Thursday, December 27, 2012

Willy Gilly vs. The System!

We trust that everyone had a joyous Christmas, or whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year! Santa paid us a visit, while we have been slugging it out with the federal bureaucracy. Once again, our government has proven (to us, at least) how truly inept and unmanageable it really is.

In these days of good tidings and seasonal blessings, we are confronted daily by Fiscal Cliff and his horde of hooligans on the Hill! Somehow, that all seems so ridiculously unreal when you consider that people are starving, freezing and dying as a result of excessive mismanagement. But you haven't heard anything yet!

We have spent the better part of this day fighting it out with the bureaucracy over payments we made to the Department of Education that were nullified by a so-called "computer glitch", allowing the federal government to invalidate our deal agreement. Not only did they steal our payment, but they double-dipped from our tax return! Wait! Don't blame the DoE; Uncle Sam now has a new excuse: something (we guess it's a thing) they call The System! The System is not Republicans or Democrats or federal workers (and God bless them all)...it's The System that's at fault, and the computers that run it! It's not enough that we were deprived of money that was guaranteed to us as taxpayers in good standing, we are now subject to abuses of power inflicted upon us by The System!

However, we are not alone! Apparently this glitch has perpetrated the same criminal activity on millions of American taxpayers, and while the feds can tell you that there was a glitch, they can't tell you when it was, nor has anyone ever mentioned that it was, and they can't tell us when this horrific injustice will be rectified! Oh, well! Just throw that (b)log on the fire with the banking industry, the automotive industry, the mortgage business and real estate in general. Can there be any wonder why America is burning? If it were just the government that was guilty of these egregious practices, it might be rectified in a century or so. But, unfortunately, it has become endemic, not just in The System, but in the population at large. It seems that following our country's lead, we are all headed for Hell in a hand basket! (Who's got the chicken?) What a way to end the year!

There's one question that stands out for us in all of this: Doesn't anyone get to pay the price for what it has cost America, or are the only people the courts sent to jail are people of colour or poverty? It sure ain't white men wearing white shirts and campaign buttons!

Then again, there are no political solutions; if this sounds like revolution, it is: read the Constitution! It is time for us to stop blaming everyone else and take responsibility for allowing this kind of thing to happen. Fresh from the elections, we offer this solution: by the next presidential election, nobody vote. That will eliminate the presidency, one-third of the Senate and the entire House of Representatives, savings us hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars and leaving the actual jurisdiction squarely on the shoulders on those who have already usurped most of the power in this nation: the Supreme Court! If that doesn't sound like a solution to you...think about it! Maybe a term under their jurisdiction will wake this country up! What happens after that, only God knows! Oops! They have already taken Him out of the equation! Good luck, America...we're gonna need it!

Peace.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Brady's bunch!

At today's Rotary meeting, Rory Brady, village trustee, spoke of his experiences in South Africa at a 'moot court' competition some years back. He was one of the few Americans in the competition; it was quite interesting to hear about the work that he did with young men of color as they struggled with tribal customs related to their manhood, customs that required procedures in adolescence that were undesired by them, leading to their alienation from their families and community.(OY VEY! THAT HOITS!)

It was fascinating and dismaying to think that such punitive practices still exist on this planet, even though medical evidence says the procedure in question actually results in a lower incidence of cancer in older men. We were very impressed at Mr. Brady's interest in helping these men to raise their self-esteem and improve their social standing by participating in a charity called Kidz Care, a non-profit dedicated to rehabilitating such outcasts. We will be meeting with Rory to discuss the possibility of exploring his experiences as a feature film.

We are talking with Jake Ehrenreich ("A Jew Grows in Brooklyn") about the working with him to secure a facility for our upcoming stage production! We will be meeting with him next week to formalize the deal and hope to open on schedule early in the spring. Stay tuned!

On the "Chasing G" front, we are close to cutting the final version of the pilot, and we hope to move forward with the cable and broadcast networks with whom we are negotiating! (And be sure to tune into "Chasing G LIVE" tomorrow at noon on WTBQ, AM 1110 and 93.5 FM!)

In the meantime, we are involved in a Christmas project that has turned into a major development! We have discovered in our midst a young dynamo, sure to be among the great voices in the near future! This fourteen-year-old will soon be recognized as a powerhouse in the entertainment industry. Smart, pretty, talented...you can count on this assessment as being on the money! (And we mean literally!)

Finally, MaxforManagement has signed Beki Brindle-Scala to a management contract! This red hot blues mama is an American treasure: a virtuoso guitarist and vocalist, she could bury Bonnie Raitt standing up! More from her coming soon!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

On Chorales and Connecticut

On Sunday, we went to see the Classic Chorale Society and their 53rd Annual Winter Concert in Blooming Grove. They played a marvelous selection, with a full choir and a 31-piece orchestra. It was fantastic! They will be performing once more at the Presbyterian Church in Goshen this coming Saturday night at 7:00pm! Our suggestion is that you get there early, as it will be packed! The Chorale operates from dues paid by members and donations from the public, which go to pay for the orchestra and the operation of the organization. It is well worth whatever you dip into your pocket to give!

On a more somber note, we, like many Americans, have been trying to process the horror that came out of Connecticut on Friday. That includes sorting out the sparse information regarding the perpetrator and the actual event. Authorities have been slow to disseminate much of value; however, we have it on the highest authority that a major contributing factor was "first-person shooter" video games. These games, which now totally dominate the marketplace, were created initially as training tools for the military; unfortunately, in the wrong hands, a glitch can occur in the interface between that which is real and that which is imaginary. When other elements go uncontrolled, they can conspire to produce such horrific events; elements such as prescription medications, lack of proper supervision, mental illness, and, of course, what we call "Mom's guns". All of these things create the perfect storm, from which is born the unimaginable disaster. Stay tuned, folks...it's not going to get better before it gets a lot worse!

We must all take responsibility for what has happened and be responsible, to ensure it doesn't happen again. We must take appropriate steps to review these forms of "entertainment" that our young people (far too young) spend their days with as baby-sitters in lieu of proper parental guidance. We are, in fact, computers ourselves, and when the algorithms that control these games connect with our young people's brains, we must make sure that there are no other additives to the equation that can distort the perceptions of the user to the point of what occurred last Friday. Just as individuals should never operate heavy machinery while under the influence of drugs, they should never participate in the video games that puts them in a threatening environment, opposing other humans and humanoids (such as zombies). Such people run the risk of acting out in the real world what they experience in the game. We must be better stewards of our children, brothers and sisters who suffer from extreme mental illness and require such radical drug therapy, and yet we allow them to participate in games that feed into their illness. We'd like to hear your opinion on this issue...please leave a comment!

Meanwhile, we are getting close to a cable network deal on "Chasing G"! We expect to close before the end of the year and be onscreen (in a home near yours) in January!

We're also looking to make an announcement soon on our stage production; we are still looking for a stage to present this performance, and we are meeting with several venues in the area. It is our desire to perform here in Orange County, then move the show off-Broadway for a spring opening!

On "A Hustler's Life", we continue casting: Michael Pare (Eddie and the Cruisers) is definitely on board; he will play either 'Clyde' or 'Leonard'. Beki Brindle-Scala (who will play 'Margaret', Mick's mother) delivered a phenomenal blues guitar and vocal performance at the Cornerstone Alliance in Goshen Saturday night, as part of their ongoing music series, hosted by WTBQ's John Stein. Both John and Beki will be appearing in our forthcoming stage production as well!

Friday, December 14, 2012

From Brooklyn to Goshen!

Yesterday, we met with Jake Eisenreich, creator and star of the play "A Jew Grows In Brooklyn"! The show, which has played all over the country, is now on a holiday break, but will return soon to its home on West 46th Street in Manhattan: the old High School for the Performing Arts theatre! A musician and singer, as well as a playwright/actor, Jake is one of the most genuine people we've had the good fortune to meet. (Thanks go to our stage manager Lisa Brodsky, for bringing him into our office!)

Next week, we will have the full announcement on the play Willy Gilly is presenting, just in time for a blessed Christmas!

Also, Joey "Boxes" Becchinelli did a bang-up job pinch-hitting for Gary Corts on today's edition of "Chasing G LIVE" at WTBQ (AM 1110, 93.5 FM, wtbq.com)!

We are sorting it all out on "36 Hours", and we will know more about where we are headed in very short order. Stay tuned!

"A Hustler's Life" continues to gather steam! New names keep popping up on the horizon, and we are in the process of contacting their agents for their suitability and availability!

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Dial R for Rotary!

Today, we attended the Goshen Rotary Club's weekly meeting, where we heard from Elise Gold and Doris Rubinsky of Jewish Family Service of Orange County! Elise and Doris discussed their many community services, which include a food stamp outreach, Friendly Visitor program, Yela Deinu (Our Children) and outreaches to LGBTQ and adults with disabilities. Partnering with a number of organizations, they provide assistance, relief, and education programs to the entire community (not just Jewish people); their scope also includes the aged, especially individuals who are economically challenged.

The partners include the Jewish Federation, the United Way, Orange County System of Care, Food Help New York, St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital and the Orange County Office of the Aging. Funding comes from private sources and foundations (such as the Bratt Foundation and the Dyson Foundation), and they are always looking for volunteers (they employ more than 300!) For more information, contact them at www.jfsorange.org or call (845) 341-1173!

On another front, we are preparing "Chasing G" for a pitch to the History Channel, re-editing a short piece and adding an interview which will be on the website early next week, preceding a meeting with the principals at the network!

We continue to move forward with our pre-production plans for "A Hustler's Life" and our 2013-14 slate of films!

And don't forget to mark February 9th on your calendar! That will be Willy Gilly night at the Beacon Film Festival! The feature presentation will be "Collar", along with a series of new film shorts from Willy Gilly and associates, plus a Q-and-A session to follow! Kim Elizabeth, director of the festival, says she is "beyond excited to have Willy Gilly participating at The Beacon, and there is excitement already generated!"

Last night's 12.12.12 concert was one the most incredible events in our memory! It's got to be the first time in history that members of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, the Who and Pink Floyd appeared together on one stage, not to mention a guy they call The Boss and his friends: Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, and many more! Most outstanding were the stories of the many 'ordinary heroes' of Hurricane Sandy as dozens of celebs manned the phones during the five-hour spectacular! To donate, go to the 12.12.12 website! We gave...you should, too! Hats off to all!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Triple twelves!

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Funding is expected any day now for a full slate of feature films for 2013-14! According to those at the source of the funding, all that remains is to sort out some of the technicalities and logistical necessities for bringing it into Willy Gilly's accounts! We look forward to closure before the holidays, and we believe that we will begin pre-production right after the first of the year. First up, "A Hustler's Life" should be lensing in Puerto Rico in late January, before moving to Orange County. "AHL" will be followed in the spring by "Shadow's Serenade", "The Craven" and "The Big Ride" in the summer of 2013 and "Rachel's Army" (also to be shot in Puerto Rico), in the fall of next year. 2014 will see the release of "AHL", and two more features will be shot: action/thriller "Driving Marilyn Home" and "Donovan", the story of "Professor" Mike Donovan, America's first world middleweight boxing champion!

Of course, the first order of business in all this will be to finally get "Collar" in theatres across the country! After a disastrous 2012, in which excuses (the presidential election and the "fiscal cliff") took precedence over action (funding and investing), we are looking forward to getting back to the business of doing business...and there's no business like show business!

Speaking of show business, here's a talent alert! We've got the next great voice right here in Orange County...not to say there haven't been others (such as Jermaine Paul of Harriman, winner of this year's The Voice). 14-year-old Maddie Treflethen is currently working with us on her demos that will put her in front of the public sometime early next year. Take it from us, she's the real deal!

And don't forget: coming up February 7-10, it's the Beacon Film Festival in Beacon, New York, featuring "Collar" and a series of brand new film shorts from Willy Gilly and associates (including several by actor/writer/director Christian Frahme)! If you'd like to have us sponsor one of your film shorts, contact us at info@willygilly.com at your earlier convenience (but no later than January 1st).

That's all for now, folks...talk at ya later!

Monday, December 10, 2012

Buzzing in the Beahive!

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Saturday night, we went to the Beahive in Beacon, NY for Rethink Local, a not-for-profit organization designed to support local businesses. Attending were numerous artists, musicians and others dedicated to the ideals of shopping, and buying, local! Among the activities was a silent auction. The place was packed, and a great time was had by all!

On the "Chasing G" front, we continue to go all out in marketing the TV series! We are in contact with several West Coast outlets, and we are getting very favorable responses; however, only time will tell who gets to air the show. Stay tuned!

On "A Hustler's Life" a couple of new names have popped up on the wish list: Samuel L. Jackson for the role of Johnny and Olivier Hernandez as Raoul (although our first preference is sill Jamie Santana, co-star of "Collar")!

Meanwhile, we continue to rehearse our play...to be announced Friday, come hell, high water or hurricane! See you tomorrow!

Friday, December 7, 2012

Amen, amen!

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Today, we met with world-renowned bassist Chris Sullivan (Cornerstone Alliance) and ethnomusicologist Carolyn Tippin (St. James Church in Goshen) to begin planning an MLK Day concert: "Tell It On The Mountain: The Kingdom Now". The event will be held Sunday, January 20, 2013 at St. James. All are invited to attend a gospel concert that will combine choral members from several area churches and some special guest stars in a celebration of the birth of a great American hero. The repertoire will include traditional gospel and contemporary compositions of such artists as Paul Simon, Edwin Starr, James Taylor, Billy Joel and others! You don't want to miss this show! A sponsored event, admission will be free (donation requested). All those interested in sponsoring should contact Willy Gilly at (845) 294-7500.

"Chasing G LIVE" was quite a hoot at WTBQ today as Gary Corts declared a commitment to making the Warwick radio station "the place to be at Fridays at noon!" Every show will feature giveaways and outrageous guests! Turn your dial to AM 1110 or 93.5 FM to catch the next installment, or go to chasingg.com, hvpawn.com or willygilly.com to catch up on previous episodes!

We are still looking for a venue for our benefit for Hurricane Sandy first responders, but expect to announce a time and a place by next Friday! Likewise with the stage production still in rehearsal (which will remain unnamed until we secure the venue); we expect to have that announcement in the same time frame.

In the meantime, have a great weekend, and check back here on Monday!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Bob Larkin needs YOU!

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Our close friend Bob Larkin has endured incredible hardship with the health problems of his wife, Fran, who suffers from multiple forms of cancer. Bob, who designed the artwork for "Collar", is best known for his Marvel comic book covers. We were appalled to discover that his own children have confiscated his complete private collection of his works and disposed of them, in a fashion that even Bob is not aware of. Apparently, they are selling his house, fearful that they would lose it to her medical expenses. We are calling on everybody who knows Bob to step forward and help rectify this awful situation. Please contact us through this blog, or on Facebook. Help us help Bob and Fran!

On the lighter side, "A Hustler's Life" is moving forward, and the shopping list of talents is growing! Among those being considered for the part of Mick is Penn Badgeley ("Gossip Girl"), Ryan Phillippe ("The Lincoln Lawyer") and Jake Gyllenhaal ("End of Watch", "Source Code"). Along with this illustrious group, the producers are extremely interested in Lindsay Lohan for the role of Amanda. Other possibilities include Emma Stone ("The Amazing Spider-Man") and Amanda Bynes ("Easy A").

We are happy to announce that our student and client, Sean O'Brien is being fitted today for wardrobe in the upcoming Marin Scorsese film, "Wolf of Wall Street"! Congratulations, Sean!

After receiving some very positive feedback from our TV network connections, we are re-editing the pilot of "Chasing G" to include new footage and moving ahead with the development of new episodes for production after the first of the year! We'd love to accompany Gary Corts on an upcoming vacation...but right now, that's not in the budget! We'll keep you posted!

Also, we are patiently awaiting our final funding for the slate of films (six of them) that has been tentatively approved. The full package includes "Shadow's Serenade", "A Hustler's Life", "Six Weeks Alive", "Rachel's Army", "Donovan" and "Driving Marilyn Home". All are to be shot in New York (or the lower 48) and Puerto Rico over the next two years! All that remains is for us to establish proper placement of the funding.

Next, stay tuned for our announcement on our stage production, location and schedule tomorrow!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

The scramble is on!

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Our sources at ABC have made their move for "Chasing G"! If that sounds poetic, it's music to our ears as well! That means there is serious interest coming from that quarter; but move over Mickey Mouse, that's just the beginning...now starts the feeding frenzy! We are getting nibbles from numerous entities seeking content that is compelling and charismatic, which is what "Chasing G" is all about! We are looking forward to expanding the scope of our programming to include another five episodes as soon as we can sort out who the key players will be (networks, sponsors, etc.) and decide what behind-the-scenes drama will take precedence as we go forward. There are some very poignant situations developing that will surely shape the future of this program. In the meantime, you can keep up with all the action of "Chasing G" at chasingg.com and hvpawn.com, or willygilly.com! We are all one big happy family!

Yesterday, we spoke with Michael Paré (Eddie and the Cruisers, Streets of Fire, The Lincoln Lawyer) about the possibility of him playing Clyde in "A Hustler's Life", the story of a professional gambler and the Big Game (bigger than the World Series of Poker!) that involves the top ten players in the world in a very private event! Slated to go before the camera this winter, the producers are looking at Puerto Rico and New York as primary locations for filming. Meanwhile, we are working out the deal for the major funding, which has been made available by a global trust. We are seeking to establish an EU relationship that will assist us in administering the fund to finance five other films along with AHL!

On "Collar", we are also waiting on the funding to enable us to implement our independent distribution program to about 200 theatres in 20 cities. We expect the film's rollout to be accompanied by the release of "Collar" the novel!

Also, we continue to rehearse a theatrical production, which must remain unnamed due to lack of a venue; however, the producers are very happy with the progress of the production itself and believe that they will have definite information before the holidays to where and when this play with be seen! We anticipate an early spring opening. (All of the talent is local!)

Finally, Acting Anyone Academy is offering private Meisner classes to individuals interested in perfecting their craft, along with Seth Riggs (American Idol) speech-level singing classes! Call our office at (845) 294-7500 to make arrangements for a core series or gift certificates for those special people on your list whom you want to bless for the holidays!

Monday, December 3, 2012

Sturr crazy!

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This past weekend, we went to see The Jimmy Sturr Christmas Show at the Paramount Theatre in Middletown, NY. We joined former Congressman Ben Gilman and his lovely wife Georgia, and a group of other friends in celebrating the holiday spirit in truly great fashion! The band was hot, the house was packed, and a great time was had by all! Afterwards, we joined some of the revellers, including Jimmy and his group, for dinner at Limoncello's in Goshen! The food was great! It was a phenomenal day all the way around! Also, we will be getting together with Jimmy in the very near future to discuss some new program possibilities; in the meantime, you can catch him on WTBQ radio and RFD-TV!

In "Chasing G!" news, we will soon begin posting videos of the radio show, "Chasing G! LIVE", to the web! You can see the rough cut of the TV pilot at chasingg.com, and you can meet the guys in the shop OnGSpot at YouTube.com!

We spent Saturday morning at the ashram in Chester with Raj Gulati, creator and executive producer of "36 Hours". We were doubly blessed to be in the presence of Amma G, a beacon of wisdom for all who seek truth and God's love. Bless you, Amma. We were treated to an Indian lunch beyond description. YUMMMMMM! Meanwhile, we await the outcome of impending meetings to be held in January in Mumbai. These meetings are intended to provide the funding and much of the casting of the supporting roles in the feature, to be shot here in Orange County and in New York City. American casting has been put on hold until the numbers come back from the foreign partners.

In the interim, Willy Gilly has edged closer to full funding of its slate of features for both 2013 and 2014. After a very disappointing 2012 in which the election was blamed on much inactivity in the financing arena, now it seems 'Fiscal Cliff' (Whoever that is!?) is singing the same song out of Washington that has Wall Street marching to a funeral dirge. Thank God we are not part of the 'doomsday brigade' that has apparently laid siege to our capitol... and our capital! Next thing is what? Osama's ghost!!!

On another front, "Captain Science" will soon be up on YouTube and Willy Gilly's Facebook page, starting next week... We'd love for parents and students to be our online focus group! Let us know what you think about what you see, and what you'd like to see next! We'd also like to know what kind of educational programming you watch now (public TV, Animal Planet, NatGeo, etc.)!

We will be talking this week with Middletown Cinemas concerning a theatre for our showing of "Collar", to benefit first responder victims of Hurricane Sandy. We are expecting to have the benefit soon, so please stay tuned! They need our help and our prayers!

Friday, November 30, 2012

Business news!

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At a Rotary luncheon yesterday, James O'Donnell, Deputy Executive for Orange County and head of the Economic Development Agency, was very optimistic about what's happening to business here in the county! O'Donnell had no answers when asked about how to continue enticing business into a county with such a heavy tax burden from the state (and pressure from many local governments). He did acknowledge that film and TV production, and the education required to support new manufacturing technology (recorded entertainment is considered a "manufactured item" in New York), has great potential and remains high on the list of industry sectors to pursue for development.

On "Chasing G", initial feedback from potential outlets (cable and broadcast networks) has been extremely positive! We expect to have news about where you can see the show in very short order! In the meantime, go to chasingg.com, where new content will be forthcoming from episodes recently shot on location. And don't forget...tune in TODAY at noon for "Chasing G LIVE" on WTBQ (AM 1110, 93.5 FM, wtbq.com). It's the hottest show on radio!

Meanwhile, we continue to move forward with plans to have another benefit showing of "Collar"; we are working on negotiating a deal with Middletown Cinemas to host the showing to benefit first responders and their family from the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy.

Stay tuned...there's more to come!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Ready when you are, WG!

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After getting the green light from executive producer Gary Corts, Willy Gilly is currently working on a budget for the next six episodes of "Chasing G"! Meanwhile, we met yesterday with Steve and Victoria Toth of Dropline Designs, web developers located in Chester, NY. They are the webmasters at chasingg.com and hvpawn.com, as well as Orange County BMW. We will be working with them to develop a full network of sites to maximize the more than one million hits that have been generated by hvpawn.com alone! Dropline will also be working to develop new online resourcing for financing and distribution for Willy Gilly Productions. They anticipate doubling the traffic to these sites over the next twelve months. We are excited about what they bring and about what we can develop together!

First responders: keep your eyes open for the next two weeks for a special offer from "Collar" the movie...only available to first responders and their families, and only available online through willygilly.com and our related sites! It will include some very special items in appreciation of their efforts during Hurricane Sandy...and every day!

Moving forward with "Collar", there is renewed interest from a number of distribution companies, which has been languishing due to pre-election apprehensions. The paralysis that seems to have gripped the industry over the past month or so has been lifted by last week's outstanding box office numbers, which has sent many distributors scrambling to grab as much unseen products as they can get their hands on to capitalize on the renewed fervor of theater audiences! We are still seeking partners that can put us in a limited release throughout the US by the end of the year. Ready when you are, C.B.!

Monday, November 26, 2012

Things are hopping!

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Things were hopping at Hudson Valley Pawnbrokers over the weekend, as Willy Gilly shot dozens of hours of footage for "Chasing G"! We have interest from a number of networks, but we have not received any answers yet; in the meantime, we continue to move ahead on the TV show...and don't forget "Chasing G LIVE", every Friday at noon on WTBQ (AM 1110, 93.5 FM, WTBQ.com)!

In film, it was a historic weekend for the cinema, as domestic theatrical topped $290 million for the first time in history...and we haven't even hit the holiday blockbusts yet! Anyone who says that film attendance is slipping, needs to check their numbers again! We are headed for another year of double digit growth in 2013, with global box office expected to approach thirty billion dollars! Tis the season!

Meanwhile, "Collar" is in the final stages of its re-edit, and Netflix is interested! Also, we are still looking for a theatre in which to hold our benefit showing for families of first responders to Hurricane Sandy. Among the venues being considered are Middletown Cinemas and the Chester Elite 6.

Stay tuned...there's more to come!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

From Goshen to Bombay!

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On "36 Hours", a new producer has joined the team at Raj Productions: Nikitha Narayan, who will be working with Indian financiers interested in coming on board to fund the feature! A former runner-up to Miss South India, Nikitha has just returned to the States after opening her latest picture in Dubai; she leaves for India December 15 to meet with the executive producers, close financing and begin casting the foreign principals. This marks her first time working on a US-Indian co-production; the film is expected to gear up after the first of the year! On the US casting, we have yet to set the American leads; we are looking for assistance through some notable casting directors (TBA).

Last night, Paraclete Arts Center's Board of Directors (including Nan Wilson) met with Kevin D. White, Executive Director of Boys and Girls Club of Newburgh and the Newburgh Performing Arts Academy. Paraclete is a not-for-profit organization that provides lessons in the arts to underserved children as well as children of means, located in the Interactive Museum, 23 Center Street, Middletown, New York. Mr. White addressed the board regarding different methods he employed in starting the NPAA. His insights and suggestions were invaluable, and we truly thank him for his willingness to assist in our efforts in Middletown! Willy Gilly is looking forward to the possibility of working more closely with Mr. White and his organizations that serve the Orange County community.

Just a reminder: "Chasing G LIVE" will be back on the air Friday at noon, exclusively on WTBQ, 1110 AM and FM 93.5. (and worldwide on WTBQ.com!)

And by the way: the search is on for a theatre to house Willy Gilly's benefit for families of first responders devastated by Hurricane Sandy. If you in the Hudson Valley and have any ideas where we can exhibit, let us know at (845) 294-7500!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Calling "Chasing G" to...surgery?

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Looks like "Chasing G" may be easier for a few days, as Gary's having knee surgery tomorrow. We wish him all the best and our prayers go with him! We know he'll be back on his feet, moving faster than ever, in no time!

The hunt continues for a casting director to secure major talent on "36 Hours". The film, still budgeted at ten million dollars, is looking for several key roles while we await an answer on the lead character. In the meantime, we have opened conversations with other major funding sources to cover the cost of production. We are relying on the talent package to bring us a bona fide distributor.

A script has gone out to Penn Badgley (Gossip Girls, Margin Call) for the role of 'Mick' in "A Hustler's Life". We are in communication with persons close to Richard Gere concerning the character of 'Clyde,' a card-playing con man who is Mick's father.

Meanwhile, Willy Gilly is gearing up to do a benefit for victims of Hurricane Sandy. More than a thousand families of first responders, including police, fire and EMTs, have been severely impacted by the storm. We need these people on our front lines, and they need us now! We will be showing the film "Collar" (and probably the pilot of "Chasing G") to open the benefit, which will be held in Middletown, New York (time and venue TBA).

And now for the holidays! Why not give a gift that keeps on giving? Acting Anyone Academy is offering gift certificates for actor's training and voice! For details, contact us at info@actinganyone.com! Or, call now (845) 294-7500 and get a 10% holiday discount! (Other discounts also available!)

Monday, November 19, 2012

Duking it out!

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Friday night, we attended a 50th Anniversary benefit for WNET, and saw the Dukes of September: Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers), Donald Fagen (Steeley Dan) and Boz Scaggs; they turned the crowd upside down with some of the best rock 'n roll we've ever heard! Playing old favorites and classics that they had not previously performed in public, the night was a complete success, and the crowd at the David Koch Theater was thoroughly entertained and treated to nearly three hours of music (with two encores!). It was a night we will never forget!

Closer to home, last night at St. James Church in Goshen, we were treated to some more great music in the Jazz at Vespers series, put together by Carolyn Tippin (vocals and flute) and Chris Sullivan (bass). They were joined by Mala Waldron (vocals and piano) and Dean Sharpe on percussion. Playing originals and tunes by Charlie Mingus, Billie Holliday and Earth, Wind and Fire, among others, the series has produced two really fine jazz evenings, and will now shift gears for MLK Day to a gospel theme, to include classics as well as tunes by Billy Joel, Paul Simon and James Taylor. Join us there on Sunday, January 20, 2013 to celebrate the birthday of Dr. King!

Meanwhile, "Chasing G" is moving into overdrive as demos of the pilot are being sent to a number of cable and broadcast networks, who have been anxiously awaiting the local reality show! Now on radio at WTBQ (LIVE, Fridays at noon), you can see excerpts of the video at hvpawn.com and chasingg.com!

In "Collar" news, we are preparing a new edit of the film, to accommodate those who find some of the language disturbing. The new version will be made available to a new batch of distributors this month.

Finally, we attended the Cornerstone Alliance production of "Falling Moon", the play written and directed by Justin Pietropaolo. An anti-war piece aimed at a younger audiences (ages 8-18), it was a fun show to experience, performed with great energy and enthusiasm! It's got a timely message: basically, end war and promote prosperity for all...our sentiments exactly!

NEWS FLASH! As a final note, on "A Hustler's Life": Willy Gilly will be working in conjunction with What Now LLC to develop the marketing and merchandising of the film, along with author Reggie Bruce and the head of What Now's operations, Jennifer Sims!

Friday, November 16, 2012

Chasing G LIVE!

This afternoon, we aired the first episode of "Chasing G LIVE", Gary Corts' radio show on WTBQ! Co-hosted by Gary with David Wilson and Rob McLean, we talked about the business of pawn and all things G, complete with phone calls. Catch "Chasing G LIVE" every Friday at 12 noon exclusively on WTBQ, or hear the podcast on chasingg.com, where you can also see excerpts of "Chasing G", the TV show! We expect "Chasing G" to hit the web next week and your TV screen shortly thereafter!

Last night, Nan and David attended the Big Apple Film Festival, held at Tribeca Cinema, which runs through Sunday, November 18. Nan had a cameo appearance in "Girl Clown", a terrific little romantic short, a very charming piece. There were several really good film shorts in this event that highlights short films. One, by Mike Nickleburg, is a wonderful film, "Harry Grows Up"; we'd tell you more, but see it for yourself! Another very poignant piece, "Bittersweet Life", was well-directed and beautifully acted. You may be able to catch them at the Beacon Film Festival in February...where "Collar" will hold the main stage!

Speaking of "Collar", we are looking forward to a broader release of the film (twenty cities) before the end of the year. This comes as part of a funding package which has been in the works for the better part of 2012. We are excited about gearing up for 2013 after coming through the desert that has been this past election year...we know we are not alone! And if I hear another excuse for not taking care of business with getting America back on steady ground...now it's the "fiscal cliff"! We don't know who Fiscal Cliff is, but if we ever meet him, he's gonna be in big trouble!

For "36 Hours", we are interviewing casting directors to take the projcet to the next level. We are looking at a number of top candidates, including Diane Crittenden, who cast Terence Malick's first three films, and has one with Kevin James and Sean Astin ("Little Boy") about to hit theatres.

"A Hustler's Life" is moving forward as well. The film script, by Reggie Bruce, is in the casting process; the six million dollar film is being financed by a Chicago investment group. We are awaiting word when we can begin pre-production; we trust that will be before the end of the year as well! Becky Bindle has been chosen for a significant role; it will mark the first major motion picture for the singer/actress, in the role of 'Margaret'. We have tested actors and actually shot footage; among those tested are Jamie Santana (as Raoul) Rebecca Robins (as Amanda) and Crystal Parra (as Vera). A script has gone out to Penn Badgley ("Margin Call" and "Gossip Girl") for the lead role of Mick, a world-class card player. This will be the first Willy Gilly film to start rolling in 2013!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

A Veteran’s Day for Remembrance

This weekend, we met with Gary Corts, star and executive producer of “Chasing G”, and we have the green light to go ahead with at least two more episodes of the show. We have as yet no commitment for an outlet, other than hvpawn.com and chasingg.com. Please let us know what you think! We definitely want to hear from you!

Now that the elections are over, we are calling on distributors who were taking a wait-and-see stance on "Collar" before making any decision regarding the film. Apparently, the controversial content in the face of such a tight election was more than they could handle…much like our friend Steven Spielberg having to postpone “Lincoln” until after the voting was done, for fear of tipping the balance of power. Not that T. J. Williams is Abe Lincoln, but then again, our movie didn’t cost a hundred million dollars! Also, we believe we will be in theatres nationwide by Christmas...how, you ask?

Our funding package is in the final stages of approval, and we have received word from a source close to the decision-maker, who believes that we will be funded before the holidays! Thank you, Santa...from his lips to God’s ears!

We also met Monday morning with former Congressman Ben Gilman and his lovely wife Georgia. Ben was named as A Man of the Greatest Generation, for his heroic exploits as a US Army Air Corps B-29 pilot in World War II. Ben is a great American, still vital at ninety years young, a former fifteen-term Congressman and head of the Armed Services Committee. We are working with Ben and Georgia to promote and develop Orange County’s potential as a film and TV production center. Ben has endorsed our efforts 100%, as he continues to be active on the local scene. We are very happy to be working with him!

Speaking of veterans, today we will attending a breakfast speaking engagement at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Suffern NY to hear Vietnam vet/author Barry Fixler speak to a group of Rockland County veterans about his experiences as a young Marine at Khe Sanh in 1968. For those who don’t remember, you can look it up in any history book; it’s been called the greatest standoff in American military history. Barry’s account of his exploits, “Semper Cool”, will be the subject of another feature film project, with which we are very happy to be involved! You can find his book on amazon.com, sempercool.com, or the fixlerfoundation.org site; all proceeds go directly to returning vets who have been seriously wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. BUY THIS BOOK!

Monday, November 12, 2012

TV, film, stage, and now radio...Willy Gilly is everywhere!

The “Chasing G” pilot is now complete and has been approved by the executive producer for submission to the networks. We look forward to negotiating a worthy timeslot on a major cable or broadcast network; thus far, both CBS and the History Channel have expressed interest!

Not only that, but “Chasing G” is about to hit the radio airwaves as well! The first half-hour radio segment will be aired on legendary community radio station WTBQ on November 23th, the day after Thanksgiving. Gary Corts (G himself) will be taking calls on-air to discuss what you may have of value…and how to best take advantage of it!

On the “36 Hours” front, we’ve decided to contact a Hollywood casting director to move the process forward, as UTA has been a bit slow in its response to the producers in providing a cast package. As you know, we have been trying to get something going with Sir Anthony Hopkins, but his handlers seem to be preoccupied with the upcoming release of his new film, “Hitchcock”.

Also, we have learned today that Willy Gilly is indeed in line for serious consideration of major funding ($50M) through a trust fund, who has accepted our application and is reviewing it to determine at what level they will participate. Stay tuned!

Rehearsals continue on a stage production (TBA) to begin as soon as we have secured a venue. We are currently looking to work out an agreement with Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center for an early springtime opening.

Finally, Willy Gilly has been working for almost two years on establishing an Orange County Film Board, and has been recently working with the Orange County Arts Council and the Orange County Economic Development Agency to provide new impetus for film and TV producers to establish themselves within the county. However, efforts seem to have stalled, despite the fact that many production companies downstate have been shut down due to Sandy and the challenge of cleaning up afterwards. We want everyone to know that they are more than welcome here on our back yard! We trust that the county will not drop the ball on this one!

Monday, November 5, 2012

A weekend for charity!

Sorry we've been off the blog for a week, thanks to Hurricane Sandy, which caused such destruction throughout our area. Our hearts go out to those in need. We are still praying that power and heat will be restored soon!

Friday night, we were the guests of Gary Corts and his lovely wife Hillary at the 38th Annual Denim and Diamonds Gala to benefit the Winslow Theraputic Riding Center. The event, held at beautiful Falkirk Estate and Country Club in Central Valley, honored Bonnie Masi Oswald for her tireless work in support of rehabilitation through equine contact. The charity auction event included dinner and dancing. The band, Cloud Nyne, performed fabulous renditions, both old and new. It was a great evening!

On Saturday evening, it was on to the 13th Annual Pillars of the Community Awards dinner, sponsored by the Great Hudson Valley Family Health Center of Newburgh. Now in its 45th year of operation, the black-tie event paid tribute to Janet and Tom Sullivan of Smith, Seamen and Quackenbush Funeral Homes in Monroe in Highland Mills and the William F. Hogan Funeral Home in Highland Falls. Also honored were Margaret and Andy Stahl of Hearthstone Contracting, and Elise Gold, executive director of Jewish Family Services of Orange County, for their extraordinary support. A silent auction event, that included Acting Anyone Academy lessons and a Willy Gilly storyboard package, was capped off by a performance by the Chris O'Leary Band, a zydeco and blues band, featuring all original music. These guys are hot!

And on Sunday, we headed to the Poughkeepsie Mall for the HV Parent Magazine Superheroes Event, where we entertained kids and their parents with juggling and pictures of the young ones (and those not-so-young) with Superman (aka Christian Frahme) and Catwoman (Lisa Brodsky)! A good time was had by all!


The much-anticipated completion of "Chasing G" is expected tomorrow! We look forward to everyone's response. Excerpts from the pilot episode can be seen right now on www.chasingg.com!

On "36 Hours", we spoke with Anthony Hopkins' agent on Friday. Sir Anthony, currently promoting his new bio-pic, "Hitchcock", has yet to see a script; however, we are confident that he will in short order! Word on the street is that it is a great film, with a host of Oscar-calibre performances, including his and Helen Mirren's (who plays his wife). We can't wait to see the results!

And good news for "Collar"! The marketing survey compiled over the past twelve months, from the 2,500 people who have seen the film, shows that nine out of ten would not only see it again but would recommend it to a friend! The test sample was conducted by Film Rx Partners, with demographics covering both sexes and ages eighteen and up. We look forward to being back on track with domestic distribution by the end of the year!

Friday, October 26, 2012

In the eye of the storm!

While we have received great interest from numerous independent distributors for "Collar", we have yet to have an bona fide financial offer that would make it worth our while. We are in the process of re-evaulating all offers, and having our product returned from those not seriously interested in supporting domestic distribution. Due to the highly charged political content -- and this is an election year -- we do not anticipate seeing any real offers before November 6, and we continue to develop our own distribution campaign to complete the plan itself and implement the marketing of the film. We are looking for funding through indiegogo! Check it out at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/255678!

In the meantime, additional footage was shot for "Chasing G", and we continue to prepare the full half-hour version (22 minutes) of the program. You will be able to see an abbreviated version at the "Chasing G" website, sometime this weekend. The final version comes out Wednesday, October 31. Willy Gilly is already working on the additional episodes ordered by executive producer Gary Corts! (And by the way, on Halloween, stop by HVPb at 128 Dolson Avenue in Middletown, and grab yourself a treat...no tricks!)

David met yesterday with Paul Ellis of the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center (formerly the Lycian Theatre). They discussed the possibility of the theatre housing several Willy Gilly productions, as well as working cooperatively to expand the programs of Acting Anyone Academy and the SLPAC. We are looking at an opening (probably "Supper With Ja") early next spring, followed immediately by two other plays. The two parties did agree in spirit to work jointly to seek sponsors for the mostly-underused facility: a beautiful, "legit"-sized house that deserves a better fate than it currently is experiencing. The venue has been recently spruced up and is in the process of total rehabilitation. We look forward to seeing the results and working with the SLPAC!

Also, we are awaiting a green light from a Chicago-based financial group to commence casting and pre-production of "A Hustler's Life". We anticipate that 95% of the financing ($5.7 million) will come from that source, with local investors providing the balance ($300,000). All things being equal, shooting should commence early next year. Stay tuned!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Bridge work

This morning, Nan attended the Tappan Zee Project's workforce and business needs meeting, held by the Rockland Workforce Investment Board, in the technical building at Rockland Community College. The purpose of this meeting was to share information about this multi-year Project's impact on the local workforce and businesses, and to begin a coordinated local and regional approach to job fulfillment and business-to-business connectivity.

Brian Coneybeare, special advisor to the governor on the TZ Bridge, Karen Rae, the NYS deputy secretary of transportation; and Ross Pepe, president of the Hudson Valley Constuction Industry Council made up the panel. It is anticipated that this projectwill bring upwards of 45,000 jobs to the Hudson Valley! The successful bidder will be named before the end of the year. Work on the piles in the Hudson will not begin until August 2013, as dredging in the river is not permitted until that time. The heads of the various workforce investment boards plan on meeting with Kelly McMillen to formulate a strategy of job training and apprenticeship, so that the workforce will be ready when the project commences.

Willy Gilly will be bidding on the opportunity of producing the documentary on the building of the new bridge. We will also be working with the various WIBs to expand our training program for below-the-line talent.

Meanwhile, our Indian producer clients have ordered additional rewrites on "36 Hours" that could slow the casting process somewhat; nonetheless, the producers believe that they will complete development and pre-production, including major casting, by the first of the year. (Willy Gilly would like to wish them a happy Dussehra, which is the last day of the Festival of Navaratri, celebrating the victory of Rama over Ravana in Indian lore.)

Moving ahead with "Chasing G", the opening segment of the full 'pilot' program is nearing completion, and will be posted on willygilly.com later this week, and on the new Chasing G site, being constructed by Dropline Design, early next week. The producers already have interest from two major networks: one broadcast, one cable. Based on what they've seen, the executive producers have already ordered additional episodes from Willy Gilly...so watch out!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Bill me later

Yesterday afternoon, on the way to memorial services for William St. George, held at the First Reformed Church in Slate Hill, NY, the sun was setting. As it sank below the horizon, the clouds formed what looked like a stairway to heaven. As we gazed at the amazing sunset, there on those stairs, we could have sworn we saw Bill, struggling somewhat, reaching his final destination. And although we could clearly see that it was him, we could not determine the cause of his struggle...either he was reluctant to leave (and we're sure he was), or if he was just trying to fix the rail on the stairs; no doubt that's what Bill would have done, if it needed it.

When we got to the church, there were hundreds of people -- lined out the doors, onto the grounds, in the kitchen, everywhere -- all there to pay homage to one of the finest human beings we've ever known. It occured to us in that moment that he was playing to the biggest crowd he'd ever had! A great way to exit...and a tough act to follow. Unfortunately, he doesn't get to do an encore. Vaya con dios, amigo...and we'll catch you on the flip side!

Meanwhile, we will be meeting with Paul Ellis of the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center on Thursday, October 25, to discuss whether SLPAC will be the venue for Willy Gilly's first stage production! Although we cannot name the play at this time, we can say it will be a comedy with the entire cast selected from actors trained locally! This is home-grown theatre at its best; the play itself is not only pertinent, but extremely funny! Stay tuned!

On the feature front, we are one step closer to funding "A Hustler's Life"! The Chicago-based finance group that has shown interest is moving forward with their process to clear the way for production. From our side, we are still seeking financial partners locally to anchor the production here in Orange County. The opportunity is to bring outside major investors into the region by providing some leverage for the financing (five percent). To refresh your memories, a dollar in production brings four to five in local spending, and this six million dollar film represents about 750 jobs over the next year! These investors are most interested in tax credits and deductions that are available for investment in independent film and TV.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

St. George

...as in Bill St. George. He might not have been a dragon-slayer, but he was one of the most talented, kind and compassionate men we have ever known. He was a man who lived his life for his family; he sacrificed the possibility of a career in acting and writing to take care of his wife and children, building and repairing other people's properties, at great physical cost to himself.

Two years ago, he walked into an acting class and re-ignited the passion he had always had for a craft he had yet to explore. His imagination was boundless. He found joy and humour in the strangeness of life, and used that unique vantage point to feed his creative soul. It was the soul with which he imbued his work as an actor and writer that made him and those around him come alive. Watching him work was a blessing; working with him was a treat, one that we will sorely miss. His grasp of the Meisner technique was instantaneous and effortless. We know that wherever he is, he's probably in Sanford Meisner's Master Class right now. Surely, Sandy would have loved him as we did. Our heartfelt prayers go out to his family along with a promise that we are here for them.

We will be creating a memorial benefit for Bill, whose untimely passing will most certainly inflict a serious financial burden for his family for whom he worked so tirelessly. For all who knew him, please look for an announcement for when we will be conducting the benefit; please join us in supporting him and his commitment to his wife, Barbara, and their children and grandchildren.

RIP.

On a lighter note, Willy Gilly has jumped into a new project (oh, really?). On Tuesday, October 16, at the Warwick Community Center, Denice Davis and Missy Raye (Whole Kids Education Foundation) held court over a group of concerned parents, whose issue is the health of their children. Pounds For Pupils is a program for parents desiring to provide healthy alternatives for their school-age kids by participating in health and fitness programs themselves.

It's a ninety-day competition, and the contestants will be getting sponsors to donate an agreed-upon amount for each pound lost. The donated money will go to programs for the children to cover some of the budget cuts that have been made in our school districts. The winner receives all kinds of perks; there are two Grand Prizes that include a complete body makeover. But the real winners are the kids, who get to see the results of taking proper care of themselves! It's also a pilot program, and if it works, expect to see it all over the country! For more information, check out the Whole Kids Education Foundation page on Facebook!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Vote Independent!

First off, we started the day at a breakfast with Independent Living, an organization devoted to the welfare of disabled people. It was a great breakfast, and they seem to be nice people committed to their work and their clients. The breakfast was at Anthony's Pier 9 in New Windsor. We sat with Cynthia Marsh-Kroll (Orange County EAP) and Paul Campanella, who's on the board at Museum Village.

We ran from there over to Hudson Valley Pawnbrokers, to meet with their web guru, Steve Toth of Dropline Design. Steve's responsible for HVPb's website, which handles about 80,000 hits a month! He'll be putting together the "Chasing G" site and working with Willy Gilly to embed video and audio. It should be up in short order!

After that, it was on to the office of Dr. Rajan Gulati, for some meditation and discussion about "36 Hours", to which Ed Asner has said he would add his acting talents. The producers have him slated for the part of Pope Leo. David Patrick Wilson is extremely excited at the opportunity to work with his old friend and mentor on this project! We expect to have further news from UTA on casting choices by week's end!

Finally, the Acting Anyone Master Class meets tonight! Anyone with a professional acting resume, with some real experience, is welcome to interview for inclusion; all Neighborhood Playhouse graduates, Meisner-trained actors and Level 2 Acting Anyone graduates are welcome to sit in and work on their next great role, audition, or improvisations! Space is limited; a ten-session card, which can be used anytime in Master classes, is $325. You will be working with Mr. Wilson himself!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

The heat is on!

As the season cools down, things are really heating up at Willy Gilly! After surviving a long, hot summer during which the long-promised river of cash seemed to have dried up, the fall has provided new opportunities to get back on track! Starting with the premiere of "Collar" in August, moving into the new production of "Chasing G", the continued development of "36 Hours" and "A Hustler's Life", there is renewed interest in all things Willy Gilly!

If you'd like to be a part of this extraordinary effort, now more than three years in the making, head to Indiegogo.com, and contribute to the growth and development of entertainment throughout Orange County and New York! For as little as $25, you can join us in moving forward with power and purpose!

We are the people's filmmakers -- it's our job to tell the stories you want us to tell -- we want your support to get the job done!

Monday, October 15, 2012

Amazing 'Grace'!

David and Nan spent yesterday afternoon and evening watching David's favorite actor (and longtime friend) Ed Asner in the Broadway play "Grace"! The house was packed, and the players were packing! A loaded script that takes on religious zealots, scammers, marriage and betrayal with all of its resulting tears and laughs. Not for the closed-minded or the faint of heart, this dry look at what motivates people to do terrible things was played to a near-full house at the Sunday matinee. The performances were crisp, energetic and completely believable!

Paul Rudd (I Love You, Man) does an amazing job in the lead role; Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire) is fully empathetic in his role; Ed Asner provides both comedy and drama as a German immigrant exterminator; and Kate Arrington is convincing as the lonely devotee of Christ, as she strays from the path of righteousness. The play, by Craig Wright, is not so much an indictment of Christianity as it is a withering look at fanatical religious hypocrites, who claim to be saved but lack the sufficient information to give them real firepower! Hats off to all...we highly recommend this provocative play and powerful cast!


After the stimulating performance, we went with Ed to the Del Frisco Grill on 51st Street, as his guests, for an incredible dinner! Service was great, food was terrific, and the clientele was top-shelf...except for the rude woman who sat behind Ed and kept bumping him with her chair! We also discussed a number of projects on which we might work together, including the thriller/drama "36 Hours", in which he said he would be happy to play the Pope!

Friday, October 12, 2012

Arts for art's sake!

Willy Gilly met this morning with the Orange County Arts Council to discuss the creation and operation of the Orange County (NY) Film Office, which is being formed to develop and promote Orange County as a hub for film and TV production, post-production and animation. The Council requested support for the application to the OCIDA (Orange County Industrial Development Agency); they are looking to use a grant as an anchor to attract other investment by producers at-large working in Orange County. We are weighing the opportunity to work as a primary consultant to the Arts Council; we believe that Orange County is the heart of the region for such development and is logistically, scenically and demographically perfect as a magnet that will bring the industry into the region on a large scale!

Congratulations to Paul Ellis and the management of the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center, which opened their new season last night...and we hear they really rocked the house with a virtuoso performance by singer John Pizzarelli! It's great to see such excitement and enthusiasm about what's happening in Sugar Loaf! We trust that we will be working with Paul at the Sugar Loaf PAC in the very near future; unfortunately, we unable to attend, due to the fact we were finishing principal photography on "Chasing G".

Speaking of "Chasing G", we are off and running, putting together a short promotional clip at the request of a major TV network! This will be followed by an extended video clip (seven to eight minutes) to be mounted on YouTube and distributed throughout the web! We are extremely excited with the results of our filming; we look forward to getting this 30-minute strip in front of the viewing public ASAP! Stay tuned...and we mean that literally!

Today's the day we expect to get some answers from the United Talent Agency regarding the prospective talent package for "36 Hours". Depending on what transpires in the next, well, thirty-six hours, Willy Gilly will open the gates for all possibilities in order to expedite casting and funding for the project. We believe that regardless of who participates, the story and script are winners, and it will become a great movie! We look to be in production by year's end!

Also, there's encouraging news on "A Hustler's Life": sources close to the potential primary investor say they are very encouraged and believe that, given the nature of the investor's other businesses, AHL is a win-win all the way around! The six million dollar project, which focuses on poker and romance, will be filmed in Orange County, Brooklyn (Barclays Center), Atlantic City, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. We expect to have answers on talent by month's end!

Finally, we wish to thank the Baltmore Orioles for giving us another opportunity to witness more great baseball! We would also like to send our condolences to the demise of a truly amazing season following the outcome of tonight's game. It is not an exaggeration to say the Orioles surprised everyone! GO YANKS!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Take us out to the ballgame!

GO YANKS! In the most amazing game we have ever witnesses (in person), the Yankees prevailed last night over the Baltimore Orioles. Nan and David were at the game (it was an anniversary present) as Raul Ibanez ninth-inning heroics were topped only by his twelfth-inning heroics, putting an end to the Orioles' 16-game extra-inning streak and a 78-game stretch in which the O's were undefeated when leading after the seventh! The game concluded just before midnight and 43,000 people (including us) went completely insane! David insists it was the greatest game ever played...the Yanks could end it all tonight, and we wish them all the best, although we know this Baltimore team is for real!

In other news, work forges ahead on "Chasing G", with interviews and editing. We expect the pilot to be completed by month's end, but you can see short segments of the program, beginning next week on our website, http://www.willygilly.com!

Meanwhile, "36 Hours" remains on hold, while awaiting word on offers out to major talent. We expect to have answers this week, and to finalize a funding package over the weekend, to be distributed to our investors for their approval next week.

Likewise with "A Hustler's Life". The package is out to our investors already, and we are just awaiting answers on how, when and where they would like to meet to finalize their commitment to the project. A six million dollar price tag on the card-flipping flick will be ready for casting by the end of this month. Word has it that Richard Gere is high on the short-list of players Willy Gilly would like to see at the table!

"Collar" is still awaiting its funding ($1.5 million) to do its own thing at the American box office; meanwhile, we have been approached by several international distributors interested in making a worldwide deal. The producers are looking for a time and place to screen for a select few the picture that premiered to great audience enthusiasm this past August!

They will be passing a screener copy to our close friend Ed Asner this Sunday, following the matinee of "Grace", starring Ed and Paul Rudd on Broadway! Ed's company, Quince Productions, is very interested in working with Willy Gilly; Ed co-starred with David Wilson in the TV series "The Bronx Zoo" from 1986-89. (It will be great to see him at work once again!)

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

O! What a day!

Saturday at Hudson Valley Pawnbrokers! Clowns, face painting, balloons, money! An amazing experience, all captured on video! People telling poignant stories about why the pawn shop has replaced the local bank for twenty percent of the population these days -- a graphic testament to the failures of our society in providing for our weakest and most vulnerable citizens. At least in case of "Chasing G", you'll get to see a human side to an otherwise cold and calculated business! That's why "Chasing G" is a must-see, and will be available on cable in the very near future!

We continue to work on casting for the feature film "36 Hours"; we are awaiting word from the United Talent Agency on striking a package deal that could provide a significant portion of the full cast! This will expedite the process of funding and get us into pre-production by year's end. We look forward to working with their list of formidable talent!

Meanwhile, we are still looking for a venue to house our stage productions. Anyone knowing of a house with 200 seats or more in the Hudson Valley ready for production, please contact us so we can begin the vetting process!

As a footnote, yesterday marked the first wedding anniversary of David Wilson and Nan Gill-Wilson. They enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Cosimo's at Middletown, and were treated to excellent service and a delicious dinner! They will be enjoying their anniversary gift: tickets to the Yankees-Orioles playoff game tomorrow night!

Friday, October 5, 2012

Wild and crazy at HVPb!

T-minus one day and counting! Today is a day of preparation at Hudson Valley Pawnbrokers in Middletown, New York! What a crew! Come and see for yourself tomorrow when we start playing for real on "Chasing G"!

Not that these guys aren't real everyday...things around here are as real as it gets! Come and join the fun tomorrow: bring what you got, and see what you get, with a chance to win some FREE cash, and maybe your fifteen minutes of fame!

Meanwhile, we met with Big Mountain Entertainment and Rebel Records this morning for a new project, focused on the music industry. We are excited about moving forward with this group to create a joint venture that will highlight the development of regional talent into major stars! Orange County...what a concept!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

T-minus two and counting!

"Chasing G" launches in two days! Saturday's the day! Come out and enjoy the fun!

Meanwhile, we are working with the United Talent Agency (UTA) to secure a talent package for "36 Hours"! UTA's clients include Sir Anthony Hopkins, Johnny Depp, singer Bryan Adams, filmmaker Wes Anderson, William Baldwin, Christine Baranski, Kate Beckinsale and Don Cheadle! The agency, with more than three thousand clients, has many 'bankable' names to fill the bill on the projected ten million dollar budget.

Also, we're still looking for a theatre for a season of plays we would like to produce this winter. If anyone has a line on a 200+ seat house with a real stage and lighting, please contact us ASAP! In the meantime, we will be working on gathering film shorts for the upcoming Beacon Festival in February. Please submit the work (music video or film short) that you think is your best effort to Willy Gilly!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

We see the light!

Last night, we met with the board at the Beacon Theatre in Beacon, NY, a truly extraordinary facility in the process of rehabilitation! (We love their enthusiasm and their passion!) They expect that the full house will be completely renovated and available for use by all forms of live entertainment by next spring. In the interim, they are raising awareness and funding through a series of events, including the Beacon Film Festival, to be conducted in the newly-renovated portion of the theatre in February. We are looking at providing them support through a screening of "Collar" and a number of film shorts, created by Willy Gilly and our associates, as part of the three-day event. If you are a filmmaker and have (or will have) a short film (10-20 minutes in length) available by the January entry date, please contact us so that we can review and pass it along! The Festival is also interested in music videos, local bands and TV pilot programs, as well as feature films.

Also: T-minus three days and counting before we start lensing "Chasing G"! If you're looking at making a buck, come on down to Hudson Valley Pawnbrokers on Saturday...you just may end up on TV, or winning a few dollars in the ATM giveaway, to be conducted by Woodman of K104.7! And meet "G" himself! We'll be there at 128 Dolson Avenue (next to National Liquidators) in Middletown!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

A Beacon on the Hudson!

In light of all that's happening, Willy Gilly is grateful to be meeting today with the Beacon Theatre in Beacon, NY, regarding the inclusion of "Collar" in their upcoming festival and the possibility of live productions there over the coming months! We are looking forward to announcing a schedule of ALL of the upcoming events by week's end. We promise, it will be exciting!

Meanwhile, the countdown continues for the launch of "Chasing G"! Put on your rocket shoes...it's gonna be quite a run! Once again, Woodman, morning show host at K104.7, will be running the giant ATM in front of Hudson Valley Pawnbrokers at 128 Dolson Ave in Middletown, between noon and 2pm on Saturday! HVP is the home base for "Chasing G", and this Saturday, it'll be a place where YOU can grab some free cash! Come on out if you're feeling lucky!

Monday, October 1, 2012

Get ready for "Chasing G"!

This Saturday, October 6th, marks the launch of principal photography of the new reality series "Chasing G", based right here in Orange County! "G" himself will be holding court at Hudson Valley Pawnbrokers at 128 Dolson Avenue in Middletown, NY! Look for the giant ATM where YOU can walk away with CASH, courtesy of the Woodman from the K104.7 Morning Show...and if you come between noon and 2pm, you just might find yourself the subject of "Chasing G"!

Also, we meet tomorrow with the Beacon Theatre about the entry of "Collar" into the Beacon Film Festival this coming February, and the possibility of a series of live plays to be performed there this fall! Remember, for all those who are Acting Anyone Level 1 students, tomorrow night's classes are postponed, so that we may meet with our counterparts at the Beacon!

Friday, September 28, 2012

From the Hudson Valley to the Big Mountain!

Acting Anyone Academy announces that the Level 1 Adult classes scheduled for next Tuesday, October 2 have been adjourned for one week, until Tuesday, Ocober 9th. Adjust your schedules accordingly. Also, there will be NO classes on Saturday, October 6th, as Willy Gilly will be commencing production on the new reality series, "Chasing G". Classes will resume the following Saturday, October 13th.

Speaking of reality, Big Mountain Entertainment and Willy Gilly Productions have entered into negotiations for another new show (title TBA). The show will feature the music industry, with Dwaine Harris and various artists, as they look to make it big through Big Mountain! Keep your eyes open for this one, which will be coming later this fall!

Looking at stage productions in the near future, Willy Gilly will be meeting with the Beacon Theatre in Beacon, New York to discuss a possible location to perform several plays, including the original "Supper With Ja"!

Finally, we are also looking forward to staging a comedy production based on the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, called "Some Like It Rotten", a benefit for the Paraclete Arts Center in Middletown! So dust off your fedora and be ready for dinner and theatre to die for...next Valentine's Day!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Aloha!

Our good friend Peter Gregory, departing director of the Orange County Business Accelerator, is moving back into the private sector, but plans to continue to encourage business growth and development in the area! A major booster of film and TV production, Gregory was instrumental in bringing us to the accelerator, which seems to be transitioning from an incubator into an aggregator of resources in the region! Willy Gilly will continue to work with both the OCBA and Peter Gregory, wherever he may be!

In other news, this afternoon we meet with Dorian DeHaan of the Artisan Discovery Foundation (http://artisandiscovery.org), an organization committed to developing artisan crafts in third-world markets (specifically Peru)! We will be creating programming related to the development of the Peruvian connections to bring fine-woven textiles, ceramics, sculpture, furniture and other fine items, created by indigenous cultures, to US markets! They will be holding a charity wine-tasting, "Wine Into Water", on Sunday, October 7th, from 1-5 pm. It will be held at the DeHaan family compound at 1389 Kings Highway in Chester! Tickets are $75 in advance (before October 1)and $85 at the door. Checks can be made payable to Artisan Discovery Foundation. Join us...we'll be there for fun, food and music!

This morning, we were honored to attend the Habitat For Humanity "Faith, Our Blueprint For Building" Annual Breakfast at Anthony's Pier 9 in New Windsor (http://habitatnewburgh.org)! Attorney Maureen Crush, president of Habitat in Newburgh, presided over a gathering of hundreds of enthusiastic supporters! Habitat has rehabilitated many homes for local residents, and has a goal of producing fifty renovations, or new homes in the city of Newburgh in the next five years...thus far, they have provided 305 local residents with beautiful new homes to replace the decaying accommodations in which their families were forced to exist previously! It is truly an extraordinary organization, one that should be wholeheartedly supported by all of us in the community!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

The clock starts on "36 Hours"!

"36 Hours", the movie, is now on the move! We are waiting on confirmation on talent commitment to continue the packaging and financing process. A number of 'names' are being tossed around, ranging from Sir Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Mark Wallberg, and Jeremy Piven...to local talent home-grown right here in the Hudson Valley!

While no firm commitments have yet been received by Willy-Gilly Productions (and our partners at Raj Productions of Middletown), the principals are most confident that those confirmations will be forthcoming in the near future! The preliminary budget, set at ten million dollars, may increase significantly before all the players join the parade!

Monday, September 24, 2012

Do it, don't talk about it!

Where is the money? Never mind the votes...where is the money? Are we supposed to hold our breath until after the election? Where is the American spirit of entrepreneurial endeavor? We hear talk all day long about jobs, jobs, jobs...film and TV production (and post-production) generates the most jobs in the quickest time: 100-150 jobs per million dollars spent! Furthermore, for every dollar spent on a production, four to five dollars are generated in the community! This is not pie-in-the-sky...these are the facts!

What's more, these jobs are sustainable and are non-exportable. With eighty percent of all recorded entertainment sold in the world being made in America, it is incumbent that we make hay while the sun shines! (We're sure all you farmers will understand that...and we're not talking Farmville here!) While the sun has set on America's popularity abroad in general, American entertainment has never been more popular! But, if you want the money and the jobs here, then the money that's here has to show itself! You can't get into the game if you don't ante up!

Friday, September 21, 2012

Let's play catch-up!

Yesterday, the Orange County Tourist Board held its annual meeting; in attendance were all of the local PR firms, as well as other advertisers and promoters of Orange County as a tourist destination. The meeting was held at scenic Arrow Park...if you haven't gone there, you definitely should!

The meeting was conducted by Susan Hawvermill, with special guest Cindy Perman of CNBC's weblog, "Pony In Here Somewhere". Cindy is also the author of "Curious New York", a humorous book about the oddities and idiosyncrasies all around us here in New York State. Her quirky and rapid-fire style was very inspiring to those in attendance who believe that the Hudson Valley at large (and specifically Orange County) has something extremely unusual and unique to offer! Her readers are, for the most part, well-read and educated, predominately financial types. (Lord knows we could use the money here!) It was both enlightening and enjoyable!

This morning, we traveled to another part of the county for a manufacturer's roundtable at Mount St. Mary's College. (That's right, film and video are considered manufactured products in New York!) The morning session was conducted by Dr. Bill Daggett, CEO of the International Center For Leadership In Education, an organization committed to raising American educational standards. While the information he shared with us was disturbing, it was in no way a surprise. America is in deep trouble when it comes to our overall education!

According to Dr. Dagget the prescription for raising America's standings in the world (we rank 29th overall), is to engage our young very early on in content that entertains (i.e. TV and video games, etc.) and educate to a purpose, which is not necessarily going to school! Stating that the mandate is now geared toward college and career, and that the reading skills required are much higher than in previous decades, it behooves us to look at how we can use entertainment to more effectively get the message across. It seems that we have chosen the path of least resistance to get where it's taken us, which is to focus on making it easier for the teachers to teach, rather than making it easier for the student to learn. We will definitely be talking to this guy!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

O Fraptious Day!

"36 Hours" may not seem like a lifetime, but it's taken a lifetime to get here! The new film, currently in development by Raj Productions (under the watchful eye of Willy Gilly Productions) is on track to secure major talent, through their best efforts, and begin the pre-production process. The film, about a jihadist plot to kidnap the next projected Pope, is expected to begin shooting sometime later this fall with a major cast (including a superstar). Currently budgeted at about ten million dollars, the producers are looking forward to making the film right here in the Hudson Valley, providing hundreds of jobs for local residents!

In the meantime, Broadway has received "Grace" (at least in preview)! We are looking forward to attending the opening of the play later this month. Longtime friend and David Wilson's former co-star (The Bronx Zoo) Ed Asner is back on stage for the first time in awhile! We are sure he's doing a great job! Everybody get your tickets at the Cort Theatre; the play also stars Paul Rudd and Michael Shannon! Word is on the street that "Grace" is one of top three Broadway plays to see this season!

On another front, "Collar" has been selected to be featured at the Beacon Film Festival in February! We will be meeting with them to discuss the presentation of the film and also the possibility of staging a new live production at the Beacon Theatre. Things are happenin' in the HV!

Also, we met with Congresswoman Nan Hayworth at the Goshen Chamber of Commerce Breakfast this morning. While there, we received a firm commitment from Rep. Hayworth to promote and support entertainment development and production throughout the region, and to stand for the re-instatement of IRC Rule 181c, tax deductions for independent film and TV production. Ironically, that package of tax benefits was dropped from the Jobs Act this past spring, with a promise to revisit and vote on specific elements later this year. Now it appears that HR 5793 is stuck in limbo, with no action scheduled in the near future. However, that bill, which being sponsored by Rep. Dryer of California, and specifically the film tax breaks for independents, has been vehemently opposed by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the major networks.

The bill, originally intended to stop production from leaving the US, has resulted in spawning huge financial incentives throughout the lower 48 states, leaving California high and dry. New York, currently ranked number two in US production, stands to lose a significant number of independent films and programs if things stand as they are. This can mean the loss of tens of thousands of jobs here in our state, owing to the fact that this deduction is critical to potential investors!

With the elections on the horizon, stay tuned...because it means so much to the future of film in our county, our region and our state!

Monday, September 17, 2012

Get a AAA rating!

Acting Anyone Academy commences classes this week for adults, youths and young adults! Beginner's Level 1 Adult Class starts tomorrow night, Tuesday, September 18th, at 7:30pm. Learn the basic Meisner Technique, that you can apply in any endeavour. Youth classes (ages 8-11) begin Thursday the 20th at 5pm. Our young adult classes will be starting Saturday the 22nd at 10am (for Level 1) and at noon (for Level 2), followed by a young master's class at 2pm! Become a complete actor, using the finest, healthiest technique for developing your craft!

On the production front, Willy Gilly will sign contracts this week to begin shooting "Chasing G", the new reality series with a twist! After scouting locations last week, we can safely say this will be one reality show you won't want to miss!

Meanwhile, the feature film "36 Hours" is moving forward with principal casting; we have contacted big-name talent (TBA) on both coasts to secure the players necessary to make this budget work, and deliver great performances! Yo can't have one without the other!

After last week's Hollywood box office debacle (the lowest in years), it might be time for a wake-up call to put better product on the screen and stop living in a comic-book world! To that end, congratulations to Paul Thomas Anderson and the Weinstein Company for the film "The Master", which broke all records for one-week take per house: an eye-popping $730,000 in just FIVE theaters! Now that's what we're talking about...!

We'll be back tomorrow to announce where and when you can see us live on the stage in a revival of a Broadway production (TBA), so stay tuned! Also, thanks to Bruce Roman at the Creative Theatre/Muddy Waters Players in Monroe for inviting us to see their production of "The Drowsy Chaperone", a wild and wacky live performance that we thoroughly enjoyed! Kudos to Bruce and the cast!

Friday, September 14, 2012

Hear ye, hear ye, one and all!

Level 1 is coming! Tuesday night, September 18th, from 7:30-9:30, Willy Gilly will be holding a NEW Acting Anyone Adult Level 1 class!

For all those interested, spaces are limited. Open registration will be tomorrow from 10am to 2pm at the Willy Gilly offices, 222 Greenwich Avenue in Goshen, New York. The registration is for any and all classes and to meet with Mr. Wilson, but we will be starting the Level 1 classes on Tuesday nights.

Level 1 teaches the basic technique of the Meisner Method of acting, and will assist anyone who deals with the public in forwarding their communications skills! Whether you are interested in a career in stage, screen or TV, increasing your retail sales or telecommunications skills, the tools you acquire in the first level will give you an edge, and will positively impact your efforts! If you are a public speaker, running for office, or just interested in dealing with your own personal shyness in a crowd, come and join us to see how you can open greater possibilities in whatever may be your chosen field...and life in general!

For our younger talents, we will be having Youth classes (ages 8-11) on Thursday afternoons from 5 to 6pm. The starting classes will be posted next week...stay tuned! Our young adult classes (ages 12-17) will commence a week from tomorrow; check in with us for your section. Classes run from 10am to 2pm on Saturdays.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Darn the torpedoes...full speed ahead!

Oops! We missed a great opportunity to exhibit at the Orange County Expo yesterday! Held at Anthony's Pier 9 in New Windsor, this year's show seems to have been a gigantic success! Yesterday afternoon, we attended as visitors and enjoyed a number of the booths, including K-Bear, a joint venture of Port Jervis businessman Joe Spina, Carl and Jackie Lentoni, and Chris Scibelli, owner of the Keller Williams franchise in Goshen, where we hold many of our workshops.

K-Bear is a new importer of eucalyptus-oil products that range from industrial cleaners to liniments and lotions. It looks like a really exciting opportunity for people to enjoy the benefits of working with truly organic products! Congratulations, guys! There were several hundred businesses represented at the Expo; we're sorry to say we weren't one of them...but we will be next year! Hats off to the Orange County Chamber of Commerce for putting on a great event!

On another front, things are charging forward on our new reality show, "Chasing G"! Based on a local businessman and his daily workaday life, it will be unlike any other "reality show" you've ever seen...this is one to watch!

Also, we will be attending tomorrow night's opening of "The Drowsy Chaperone" at the Muddy Waters Theatre as guests of producer Bruce Roman! We are looking to use the theatre, after his season ends in November, to stage a brand-new production, to be announced.

In regard to "36 Hours", we are in the process of closing name-above-the-line talent to secure our funding package and begin pre-production ASAP, which could be as early as next month! We are also awaiting word on the finalization of the major funding for the production of six films over the next three years. The work is here, the jobs are coming...stay tuned to this space!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Lights, camera, action 101!

Willy Gilly Productions swings into gear with its production training program! Next Thursday, September 20th from 2:30 to 4:30pm, all those interested in learning about, and training for, behind-the-camera or behind-the-scenes work is invited to come join us! The program will begin with seminar training about the different departments and jobs available within them. Additionally, you will learn the communications skills required to facilitate full participation in this "team" endeavour. The tools that you will acquire can be applied in virtually every walk of life. It is no accident that all major corporations in the US have been studying production paradigms for decades. It is a rare opportunity to gain training in America's number one growth industry!

Beyond the classroom, individuals enrolled in the coursework will be given the opportunity for on-the-job mentoring on a Willy Gilly production! We are currently completing funding for six films, two plays and two reality TV shows...all of which will be open for hiring later this year! The full course is twenty hours of classroom (two hours per week) and twelve hours on the job prior to placement.

For more information about enrollment, contact us at (845) 294-7500 or info@willygilly.com.

Monday, September 10, 2012

The Hudson Valley...really?

No, not really...reality! Willy Gilly Productions and local businessman Gary Corts have come to a preliminary agreement for developing and producing a brand new half-hour reality TV show, centered around Mr. Corts and his enterprise, to be shot entirely in the HV! Although we can't disclose the exact nature of the content at this time, rest assured it will NOT look like any other reality show out there!

Both Mr. Corts and the principals of Willy Gilly share a deep commitment to God and community, so you can count on seeing the truth in reality, perhaps for the first time on TV! The program, called "Chasing G", is in pre-production now; the cameras begin rolling later this month.

In the meantime, plans continue to develop around the production of a slate of films, on a much larger scale. A funding proposal for fifty millions dollars to finish production on six new films is in the hands of an international financing group. Things look very favorable going forward; we anticipate completing principal photography on at least two of these films before the end of the year!

Friday, September 7, 2012

Lou Grant's amazing grace!

Old friend Ed Asner returns to the New York stage this month, along with Paul Rudd, in "Grace", a new comedy about an evangelical who has a vision of a chain of "holy motels"! Sounds like it could be fun! Speaking with Ed yesterday, he expressed his trepidation about returning to Broadway after such a long stint away, but we know from having worked with Ed on "The Bronx Zoo", that he is a consummate professional and an American acting treasure. We are looking forward to getting together with him at the Cort Theatre later this month. Previews begin on the 13th of September...don't miss this one. We certainly won't!

On the "Collar" front, negotiations are underway to finish a soundtrack album. We are looking for a release to coincide with "Collar" the novel, and the re-launch of the film early next month. If you missed the premeire, you'll have a chance to see it again when it goes into broader release in October! Meanwhile, plans are moving ahead to get into production of the new film "Shadow's Serenade". This coming-of-age film is primed for a late fall startup, followed shortly by this winter's production of "A Hustler's Life", scheduled to resume filming early in 2013.

In the midst of all this filming activity, there are plans to set up a revival production of one of David Wilson's early successes. Willy-Gilly is looking for an appropriate venue to stage a revival of the play that launched David's career four decades ago!

Last evening's Acting Anyone workshop was well-attended. We are constantly pleased to find so many talented and committed individuals who step forward to participate in America's number one commodity: entertainment! We were recently told that America has an addiction to entertainment; if that's true, than the rest of the world is addicted, too! Even though recent reports show that summer box office was down four percent from 2011, first-run home viewing and on-line rentals of American film and TV product has jumped once again by double digits. The sky's the limit...America's wants movies, and we're making them!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Willy-Gilly's comin' to town!

Today Willy-Gilly scouted locations in the Middletown Business Improvement District for a potential home for the Acting Anyone Academy. Some locations discussed were the TD Bank Building, Mongomery Ward and the Thompson Building, all of which are under the control of the Middletown Common Council. Willy Gilly has a well-known commitment to bringing more production and media to the local environment. They would also very much like to include the Paramount Theatre sans current management.

Aside from the inept handling of much of the business surrounding the world premiere of "Collar" -- which was a resounding success -- the Paramount management has been derelict in filling the facility with quality events, having used it a total of 32 days so far in 2012. There remains also a major concern over the whereabouts of the alleged state-of-the-art digital projection and sound system, paid for out of the Orange County IDA treasury; it has failed to materialize in the six months since its authorization. (These are your tax dollars not at work, and we want to know why.) To paraphrase the Bard, something stinks in the city of Middletown. Willy-Gilly believes they can do much better in managing and utilizing this historic movie house.

A reminder: Willy Gilly is conducting a FREE workshop at Keller Williams, 2004 Route 17M (corner of South Street) in Goshen from 7:30 to 9pm tomorrow (Thursday). There will be refreshments and all kinds of information about what's coming, and how you can be prepared to take advantage of the opportunities which will abound! Mark our words!