A no show
I was invited via email to a premiere party and screening for Across the Hall on Wednesday night. The email also said WHO and listed the following Adrian Grenier, Queen Latifah, Donnie Wahlberg, James Oliver, Ally Sheedy, Ralph Macchio, and Robin Givens and more...

HOWEVER I didn't see any of these stars there and it turns out they aren't actually in the film either except for Adrian Grenier (Entourage, Drive Me Crazy) who also wasn't present. To top it all off the "film" was a short film, yet wasn't packaged to me that way so it was a surprise for me. I was all set to review a new suspense film only to find it was less than 10 minutes long and is already available for viewing on the net via Samsung Short Films. Still the short was interesting enough though, I liked the creepy feel to it and the idea. It's about a guy trying to stop his friend who is cooped up in a hotel room across the hall from his fiancee and her lover from doing something rash, but there's a twist. You can go watch it online here under Director's Showcase. It was like another take on the movie Derailed.

The event itself held at the Samsung Theater in the Time Warner Center in Columbus Circle was really impressive. But it was more of a vehicle for Samsung Telecommunications and featured new Samsung cell phones, screens, projectors and other offerings in a modern art setting with an open bar and dim sum being served. It was very posh as were the high tech products that were on display. I did get to ask a representative about one of their camera phones offered through Verizon, since my contract is finally up with them in May and I can upgrade my cell at last. A camera phone would have come in handy when my friend spotted Eddie Cahill who played Tag, Rachel's younger boyfriend on Friends. He looked pretty, yes, pretty, but he was a big disappointment considering I was hoping to see Queen Latifah at the party or even in the film.

A lot of the mobile phones shown are only available in Korea and Europe right now, but will eventually make it's way over here in some form. Apparently the slide to open phones will start to become more popular here eventually. A slide-up phone from Samsung was also featured in the short film of course, thus the partnership.

The coolest phone that I saw had a built in hand warmer so that when you are talking and walking with your cell in the winter, your hand will stay warm. How cool and weird is that? You can also adjust the warming temperature.

Link: Also check out my friend Jim's new blog, although I don't agree with his title, cats suck

Walkers for Healthy Knockers
I figured that title would get your attention! ;)

For the third year in a row, I'm participating in the 9th Annual Revlon Run/Walk For Women Cancers on Saturday, May 6, 2006. It’s a 5K from Times Square to the end of Central Park.

I'm actually the team captain this year for the PR company that I work for and have been getting everyone at my office and their friends/relations to join. I even put up posters in the girls bathroom, on my cubicle wall and in the kitchen. Yes, I'm sure they all joined just to shut me up ;) So far I've raised $210, just $40 shy of my goal. As a team we'll hopefully raise more and each registrant fee goes directly to the charity too.

You can join me in the fight against women's cancers by making a pledge or donation on my behalf. Your pledge will help fund important research into the cause and cure of women's cancers, prevention, education and support service programs. Every pledge will help bring us one step closer to a cure. If you'd like to donate click HERE. And if you do, I'll send a cute hard pink ribbon pin like the one shown to anyone who makes a contribution, even if it's only a buck. Thanks!

Statistic: It is estimated that one in eight American women will develop breast cancer at some point in her life.

Update: My editor, Neil over at Film School Rejects just donated to the walk/run, bringing me closer to my goal. Thanks Neil! Also my review of American Dreamz is up on the site. Now, What Would Jen Do? just helped me meet my goal. Yay!

Festivals and Flowers
Some exciting news, I'm going to be covering the Tribeca Film Festival, which starts on Monday on behalf of Film School Rejects. The approval process to be on the press list was a bit extensive, lots of faxes and emails but I got my confirmation a few weeks ago and I just picked up my press pass and packet this afternoon down on Varick Street. Unfortunately most of the press & industry screenings take place during the day while I'm at work, but I'll be attending some night shows, panels and weekend events. I can also screen different videos in their private screening libraries, so I can still see any of the films that I really want to see. I'll report back if I see anything great or meet any celebs. Warning: If I see Robert DeNiro, I just might faint. Can't wait.

Although it's miserable and cold out the flowers are still in bloom, especially at the The 26th annual New York international Orchid Show in Rockefeller Center. The show is inside a high pitched tent over where the ice rink usually sits, entry fee is $5. Inside are winning orchid breeds from around the world in lots of colors, styles in ornate displays. There were some that you simply wouldn't believe were orchids, because they were so different, tiny or in unusual colors, like this one.

The attendees were not what I was expecting though. I figured there would be tourists, florists and there was, but I didn't expect how ruthless and cutthroat these orchid viewers would be. I was getting taken out by photographers and shoved and elbowed by grannies who wanted a closer look. Take a look at how this dude is aggresively holding his flyer like some Orchid hit man and getting in my photo. For the most part I saw every orchid by spotting them from weird angles and bobbing over people's heads. Escaping with our lives, we headed to the gift shop where you can by your own orchid plants to take home in many varieties. I was going to shell out the $20 price tag, but knew it would be a waste since the only plant I've been able to keep alive in my apartment is an aloe plant, which is essentially a cactus. I must say though, that sucker has outgrown two clay pots and is thriving. Speaking of Orchid's though Master Foley has tainted my view a bit in his latest post, lol.

NY Auto Show
I got sweet talked into going to the NY Auto Show last night at the Javitz Center (which is HUGE) and I ended up really enjoying it although I know nothing about cars. In fact, I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to automobiles in general. I have girlfriends that can name the model numbers, etc, but I just know the ones I like. I've also never bought a car, but received my mother's old car-- a 91 Honda Accord. Now with 176,000 miles on it, it still starts right up when I go to visit. Honda's are for life I tell you.

Anyway my friend is interested in buying a car soon, so it was interesting for him to hear the different prices, specifications and learning tips on buying a car. Although I'm not in the market right now, I found it helpful too and am filing away the information for later use. It was also fun getting to sit in the different models and smelling the new car smell and seeing the pristine cars rotate on circular displays. Besides the more practical and luxury cars there were also of course the jar dropping ones too, like the Lamborghini with gulf wing doors that open like a Dolorian or this Mercedes that looked like a silver bat mobile, which ran for a mere $450,000!!

I had just read in the book Blink that the best car salesmen are those that learn to not make rash snap judgments of people who walk in their show rooms and who can dispel any preconceived notions towards people based on look, wealth, sex, age, race, etc. Since the book quotes a top salesmen that says that the guy coming in with overalls on can be buying a whole fleet of trucks for his farm or the petite blonde could be the main car decision maker in the family, you never know. Thus it’s best to treat everyone equal because in the end you’ll win out by giving the same offers and closing more deals in the end. With this on my mind, I watched the attitudes as we approached the different staff at each car maker section. The Audi woman was bitchy and rude to our inquires, Volvo was nicer and more personable, the Pontiac people were extremely friendly and helpful and the Mercedes dealer from Greenwich, Connecticut (my high school hood) wasn't the friendliest but he was also informative and frank and knew his stuff since he comes more from the sales side and not the corporate side like the others we had spoken with.

Red Light Winter
I was invited to a "Blogger Night" showing of the off-Broadway play Red Light Winter followed by a Q&A and happy hour. Of course my invite also said that I would be under no obligation to post anything on my blog but any coverage would be appreciated. I agreed to go, free tickets and all, but inwardly knew I'd feel guilty if I didn't write anything about the show. Luckily I didn't have to worry about that because the show was really enjoyable. In fact, it's plays like Red Light Winter and the musical Altar Boyz that remind me that there are some great off-Broadway shows out there too...amidst the crap.

The play is both dramatic and comedic and starts like a dysfunctional buddy buddy film, almost like Sideways but with a younger cast and set in Amsterdam instead of the Napa Valley. Then it delves into topics like depression, competition and unrequited love when the two buddies spend an evening in the Red Light District with a young prostitute, creating an incestuous love triangle. The second act takes place in the East Village a year later and shows how the characters have and haven't changed since that night last winter.

I thought the acting was really strong and captivating, especially by the two main guys (Gary Wilmes and Christopher Denham) as was the dialog, although the monologues in the second half were too lengthy and started to loose me. Overall the show made me laugh out loud a few times and then made me feel depressed while pondering the idea "why do people fall in love with the wrong people?" which was clearly a theme in this play. Oh and there was both male and female nudity on stage but not gratuitously.

The production originally sold-out in the Steppenwolf Theater production in Chicago and reunites the leading male actors and director & playwright, Adam Rapp who recently wrote the screenplay for the Will Farrell, Ed Harris film Winter Passing. Red Light Winter is now on 27 Barrow Street in the West Village right near Sushi Samba and 7th Avenue.

The Q&A after the show was a bit painful not because it went into too much detail but because there wasn't much enthusiasm or discussion at all. I even asked the first question after the prolonged silence once the actors and writer were on stage and looking at the audience to start firing. I can't stand awkward silence so I felt like I had to ask something to get things moving and it worked...somewhat. Then there was the after party at Pizza Bar (part new age pizza parlor, part bar and lounge) in the Meat Packing District was pretty chill. The writer and one of the actors came along too, but since I was having fun talking with my friend and watching the weird psychedelic cartoons that were playing on the walls and sipping my drink, I didn't socialize much or meet any other bloggers. Ah well.