All Wine, No Cheese!

We had a terrific fundraiser the other night at Fremont's best wine bar, Vida y Vino! Owner Audrey Scott (2nd from left in photo) was as gracious as ever and the crowd was fantastic.

Many of the cast members showed up, including co-star and veteran of TV & Film, Carl Lumbly. Carl was greeted by a throng of fans, and he proceeded to "hold court" for the next two hours. The best, and most excited fan was one of the waiters at Vida, who promptly told Carl that his girlfriend had just given him all 4 seasons of Alias on DVD. He had just watched them all, and couldn't believe that Dixon (Carl's character name) was in the wine bar! He was thrilled to get an autograph, and a picture on his phone, which he immediately sent to his girlfriend.

The movie gained many new supporters who are excited to follow along as we charge headlong into shooting in three weeks. Events like this really underscore the grass-roots effort we are employing to get the movie produced, and we are so grateful to everyone who has helped out.

Other notables in attendance were Fremont City Councilman Bill Harrison, and cast members Greg Cala, Ken Newman, Gary Neil, Julia Smyth & Mark Flores (the last 2 not in photo). The movie's star, Brian Degan Scott was absent only because he is currently in New York performing in the hilarious hit play Abe Lincoln's Big Gay Dance Party.

We have great momentum, but need to continue to push to meet our budget goals. As always, you can donate to the film by going to the Nominated Sponsor Page (nominatedthemovie.com/donate.htm). We have non-profit sponsorship, so this is a charitable contribution and a write-off! Every little bit helps, so please be encouraged by the fact that even small contributions count.

Lastly, when we move the production to Arnold, CA at the end of September, we are hoping to get a generous soul to donate their RV or 5th wheel trailer as a make-up and actors resting area. It would not need to be driven the entire time, but merely parked at the location. If you're willing, just email me at dan@nominatedthemovie.com - it's also a charitable contribution.

Thanks again to everyone!! We'll be filming more soon, so check back regularly for footage and other updates.

Dan

The Movie Cast

After some intense auditions, and callbacks, the movie has been cast.

The following is the cast of characters, and their "live" counterparts:

Mickey: Brian Degan Scott
Cole: Ryan Calavano
Dana: Donna Dahrouge or Erin Moran
Ray: Carl Lumbly
Blake: Ken Newman
Pastor Paul: Soren Oliver
Aurora: Julia Smith
Jamie: Jette Newell
Vince: Greg Cala
Paintballer: Eli Kramer
Paintballer: Mark Flores
Vicky: Maria Skorobogatov
Nicky: Melissa Lucas
Female Reporter: Stephanie Basco
Darla: Susi Damilano
Jasmine: Sina Eiden

You can see more about these fine (and talented!)
folks at the Nominated Cast Page. Be sure to
move your mouse around on the page, and see
which names have links, and visit the "More" page
as well.

In future blog entries, the plan is for us to share
more about the cast so you can get to know them
better.

Stay tuned.

Nominated Auditions and Request to Spread the Word!

(On Left Brian Degan Scott/On Right Dan Pavlik)

This week Dan Pavlik, the writer/director of Nominated, will be holding auditions for the film. He has had to arrange for a second day of auditions, and sadly has had to turn people away.

Dan would love to see everyone, but it's just not possible. For a person in that position, it certainly is a good problem to have.

Should he not be able to find what he needs during the two days of auditions, there will be other possibilities to pursue. So, if by some chance you aren't scheduled for any of the upcoming auditions, stay in touch, as you never know.

Working in conjunction with J.E. Talent, a San Francisco based talent agency that has been helping with the administration of the casting process, and feeling like he has many talented people to choose from, Dan is certain he'll get some really great fits for the roles.

While I'd love to be there during the process, I won't be able to, however, Dan is likely to have some behind the scenes footage, and maybe some pics, to share afterward that you and I will both be able to see. :-)

One role that won't be auditioned those two days is that of "film sponsor." You can help to get this movie made without an audition by going to the Nominated Sponsor Page, and submitting your 150x150 advertisement. As the momentum builds, there will be more traffic to the site, and you will have the benefit of all of those who come after you. Plus you get to be a part of, and contribute to, something pretty special.

Ok I am biased but, once you get to know these guys, you will be, too. (Listen to interviews with Dan Pavlik and Ken Newman, available now in the right column of this blog. Next week I will interview Brian Degan Scott)

Other bigger advertising/sponsor opportunities still remain, and Dan is being just as creative in that regard as he is in his filmmaking, so if you are interested, or know of someone who could be, click here to "tell a friend"

Last but not least, ALL help is welcome, even if it is just spreading the word. Please share with people what is going on with the movie. You never know who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone's aunt's, cousin's son that could really benefit from being a part of this somehow, even if it is just for him to spread the word to his best friend's sister's mother's best friend of 20 years who happens to work for a big studio that would love to talk to Dan about this film, and others already simmering...and he would have you to thank for it. Wouldn't that be special? (so saith the Church Lady).

Seriously, it so much easier to help than people realize. The little things add up. So even if you don't think you can help financially, or feel that sponsoring would benefit you, just letting someone else know about what's going on is perfect.

Happy Father's Day to those fathers out there - and in particular Dan, Brian, and Ken. May some beautiful and amazing things happen between now and Father's Day 2010!

Dan Pavlik & Ken Newman Get Validated

There are The Tonys and there are The Oscars. There is also another
prestigious award that isn't heard of much outside of the industry
that is recognized by it, and that award is The Telly.


According to their site, "The Telly Awards honor the very best local,
regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well
as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the
Web. Since 1978, our mission has been to strengthen the visual
arts community by inspiring, promoting, and supporting creativity.
The 29th Annual Telly Awards received over 14,000 entries from
all 50 states and 5 continents."

Interestingly, one of the reasons they invite people to submit
their work is to "Receive validation for a job well done." I pick that
particular one because that has been one of the words -
VALIDATION - that is very much associated with this film and
its story, as well as the story of the writer/director, Dan Pavlik.

How fitting as this film is gearing up for production that a work
that was directed by Dan and co-written by Dan and Ken Newman,
and featured Ken as an actor in the short, were just notified that
they won the Telly Silver Award - their highest honor. Not only
did they win one award, they won 3 in the categories of
Corporate Training, Use of Humor, and Copywriting.

(These awards are in addition to the 5 other Dan has won in
previous years).

One must consider, even if briefly, even if just in good humor, that
this must be a good sign that two people involved in this project
have been recognized - validated - by an organization that is as
highly regarded as the Tellys (at least you could feign a little
excitement, perhaps?)

In all seriousness, I think Dan and Ken deserve *APPLAUSE.*
It truly is awesome news, and hopefully you are beginning to
see why I am so excited about helping out where I can. Perhaps
it'll spur you on, too? Dan still needs all the help he can get.
Very few works of art are completed without some help, and
some with a lot of help!

If you are so excited now you want to help, write Dan at
Info at Nominatedthemovie.com. I am sure he'd love to hear
from you!

Don't have the ability to help personally? How about helping
to sponsor the film by promoting yourself? Check out the
Nominated sponsor page.

Thank You, Party Video, and Guest Interviews Coming Soon

Well, the party is over.

What a tremendous effort from all who contributed to the food, the decorations, the entertainment. There are so many to thank for their efforts on behalf of Dan Pavlik, and the film.

I am sure Dan (or "Danny," as many who have known him for a while call him) is trying to recuperate after all of the planning that went into it. The organization was flawless and, in the process of interviewing several guests at the party for World of Perspective Radio Show, I found out just why it is that Dan is so good at planning parties (it is apparently no secret to those who know him).

I am working on editing the interviews, and once it is completed, a player will be posted on this page as well as on the movie site, so you can listen and get some insight into those involved with Dan and the project. No one person can ever do anything on his own. If those who stand behind Dan are any indication of how successful this film will be - it is clear to me that it will you will soon be seeing the amazing Nominated in a theater near you.

I came away with the idea that to know Dan Pavlik, is to want to support Dan Pavlik. He has a community of people around him that have known him for years. Not only have they been around, they're there to support him with this dream. The support is in no small part due to the fact that it seems that Dan is the type of person who is supportive and loyal to those in his life. It is unlike anything I have ever seen before, and was impressive and amazing to be around.

In the meantime, below are two videos that I took at the party of two scenes from the movie acted out by actors at the party. They aren't as good as the ones I am certain that Dan had taken. However, until they're up, you can still get a sense of the scenes by viewing these.





If you have any difficulty viewing these videos, please visit GotStressGetRelief.com


You can also see some pics of the event thanks to Dave Cowan on Flickr. If you attended the event, and would like to share your pictures with the readers of the blog, please let me or Dan know where to link to, or forward them, and we can post.

If you missed the party, and would like to donate, you can go here. In addition, the Nominated site also has a sponsor page. You can get yourself listed there. By helping Dan and the film, you can help yourself. We are looking at creating as much value as possible for those who want to help this project, so if you're interested, I hope you'll jump in!

A Twitter Partnership is Born

Dan Pavlik a/k/a @nominated on Twitter is a friend
of Ken Newman a/k/a @kennewman on Twitter. Ken
Newman and Elizabeth Alraune a/k/a @Jolope on Twitter,
"met" and Elizabeth invited him to be on her radio show,
World of Perspective Radio. Ken graciously accepted,
and at the same time, introduced her to Dan Pavlik,
the writer/director of Nominated (a film that Ken will
have a role in). In turn, Elizabeth invited Dan to
also be on her radio show. Got that?

Elizabeth - that would be me actually - became a quick
fan of both Ken and Dan. And, just like any fan, I
wanted to know what I could do to help the project.
I thought for sure that it was a BIG movie, and why in
the world would Dan want or need my help. However, I
came to find out that while the project deserves to be
a BIG movie, it is actually one of many that is small,
independent, and in need of some assistance, well, maybe
a lot of assistance.

So...just like any good virtual friend would do, I
stepped up to see what I could do to help. It just so
happens I have my own blog, and like to write, as well
as have a few other talents that might be helpful to
see two people that I admire (as well as others I may
come to admire - as good folk tend to gravitate to one
another) succeed at a worthy venture.

We all need help day to day, and even more so when
reaching for the things that are outside of the realm
of our daily experience. I am happy to help in any way
I can and, just like a friendship of any type, the
best reward is to get to do something you love while
benefiting something worthy of expression. It's also
why I have my radio show.  Lots of people have worthy
expressions, and need a way to get them out, and we
all have our strengths. In my opinion, we all need
to do as much as we can to help another.

While Dan does what he can to get the project moving
forward, you will likely find me here, helping him put
a voice on his activities...kinda like a multi-media
documentary, if you will.

I invite you to check me out, say hey, and/or if the
spirit moves you, get involved in this project. It
has good vibes all round.

Have a great day!
Elizabeth

Press Release: Dan Pavlik on World of Perspective Radio

Feel free to pass this information along!
*************************************
How Do You Make A Dream Come True? Make A Movie About It.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Elizabeth Alraune
Phone: 818-584-1965
Email: info @ jolope.com
Twitter: @JoLoPe

Los Angeles, CA, April 6, 2009

Dan Pavlik, Director, Producer, and Writer of the film Nominated, will be a guest on World-of-Perspective-Radio.com on BlogTalkRadio.com on April 16, 2009 at 6PT/9ET.

Dan has been a professional video producer for 14 years. By most measures, he has had a successful career, and yet he is risking what he has worked for by diving into the shark infested waters of independent film with the idea of a movie that he dreamt about two and a half years ago.

While he will be sharing his story, everyone has a "thing" that they wish they could do, might do, wouldda, shouldda, couldda done. As Dan says, “I may be the director of this film, however, I am also in the role of Director of my own life, just as we all are.” He notes that in the current economy, especially, it is important to see possibilities in spite of closed doors. In the world of film he, as the director, makes choices to make the best film possible, "and the choices I make aren't always advised, popular, and are sometimes risky. There are parallels to how I am in my life." We all have the possibility to direct our own lives, and he will be discussing the risks that he is taking in the context of having a life lived that is true to himself in spite of seeming obstacles.

Elizabeth Alraune, host of World-of-Perspective-Radio.com, welcomes Dan as a guest amidst a line up of other shows from an eclectic group of guests which have included Janet Thornburg (numerologist), Patrick Mathieu (The Bar Code Guy), and Greg Mooers (Life Camp). Ken Newman, who will be in the role of Blake Dunbar in the film also spent some time on the show recently talking about how important humor is EVERY day, and how living for the weekend is like living only 2/7 of your life.

About Nominated

This independent film will be shot in August 2009 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Pavlik is in talks with and/or seeking the talents of Dan Aykroyd, Mariel Hemingway, Willie Ames, Carl Lumbly, Brian Degan Scott, Brian Copeland, and Ken Newman. For more information about the film, visit NominatedTheMovie.com and/or Twitter.com/Nominated

About World-of-Perspective-Radio.com

Hosted by Elizabeth Alraune, this show has been airing since 2008. It is a show that has a premise of providing a humane and sympathetic view of the things that matter. Shows normally air live with a call in format, and past shows are available in the Archives for online listening or podcast download through ITunes. For more information, visit World-of-Perspective-Radio.com.

Contact Information:
Elizabeth Alraune
World of Perspective Radio
818-584-1965
World-of-Perspective-Radio.com
Twitter.com/JoLoPe

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