CHRISTMAS IN VEGAS - FILM AUDITIONS

Stephanie and I had no children for Christmas.  So we celebrated Christmas early and went to Las Vegas to see my parents and my sisters.  We also saw one of my brothers who flew in from Houston and then ran out to Utah to see his kids.  While in Vegas, we helped my parents take care of things around the house, plus hang up pictures on their empty walls.  They have lived in this house for just over a year and are still unloading from the big move from Virginia.

While there, we also got to see our friend Matt Lewis, who is possibly the best Elvis impersonator there is, as well as a very talented individual.  He was the star of our film "Tears of a King" and headlines the Legends show in Vegas.  I still don't know when Tears is coming out.  I had no date to report to Matt.  We filmed the movie over 2  years ago.  I think we are still working out legalities over music.  

Anyway, we are also starting on auditions on what could be my most challenging project ever.  "The Last Eagle Scout" is a film I wrote and will produce and direct with my own money.  I know I am crazy, but I feel with the changing political climate we are experiencing (all is Political Climate Change or Political Warming), it is time for this story to be told.  It is more then just boy scouts.  Auditions continue on Jan 10.  

Have a happy new year! 

WILL IT BLEND - IPHONE APP

Hey, now Will it Blend is available as an app for the iPhone.  It's pretty cool looking.  My friend, Rob Perry, constructed this application that allows you to watch specific Will it Blends at the push of a button (as if you haven't had enough of the most powerful blender).  If you have iTunes you can check out the link here.

Christmas Photos

Couldn't help but to put this photo up.  Here is my sweet wife, Stephanie, with her three children, Kristina, Emily and Michael.  What hams!  

For the past two years, as Steph and I have taken pictures (her bridals, last year's Christmas photos, our wedding photos) I have taken them myself.  I even take the ones that have me in them (can you believe that).  I usually use a timer and sit myself in front and take a guess.  

I still have photos of my sons, Forrest and Parke to take for Christmas.  Hopefully by the end of the week.

Democracy wins!… oh, except for Proposition 8

The opinion on this blog is in no way the same of those within Blendtec or Will it Blend (that they'll admit).  To protect Will it Blend, I posted this and then removed it, but I feel I needed to show this somehow.  Of course, the 2 or 3 people who actually read this blog will pose no threat.

So here’s the thinking… if you don’t get what you want, vote on it.  Then, if it’s not in your favor, bitch and moan till you get your way.

That is how I feel when it comes to Proposition 8.  Even though I don’t live in California (and I could actually care less), I will possibly be a target myself because I am a Mormon and because I work in the entertainment industry. 

Now the black-listing begins.  It first started when you were a Hollywood elite and you chose not to vote for The Anointed One.  Now it’s that you voted for Prop 8 and are a Mormon.  I feel for Scott Eckern, a Mormon, and artistic director of the California Music Theater, who was recently black-listed for supporting and donating to Prop 8.  So he stepped down. So did Richard Raddon, director of the Los Angeles Film Festival. Now there is talk of boycotting the Sundance Film Festival.

As we went to San Francisco a few weeks ago, we had to be careful to not say we were from Utah.  We revealed it once to the Mythbusters and the first thing out of their mouth was "Utah, eh... good job on that prop 8".   

It is really sad to me that these celebrities who I have watched and loved on TV for so long are standing outside the temples protesting.

I guess we will have to start black-listing Donny and Marie Osmond, Glenn Beck (oh wait, he’s already black-listed from the get-go), Larry King (married to a Mormon, guilty by association actually works here) or Gladys Knight (oh wait, she’s black, that doesn’t count)….. No mention of the fact that 70 percent of the African American population actually voted for prop 8, where is the outrage on them. 

We will then have to black-list David Archuleta as well.  Or will he deny the situation?  Will he leave the church for his career?  Will he speak out against? 

Hopefully he won’t be like the other spineless members of the church who are “in the church but not of the church” when it comes to the entertainment industry.  Just a member enough to star in the latest Halestorm film, but not enough to be “told what to do by grumpy old men who are out of touch” just so they can star in a big Hollywood production.

But only because there happen to be members of the Mormon faith who forked out most of the money for the advertising of Prop 8, the whole church gets the shaft from protestors. 

What are they mad at?  Is it the money?  Where is the outrage at the fact that Obama outspent McCain 4 to one?  Where is that outrage? Where are those protestors? 

It is obvious that these people are either uninformed, or just hate the church as a whole. Or do they just love to get off of work and chant random things?  If we are going to talk about unfairness, how about the unfairness of my ancestors being kicked out of the country for their beliefs.  Where is my retribution? Where is my apology? Where is my check?

I actually am in favor of gays having some kind of union they can call their own, just not marriage.  Don’t come pushing me and others aside like a bully.  Gays have many rights and privileges.  In fact, in many cases, they get the hand up because they are gay.

It is ridiculous to see the protests, the vandalism, the burning Book of Mormon.  Is this Missouri all over again?   

It is amazing to see those who believe in tolerance and love, not hate, there sure has been a lot of hate coming from that side.  So much for your example.

I ask the gay community to go back to the drawing board and get over the fact that the voting was fair and honest and… over with!  Blame the people who voted!

And for those who are Mormon and in the industry… buckle up!

YouTube Live: People we met.

If you are familiar with YouTube, you might notice other celebreties from YouTube, such as LisaNova, What the Buck, Barats and Bereta, Free Hugs and Funtwo.  I was especially excited for Funtwo because I was a fairly humble guy who amazingly plays Canon on his guitar.  He got to perform with Joe Satriani.  It was an awesome set.

YouTube Live! Mythbusters

I think besides Tom Dickson, I felt I was the oldest guy there.  YouTube put on their first live show in San Francisco.  Of course what would a YouTube event be without Will it Blend.  We met many people who produce and post videos with a large series of fans.  These are people you probably wouldn't know, but because of our involvement with YouTube, we knew.  Tom Dickson did great doing a skit with Chad Vader, (A series about the not-so successful brother of Darth Vader).  The things blended well and the audience loved it.  You can see the video here.

The best experience was meeting members of the Mythbusters, Adam and Jamie.  Through our mutual friend Kristin who works for Discovery, we were able to talk to the guys several times during the rehearsals.  Come to find out, Adam is a fan of Will it Blend (I have it on video to prove it, will post later when I edit it).  That was cool.  They also said that they go through a blender a month in their shop.  So we have offered to supply them with blenders.  They have also invited us to their shop if we are ever in town again.  

WILL IT BLEND VISITS GOOGLE

George, Stephanie and I stopped in and recieved wonderful treatment at the Google Plex just outside of San Fransisco. George did most of the talking, he's the man. I simply looked pretty and answered a few questions (the strong silent type, ya know). The atmosphere at Google is amazing. I think I was the oldest one there. They have cafeterias where the employees eat for free. We were invited and they had chefs making fresh sushi (coudn't resist). Not the normal hamburgers and pizza you would see in a high school cafeteria. It almost felt light a college campus. Technology everywhere. We arenow waiting for our rehersal for YouTube live. I have an in with Discovery and we have a chance at meeting the Mythbusters here. Cool!

WILL IT BLEND ON YOUTUBE LIVE!/GOOGLE PLEX

I am taking Stephanie with me to San Francisco to the YouTube Live event (that is if we don't get booed, for some funny reason).  We are going with George and Tom to do a skit with Chad Vader, who also has a large presence on YouTube.  I will be taking my new laptop with me, so we will take pictures and load photos while we are there.  George and I are also speaking at Google, which is near by.  We will be touring the location where "it all happens" and speak at the Google-plex.  I hear it is a pretty high tech environment and no one there is over 30.  (I also heard they keep a 40 year old around just to legitimize their business).  Look for us live on YouTube Saturday Nov. 22 at 8pm eastern.

Missing Blog...

I had sent an e-mail to many friends about a current topic, but have since pulled the blog I made. If you wish to read the blog, and find out why I pulled it,  contact me directly.  For now, I will put up a nice picture of me and Steph standing by a sunrise at South Padre Island.

NEW PHOTOS-WILL IT BLEND AT GOOGLE AND YOUTUBE LIVE

George and I agreed that we were rock stars and needed to start looking like rock stars (nothing to do with my drums).  So here are new photos of G.W. and I (creators of the most successful ad campaign in the history of the internet-by several magazines, don't know where).  But we are going to San Fran in November to be part of YouTube live as well as give a presentation to Google at their Googleplex to talk about how cool we are.  I understand the Mythbusters will be there along with a bunch of internet stars like Lisa Nova and Ask a Ninja.

WHAT DOES 'WILL IT BLEND' AND 'HAPPY DAYS' HAVE IN COMMON?

Today at Blendtec we filmed an informational video with Cathy Silvers.  Cathy was best known in her reoccurring role as Joanie's best friend, Jenny Piccalo on the TV Show "Happy Days".  She owns a company known as Healthy Living in Southern California and works with Blendtec in introducing her own blender line.  We also did a piece where she did a Will it Blend with Tom.  She was fun and we wish her well.

WILL IT BLEND ON DISCOVERY CHANNEL

If you didn't see the program on The Discovery Channel, now you can see it on YouTube.  Someone has already posted it.  It looked pretty cool.  

The weather is starting to cool.  But I am sure with all this Global Warming, I shouldn't worry about needing to turn on my heater.

SOUTH PADRE VIDEO SHOOT-HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING

While I am in editing on my videos for South Padre, Garladdy (Gerald Hartley) sent me some photos of us on Padre.  The first is me with my mouth open (thanks) and second is me and the guitar master himself, and the third is me and "My Little Artist", Stephanie.  I would like to wish Gerald, Randy, Jealan, Crystal and all my Canadian buddies (including Neil, Getty and Alex) a happy Thanksgiving.  

WILL IT BLEND PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

A while ago, I produced a series of videos that promote the Total Blender, Mix N Blend, and other Blendtec products in the form of an infomercial.  As you can see here, Scott Christopher and Shaunna Thompson are meeting with Tom Dickson on camera.  They did a great job.  These videos are on DVD and being placed in each machine as they are shipped out.  Soon, we hope to buy air time and format the videos into an infomercial length program. Watch just a piece of the video on my YouTube account.  

WILL IT BLEND ON THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL - OCT 15

You may have heard.  The Discovery Channel called us to appear on a new television show called TIME WARP.  The show focuses on high speed digital technology where they film things at 1000's of frames per second and play them back in slow motion.  Of course, it would be cool to see what the Blendtec Total Blender in action.  I have seen the footage and it's pretty cool.  So Will it Blend will be featured on this program.  Look for it on October 15th.  I saw the Discovery schedule and they replay it twice later in the week.  Here is a link to the video we made for Time Warp. 

HANGING AT SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

I took with me host Scott Christopher, accomplished musician and sound mixer Gerald Hartley my lovely wife Stephanie and I to South Padre Island last week.  I will have more pictures and videos as I get editing.  We started a new ad campaign called "There's An Island In Texas", which will encourage people to come to South Padre Island, Texas.  Many people don't even know there is an island in Texas.  Though some thought SPI was hurt by the hurricane, when in reality, it landed about 300 miles north.  So almost nothing happened.  We filmed for about 8 days, with Host Scott going from place to place meeting the people who make the island happen.  It is also where I grew up (born in Virginia, moved to South Texas at 10).  Here is a shot of me with Gerald on camera, following me into the house I used to live in.  It was a little sentimental for me because it is where the seeds of my filmmaking began.  I made my first movie when I was 11 in this house.  

BUSY BUSY BUSY - WIB ON DISCOVERY

That is what my mother used to say when she tried to remind me that I hadn't mowed the lawn yet and it is 12 pm already and it's blazing hot outside (south Texas).  But I digress.  Next week, Steph and I will be going to Texas to start on our infomercial/viral campaign for South Padre Island.  After all of these hurricanes, we hope to breath life into this area.  I have also started casting for The Last Eagle Scout.  It is still very early and more casting sessions will unfold, but was great to finally see my script I have been working on for 5 years come to life.  We had great auditioners and look forward to others.  Also, we just finished shooting 3 new Will it Blends, one of which is promoting our appearance on a new Discovery Channel show called "Time Warp". We are supposed to be on the premiere show date (October 13th) so look for that.  I will keep you updated.  

MY NEW NISSAN GTR...

The other day I was testing out my new car, the 2009 Nissan GTR, which is the fastest consumer car on the market (200 mph).  I bought this car in Las Vegas since my success of Will It Blend. And if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you for $1.00.  But this is me next to Tom Dickson's new car at the Salt Flats during Race Week (along with my sunburn).  Tom is wanting to do some Will it Blend involving his car.  I am still trying to figure out how to do it.  

MY WIFE STEPHANIE

I call her "my little artist".  I guess being an artist myself, I can't help but to "understand" how she works.  Steph is actually a children's book illustrator and a muralist.  She is really good at what she does.  We also both have ADD.  We can't focus (except on each other) and we both hate paperwork.  But that's what makes her so "cute".  Here she is wearing a Rush t-shirt.  We have been married 2 years now and when I dated her, she had this shirt on one day.  Being a Rush fan, I couldn't believe she had a shirt with the classic Rush logo on.  Most girls don't wear Rush gear. But the truth came out that she didn't even know what "Rush" was.  She just found the shirt left over in one of the places she lived and she liked the pink color.  I have since indoctrinated her to the Rush way of life and took her to the Snakes and Arrows tour.  She's not big on the guitar solos, but loved the drum solo and "played the part" of enjoying the concert with me and the boys.

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND - PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

Just got back from South Padre Island, Texas (where I grew up).  I have been commissioned to produce a promotional video and series of short viral videos for YouTube to help promote SPI.  I have really enjoyed the beach there and feel it is great alternative for people who can't afford to go to Florida, California or Hawaii beaches.  

On this trip, I took my sons Forrest and Parke on this quick trip that only lasted 3 days.  Forrest a senior in high school this year, felt that he may want to go down again after graduation. 

I shot some 2nd unit footage with my camera, but plan on bringing a full crew, including my wife, at the end of September.  I have Scott Christopher coming to play narrator/on-camera talent.  We are going in September to escape the heat and still have many things open, yet not as crowded. 

Will keep you updated. 

LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

My marketing manager Jeff made a list of appearances that this little ad campaign has achieved:

T.V. Appearances

NBC, Today Show

NBC, Tonight Show

NBC, iVillage Live

CBS Sunday Morning

CNBC, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch

FOX 8 Morning Show, Cleveland

WGN TV Morning Show

The History Channel, Modern Marvels, The World’s Strongest III

The Discovery Channel, Time Warp

T.V. Publicity

Food Network, Gotta Get It

HGTV, Healthy Living Products

MTV, Web Junk 20

ABC Australia, The Gruen Transfer

FOX TV Morning, Washington D.C.

CBS Chicago, Local Evening News

Pro 7 TV, Germany, Galileo

BBC World, Rania, The You Tube Queen

eXTRA Entertainment News

CNBC News

Personal Appearances

You Tube Videocracy, Up Fronts, NYC

Internet Retailer Magazine, Keynote

Hewlett Packard, Keynote

Ad Age Idea Conference, Keynote

The Center for Sales Strategy, Keynote

Print & Electronic Media Articles

Internet Retailer Magazine

The Wall Street Journal

Advertising Age

Scientific American

engadget.com

.net Magazine

Business Week

Salon.com

MacRumors.com

Chain Store Age

Inc Magazine

Fortune Small Business

Forbes

CNET

Playboy

FHM

Star Magazine

The Guardian

L.A. Times

Washington Post

N.Y. Times

N.Y. Times Sunday Magazine

Home World Business- International Home & Housewares Show

Maxim Magazine

Utah Business Magazine

Consumer Reports

Salt Lake Tribune

Deseret News

KSL.com

….. and many trade magazines and newspapers too numerous to mention

Global Media Interviews

New Zealand

Brazil

UK

Australia

News Blogs

Gadgetopia

Seth Godin

Tech.Blogsmonroe

Dave Ross

Jeff Ruley

Forbes

TBOBlogs

MTV Blogs

Amazon.com-Dente's News Blog

Wired Blog

Gizmodo

iTV 1

John Mayer-Blog

New York times.com- Pogue's Post

…..and thousands more too numerous to mention

Co-Promotional Will It Blends

Nike- Air Current and Nikesportswear.com launch

Google- Google Mobile website

AT&T- iPhone 3G launch

Dreyers- Dibs Ice Cream

Esquire Magazine- ESKY Award

Weezer- Pork and Beans music video

Altiris

Novell

Cricut

Bill Me Later

Shawn Phillips

Seth Godin

Josh Bernoff

Book Inclusions

Fit for Life, Shawn Phillips

Meatball Sundae, Seth Godin

Groundswell, Josh Bernoff

Word of Mouth Marketing, Andy Sernovitz

Marketing 15th Ed. by Pride & Ferrell, Houghton Mifflin College Publishers

Epic Change, Tim Clark

New Media, New Influencers & Implications for Public Relations, Paul Gillin et.al.

Movie Inclusions

Julie & Julia, Meryl Streep as Julia Child, Coming in April, 2009

Utah Local Media

Fox 13 TV

CBS KUTV 2

ABC KTVX 4

NBC KSL 5

KSL 1160 Radio

 Awards

2008 CLIO Award, Bronze, Interactive, Viral

.net Award- Best Viral Video 2007

International Academy of the Visual Arts, Communicator Award- Viral 

Ernst & Young Utah, Entrepreneur of the Year, 2007

Salt Lake Magazine, Best Viral Marketer, 2008

Always On, Best of Broadband Award 2007

You Tube Awards, Fifth Place, Best Series 2007