. For information contact Suzanne Curry, publicist at 201-264-7349.
For all archived press releases please contact Write Ideas.