Got big points from the Brooklyn Nine Nine fan in my house when I interviewed Terry Crews about his work as a furniture designer for Bernhardt Interiors. Great guy, funny, sharp dresser, and a talented designer. For Interior Design Magazine.
Comedy and politics in the Lone Star State
Busy month for women in entrepreneurship for The Story Exchange with two more inspiring women. Amanda Austin founded the Dallas Comedy House, one of a very women-owned comedy clubs in the country. And Amy Hagstrom Miller was the plaintiff in the pivotal Supreme Court case that overturned Texas law, HB2, restricting abortion providers. She runs Whole Women's Health, and we interviewed her at their Fort Worth location.
Brit comic Russell Howard and his new TV show
Flew up to Toronto for a quick shoot with Russell Howard, as he preps his new talk show for Sky TV. Always nice to visit our neighbors up north--and scout an escape route. Making Canada great again!
2 Virginia women entrepreneurs creating programs for kids
Another round for The Story Exchange and their focus on social entrepreneurs. Julia Warren, at age 16, started Celebrate RVA to throw birthday parties for kids in homeless shelters and women's shelter in and around Richmond, VA. And an Army veteran who started a leadership program for middle school girls.
Marja Vongerichten Pilot
Spent a week in Asia working on a pilot with the Restauranteur/Food Entrepreneur/Chef. It's always great to go back to my home continent and eat delicious food. Chopsticks and sake make for a good day.
Another season of Beach Bites with Katie Lee
So lucky to have spent six weeks in Hawaii, Florida, San Diego and other great beach towns across the country filming Season 2 with Katie Lee. Couldn't have asked for a better way to spend the winter of 2017--missed some chilly New York weather, or so I was told. Look for it on the Cooking Channel starting in May or June. Beach food tastes better because of the view!
Louisville, KY--Bourbon and Entrepreneurs
After nearly a year, arrived in Louisville Wednesday morning and filmed with some amazing restauranteurs to finish off the last of the production shoots for the Entrepreneurs project. Couldn't have picked a better spot for after work drinks! It was a great run. Thanks Tats and Joe. What a great crew to hang out with.
Colorado Entrepreneurs
A super cool robotic ball and geospatial intelligence are the products of a couple of cool entrepreneurs we met in Grand Junction and Boulder. The governor sat for an interview and we drove over the Rockies during a snow storm. Plus pool and cards with my favorite crew (missing one Brodee).
Texas Entrepreneurs
Back in Texas to start off 2017, this time to profile entrepreneurs and their businesses helping women and kids. Ernie and Debbie run a play gym that also provides pediatric therapy, helping kids and their parents in Austin. Bianca and Lauren are researching a process to help women who have undergone breast cancer with surgical reconstruction. These entrepreneurs really typify the ways people can use their business to not only make a living, but help other people. More power to them in 2017!
Wrapping Up 2016 in Tejas
Houston, Dallas, Ector and El Paso, Texas. Now that's my idea of exciting. Over 6 days, 3 sizzle reels to be pitched in January by the best name in show business, Zoran Zgonc. Can't disclose too much, but it was funny, tasty, tasteful (well, maybe not) and always great to hang out with my buddy Joe Maggio. Great way to end the year and looking forward to 2017. It's going to be a wildly unusual year, I think.
More Entrepreneurs
Back at it, profiling entrepreneurs around the country, this time in Lincoln & Omaha, NE. Suji Park is delivering delicious Korean ribs to Cosco and Target. Always love to see Korean-Americans getting the word out about our food. It's delicious and pretty healthy too. More entrepreneurs to come as this project will continue into 2017. Photo credit, Tatjana Smith.
Foster Kids and Fresh Produce
Danielle Gletow and her organization One Simple Wish does what everyone of us should be doing--helping out. I was moved by her genuine love and sense of responsibility for Foster Kids. And Tatiana Garcia-Granados is bringing farm fresh ingredients into food desserts, aka lower income communities. She's countering the mass manufactured nutritionally deficient diet common to those neighborhoods with a state of the art warehouse with the largest walk in fridge I've ever filmed in. Both inspiring women. Check out their stories on TheStoryExchange.org.
Final Hall of Fame Inductee in Chicago
Third trip to Chicago this year! Interior Design magazine's annual Hall of Fame induction always means I get to film some beautiful buildings and spaces and eat some good food. And I love spending time in this beautiful city, especially seeing the architecture and the neighborhoods. And for the second straight shoot here, the All-Asian crew!
Southern Fried Kimchi?
Went to Chapel Hill for my friend Un's new documentary--barbeque, craft liquor, Koreans, southerners, drones. Had to make a dash for the airport and made it with 1 minute to spare!
Women Helping Women and Doc Screening
Quick trip to Boston for The Story Exchange, to profile more women entrepreneurs. Budget Buddies provides financial counseling to lower income women to help them get back on track. And was also able to go to a screening of Death by Design at the DC Environmental Film Festival. And got to shoot and eat at this lovely diner.
The film is out--Chef Ed Lee Shares His Secret Sauce, Gochujang!
Last month I shot this short film for my friend Eric Rhee. And now it's out. Ed Lee shows us all the great ways you can use gochujang, the super traditional Korean chili paste, and it was a tasty shoot. Hope you get to try all the delicious dishes we had. Was an amazing treat. www.umlicious.com
Documentary "An Eye For An Eye" to Premiere in October
After 10 years of work, my friend Ilan Ziv's powerful documentary about one man's reaction to the events of September 11th, and the lives it affected. This project was more than a regular project. It was deeply affecting--inspiring hope and despair. It opens in NY and select cities Oct. 28th. An Eye For An Eye Film
Turning Pinkfong Into A Puppet
Working with my friend Mr. Clown, got to shoot my first puppet music video. If you have small children, you may already know all about Pinkfong, and now you can see the cartoon character come to life as a living, breathing, puppet, in the extremely catchy, Did you ever seen my tail?
Sizzle Reel for a New BSTV Show
Worked on a sizzle reel for one of my favorite clients--BSTV. Along with the guy who has the best name in television, Zoran Zgonc, had a great time working with Brodee and Joe De. Need to get back on the road with them--maybe this is the show. Hope so!
Chef Ed Lee's love of Gochujang
Worked for my long time friend Eric Rhee and watched Chef Ed Lee use Korea's hot chili paste to spice up some non-Korean dishes. Did I hear someone say umami? I'm using this photo to promote my budding career as a hand model--mixing up a bowl of delicious bibimbap while Scott Brodee and Randy Hall do the honors.. I am always happy to promote Korean food, and would probably do the job just for lunch!