R.I.P. Cory Monteith Of "Glee"

Wow! Cory Monteith "Finn Hudson" of Ryan Murphy's "Glee" is gone....although I was not a fan of the show, I respected the Actor/Singers on it, they are/were major talents. He was only 31 years old.

Cory had a history of being in and out of rehab - something that thousands of Americans can relate to in this crazy world we live in.

While the final autopsy has yet to determine what The Amazing Cory passed away from, I suspect it has something to do with his addictions.

He had everything, success and talent, but sometimes that is not enough to fill the hole in someone's heart, and Cory had a lot of heart.....

Rest In Peace....Sweet Prince, despite what happened, I hope you truly enjoyed the ride...xoxo....

Enjoy "Glee's" signature song featuring Cory on Oprah covering Journey's: "Don't Stop Believin"

                                                      "Don't Stop Believen" On Oprah

Coming Soon: The Canyons

It's been a while since Lindsay Lohan looked like a bona fide movie star, seeing the trailer for her latest "The Canyons" is the first time that has happened on film in a while (she looked like one a few times at her numerous court appearances, but those do not count).

Ms. Lohan seems to have found the perfect role to match the public perception of her. In the film she plays the way over everything, translation beyond jaded,"Tara" whose opening dialogue in the trailer nails the character: "When's the last time you went to see a movie in the theater?" Tara says of movies at the trailer's outset. "I don't know. You know, I guess maybe it's just not my thing anymore." 

She co-stars with Porn Star James Deen as "Christian" - the actual storyline is not revealed in the teaser (tease being the operative word) but what one can gather is it involves a love triangle, drugs, homemade porn and is an ode to a world where nobody has a private life anymore.

This being stated it is also from the mind of Bret Easton Ellis, who is responsible for two of my favorite books/movies "American Psycho" & "Less Than Zero". So you know what you are going to be in for something sordid and dark.

Also along for the ride is renowned master of the underbelly of society Paul Schrader who is responsible for "Taxi Driver" and "Hardcore" and a personal favorite the remake of the 1942 horror film "Cat People" with Malcolm McDowell & Nastassja Kinski - which re-imagined the legend of the Cat People as an erotic fantasy. 

Of course people are now pronouncing Lohan's career one step away from porn, uh this is utter hogwash. "Yes" she is starring in an extremely edgy indie project and yes it will be fairly explicit, but so were the films I mentioned above and you did not hear anyone saying that about the actors involved in those projects. I would rather see her in something looking like her own movie star and connecting with a character that she understands than doing a poor imitation of one, who she obviously understands, but can't hold a candle to, "Liz & Dick" anyone? Yeah, I thought not.

Also, yes I have seen the latest release of the publicity generating NSFW photos showing Deen's penis (no one's ever seen that before) and Lohan's breasts, again what would you expect from the combining of this writer/director team? This is their area of expertise and the type of film they know how to deliver.

I for one can't wait to take a trip to "The Canyons"!

                                                           "The Canyons" Trailer

Take a trip into "The Canyons" 

Video On Demand: August 2nd

Select Theatres: August 9th

Visit "The Canyons" at: https://www.facebook.com/TheCanyonsFilm?fref=ts

Valarie Pettiford Is Out For Blood - "True Blood"

This just in, "Entertain Me" friend and favorite Valarie Pettiford is out for "Blood"...!

I first interviewed Valarie about her collection of lullabies "Velvet Sky" on Chorus and Verse and for "ET" in October of 2012, you can jump to it here!

http://www.chorusandverse.com/content.php?id=20121025A

Well the multifaceted Ms. Pettiford has landed herself a two episode arc on the hit HBO show "True Blood" read more!

Award-winning star of stage and screen, Valarie Pettiford, is joining the cast of HBO’s top-rated Sunday night drama, True Blood, in a recurring role for their sixth season. She will appear in a two-episode arc starting in Episode 7: “World Without End,” which is scheduled to air on July 28, 2013.

“Working on this show has been a delicious experience,” says Valarie. “It has been an absolute joy to work with a cast of this caliber. Everyone has been so lovely – they say it starts at the top, and on True Blood, it really does.”

From the Broadway stage to independent short films, from blockbusters to music video cameos, this Fosse-trained dancer’s work draws attention. Valarie has a long list of accolades, including a Tony Award nomination, NAACP Awards nominations and Best Actress honors for the festival short ‘The Response.’ Valarie’s resume boasts national tours (Dancin’, Show Boat), hit sitcoms (Half and Half, House of Payne) and big-budget studio films (Stomp the Yard, Jumping the Broom). Her second album, Velvet Sky, a collection of original lullabies, was released last fall. Additionally, she has been sanctioned by the Fosse/Verdon estate to reconstruct the maestro’s choreography for a new generation of dancers in master classes in New York City. She is teaching with fellow Fosse-alum Lloyd Culbreath.

True Blood airs Sunday nights at 9:00 PM on HBO.

Get "Bloody" with Valarie at: www.officialvalariepettiford.com.

Do "Bad Things" at: http://www.hbo.com/true-blood/index.html

Tom Goss Loves "Bears"

Tom Goss has been quite prolific of late with his music and videos. Starting with showing his clock in the innovative video for his too cool for school song "Make Believe" he then followed that up with a cover and a very hip, minimalist video of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's "Can't Hold Us".

Today, yes today, is the official release of Tom's latest video which is bound to be equally as big, literally and figuratively as it predecessors "Bears". Yes, it is an ode to all things Bear and why they are Hot! Tom himself is a big bear lover and has a Husbear all his own, Michael Briggs. 

To celebrate the release of the video Tom gave me five things he likes about these furry dudes...Hey Tom go for it!

Tom Goss

Tom: 

1. Bellies 

2. Beards 

3. Burliness 

4. Buoyant Exuberance 

5. Laid Back Attitude 

Without further adieu, here is the hot new video for Tom's song "Bears" Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr...!

                                                           "Bears" Video

Hang with Tom and the "Bears" at: https://www.facebook.com/tomgossmusic?fref=ts
                                                 

"Love Is Love" And VenSun

"My mother started me when I was really young, I went to music school and studied opera. You can't take the girl out of the classical!" - Sylvia Tosun

The above quote was from my interview with Sylvia for her club hit "World Keeps Turning" jump to that here! http://www.chorusandverse.com/content.php?id=20120206A

Sylvia and French Producer David Vendetta recently created VenSun. With the overturning of DOMA (The Defense of Marriage Act) their first collaboration "Love is Love" could not have asked to be released at a better time.

To mark this historic event a special version features spoken samples from Martin Luther King, President Obama, Congresswoman Maureen Walsh, Ellen DeGeneres, and Hillary Clinton interspersed in the mix, giving it an historic feel –  to mark the exact moment of time 

So Celebrate Everyone and get out and dance!

Sylvia Tosun

As Sylvia said to me recently: "Progress Always Wins" #Loveislove

Hear the sound of love, give VenSun's debut single a listen on Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/sea-to-sun/love-is-love-by-vensun-david

Get connected to Sylvia on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SylviaTosun?fref=ts

Demi Lavato Gives Kevin "KO" Olusola A "Heart Attack"

Kevin "KO" Olusola = Astounding

Note to self: Kevin "KO" Olusola is an astounding and expressive cello player....That sums it up people.

The instrument loving one fifth of the amazing acapella group Pentatonix Kevin "KO" Olusola continues to push the boundaries of what that means with his solo videos. The current being a cover of "The X-Factor" Judge Demi Lavato's "Heart Attack".

Ya' know I can't really say too much more other than listen. This group is full of amazing talent, together and doing their own thang.

Keep on doing what all you guys are doing, it's off the hook!

                                                         "Heart Attack" - The Video

Enter the world of Pentatonix at: http://www.ptxofficial.com/

Helen Keller Had A Pitbull, So Does Josh Mitchell

"A Boston publicist moves to LA with his girlfriend-actress to live the dream but his world is turned upside down when a rival competitor creates a lie about him on Ripoff Report. To worsen matters, his girlfriend is diagnosed with terminal breast cancer and her final dying wish is to get a pitbull. As he mourns her tragic loss he is forced to make nice with his new furry friend while he works to get revenge on his enemy and restore his company's name" -

This is the storyline for Writer/Director/Producer & Star Josh Mitchell's indie opus "Helen Keller Had A Pitbull".

Using events from his own life and combining it with his love of Pitbulls, Josh knocked out the script for "Helen Keller" in two weeks!

Well it's time to hear more from the face of Wickid Pissa Publicity and find out why Pitbulls are the new black....Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Josh!

MS: So Josh, getting an indie film made is a tough go, what motivated you to do it?

JM: Making this movie was pricey but I am old school, I believe you have to introduce yourself to the industry instead of waiting for opportunities. Like what Sylvester Stallone did, he locked himself in a hotel room for three days and wrote "Rocky". Look at the guys who did "Swingers" now Jon Favreau he's now directing things like "Iron Man" These were unknown actors rather than waiting for that knock on the door they knocked the doors down. I wanted something that would showcase me as a Writer/Director/Producer and Actor. So I took my real life experiences, the time I was coming from Boston as a publicist to Hollywood, infused them with some nuggets and lessons, things that I encountered and Hollywood-ized them a little bit. As you know in Hollywood you can run into some really interesting characters. (laughs)

MS: Oh you sure can. (laughs)

Celine Wallace & Josh Mitchell

JM: There are those and others who are diamonds in the rough.

MS: What about the part of the storyline where someone created lies about you on the Ripoff Report, is that true?

JM: Yeah, when I was coming from Boston from Hollywood I wanted to get all my clients together and have a party to announce my move to Hollywood I wanted to do a big splash so I had it at The W Hotel. What I thought would be a couple hundred people, something where I could walk people around and introduce them, well it caught on like "Gremlins" in the shower and turned into this huge event (laughs) fifteen hundred people!

MS: Whoa! 

JM: I got approached by somebody who owned a magazine, they said they wanted to help with the party and bring some different dynamics to the table. So I thought why not? The short end of the story is that it went pretty good, we had a great working relationship, but come the day of the party I got a lot of the shine at the event and the guy got jealous. Basically he tried to pin some fake charges on me. He kept pestering me, putting stuff on Facebook, so I finally did what I should have done at the get go and Googled him. This whole thing about him came up on the Ripoff Report, how he cheats on his wife, does cocaine, burned people at Playboy parties, blah, blah, blah. I'm a Boston guy and speak the raw truth and don't do well when people try to bully me. So I straight up said to him "I don't deal with scam artists, I will expose you" I grabbed the link and sent it to him. Two days later one showed up on me!

MS: What a douche!

JM: There are two reasons I wanted to make this movie. One was to be a champion of the Pitbull breed and two expose this scandalous and Un-American site called Ripoff Report. It's unbelievable what they can do to people. Listen I did not get that affected by it, my business actually tripled since that showed up on me. (laughs) 

MS: That site should be shut down.

JM: What I did with this film is payback, the guy will know it is about him, but I did it in a subtle and smart way. Basically I wanted to write a movie that was personal, the script flowed out me in two weeks. I covered my coming to Hollywood, and when I got here my girlfriend was working at  The East Valley Animal Shelter and rescued two Pitbulls. She'd walk the dogs no one wanted to walk and one day she asked me to come with her. We enjoyed this one dog that kind of stood out his name was "Marty" he was this handsome, beautiful vibrant dog and the animal people walked by and said he was going to be put down on Saturday. 

MS: Hearing things like that always make me sad.

JM: My girlfriend and I both looked at each other and we're like, "no you're not". Kristen found a home for another Pitbull in Arizona and Marty came to live with us. Like most people I had pre-conceived notions about the breed, I didn't have any experience with them, but now I can see how beautiful these dogs are. Pitbulls are unbelievable animals who have been wrongly cast as villains in the media. I love my dog he is amazing and has changed my whole mental outlook about things.

MS: So tell me did Helen Keller really have a Pitbull?

JM: She did! In fact that's what got my creative juices flowing and gave me the idea for the movie. One day Kristen said "Did you know Helen Keller had a Pitbull" - a light went off in my head that said "That's an indie film"! 

Go "Pitbull" check out the trailer and full length movie at: 
www.vimeo.com/ondemand/helenkellerhadapitbull

Join the Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/HelenKellerHadAPitbull?fref=ts

Visit Josh at: www.wickidpissapublicity.com