The Exciting Beginning of 2013 - Hosting

This is the first time that I am able to look at the year ahead and to be excited about it. There are projects, field trips, zombie runs, and who knows what else this year. These are the basics.

I'm gonna break it down for ya, so this isn't a super long post.

PART THE 1ST:

HOSTING!

My friend Cindy Marie Jenkins and I entered a partnership last Fall to discuss the rapidly growing world of the webseries. Since then, we've grown out of a Google Hangout format and we've begun to shoot and produce a true show. We've been very busy in this new year, what with the Vegas Trip, and with our new world of interviews. Have a look-see over here.

Our friends Kristen Nedopak and Bill Ostroff, founders of The Geekie Awards have asked us to lead weekly G+ Hangouts with their judges. The RUGeekie Weekly Hangouts begin this Sunday at 1:30 to talk with Bonnie Burton. *cue Mom squeeing over Bonnie*

On top of all that goodness, we were also asked to start a podcast on CSICON.com. Eeee, a podcast!

This is all truly amazing because after Comic-Con last year, I was left feeling a little out of it. I was so happy to be around friends and fellow creators, twitter peeps, it was such a Nerd Summer Camp. However, after the last dinner on the last night, (and it was a fantastic time, let me tell you), I was overcome with the feeling that I wanted more. I wanted to be able to proudly declare that I was part of something, that I had created, or co-created a project that had an impact among my peers. Because really, I was introducing myself as "Jessica Mills' old roommate." And as much as I love Jessi, and I am so thankful for the time we had working on Awkward Embraces, being the old roommate of someone doesn't really give you creative clout. I couldn't lean on Jessi's achievements any longer.

I started wondering what I could create. I'm not a writer, I don't even have ideas to create shows or characters that another person can write. On my road trip home that summer, I began listening to The Nerdist Podcast. About halfway up, I realized that a podcast was something I could do! I mean, get me with a group of friends and let's start talking! My parents don't call me Chatty Patty for nothin'. But how do I create a podcast? My funds are limited right now, I could do a G+ Hangout... maybe? I dunno. Then, out of the blue - Cindy says, "Hey, we should do a show about the webseries world." You can imagine my glee. It's like The Universe/Higher Power/Gods and God Alike all said, "here - have Cindy" and she's a fantastic partner. She steps in easily in places I don't even think of, she's a total social media maven, she's super smart, and laughs at my dorky jokes. She also has pets that I adore. This is what you want from a creative partner, yes?? I'm feeling very lucky, and very grateful.

So in just the past two months projects have been taken to the next level. Ideas are flying in my head. I've even begun a weekly massage therapy series where I answer questions about the biz and my experience in the world. It's all very new, just one episode up, but it's something that I've been wanting to do for quite sometime.

I have a few more big projects to announce, but I'll save 'em for another day. This is what has started off my year, and I really couldn't be more excited.

Sneak Preview!

Last night, I was invited to attend a sneak preview of the play, "I Fart In My Sleep," a world premiere written and directed by Jennifer Sorenson. I snagged this honor by 1. Being a blogger, (almost spelled that blooger), and 2. being friends with the wondrous Renee Scott, who ran this campaign to get in bloggers for publicity. It was also fantastic as fellow blogger and roomie, Trina Mock joined me, and we got to watch our idol (cough, cough), Jim Hanna perform. I miss theater and I love seeing my friends' work/play on stage.   When Renee asked if we could join the event, I was just tickled.

Here's the review:

This show is freaking fun and delightful. Jen bravely started blogging about her most embarrassing moments in life and then turned some of her most hilarious, and I'm assuming embarrassing stories into a show. One could think that turning your blog into a show might be a little self-indulgent, and then I would say get over it. Performing and sharing stories about your life goes hand in hand with a storyteller's life. If performers didn't do this, there would be no drama, no comedy, no stand-up, no Christopher Titus.

Trina and I before the show begins. 

The show opens up to 8 actors coming out on stage, claiming that they are Jennifer Sorenson and sharing something about "their" life. It ends with Jen standing center and telling us what we're in for. For the next 90 minutes, (no intermission, and you don't even notice the time fly), we are treated to 8 monologues brilliantly shared about Jen's life. The ensemble steps in to help tell the stories, become different people in her stories, her mom, her crush, her hungover old roommate, while in the back a projector shares pictures of her life and holds the title of the piece we're watching.

The set. 

The ensemble performed with an air of play and whimsy. There's a twisted joy watching a grown man share the humiliation that a middle school girl went through. I felt myself laughing and going, "aww" as the stories and the horrors were shared. I actually held myself back from reacting like they were a friend telling me a story as I was drawn in to each tale. You learn about Jen's first kiss, her life as a stand-in for Lea Thompson, and where the height of her humiliation took her in a yoga class.  I found myself  thinking about my embarrassing tales, my versions of certain stories, (like when you embarrass yourself in front of your crush), and I love that I was drawn in, and made comfortable in the mutual experiences. And some of her shit was just fucking hilarious. I commend Jen and her cast for telling these stories, because it's not often a thing you would share with a room full of strangers. HA! *chuckles to self in remembering last night's stories*

Myself, Renee, and Trina.  We had a good time. 

I caught Renee in the middle of a conference with Jen.

After the show, Renee introduced us to Jen, and instead of shaking her hand, I gave her a hug - cuz I think that's important. We laughed and had fun hanging with the cast and fellow bloggers. I even had my own awkward moment as the lobby suddenly went quite when I said I wanted to split a cupcake with Trina and not eat a whole one. You know, after we all knew that Renee made them from scratch and how weird is it to share a cupcake? I'm trying to be good, dammit! Luckily, as lots of awkward moments had been shared with the room, it made for a good laugh.

A lobby of bloggers & actors!

To sum up: GO SEE THE SHOW! Two thumbs over here. If you want to get in with a discount, here's your chance, there's a discount only if you use this code given to the bloggers from last night: BLGR. Go to www.theprodco.com or www.brownpapertickets.com/event/311544. That code gets you a $10 discount on any full priced ticket. This is the only way you're going to get discount.

Follow Jen on Twitter at @IFartInMySleep or @JennSoLa.

Jim & fellow cast members basking in the glow of a great show. 

I love this man, I really do.

The cover of our next album. 

In between poses for her blog-Trina laughing at Jim.

Cuz Jim's really good at modeling as well. 

Field Trip: Vegas! The IAWTV Awards!

I am back from Vegas! I had a great 3 days there, as Cindy and I decided to watch the IAWTV Awards for our WebSeries Watch.

Here's friend, inspiration, and creator of Skyrim Parodies Kristen Nedopak. We are totally hardcore. Totally. This is what happens when you  drink wine and eat bread at The Wine Cellar in Rio. 

Here is the lovely Venetian. Artificial sky and water. Like a giant Disneyland version of Venice for us ignorant non-travely types. In't cute? The awards were held at The Palazzo Theatre in The Venetian, and while Cindy and I spent all day walking around it, I still felt like I was in a TARDIS. Different areas just kept opening up around different turns. Thank god for their signs, otherwise, I'd be blogging from somewhere inside there right now.

The IAWTV Awards are in their 2nd year. Founded by the International Academy of Web Television, it's the webseries world opportunity to really have a great moment with the growing community and the successes we've all been going through.

It was a pretty great night as I got to hang out with friends, and yet see some web celebrities and feel all "Oooh and Ahhh" about them.

I awkwardly made eye-contact with Felicia Day. My heart went all a-flutter as Chris Hardwick was close by. Truly, I can go on and on about my total NerdCrush on him. He's a pretty remarkable guy and very much adorkable. Kristen got to give him the award for Best Online Channel! Woot.

Here's a panoramic shot of the after party.

Cindy setting up the camera, pre Stockholm interview

Here's Cindy and I all dolled up. We realized we never took a pic of us while actually in Vegas, doing something Vegas-y together. But we did take plenty of travelogue videos that you can watch here: Vegas Playlist. You'll also find videos of our interviews that we were able to have with David Nett and also the peeps behind Stockholm. If you'd like more watch the site: www.web-series-watch.com

We had a good time. It was nice to see friends and share in their adventure. Being there made Cindy and I really excited about what we've been doing with WebSeries Watch, and I'm excited about where we're going to go with it. I think we're on the right path.

I'll keep you posted as we go along. There are so many things to share!

Cindy gambling only on a LOTR slot machine. She won $.30. Which means, she only lost $.70. 

Our furry/blurry hosts. That's Jeffery the black furry think, and Rupert, the blurry gray and white. They were ADORABLE, and made us very happy. 

A Grateful, Goofy, Geek

In the middle of last month, inspiration struck.

I was sitting in my car, quietly lamenting to myself how I didn't want to go into my dayjob. I had been struggling with that feeling for quite some time, (who doesn't), and I was making myself write down what I was grateful for, before I walked through the door. Then it hit me: why don't I just make a quick video each day of what I'm grateful for? It'll be something fun to do, and I can do it through the end of the month, taking me into the new year.

In the midst of the holiday season, some people feel lousy. In the midst of the mentally ill taking lives, you can feel devastated. In the midst of feeling ever so broke, you can feel crushed. When you combine that into December 2012, oh, what a triple whammy of crap to go through. So I thought doing a video each day of what I'm grateful for might just be a good thing not only for myself, but maybe, I can reach someone and make 'em giggle at my goofiness, even for a moment.

Trust me....there's some goofiness.

So if you have about 26 minutes, turn it on, listen, and laugh while you're doing the dishes, or have something inane to do.

I think there is always something to be grateful for - that's what I've learned. It may not feel like a big deal, but there is an awful lot to be grateful for. So go out there and tell me what you're grateful for.

Happy Frickin' New Year!