TheGelbaumBlog

Charrito's in Weehawken, NJ for Great Mexican Food!

2011-09-01T04:17:00.001-07:00

The final day of Valerie's month-long birthday celebration - dinner with Nancy and Isabella at Charrito's in Weehawken, NJ - Fantastic views of the NYC skyline, incredible authentic Mexican food, great service and a wonderful time for all! This is our new favorite Mexican restaurant! http://www.loscharritos.com/

Don't Miss "The Help" - In Theaters Now!

2011-08-16T04:16:00.000-07:00

And the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress goes to - Octavia Spencer (Minnie) and Viola Davis (Aibileen) in The Help - both fantastic performances! !http://thehelpmovie.com/us/
Based on one of the most talked about books in years and a #1 New York Times best-selling phenomenon, “The Help” stars Emma Stone (“Easy A”) as Skeeter, Academy Award®–nominated Viola Davis (“Doubt”) as Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as Minny—three very different, extraordinary women in Mississippi during the 1960s, who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. From their improbable alliance a remarkable sisterhood emerges, instilling all of them with the courage to transcend the lines that define them, and the realization that sometimes those lines are made to be crossed —even if it means bringing everyone in town face-to-face with the changing times. Deeply moving, filled with poignancy, humor and hope, “The Help” is a timeless and universal story about the ability to create change.

LobsterGate! - Lobster Salad By Any Other Name is...Now Seafood Salad.

2011-08-12T03:54:00.000-07:00

So, Zabar's Lobster Salad has no "lobster" in it! Should we be worried about the Chopped Liver?
Read the article by James Barron, published August 11th, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/nyregion/sold-as-lobster-salad-but-a-key-ingredient-was-missing.html

And speaking of chopped liver, this could be the best recipe ever! (Grandma's Chopped Liver recipe...)
Ingredients
* 2 pounds chicken livers, rinsed and trimmed
* 2 eggs
* 3 onions
* 1 quart water
* 2 cubes chicken bouillon
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* salt and pepper to taste
Directions
1. Place the liver, whole eggs and one onion into a large saucepan with the water. Bring to a boil and stir in the chicken bouillon cubes. Simmer for one hour, then allow to cool. Note: Some prefer to start off with sautéing the liver - that's always an option...
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Chop one onion and fry in the oil until tender. Chop the third onion and set aside. When the liver has cooled, grind together the liver, hard-cooked eggs and the three onions. Season with salt and pepper. Chill before serving.

"I Could Have, I Should Have" New Multimedia Interactive Project

2011-03-03T05:39:00.000-08:00

Any regrets about the decisions you have made in your life?

"I Could Have - I Should Have"...the stories of how the decisions we made - changed the way we lived our lives. We will interview hundreds of people and invite them to tell us about the decisions they made that had the most impact on their lives - the dreams they had, the journeys they experienced, the people they met, their disappointments, their success...their thoughts on what could have been different, what should have been different - did things turn out for them the way they expected things to be or not and why? Can we help them find their way - or is it too late?

We have all thought about it - what could have been, the what ifs and what I should have done and how those decisions and actions (or in-actions) impacted our lives. "I Could Have - I Should Have" will be engaging, emotional, motivational, inspirational, humorous and more...

From the campfire to the web, authentic stories unite communities, build bridges and create connections. We will harness the power of technology to deliver engaging multimedia and interactive content to audiences in ways both resonant and meaningful, creating pathways for people to tell their story.

We will invite the members of our community to share their stories online and to keep us informed - through web and mobile - of the decisions they make on a daily basis that impact their lives.

"I Could Have - I Should Have" will be an interactive multimedia experience. We will launch a website, social networks and communities, produce a documentary film and a broadcast reality series, content for mobile, a mobile app, write a book, create an audio CD and more.

We've partnered with rockethub.com to raise money to support the project:
Visit: http://www.rockethub.com/projects/1185-i-could-have-i-should-have
Everyone who donates gets credited/recognized/thanked. A donation of $25 receives a "I Could Have...I Should Have" t-shirt. Donations of $100 will also receive a copy of the book. Donations of $250 will also receive a copy of the CD and a thank you at the end of the book. Donations of $5000 will guarantee your story becomes part of the project. Donations of $10,000 gets you invited to exclusive, private events launching and promoting the project's phases.

Illustrations by Christina Qualiana - from "Something About Going Home" by Dennis Gelbaum. View the trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07Xfe-UsOYo

Visit http://www.dennisgelbaum.com

"Hurricane Biker Girls of San Diego" In Development

2011-02-23T05:47:00.000-08:00

© 2011 20 Four 7 Productions/ramp it up entertainment
Created by Stafford Bailey & Judy Bailey with Dennis Gelbaum
Executive Producers Dennis Gelbaum, Stafford Bailey & Judy Bailey

View the trailer at: http://vimeo.com/17937633

"The Hurricane Biker Girls Of San Diego" is an up-close and very personal high speed multimedia reality series about seven members (and their families and friends) of an exclusive, all female motorcycle club…stunning, ambitious, classy women sharing their authentic, real life stories about life's challenges and opportunities - women competing in a man’s sport and doing it in 6” stiletto heels!

Stafford Bailey and Judy Bailey, the founders of 20 Four 7 Productions, met some of the Hurricane Biker Girls and immediately saw the special relationship that existed among the members. They created the original concept for the reality series and then reached out to Dennis Gelbaum, ramp it up entertainment, to further develop, pitch, sell and produce the broadcast series - with additional content for web and mobile.

Gelbaum adds, "There are more than 5 million female motorcycle riders - 1 out of every 10 motorcycle owners are women - and they are the fastest growing demographic in motorcycling. When you take all the pieces - a great city - San Diego, seven beautiful women riding motorcycles, women taking control of their lives - feeling the freedom, the empowerment, the independence of biking and put it all together in one neat package - you got something really incredible - you get the Hurricane Biker Girls of San Diego!"

These women aren’t your typical biker chicks. They’re career women, moms and housewives who juggle burgeoning careers and busy home lives amidst the whirl of California’s second largest city. These are beautiful, strong and independent women with a love for sisterhood, SPEED and HOT BIKES!

"Like any other exclusive club, we select our members with attributes such as the desire for the thrill of the ride, mental strength, physical appeal and ambrosial personality. Shy girls need not apply."

REAL LIFE DRAMA AT 100+MPH!

Meet The Hurricane Biker Girls of San Diego

India Moss – AKA “Blue Rose” Co-Founder & President
Recently separated and mother of a 6-year-old daughter, India is one of the original founders of The Hurricane Biker Girls. Blue learned how to ride in heels because she’s short and refused to lower her bike because she loves to ride in the mountains and canyons…and wanted to hit the turns low and tight. She is a born leader and strongly believes that your job and hobbies should not be based on gender. Speed is her passion (she’s been clocked at 175 miles an hour) and so is this club. She runs a tight ship and won’t back down from anyone!

Kisha Williams – AKA “Stallion” Co-Founder
A single mom of a very active 1-year-old little girl, this Navy Recruiter of 13 years is also a budding designer who wants to start her own line of biker clothes for women because as she puts it “I couldn’t find anything cute to wear.” The comedian in the group, Stallion started riding because she got tired of riding on the back. She started the group with “Blue Rose” because they believed if they (men) can do it, we could do it better! AND look better doing it!

Melissa Roderick – AKA “Tynee”
These women are like family to me says Melissa. I’m a single mom with 3 boys and they all think I’m cool. The “sweet one” in the group says she purposely painted her bike with fairies so no man would want to ride it. She loves the independence riding gives her.

Colisha Hodges – AKA “Soudeour” pronounced So-Jah
Married with kids. Riding is her escape and she uses riding as a form of “anger management” from her kids, husband and her demanding career in the military.

Monique Daniel – AKA “Mo Love”
Born in the Caribbean and raised in Canada. ‘Mo Love” has a high stress career in the medical field so riding gives her relief and freedom. Being in control is a must for her. She refuses to be someone’s headrest (a bikers passenger) and loves wearing sexy studded gear and stiletto heels when she rides. Mo Love joined the Hurricane Bike Girls because as she puts it, “I love to see women running shit.”

Vicki Coore – AKA “Sistah” Vice-President
An opinionated, get what she wants kind of gal. Sistah has been around motorcycles all her life. Every year she changes the color of her bike to suit her mood. This year it’s hot pink with a jungle print and custom helmet to match. She says, for years men have had their own clique, and it's time for women to join together and make it happen. We’re taking over and we’re not giving it back.

Tonisha Gilliam – AKA “Glossy”
Started riding after her roommate bought a motorcycle. However, riding didn’t come naturally to Glossy. After completing motorcycle-riding school her instructor gave her a hug and said “God help you.” Glossy never gave up. She fell in love with the sport and followed what now is her passion. Glossy is a mom and when she’s speeding down the highway she wants people to know it’s a feminine woman under that helmet.

ramp it up entertainment
Dennis Gelbaum
dennisg@rampitupentertainment.com
201-887-6012

20 Four 7 Productions
Judy Bailey
judy@20four7productions.com
818-989-4434

"The Divorce Coach" Now In Development With BCII

2011-01-25T05:51:00.000-08:00

"The Divorce Coach", the reality series originally created by Michael Thomas and Dennis Gelbaum with Corey Rogers - is being developed with Brentwood Communications International Inc, (BCII, Burbank, CA). BCII's Television Division has produced over 600 hours of original television series and specials, including the hit series RIDES and OVERHAULIN' for TLC, PAYBACK and FORZA MOTORSPORTS SHOWDOWN for SPEED, LIVING WITH ED and GET OUT, WAY OUT for HGTV and many more.

"The Divorce Coach", hosted by Michael Thomas, divorced dad and author of 'Divorce Tactics To Win' comments, "I have been through two insane divorces. In the process I lost BOTH of my homes and 3 kids! I paid extortion-like legal fees in the amount of $86,490.47 for results that at times made it seem like my attorney worked for my ex. I spent hundreds of hours in anguish, lost way too many nights of sleep and shed untold thousands of tears just trying to be a parent. At times it seemed as though it could NOT GET ANY WORSE...and then IT WOULD! I know what a woman or a man can do to their ex in a divorce to maximize their success and to minimize their heartache, loss and feelings of failure!"

Dennis Gelbaum adds, "Throughout the series, Michael will share the tactics necessary to win - must do's before you tell anyone about your divorce plans, revealing the seven secrets your attorney won’t tell you, what you must do before your spouse does, how to prevent your spouse from getting the best attorney, the one simple tactic that can give you an upper hand in a restraining order, how to document and record everything, how to hire and use a private investigator and a forensic accountant for your benefit, control your attorney and his/her fees/spending habits, help keep your home, your children - all the HARD HITTING, NO B/S, TRIED AND PROVEN DIVORCE TACTICS it takes to control and win the game - and if you are losing or already lost how to come back and win!"

Dennis Gelbaum continues, "There's lots of reasons couples seek a divorce - infidelity, communication breakdown, physical, psychological or emotional abuse, financial issues, sexual incompatibility, boredom, religious and cultural strains, child rearing, addiction and differences in priorities and expectations. We all believe we have/had the perfect marriage, but when the marriage begins to fall apart, material possessions, especially when there are no children involved, become the center of an often outrageous and bitter divorce battle - and we'll get to see it all up close and very personal."

Michal Thomas adds, "I really want to help you win your divorce, or at the very least keep you from losing everything you have worked so hard to gain - your home, kids, personal belongings, and your assets to the attorneys and your ex. I want you to take back some control in this mess, and get some footing on a new life. I found that as I learned more, and won a few small victories, I was empowered. And you will be too!"

Dennis Gelbaum adds, "Corey Rogers brought the opportunity to the attention of Bud Brutsman, the CEO of BCIITV. Our first meeting was at II Bastardo at 21st and Seventh Avenue in NYC. I had the Lasagna - it was delicious. The restaurant was noisy and not very conducive to conducting a business meeting/dinner. I remember Bud complained about that - and Corey and I weren't happy about the noise level either. But we made it through dinner and agreed to continue discussing opportunities further. About a month later, Corey and Michael met with Bud at the BCII offices in Burbank and discussed the many options for the series. On January 19th, BCII "interviewed" Michael on camera, shooting content to present to our potential broadcast partners. We are all very excited about developing the project further and selling/producing the series. Stay tuned for more details as the development process continues!"

Check out:
http://divorcetacticstowin.com/
http://www.rampitupentertainment.com
http://www.bciitv.com/
http://www.schafferrogers.com/

For more information contact:
Dennis Gelbaum, dennisg@rampitupentertainment.com
Corey Rogers, crogers@schafferrogers.com
Michael Thomas, mthomas@bayareadivorcecoach.com
Bud Brutsman, bud@bciitv.com

"THE ANIMATORS!" ARE COMING!

2011-01-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

Those who control the Combo World - control the parallel universe - DENNIS GELBAUM

“THE ANIMATORS!”... Brett, Jarred, Jeremy, Adam, Kimberly and Rachel. The adventures of six young kids who turn into animated super heroes to face the everyday problems of growing up. Along the way, they join forces to fight villains, monsters, knights, crusaders and majestic warriors as they try to make the world a safer, friendlier, healthier and better place to live, for all! They are THE ANIMATORS! and they are here to save us.

“THE ANIMATORS!” is an original interactive, broadcast, web, and mobile series combining live action and CGI/3D animation created and written by Dennis Gelbaum, Executive Producer, ramp it up entertainment.

Meet “THE ANIMATORS!” - The Eagle. The Kat. The Chameleon. The Cheetah. The Dragon. The Rabbit. The Animators! possess amazing abilities and super powers. The Animators! join together to fight evil and battle against knights, crusaders, majestic warriors and villains of all shapes and sizes to protect the integrity of our history, our present and our future. It is “THE ANIMATORS!” who will insure we have a past to remember and that we savor the present and prepare for a future.

Brett, Jarred, Jeremy, Adam, Kimberly and Rachel "magically" become “THE ANIMATORS!” With Henry’s (he is the Master Animator) help and the secrets of The Animator, a transformation capable machine (not to be confused with a time machine...) he invented while working for the US Government, Department of Defense, Henry is able to transform the kids into multi-dimensional animated super heroes as they cross over to the Combo World. Whenever the kids need to help someone or to correct a wrong that would help make the world a better place to live in, they would come to Henry’s animation studio, located in the garage on the side of his split level house. They would knock three times and ring the bell twice. That would be the signal to let them inside. The door to the garage electronically opens, providing the kids with access.

The series will look and feel like a supercharged 3D video game - combining state of the art 3D computer generated animation with live HD action. This feeling and approach is daring and it opens a world of possibilities. Imagine how viewers/players will react when they see the Master Animator controlling “THE ANIMATORS!” within the live scenes. And this is the same way it will look when they play their home or arcade version of “THE ANIMATORS!” The Master Animator selects super powers, the ability to reason, understand, comprehend and must assist “THE ANIMATORS!” as they try to complete specific tasks within time limits. All this must happen without “THE ANIMATORS!” losing their powers and must not interfere with “THE ANIMATORS!” finding one of the missing computer chips. The computer chips are the key to the Reentry Corridor, which brings “THE ANIMATORS!” home. The Master Animator has the hardest job of all!

STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT “THE ANIMATORS!”
THEY ARE COMING!

Fearless Fairies Are Coming!

2011-01-03T13:37:00.000-08:00

Fearless Fairies is a new, animated children’s television, web and mobile series that will empower children – make them feel good about themselves, appreciate who they are and what they have and give them a true sense of being in a wonderful world…full of love, challenges, comfort, smiles and giggles. Fearless Fairies will be motivational, inspirational, educational, fun, musical, innovative and entertaining.

"Fearless Fairies is a wonderful way for kids to learn that many of the solutions to their problems are within them, and gives them tools for tapping into these resources. The characters are quite engaging…" Executive Producer Dennis Gelbaum adds.

Young children enter a rich imaginary world peopled with both heroes and villains, with both marvels and monsters. New fears are a necessary part of entering the world of possibilities. As the imagination blossoms, kids who never before had problems with the dark are now terrified. The neighbor's friendly dog is seen as a menacing danger. An ant on the sidewalk might as well be a powerful alien. Monsters!

Most children will develop one or more deep fears to work through. It might be people in masks, old people, or people with scars. It might be parents leaving or burglars coming. It might be imaginary creatures or wild animals. It might be bugs. It can be just about anything or anyone.

A natural response for parents who see their children cowering before an inchworm is to try to talk their children out of the fear. Kids respond, though, by cranking up the imagination -- the imagined possibilities become worse, not better. And the children feel disconnected from their parents. Ridiculing or threatening children for their fears is even more damaging.

Fearless Fairies acknowledge a child’s fear in a calm and assuring way offering them protection and support. Fearless Fairies takes a child’s concerns seriously, helping them feel closer to their parents and become more ready to work through their fears. Fearless Fairies will help parents and children learn how to confront their fears.

Created by Danielle Szwed, Sharyn Seidel-Kometz And Dennis Gelbaum
Written by Danielle Szwed, Sharyn Seidel-Kometz And Dennis Gelbaum
Original music composed and produced by Danny Weinkauf and Joshua Sitron.

Danny Weinkauf is a 2 time GRAMMY winning composer whose work in the field of television music includes writing and producing for shows such as "Malcolm in the Middle" (Fox), "Sex and the City" (HBO), "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" (Bravo), "Resident Life" (TLC), ABC Sports, CBS sports, History Channel, Jon and Kate + 8, Higgley Town Heroes, Mickey's playhouse (Disney), and others. In the field of commercial music composing, Danny has produced tracks for Mercedes Benz, Saturn, McDonald's, Burger King, Dunkin' Donuts, All detergent, Elmer's Glue, Kohl's, Barnes and Noble, and many others.

Joshua Sitron is a music composer / producer, multi-instrumentalist and sometimes filmmaker and shaman living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY with his wife and daughter. He has written music for Nickelodeon, Disney, PBS, and Showtime, including the mega-hit show, Dora the Explorer for which he served as musical director and penned the theme song. In 2000, seeking to free himself from the creative constraints and corporate agendas of TV music, Josh left ‘Dora’, traveled, and began studying improv and kung fu, while making several short films.

Check out: http:fearlessfairies.blogspot.com

LMU AND RAMP IT UP ENTERTAINMENT PARTNER TO CREATE REALITY SERIES

2010-12-09T06:05:00.000-08:00

Documentary-style production will spotlight Appalachian house calls
made by osteopathic medical students and their mentor physicians

Harrogate, Tennessee, December 9, 2010 – Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) in Harrogate, Tenn., and ramp it up entertainment in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., announced today that they have signed an exclusive agreement to develop a reality television, web and mobile-based series tentatively titled “Black Bag Warriors.”

The concept for the series was generated by Dennis Gelbaum, CEO and managing director of ramp it up entertainment. Gelbaum conceived the idea after reading about fourth-year LMU-DCOM student Dena Krishnan in the September 27, 2010, issue of People magazine. In “Notes from a Country Doctor,” (http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20427066,00.html) writer Alicia Dennis profiled Krishnan and her experiences attending house calls. House calls are a frequent experience during fourth-year rural rotations for the osteopathic medical students at LMU-DCOM.

“Black Bag Warriors” will feature LMU-DCOM students as they pursue their fourth year clinical rotations in rural Appalachia. During the clinical rotations phase of medical school, students are assigned to mentor physicians, known as preceptors, who teach the students in clinical settings. During their fourth year of osteopathic medical school, LMU-DCOM students are required to complete a rural primary care rotation. Many of the physicians involved in these rotations have occasion to make home visits to their patients. As a result, LMU-DCOM students receive valuable experience in treating patients in this unique setting.

“‘Black Bag Warriors’ is the docu-drama reality based series I have dreamt of developing and producing,” said Gelbaum. “Our focus will be on our fourth-year osteopathic medical students at LMU-DCOM as they make their rounds in the heart of Appalachia, providing a glimpse of a world of poverty, pride and persistence most of us have never seen. They will go house to house in some of the most underserved rural parts of America, providing the best patient care they can provide under these less than ideal circumstances and learning what healing is all about.”

“The decision to participate in a reality series production is an innovative and groundbreaking one, and it is something that we considered with great care,” said Ray E. Stowers, DO, vice president and dean of LMU-DCOM. “Perhaps this series will even revive some interest in the centuries-old practice of house calls in medicine.”

“We hope to show viewers the quality care our students and our partner physicians in the community are providing to the patients of Appalachia,” said Stowers. “Often such care involves going literally extra miles to visit these patients in their homes. We believe the LMU-DCOM students that get to experience house calls gain extra insight and expertise into quality patient care. When I was a practicing family physician in rural Oklahoma, I made regular house calls as part of my practice and support this value being passed on to the LMU-DCOM students.”

“We look forward to working with Dennis Gelbaum and ramp it up entertainment,” said Stowers. “His extensive experience in the field as well as his knowledge and familiarity with osteopathic medicine made him a great fit for this project.”

“‘Black Bag Warriors’ will be character driven, intimate and hopeful in tonality, creating warmth and celebrating life,” said Gelbaum. “We will go on a journey that will motivate, inspire and often teach us something unexpected. The stories of the students, the doctors, the patients and their families will always be engaging, dramatic, funny and very personal...but never predictable. Our medical students will wish they could do more - as if making house calls and being a black bag warrior isn’t enough!”

Gelbaum is an international- award-winning creative director, producer, director and author. His books include the novel “Beyond Reasonable Doubt” and “Something About Going Home,” a book of original poetry with illustrations by Christina Qualiana. Gelbaum is featured in the book “50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading” by Danielle Hampson and Don McCauley. He is also the inventor of the Buddy Light Illuminated Safety Leash. Gelbaum’s recent work includes creating and producing the multimedia series “Fall in Love with America Again;” directing promos to launch “Guitar Hero 5,” “Animal Crossing City Folk” and “Mixed Messages” for Nintendo; creating and co-directing Get Wii Fit with Alyson,” an interactive website and web-based series sponsored by Nintendo featuring Disney Channel star Alyson Stoner; creating and directing a multimedia campaign for Special Olympics Texas; producing a fundraising and awareness video for Worldfund; creating and producing a multimedia campaign for Bazooka Bubble Gum including a video with over 2 million views; and creating hours of long and short form programming and content for theatrical release, broadcast, web and mobile.

The DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine at LMU was founded in 2007 on the University’s main campus in Harrogate, Tenn. The school is located near the historic Cumberland Gap, where Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia meet. LMU-DCOM’s mission is to prepare outstanding osteopathic physicians who are dedicated to the premise that the cornerstone of meaningful existence is service to humanity. LMU was founded as a living memorial to President Abraham Lincoln on February 12, 1897, and it strives to give students a foundation for a more productive life by upholding the principles of Abraham Lincoln's life. The University is committed to teaching, research and service and has enjoyed rapid growth over the last decade as enrollment has increased by 154%. The University has expanded from its liberal arts core and now offers advanced and professional degrees. LMU students run the gamut, from first-generation college students to working professionals seeking to complete their degree to professional students pursuing their doctorates.

ramp it up entertainment, a creative boutique and full service multimedia company, creates unique opportunities for people, institutions, companies and brands to tell their story. For more information, call 1-201-887-6012, email dennisg@rampitupentertainment.com or visit us online at www.rampitupentertainment.com.

The DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine is located on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. LMU-DCOM is an integral part of LMU’s values-based learning community, and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of osteopathic physicians to provide health care in the often underserved region of Appalachia and beyond. For more information about LMU-DCOM, call 1-800-325-0900, ext. 7082, e-mail dcom@lmunet.edu, or visit us online at www.lmunet.edu/dcom.

For more information, contact: Amy Drittler
Associate Director of Public Relations
Phone: 423-869-7108
Fax: 423-869-7078
E-mail: amy.drittler@LMUnet.edu

CHECK OUT THIS GREAT STORY FROM NBC WBIR
http://www.wbir.com/news/article/144343/8/East-Tennessee-doc-inspires-LMU-med-students-to-help-under-served-communities?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p

Dennis Gelbaum To Appear At 2010 Veteran's Day Virtual Telethon

2010-11-01T14:09:00.000-07:00

Dennis Gelbaum To Appear At Flag Still Stands For Freedom's 2010 Veteran's Day Virtual Telethon - Hosted by LauraKennedyLive & The Flag Still Stands For Freedom Campaign.

"I am very excited and honored to be part of the Flag Still Stands For Freedom's 2010 Veteran's Day Virtual Telethon. The funds raised during the telethon will help support numerous veteran's groups around the country. The telethon is scheduled for Saturday, November 6th. I will be appearing via webcam at 11:00AMEST to talk about the Fall In Love With America Again project!"

What began as a radio talk show 2 years ago is now blossoming into a full scale virtual telethon. This campaign not only shares the experiences and memories of Veterans and their families but highlights the success and triumphs that our Veterans have brought to this country, not just on the battlefield but back here on our home soil.

The goal of the “Support our Veterans” campaign is to remind each of us that our “Flag Still Stands For Freedom” and our Veterans need to know we are supporting them both here and abroad. Using the POWER of Social Media, we will again make our flag and its colors blatantly visible across the globe with a unified statement of support for our troops, both past and present.

In conjunction with this campaign, Laura Kennedy (and her broadcast partners) will once again air a 24 hour live talk show on LauraKennedyLive and simultaneously over several other broadcasting networks; a show dedicated to sharing memories and stories of our “fallen” soldiers; celebrations of the servicemen and women who are still serving this country; and showcasing the talents and successes of our returning Veterans.

Tell your friends, families, co-workers, and everybody you come in contact with to get involved with this campaign today! For more information about how you can contribute to this campaign, please visit www.FlagStillStandsForFreedom.com or contact Laura Kennedy, USN-RET, at 516-442-9126.

Dennis Gelbaum - Sharing My Passion For Travelling and Photography

2010-10-12T04:07:00.000-07:00

I am an international award winning Creative Director, Producer, Director, Author and Inventor. I love to travel and 'capture' the images that motivate and inspire me. In this video, I'm sharing my passion for still life, advertising, catalogue and brochure photography.

I am presently the CEO/Managing Director of ramp it up entertainment - a full service creative boutique and multimedia production resource company. I have worked with clients all over the world, producing and directing hundreds of commercials, promos, trailers, music videos, live multimedia events and concert (tours, festivals, fairs) productions, multimedia interactive presentations (meetings, product introductions, in-store promotions and museum exhibits), corporate films/videos and hours of long/short form programming and content for theatrical release, broadcast, web and mobile.

I am the author (featured in the '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' by Danielle Hampson and Don McCauley) of the novel, 'Beyond Reasonable Doubt' (http://www.beyondreasonabledoubtbook.com) and 'Something About Going Home', a book of original poetry and illustrations by Christina Qualiana. I invented the Buddy Light Illuminated Safety Leash, featured at The Sharper Image and many national retail/specialty outlets. And I received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from American University and established the NAVARAC Scholarship...an annual contribution providing students funds, services and resources to help them complete film/video/multimedia projects.

Join Me On CRIMESPACE - a place for readers and writers of crime fiction to meet

2010-10-10T17:39:00.000-07:00

Visit CrimeSpace

Dennis Gelbaum Featured in '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading"

2010-09-21T16:49:00.000-07:00

Dennis Gelbaum, author of 'Beyond Reasonable Doubt', a novel with more twists and turns than a double helix - (http://www.beyondreasonabledoubtbook.com/) is featured in "50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading" by Danielle Hampson & Don McCauley and published by THE AUTHORS SHOW. This is the show's first book compiling some of the best guests who have appeared on both its online radio and TV versions of the show.

After conducting hundreds of interviews, it became very apparent that the number one issue common to most writers is the marketing of their books, rather than the writing and the production of the book itself.
http://www.wnbnetworkwest.com/WnbAuthorsShow50Writers.html

As "THE AUTHORS MARKETING POWER HOUSE", The Authors Show prides itself in giving authors a number of tools, many of which are free, to give their work the exposure they need. "50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading", gives these writers an added element for their book marketing campaign tool box, and presents to the reader some of the best writers this new world of publishing has to offer.

Hundreds of thousands of books are written and published every year. Each represents months, years - perhaps decades of arduous effort on the part of the author of that book. Though nearly all of these authors hope to achieve success, how that success is defined is specific to every individual writer.

"50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading" offers the stories of fifty such authors. As guests of The Authors Show, they have willingly bared their writer's souls to the world. Here you will find amazing stories of success and dismal tales of failure. You will hear narratives of dreams achieved and stories of hopes dashed. Above all you will
hear, from the mouths of these writers, what it means to become a successful author.

Whether you are just starting down the path to becoming a published author or have been a writer for many years, you will find much of interest here. Though it may not appear to be so, the fifty people within were not chosen because they demonstrated extraordinary writing skill, used well crafted phrases or achieved phenomenal sales. Instead the people within were chosen for their ability to verbalize their deep love for their craft, for the inspirational ideas they offer and, in some cases, for the sheer determination that caused them to become one of 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading.

AUTHORS FEATURED IN 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading
Art Adkins, Greg Allen, Billy Arcement, Beatrice Toney Bailey, Shobhan Bantwal, Jef Benedetti, Michelle Bersell, Rowena Cherry, Vera Jane Cook, Glen Copple, Chelle Cordero, Sandy Cropsey, Dane Cunningham, Aisha Curry, Christy Tillery French, Gene Garrison, Dennis Gelbaum, Kenneth Golde, Madeleine Herrman, Jessica James, Ken Jensen, Carl Jenks, Chloe Jon Paul, Mark David Gerson, J. Y. Jones, Sandra Bell Kirchman, Michael Kleiner, Jeff Knott, Mabel Leo, Sandy Lo, Alex Marcoux, Nancy Mehagian, John Meacham, Erica Miner, Ric Morgan, Robert Mottram, Carmen Navarro Talavera, Darden North, MD, Derek Randel, Alice Rene, Mary Paulson, Steven Rigolosi, Michael Rushnak, Frank Say, Paula Davies Scimeca, Debra Solice, Lois Stern, Janet Smith Warfield, Linda S. Thompson, Patricia Weber, L. Diane Wolfe, Traci Hall.

Darryl Tookes Falls In Love With America Again!

2010-09-04T10:33:00.001-07:00

"I am honored to be an official participant, judge and goodwill ambassador in this great new project: Let's all FALL IN LOVE WITH AMERICA – AGAIN!"
- Darryl Tookes, singer, pianist, composer, arranger, poet, educator, and humanitarian.

'Fall In Love With America Again!' is an innovative, timely and important new documentary style web and mobile based interactive multimedia series highlighting stories from across America…our stories - about why we love America and why others need to Fall In Love With America Again!

Here's how it works - we are inviting everyone to have fun, be creative, entertaining and inspiring - tell us your story - told through short stories, letters, videos, photographs, original songs, illustrations, poetry, recipes and more. Post your work on the web, tell everyone you know (tell us too) where to view it, comment and pass it along to their friends. Our panel of judges will select the top ten winners (based on the number of views you get and the quality of the work...from each category. (Yes, this is a competition - we are looking for the next great American song, video, photograph, illustration…) The 'winners' - the work, the author, the artist - will be recognized through our sites/media and invited to join us on our National Touring Show and Exhibit.

When you post your work use this title format:
Fall In Love With America Again - (type of content ie Music Video) By (your name)

"Darryl is truly an inspiration and having him join us on our journey will make the experience even more special. Darryl will be one of the judges in the original music, music video and short story competitions." Dennis Gelbaum, co-executive producer, adds.

Darryl has recorded and performed with George Benson, Diana Ross, Sting, Leonard Bernstein, Paul Simon, Burt Bacharach, Quincy Jones, Carly Simon, Laurie Anderson, Dave Grusin, Gerry Mulligan, Patti Austin, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Steve Tyrell, and many others. In spite of these collaborations, Tookes’ style is completely original. He has what has been described as an “angelic” voice (NY Newsday), which along with his message of love, are at the core of who Darryl Tookes is an artist.

Studying physics in college gave Tookes a perspective on harmony that informs his music in surprising ways. From his first hit single, Lifeguard, Darryl Tookes has been seen and heard as a prophetic messenger of love and spirituality, essential elements in all of his songs. He has never wavered from this path.

Tookes’ voice has been featured on commercials for Coca-Cola, AT&T, American Airlines, and the US Army, among others, and on the television show, Sesame Street. His other television appearances include Late Night with David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Saturday Night Live, The Morning Show with Regis Philbin, Great Performances, Everyday with Joan Lunden, The Joan Rivers Show, and NBC’s Today Show. He has performed at the White House, and received a standing ovation at Carnegie Hall for his duet with Roberta Flack.

An educator, Tookes is Adjunct Professor at the Tisch School of the Performing Arts at NYU. He also mentors a growing number of private students at the Lagond Music School in Westchester County, NY. Further, Tookes is a clinician, having taught master classes at several universities and secondary schools. He has arranged for student a cappella groups, and has been awarded numerous commissions for composing and arranging choral works. In the realm of sacred music, Darryl Tookes is artist-in-residence at First Presbyterian Church of Stamford, CT, and is frequently an invited guest soloist at interdenominational services. He also performed Duke Ellington’s Mass with Jessye Norman at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

Darryl Tookes has participated in many charitable activities – concerts and recordings – including Arts for Healing, Best Buddies, A Better Chance, UNICEF, Hands Across America, Songs of Love, Comic Relief, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS/HIV Foundation, Daniel Pearl Foundation, Rainforest Foundation, 9/11 Memorial, Fall In Love With America – Again, and Fun In Learning Tutorial, and Creative Learning @ FPC. He is in partnership with the global humanitarian organization, AmeriCares, serving as a goodwill ambassador, traveling the world to provide aid and crisis relief to victims of natural and manmade disasters.

For more than three decades, Tookes has been an active member of ASCAP, AFTRA, SAG, NARAS, and AF of M. He served two terms as Chairman of the New York Singers Collective, and three terms on the board of directors for the Society of Singers. Tookes was founding musical director for Black to Broadway. He is also musical director, pianist and arranger for Lesley Gore.

For more information about Darryl Tookes, please visit www.darryltookes.com

85 Broads Fall In Love With America Again!

2010-08-18T06:28:00.000-07:00

85 Broads member Evie Evangelou is one of the creators and co-executive producers of ‘Fall In Love With America – Again!’

85 Broads is a global network of 25,000 trailblazing women who are inspired, empowered, and connected. The "founding members" of 85 Broads were women who worked for Goldman Sachs at 85 Broad Street, the investment banking firm's former NYC headquarters. Over the past decade, 85 Broads expanded its membership to include women who are alumnae and students of the world's leading colleges, universities, and graduate schools worldwide. Members are located in 82 countries around the world and work for thousands of for-profit companies and not-for-profit organizations.

Check this out:
https://secure.85broads.com/in_the_media
And
https://secure.85broads.com/experts/evie-evangelou/fall-in-love-with-america-again

'Fall In Love With America - Again!' - (created by Evie Evangelou, Amber Roniger and Dennis Gelbaum, produced by ramp it up entertainment and evievision) is an innovative, timely and important new documentary style web and mobile based multimedia series highlighting stories from across America - stories from big cities, small towns, communities, neighborhoods, streets, homes, rooms… It's all about what we think America is, who American's are, how we see ourselves, and how we welcome the world to our home.

The 'Fall In Love With America - Again!' project is an expression of freedom, of creativity, inspiration and love of country. It is a declaration of the best of America by the people and for the people. I am certain that this campaign and project with its positive message and novel point of view, will create a halo effect around everyone involved." Evie Evangelou, Co-Executive Producer.

The 'Fall In Love With America - Again!' project includes live webcam updates, producing a feature length documentary film, broadcast series and special, live events, touring exhibit, multimedia content produced by the project's A/V production team and submitted by folks all across America. The project will also include a series of contests and unique promotions - looking for the next great American song, video, photograph, illustration, short story, poem, chef, fashion designer, teacher, business leader, volunteer, local heroes and more.

"The 'Fall In Love With America - Again!' project is about connecting and re-connecting, using all media to tell stories that will have everyone fall in love with America, again! Check out this article, it is exactly what I am talking about…" Dennis Gelbaum, Executive Producer adds.
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/07/lobaido_accomplishes_his_missi.html

For more information, check out our promotional video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1OGAVgiVD4&feature=player_embedded

and visit http://www.fallinlovewithamericaagain.com

Rick Barry Falls In Love With America Again!

2010-08-11T05:22:00.001-07:00

Rick Barry Falls In Love With America Again!

"When I was first introduced (by Dennis Gelbaum) to the 'FALL IN LOVE WITH AMERICA - AGAIN!' project, I got very excited about what this project can do to restore pride in our great country. The timing for such a nationwide initiative such as this could not have been better. Having traveled around the world and seen what other countries are like, I know first-hand that this is the best country on the planet and to have an opportunity to play even a small part in this giant undertaking is both an honor and privilege. I am looking forward to my involvement in some of the many unique opportunities that 'FALL IN LOVE WITH AMERICA - AGAIN!' will provide for our citizens, states, cities, counties and the business community to help restore the pride we all need to have in this great country of ours. God bless, America!" Rick Barry, named (in 1966) by the NBA as one of the 50 Greatest Players in history!

Dennis Gelbaum (Executive Producer of the 'Fall In Love With America Again' project - created by Evie Evangelou, Amber Roniger and Dennis Gelbaum) adds, "Having Rick Barry join us as a participant, judge (Rick will be judging videos, photos and short stories about the great outdoors...he enjoys fishing, hunting, mountain biking...) and goodwill ambassador is fantastic! His passion for life, his love for his family and friends and for America is inspiring."

NBA Hall of Fame forward Rick Barry, (born March 28, 1944, in Elizabeth, New Jersey), is the only player ever to lead the NCAA, NBA, and ABA in scoring. His name appears near the top of every all-time offensive list. He scored more than 25,000 points in his professional career and in four different seasons averaged more than 30 points. He was named to 12 All-Star teams, four All-NBA First Teams, and five All-ABA First Teams. In 1966, Rick Barry was named by the NBA as one of the 50 Greatest Players in history.

Rick is one of the most celebrated players in NBA history — not only for his game, but also for the competitiveness he brought to the court. In 1965, following a stellar collegiate campaign at the University of Miami (FL), Barry was drafted third in the first round of the NBA Draft by the San Francisco Warriors. He quickly established himself as an elite player, garnered NBA Rookie of the Year honors, and was selected to the NBA All-Pro First Team. The next season, Rick proved he was for real by leading the league in scoring (35.6 ppg), and being named MVP of the All-Star Game. He was selected again to the NBA All-Pro First Team.

Rick Barry is an accomplished sports broadcaster - covering a wide range of sports on both radio and television for over 30 years! He is also the two-time reigning World Champion in the Grand Champions Division of the ReMax World Long Driving Championships. (In 2007, his winning drive was just shy of 350 yards.) Rick is now involved in a myriad of businesses including Personal Equity Institute: Your Wealth Advocate, specializing in growing and preserving people’s wealth with a safe and secure process.

'Fall In Love With America - Again!' - (created by Evie Evangelou, Amber Roniger and Dennis Gelbaum) is an innovative, timely and important new documentary style web and mobile based multimedia series highlighting stories from across America - stories from small towns, communities, neighborhoods, streets, homes, rooms… It's all about what we think America is, who American's are, how we see ourselves, and how we welcome the world to our home.

"Fall in Love with America Again! is an expression of freedom, of creativity, inspiration and love of country. It is a declaration of the Best of America by the people and for the people. I am certain that this campaign with its positive message and novel point of view, will create a halo effect around everyone involved." Evie Evangelou, Executive Producer, 'Fall In Love With America Again!'

The project includes live webcam updates, producing a feature length documentary film, broadcast series and special, live events, touring exhibit, multimedia content produced by us and submitted by folks all across America, interactive websites and social networking sites/communities, etc. We will be having a series of multimedia contests - looking for the next great American song, video, photograph, illustration, short story, poem, chef, fashion designer, teacher, business leader, volunteer, local heroes and more.

Our adventure will take off September 11th, 2010 (with the launch of our websites, social networks, blog, video and audio channels) and the project will continue through September 11th, 2011, when we launch our interactive multimedia touring exhibit/show.

"This project is about connecting and re-connecting, using all media to tell stories that will have everyone fall in love with America, again!" Dennis Gelbaum adds.

Check out our promotional video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1OGAVgiVD4&feature=player_embedded

(c)2010 EvieVision & ramp it up entertainment

Laura Kennedy Falls In Love With America Again!

2010-07-28T05:11:00.000-07:00

Dennis Gelbaum, Co-Executive Producer of the 'Fall In Love With America Again' project, (created by Evie Evangelou, Amber Roniger and Dennis Gelbaum) will be participating in the 2010 Veteran's Day Virtual Telethon - "Every American has a story to tell - doesn’t matter who they are - where they come from, where they live, what they do. Showcasing the talents and successes of our returning Veterans, sharing memories and stories of our fallen soldiers, celebrating the servicemen and women who are still serving this Country - is all part of our 'Fall In Love With America Again' project. I look forward to participating in the 2010 Veteran's Day Virtual Telethon and sharing some great stories about America."
Dennis Gelbaum

“Joining forces with the “Falling in Love With America – Again” project was an easy decision since both of our campaigns are about remembering why we love our Country, our Flag, and our Freedom. As a 21 year Navy Veteran and 9/11 survivor, there is nothing that makes me prouder than seeing our friends and neighbors showing their love and respect for this country by flying our country’s flag and sharing their stories about why they love America!"
Laura Kennedy, USN-Ret

As a consultant, Laura Kennedy works one-on-one with both employers and employees to increase their productivity, work place attitudes, and teamwork, as well as the all important bottom lines! Laura’s real passion revolves around helping others. Laura spends countless hours volunteering with the homeless & mentoring with Veterans.

Check out: http://flagstillstandsforfreedom.com/
Check out: http://laurakennedylive.com/

Check out our promotional video::
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1OGAVgiVD4&feature=player_embedded

Michelle Obama Falls In Love With America Again

2010-07-26T08:55:00.000-07:00

Michelle Obama adds (in a letter to Evie Evangelou about our Fall In Love With America Again Project): "We are at a critical moment in our Nation's history, and we need an allhands-on-deck approach to solve the problems that we face. Thank you for daring to innovate, for dreaming big, and for finding ways to create a better tomorrow. America needs your hands, your hearts, and your hard work now more than ever."

'Fall In Love With America - Again' - (created by Evie Evangelou, Amber Roniger and Dennis Gelbaum) is an innovative, timely and important new documentary style web and mobile based multimedia series highlighting stories from across America - stories from small towns, communities, neighborhoods, streets, homes, rooms… It's all about what we think America is, who American's are, how we see ourselves, and how we welcome the world to our home.

"Fall in Love with America Again is an expression of freedom, of creativity, inspiration and love of country. It is a declaration of the Best of America by the people and for the people. I am certain that this campaign with its positive message and novel point of view, will create a halo effect around everyone involved." Evie Evangelou, Executive Producer, Fall In Love With America Again.

The project includes live webcam updates, producing a feature length documentary film, broadcast series and special, live events, touring exhibit, multimedia content produced by us and submitted by folks all across America, interactive websites and social networking sites/communities, etc.

Our adventure will take off September 2010 (with the launch of our websites, social networks, blog, video and audio channels) and the project will continue through the summer of 2011. We will be having a series of multimedia contests - looking for the next great American song, video, photograph, illustration, short story, poem, chef, fashion designer, teacher, business leader, volunteer, local heroes and more.

"This project is about connecting and re-connecting, using all media to tell stories that will have everyone fall in love with America, again!" Dennis Gelbaum, Executive Producer, Fall In Love With America Again.

(c)2010 Evievision and ramp it up entertainment

American Veterans Radio Falls In Love With America Again!

2010-07-25T14:38:00.000-07:00

“From the time I was a child in the foothills of Missouri, I knew that America was a special place. I was raised in a home where a Korean War Veteran happened to reside and I was privileged enough to call him my father. I went on to serve in the U.S. Army as well as my son who is currently serving as a Combat Medic. I know personally the sacrifices that have been paid to ensure that this beautiful land of ours remains free. The “Fall In Love With America – Again” project has touched my heart in a way I cannot explain; let it touch yours. I am extremely proud to be associated with this project and let us never forget that Our Freedom is Not Free: Won’t You “Fall in Love With America – Again?” Jim Lederle, American Veterans Radio

As of July 25, 2010 – American Veterans Radio is ranked number 25 of 600 tracked military websites which places AVR in the top 4% of the best military websites worldwide! More than 150,000 listeners, from all fifty states and the District of Colombia, six of the seven continents, sixty-seven countries!

Check out: http://www.avradio.org/excitingnewproject.htm

"From day one, the purpose of American Veterans Radio has been to bring a small piece of home to our military veterans - wherever they may be, to recognize our 1st Responders for being available 24/7, spotlighting the wonderful talents of the Indie Artist and last but surely not least, bringing great music to our listeners worldwide!

In the spring of 2009, while working on a CD collection project to send CD’s to our troops in the sandbox (AKA Iraq), the concept of broadcasting live to our troops and launching a free internet radio station, began to take shape.

After lengthy discussions with my wife and with the passion and compassion I had (and have) for our veterans (my father served in Korea, I served from 1980 – 1988, and my son is currently serving our country), American Veterans Radio was created.

After turning on the switch, as I like to call it, on August 31, 2009 we began thinking about all of our dedicated 1st Responders and the sacrifices they also have to make on a day to day basis (My wife is a Nurse and my brother is a Police Officer). So it was decided we were going to do all we could to give them the respect and dignity they deserved.

And lastly while listening to some excellent tunes a friend of mine had self recorded, I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why this individual didn’t have a contract with a record label; they were that good! So I told them that I would showcase their music on my daily show. As is well known now within the Indie Artist World, American Veterans Radio dedicates a full week, every week, to highlight and spotlight an individual Independent Artist.

It has been hard work with literally 1,000’s of hours dedicated to the radio station but one thing is sure: it has been well worth it.

While doing my live show “The Mixin’ It Up Show” if I receive a request from a Veteran serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea, Japan etc. then I feel that all is right with the world.

American Veterans Radio was just a part of allowing our brave men and women to be back home if only for a moment – what better place to be."
Jim Lederle, American Veterans Radio

For more information, check out:
http://fallinlovewithamericaagain.blogspot.com/

and our promotional video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1OGAVgiVD4&feature=player_embedded

Created by Evie Evangelou, Amber Roniger and Dennis Gelbaum, Executive Producers - Dennis Gelbaum & Evie Evangelou, Co-Executive Producer Amber Roniger
© 2010 EvieVision & ramp it up entertainment

Natasha James Falls In Love With America Again

2010-07-23T08:55:00.001-07:00

"It is not often you get asked to participate in a project that immediately strikes you as exciting, valuable, timely and interesting. In short, one that has all the elements that can bring wide interest and reception, the elements that ring that doorbell called, SUCCESS. In addition, it is even more rare, to be able to contribute and participate in all the very areas that are the most exciting to you. In my capacity as Judge, and writer, and performer, among other areas I am involved in with this project, I look forward to being able to uncover some gems of songs and work with the songwriters to be able to bring them to the spotlight. Dennis Gelbaum, one of the show's Executive Producers, (and co-creator) has brought such a project to me: FALL IN LOVE WITH AMERICA - AGAIN. This is the story of all of us, for all of us, by all of us." Natasha James

Meet Natasha James - the consummate singer-songwriter and the kind of unique artist who can craft visuals merely through her songwriting. Natasha pens works that cross many musical genres and pull at the heartstrings all music lovers... especially country music enthusiasts. (Natasha was nominated for the 20th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards for "Country Artist of the Year," - awards to be given out November 18th, 2010!) Check out Natasha's website at: http://www.natashajames.com

Natasha says, "Anytime I pick up my guitar or sit in front of a piano, I have the ability to write a song. I never intentionally try to pen a tricky hook or intricate melody. I write for myself based on stories that come from my life experiences."

She says, "I don't like a lot of rules. I even hate sidewalks. 'The Restless Kind' reflects the stage in my life where I realized I had been blessed and attained many of the things I had desired including a great home in a nice neighborhood and kids that I love. I had consciously put my music aside to achieve many of these things. But as I moved forward in my life, I missed connecting with people through my music and was becoming...restless. That album brought me back to my music and my desire to connect with people through my recordings and live performances."

Natasha has in fact actually been the "restless kind" from a very young age. Born in San Francisco, and raised in Southern California, Switzerland, Italy and England, at 14 Natasha started playing and singing in local Los Angeles jazz and blues clubs. Two years later, she moved to San Francisco and worked the 'folksy' clubs: Coffee Gallery and the Boarding House, among others.

After two years, she resumed modeling and acting in Los Angeles, studying at Lee Strassberg's while landing small roles as a character actress. Moving to Europe again at 18, she continued singing and playing folk-blues along with her own music while studying for a degree in languages and literature. Quitting school, she moved to London, and then teamed up with a reggae band playing regularly upstairs at Ronnie Scott's and touring northern England. While in London, she ended up writing lyrics to a song composed by Jeff Hunter, which resulted in a move back to L.A. to continue recording, songwriting/arranging and performing with a number of different known and unknown artists.

By this time, Natasha James was modeling on a regular basis, working in films on both coasts, performing her own music in New York and Los Angeles and recording with other artists. She settled in New York City, playing local clubs with her band, Good 'N Dusty', and was being heard on WFMU as well as Channel J for Videophile.

Of late, Natasha James has been a Bay Area staple, performing and recording in different line-ups with material covering Country, Rock, Bluegrass, Blues, Jazz, Americana and Funk. Her favorite tracks on the album include "Just Enough" -- for its compositional value.

She adds, "I love the process of writing and developing a song and especially collaborating with other songwriters. It MAKES you stretch when you work with somebody else and I enjoy that part of the exercise."

On performing live, Natasha's all about the crowd. She says, "I love the feedback and interaction of a live setting. I'm not a person that wants to perform in a vacuum. I once heard a very famous artist say to a live crowd, " I'm not here to entertain you." That's not me. I absolutely am. I'll change a set list or do whatever I need to roll with the feel of the crowd or take us on a journey together." Natasha concludes, "I feel so fortunate to do something I love as an artist."

More about Natasha:

http://billboardpublicitywire.com/releases/TripleAAA/Americana/prweb2203574.htm

'Tequila Time', the latest release from Highway One Records recording artist, Natasha James, is a triple shot of Triple AAA/Americana already making waves at radio with roots rock hits from country rock, to Tex-Mex, to swampy country blues. From the Stonesy vibe of "Straight to Hell," to the Latin vibe of the title track, "Tequila Time," to the Allman Bros. like slide on "Get Out Of My Way," Natasha James delivers. Her vocals have been compared to Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks, Joan Baez; her music to Van Morrison, Los Lobos, Allman Bros, Neil Young, Johnny Cash…see for yourself…you might just wanna join her "south of the border, livin' on Tequila Time." From the opener, "Takes Alotta Love," to the last track, "Modern Life," you'll find yourself tapping and humming to high-energy, upbeat songs of broken hearts, desert sunsets, south-of-the-border bars, NYC east village dawns, and that endless highway always behind and always ahead.

The production is superb, with Ronnie Rivera engineering (Lisa Marie Presley) and 6x GRAMMY winner, Gavin Lurssen, mastering (Allison Krauss/Robert Plant, "Raising Sand"; Oh Brother, Where Art Thou), and a rare musical maturity in the songwriting we also saw on her last record, Bad Judgements (the single, The Restless Kind, went to #10 on the FMQB charts staying in the top 100 for 10 months, and her Billboard article received more than 144,538 hits!).

With Tequila Time, an impeccable collection of songs with soulful driving vocals, Natasha shows us that she's here to stay. The musicianship is excellent with her own band consisting of Steve Evans (Charlie Musselwhite, Roy Rogers, Etta James) on bass, Ian Lamson (Elvin Bishop) on guitar, Herman Eberitzsch (Jules Broussard, Jorge Santana, Malo) on keys, and friends and fellow contributors Rafael Padilla on percussion (Chris Isaak, Shakira, Sara Bareilles), Bobby Black on pedal steel (Commander Cody, Asleep at the Wheel), just to mention a few.

When asked about this latest record, Natasha says, "At first, we were going to call it Modern Life, which is one of my favorite songs -- we also have a video coming out of that one - but Tequila Time is bouncier, and really, don't we all wanna be south of the border, livin' on Tequila Time?"

Fall In love With America Again
Created by Evie Evangelou, Amber Roniger and Dennis Gelbaum, Executive Producers - Dennis Gelbaum & Evie Evangelou, Co-Executive Producer Amber Roniger
© 2010 EvieVision & ramp it up entertainment

Fall In Love With America Again - One Great Story!

2010-07-04T07:41:00.000-07:00

"I want to try to get people to love America," he said.
Read this great story - it fits right into our new series, 'Fall In Love With America Again!' (*Thanks Vince Taschetti for sending this to me!)

LoBaido Accomplishes His Mission In Texas
Published: Sunday, July 04, 2010
Staten Island Real-Time News, From the Print Edition
Stephanie Slepian

Photo Courtesy of Scott LoBaido.
Grasmere artist Scott LoBaido has completed painting his largest American flag on the rooftop of Lamons Gasket Co. in Houston, Texas.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- All Scott Lobaido needed was 900 gallons of paint and one Texas-sized rooftop.

It was the perfect canvas for the all-American artist from Grasmere to paint his version of Old Glory, the largest he's ever done -- and he's done a lot of them -- and quite possibly, the largest anywhere.

His project atop the corrugated metal roof of Lamons Gasket Co. in Houston began on Flag Day, June 14. He completed it today, the Fourth of July, after outlasting the Texas sun as well as the wind and rains of Hurricane Alex.

It covers 3.5 acres, the size of five football fields.

"I've played the rain card and I've played the heat card when I've painted outdoors, but I've never played the hurricane card," said Lobaido, 45, on Friday while waiting for the weather to break. "This is something I've always wanted to do. It was just a matter of finding someone as patriotic as me."

He found that person in Kurt Allen. Born in England, raised in Australia and an American citizen since 2008, Allen has employees hailing from 22 countries. All 22 of their flags are hanging in an international array at his gasket factory. And he had a roof to spare in the shadow of William P. Hobby Airport.

A Houston mom, the mother of an American soldier, called the flag a "big Welcome Home" for her son -- expected to fly into Hobby from Iraq this weekend. "I cannot wait for him to see this," she told Lobaido last week.

Lobaido began his patriotic journey in 2006 when he traveled the country -- a beat-up Chevy Suburban and the nation's colors as his guide -- to paint the stars and stripes on 50 rooftops in 50 states.

"I want to try to get people to love America," he said.

Is his work finished? "Not yet," he said, "but when a kid comes up to me and shows me a flag they drew and what it means to them, well that's mission accomplished."

Fall In Love With America Again! is a documentary style broadcast, web and mobile based video/audio/multimedia series highlighting stories from across America - stories from small towns, communities, neighborhoods, streets, homes, rooms. It's all about what we think America is, who American's are, how we see ourselves, and how we welcome the world to our home.

Check out:
http://fallinlovewithamericaagain.blogspot.com
and our promotional video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1OGAVgiVD4&feature=player_embedded

The project includes live webcam updates, producing a feature length documentary film, broadcast series and special, live events, video/audio/multimedia content produced by us and submitted by folks all across America, interactive websites and social networking sites/communities, etc. It is a fantastic way to connect you and your advertisers to consumers/fans and it all starts in the heartland of America.

Created by Evie Evangelou, Amber Roniger and Dennis Gelbaum, Executive Producers - Dennis Gelbaum & Evie Evangelou, Co-Executive Producer Amber Roniger
© 2010 EvieVision & ramp it up entertainment

Check Out Our Promotional Video for Fall In Love With America Again

2010-07-01T14:48:00.000-07:00

Fall In Love With America - Again

2010-06-30T04:38:00.001-07:00

Updated Details About Our Adventure
'Fall In Love With America - Again' is a documentary style web and mobile based video/audio/multimedia series highlighting stories from across America - stories from small towns, communities, neighborhoods, streets, homes, rooms. It's all about what we think America is, who American's are, how we see ourselves, and how we
welcome the world to our home.

The project will include live webcam updates, producing a feature length documentary film, broadcast special, a picture book, photo series, book of short stories, the release of a new song and video about America (think 'We Are The World'.) live events, a multimedia interactive touring show/exhibit highlighting America, Americans, our/their stories, music, videos, photography, arts, fashion, food, history, culture, language, etc - video/audio/multimedia content produced by us and submitted by folks all across America, interactive websites and social networking sites/communities, etc.
We will promote a variety of contests and promotions to engage and interact with folks across America and it all starts in the heartland of America. Think about the great, inspiring and motivating stories folks will tell - stories that will motivate and inspire us.

Our adventure will take off September 2010 (with the launch of our websites, blog, video and audio channels) and the project will continue through the summer of 2011. We will have two crews starting off from the middle of America. One crew goes west, the other goes east. Our web sites/series - updated daily - will be fast paced - with montages cut to original music, short stories and highlights from our trip. Once a week we will feature a longer length story providing more details and background content.

We are looking for sponsors...and if your are interested in connecting with consumers/fans in a very real way - all across America - this is an opportunity for you to be part of something very special. Join us on our adventure.

Stay tuned for more details and breaking news!

Created by Evie Evangelou, Amber Roniger and Dennis Gelbaum, Executive Producers - Dennis Gelbaum & Evie Evangelou, Co-Executive Producer Amber Roniger
© 2010 EvieVision & ramp it up entertainment

Fall In Love With America - Again!

2010-06-17T15:26:00.000-07:00

Fall In Love With America - Again! - A documentary style web and mobile based multimedia series highlighting stories from across America - stories from cities, towns, communities, neighborhoods, streets, homes, rooms...It's all about what we think America is, who American's are, how we see ourselves, and how we welcome the world to our home (s). The project includes creating a documentary-feature length film, broadcast special, live events - touring show/exhibit, video/audio/multimedia content, websites and social networking sites/communities, etc. It is a fantastic way to connect brands to consumers/fans and it all starts in the heartland of America.

Fall In Love With America - Again! - the reality series starring America!

The plan is to take the concept internationally, Fall In Love With Italy, Paris, England, Jamaica...you get the idea.

Created by Evie Evangelou, Amber Roniger and Dennis Gelbaum, Executive Producers - Dennis Gelbaum & Evie Evangelou, Co-Executive Producer Amber Roniger
© 2010 EvieVision & ramp it up entertainment

Sgt. Pepper/Cheap Trick Graffifi Wall Launched!

2010-05-26T06:18:00.000-07:00

Ramp it Up Entertainment and Color Light and Shadow Inc. have launched the Sgt. Pepper/Cheap Trick GraffifitWall.

To support the marketing and promotional strategies to maximize premium seat/ticket sales for Sgt. Pepper Live Featuring Cheap Trick at the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Dennis Gelbaum and Linda Gottfried have joined together to launch the Sgt. Pepper/Cheap Trick GraffitiWall. Check it out, join and play at: http://graffitiwall.com/sites/wall4/

"GraffitiWall is a powerful marketing tool that lets us create an interactive social networking website (can also be used on a variety of other platforms including smart phones and electronic billboards) that is totally customizable. As we looked for unique, fresh ways to engage our audience, connecting with and introducing GraffitiWall just made a lot of sense," Dennis Gelbaum, CEO of ramp it up entertainment adds.

What is GraffitiWall - GraffitiWall is the most engaging, interactive, innovative, immersive and fun-game like social networking tool on the planet! Think of GraffitiWall as a living, breathing, real time interactive canvas that helps fans/consumers stay connected.

And what do participants do on GraffitiWall - they play, they communicate, they relate, they exchange ideas and stories, they see exclusive content, listen to music and they win prizes and more.

'Sgt. Pepper Live Featuring Cheap Trick', a dazzling musical experience featuring world-famous rock stars, the Sgt. Pepper Symphony Orchestra and a live interpretation of one of the most beloved rock albums in history, takes the stage for a limited engagement beginning June 11 at the Paris Las Vegas Theatre.

A Bill Edwards Presents Inc. production, tickets for 'Sgt. Pepper Live Featuring Cheap Trick' are now on sale. Show dates on sale include June 1112, June 15-16, June 18-19, June 22-23, June 25-26, and June 29-30, with future dates to be announced. Showtime is 8 p.m. For the best seats in the house, got to www.sgtpepperlivetickets.com

A celebration of The Beatles' influential album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Cheap Trick performs the entire album live as well as select Cheap Trick songs that lend themselves to orchestral arrangements. At the helm of the production is Geoff Emerick, the renowned engineer of the classic 1967 album. Never performed in its entirety by The Beatles due to the complex studio technology of the day that was employed in the making of the album, 'Sgt. Pepper Live' allows Cheap Trick to incorporate their brand of power pop into the classic songs while paying tribute to music legends in an unforgettable musical experience.

Cheap Trick is best known for its classic singles, 'I Want You To Want Me' and 'Surrender.' The American power-pop progenitors recorded the album All Shook Up in 1980 with Sir George Martin and Geoff Emerick, producer and engineer of Sgt. Pepper¹s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Emerick will continue to oversee the audio production for 'Sgt. Pepper Live.' He received Grammy Awards for the engineering of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road.

Gelbaum's Fantasy Links To Foxwoods

2010-05-22T18:23:00.000-07:00

Dennis Gelbaum has developed and is managing a web and mobile based ticket sales strategy - via targeted and captivating email blasts, voice broadcasting, text messaging and social networking - for a variety of live entertainment projects including concerts by Jethro Tull, Brad Garrett, Steve Miller Band, Lionel Richie, Don Rickles/Joan Rivers and performances of 'Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy' at the MGM Grand Theater, Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, CT.

"We (ramp it up entertainment) are working closely with Foxwoods to maximize ticket sales/revenue - driving customer acquisition and revenue growth through SEM (paid search), SEO, affiliate marketing and creating unique, strategic partnerships - for each of these shows," Gelbaum adds.

Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy has been proclaimed, “The grandest circus spectacle east of Vegas” by New York Magazine. The show, which debuted at the Broadway theatre in June 2008, is the first and only show of its kind ever to perform on Broadway. This groundbreaking theatrical, acrobatic and musical adventure was a Broadway must-see sensation for audiences of all ages.

Created and directed by Neil Goldberg, CIRQUE DREAMS Jungle Fantasy is an exotic encounter inspired by nature’s unpredictable creations that are brought to life by an international cast of soaring aerialists, spine-bending contortionists, acrobats, jugglers and musicians. The astounding feats performed in this action packed Cirque Dream are enhanced with spectacular costumes nominated for an American Theatre Wing Best Costume Design Award and come to life in a fantastical jungle setting ignited by striking visual effects. From the breathtaking soaring aerial butterflies to the balancing giraffes, gigantic flowers, trees and kings of the jungle, this world-class explosion of athleticism, theatre and imagination will exhilarate and entertain audiences of all ages.

Check out the 'Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy' Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMXVG47Rx70&feature=player_embedded#!

Gelbaum Pushing Sgt. Pepper Premium Seating Strategy

2010-05-20T15:50:00.000-07:00

Tickets On Sale Now!
Dennis Gelbaum, Ramp It Up Entertainment, is managing the multimedia marketing and promotion strategy for the sales of 'Sgt. Pepper Live Featuring Cheap Trick' premium seats - the campaign push includes email blasts, voice broadcasting, text messages, social networking, TV, Radio, Print and Outdoor.

Gelbaum Recruited By Sgt. Pepper

2010-05-06T07:31:00.000-07:00

Dennis Gelbaum, CEO of ramp it up entertainment, has been recruited by Sgt. Pepper to assist in the development and implementation of live event promotions and premium seating ticket sales strategy for Sgt. Pepper Live Featuring Cheap Trick. (For tickets check out www.sgtpepperlivetickets.com)

“Sgt. Pepper Live” featuring Cheap Trick, a dazzling musical experience featuring world-famous rock stars, the Sgt. Pepper Symphony Orchestra and a live interpretation of one of the most beloved rock albums in history, will take the stage for a limited engagement beginning June 11 at the Paris Las Vegas Theatre.

A Bill Edwards Presents Inc. production, tickets for “Sgt. Pepper Live” featuring Cheap Trick are now on sale. Show dates now on sale include June 11 – 12, June 15-16, June 18-19, June 22-23, June 25-26, and June 29-30, with future dates to be announced. Showtime is 8 p.m.

A celebration of The Beatles’ influential album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the show is an energetic performance that features an orchestra and a captivating experience of light and sound as Cheap Trick perform the entire album live as well as select Cheap Trick songs that lend themselves to orchestral arrangements. At the helm of the production is Geoff Emerick, the renowned engineer of the classic 1967 album. Never performed in its entirety by The Beatles due to the complex studio technology of the day that was employed in the making of the album, “Sgt. Pepper Live” allows Cheap Trick to incorporate their brand of power pop into the classic songs while paying tribute to music legends in an unforgettable musical experience.

Cheap Trick is best known for its classic singles, “I Want You To Want Me” and “Surrender.” The American power-pop progenitors recorded the album All Shook Up in 1980 with Sir George Martin and Geoff Emerick, producer and engineer of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Emerick will continue to oversee the audio production for “Sgt. Pepper Live.” He received Grammy Awards for the engineering of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road.

Cheap Trick on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/cheaptrick

More about Cheap Trick:
CHEAP TRICK may be one of the most covered bands of all time. Since the 70s they've been blending elements of pop, punk and even metal in a way that is instantly catchy and recognizable. With timeless classics such as I Want You to Want Me, Surrender, and the late 80s lighter-waving favorite, The Flame, CHEAP TRICK are a musical institution. Anyone familiar with Comedy Centrals The Colbert Report will note that CHEAP TRICK wrote and performed the theme song.

With more than 5,000 performances, 20 million records sold, 29 movie soundtracks and 40 gold and platinum recording awards, the band was honored in October 2007 by the Chicago Chapter of NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) for their contributions to the music industry. CHEAP TRICK were featured in the John Varvatos Spring 2008 ad campaign.

New Reality Series - The Divorce Coach - starring Michael Thomas

2010-04-12T05:16:00.001-07:00

ramp it up entertainment is developing 'The Divorce Coach' - a new broadcast and web based reality series that follows couples who's marriage is turning into a divorce and who's divorce is turning ugly and out of control! From the bedroom to the courtroom - we 'un' cover it all! (Created by Dennis Gelbaum, Executive Producers - Dennis Gelbaum, Michael Thomas)

"...In our lives, there is very little good that comes with witnessing your friends or yourself going through a divorce. That is, at least in the short term. While a divorce is often a painful and regrettable experience to go through, in most cases it is the appropriate thing to occur. After all, there is no shame in admitting that perhaps your marriage was a bit of a mistake or acknowledging the fact that it may have run its course. In many cases, a divorce is one of those things that open up new avenues of opportunity and gives you a valuable prospective to live your life.

Although this may sound petty, how often have you attended a wedding or have seen a married couple interact and wondered how long it would be before they would inevitably divorce. While this sounds horrible, it is a very human interaction. After all, who hasn’t been to a wedding and seen a couple that is blissfully unaware of how much work it takes to make a marriage successful.

Marriage can be a tricky thing and the last thing that most people want to see happen to a marriage is to have it end up in divorce. However, there is still a bit of fascination that comes when you see how a divorce occurs. After all, marriages generally begin with the same feeling – love. Divorces, on the other hand, take many fascinating routes to end up in this situation..." (edited from various sources)

'The Divorce Coach' - The new reality series where you can indulge your guilty pleasures and see how others are dealing with divorce - you may laugh, you may cry, but you will never be bored!

Hosted by Michael Thomas - the divorce coach - divorced dad and author of 'Divorce Tactics To Win'
"I have been through two insane divorces. In the process I lost BOTH of my homes and 3 kids! I paid extortion-like legal fees in the amount of $86,490.47 for results that at times made it seem like my attorney worked for my ex. I spent hundreds of hours in anguish, lost way too many nights of sleep and shed untold thousands of tears just trying to be a parent. At times it seemed as though it could NOT GET ANY WORSE...and then IT WOULD! I know what a woman or a man can do to their ex in a divorce to maximize their success and to minimize their heartache, loss and feelings of failure!"

Meet our cast - our featured clients - men and women convinced their marriage can’t be saved or they just want 'out' - all committed to starting divorce proceedings. Michael interviews potential clients and selects the 'clients' he will help. The 'clients' selected are profiled in depth at the beginning of each episode. As we get to know them, they reveal their inner most secrets about their relationship, and their desire to win and get everything they want and feel they deserve as their marriage dissolves right before our eyes.

Michael consults his 'clients' on the various tactics necessary to win - must do's before you tell anyone about your divorce plans, revealing the seven secrets your attorney won’t tell you, what you must do before your spouse does, how to prevent your spouse from getting the best attorney, the one simple tactic that can give you an upper hand in a restraining order, how to document and record everything, how to hire and use a private investigator and a forensic accountant for your benefit, control your attorney and his/her fees/spending habits, help keep your home, your children and if you are losing or already lost how to come back and win!

'The Divorce Coach' will reveal through intimate interviews with friends, family and significant others the reasons for our clients seeking a divorce - infidelity, communication breakdown, physical, psychological or emotional abuse, financial issues, sexual incompatibility, boredom, religious and cultural strains, child rearing, addiction and differences in priorities and expectations - and the HARD HITTING, NO B/S, TRIED AND PROVEN DIVORCE TACTICS it takes to control and win the game.

Not unlike Oliver and Barbara Rose in 'The War of the Roses', the 1989 film starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, and directed by Danny DeVito, our 'clients' all believed they had the perfect marriage.

When their marriage begins to fall apart, material possessions, especially when there are no children involved, become the center of an often outrageous and bitter divorce battle - and we get to see it all up close and very personal.

"I really want to help you win your divorce, or at the very least keep you from losing everything you have worked so hard to gain - your home, kids, personal belongings, and your assets to the attorneys and your ex. I want you to take back some control in this mess, and get some footing on a new life. I found that as I learned more, and won a few small victories, I was empowered. And you will be too!"
Michael Thomas

"I did not file so my ex got to stay in the house and I was the visiting parent which sucks I can assure you. But your ONE TACTIC for RESTRAINING ORDERS saved my life. I did what you said, and when she tried to pull that one on me, I was ready, and flipped it right back on her. God only knows what would have happened if I had not read your book. Thank you Michael!"
Frank F, Texas

"I am so angry with my attorney! Why did he not tell me what you shared in your book? THANK GOD I found you and bought Divorce Tactics to Win. I won, but only because I took control from my attorney and used your tactics, Michael."
Lori S, California

"Before I knew I was going to get a divorce, friends kept telling me to leave my husband, but I thought things would just get better. They didn't! Following your advice and taking control of my divorce was the wisest thing I did for myself and for my family. Thank you Michael, for helping me help my family!"
Lisa S, Oregon

"My girlfriend was going through the divorce from hell, and I found this book and bought it for her. She read it and was able to use a lot of what Michael shares in his book... which saved my friend her car, horse trailer and about $50,000 in assets her ex had hidden!"
Kelly C, California

Check out: http://divorcetacticstowin.com/

2010 Rockin The River Cruises

2010-04-12T04:35:00.001-07:00

We are securing sponsorship and promotional opportunities for the 2010 Rockin' The River Cruise. Check out http://www.rtrcruises.com - more details to follow.
Each NYC Rockin' The River Cruise is a scenic tour and live music event in the most intimate and friendly concert setting you've ever experienced. Listening to your favorite artists while sailing past the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge and the world's greatest NYC skyline - you've never seen music like this before. We look forward to rockin' the river with you this summer.

March Madness

2010-03-21T04:08:00.001-07:00

I am presently working on and consulting for:

GraffitiWall - a powerful 'brand focused' marketing tool that lets clients create a real time, multimedia and interactive social networking website that builds brand loyalty. GraffitiWall allows brands the ability to collect and analyze vital consumer and media usage information.

Gaming Confirm - a web based platform for email marketing, voice broadcasting and text messaging for casinos, entertainment venues, travel and hospitality clients.

'Native American Arts Music Experience' - a touring show/exhibit celebrating the history, culture, language, art, music, fashion and food of Native Americans.

KPMG Video Wins Accolade Award of Excellence

2010-02-13T14:46:00.000-08:00

Winning Awards Feels Great!

Winning Awards Feels Great!
Video for KPMG Wins Award of Excellence from the Accolade Competition.
One of my last projects as Managing Director of Tribe Pictures was creating the concept for a video celebrating KPMG receiving the Catalyst Award for their efforts to improve their recruiting of woman and minorities.
We were invited to participate in a creative brainstorming session. Right from the start, our client challenged us to come up with something different, something cool, something out of the box - but not too far out of the box.
I listened very carefully and watched the body language of everyone in the room. I noticed that although many of the ideas being thrown about were good, they just weren't getting anyone really excited. I didn't see any home runs being hit.
I stepped up to the plate and threw out two ideas. I immediately got everyone's attention. The first idea was way out of the box - it was a reenactment of the scene from the movie 'Big' when Tom Hank's character plays the piano with his boss at FAO Schwarz - the famous NYC toy store. The second idea - a 'Vanity Fair' photo shoot with big K P M G letters as props - was almost immediately accepted. Everyone got into talking about how we could produce this idea and how it could be a fantastic video. It's a great feeling when the 'team' comes together to work together.
We knew we had to follow the strict script and visual guidelines that were given to us by Catalyst, but I was sure they could all fit nicely into the idea I had presented.
KPMG gave us the go ahead - they were excited about creating and producing such an innovative piece. We knew we were stepping out of their comfort zone, but they trusted us. And in the end, we didn't let them down.
It is a great feeling working with a client who trusts you!

Bazooka Bubble Gum Music Video Starring The Heights

2010-02-06T12:23:00.000-08:00

MORE THAN 1,757,845 VIEWS!
Bazooka Bubble Gum Music Video starring The Heights - Dennis Gelbaum, Executive Producer and Co-Director has more than 1,757,845 views! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZXRaVBf0pY) Check out their new song 'Selfish' featuring Madison and Brooke Jasmyn at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7anqtGAh80 - I love these guys!

American Showgirl

2010-02-06T04:50:00.000-08:00

American Showgirl - Created by Dennis Gelbaum
We are searching for the most beautiful and most talented Showgirl - in this new broadcast and web based series. The opening graphics and animated sequence was created by Michael Millspaugh. The footage used in this promo was provided by Bally's, Las Vegas. American Showgirl will be a visually exciting, entertaining, fun, classy and sometimes naughty look at the life of a Las Vegas Showgirl.

2010-01-30T19:32:00.000-08:00

I was the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Creative Director of Tourdesign Creative Services. Here is a sample of some of the performers we worked with - some of the most talented on the planet. We created advertising, marketing and promotional materials - for all media - to support their tours, new album releases, produced EPK's, shot content for DVD's and broadcast and created websites and web based content. NOBODY SOLD MORE TICKETS TO MORE EVENTS - NOBODY! I also directed TV spots for radio stations - nationwide - take a look. Check out www.rampitupentertainment.blogspot.com

2010-01-30T11:49:00.000-08:00

I have recently returned to the company I founded in 2007, ramp it up entertainment, as Managing Director, Director of Creative and Business Strategy. I was most recently the Managing Director of Tribe Pictures. "I wanted to re-focus on creating and producing original content for all media - especially content for broadcast, web and mobile. ramp it up entertainment partners with many industry 'experts' to develop and produce original content and to work with corporate clients creating interactive experiences that can help strengthen and unlock the power of their brand."

"I am driven by participating in the creative process, working with really smart, strategically minded and creative people who are determined to effectively and efficiently communicate, educate, entertain, motivate and inspire. At my core, I am a storyteller", Gelbaum adds.

2010-01-30T11:47:00.001-08:00

I am presently the Managing Director, Director of Creative and Business Strategy of ramp it up entertainment - a full service creative boutique and multimedia production resource company. I have worked with clients all over the world, producing and directing hundreds of commercials, promos, trailers, music videos, live multimedia events and concert (tours, festivals, fairs) productions, multimedia interactive presentations (meetings, product introductions, in-store promotions and museum exhibits), corporate films/videos and hours of long/short form programming and content for theatrical release, broadcast, web and mobile.

I have worked with the biggest touring acts and venues in the world, the major record labels, many Clear Channel radio stations, AOL, MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, FOX Sports, Music Choice, Miller Beer, BRAVO, UPN, WWE, AVON, VW, ESPN, A&E, AFL, USA Olympic Teams, Special Olympics, Professional and College Sports/Teams, Motor Sports, Chicago Museum of Science and Industry (Titanic Exhibit) and many more.

2010-01-30T11:43:00.001-08:00

I am presently the Managing Director, Director of Creative and Business Strategy of ramp it up entertainment - a full service creative boutique and multimedia production resource company. I have worked with clients all over the world, producing and directing hundreds of commercials, promos, trailers, music videos, live multi-media events and concert (tours, festivals, fairs) productions, multimedia interactive presentations (meetings, product introductions, in-store promotions and museum exhibits), corporate films/videos and hours of long/short form programming and content for theatrical release, broadcast, web and mobile.

I have created/produced/directed content to help launch many kids/teen/youth products including promos for Guitar Hero 5, a web based series for Nintendo/Wii Fit - Get Wii Fit With Alyson, content for the Nintendo Channel to introduce Mixed Messages and Animal Crossing City Folk and commercials for the relaunch of Bazooka Bubble Gum, Bundles of Babies, Baby Loves To Talk, Bots, Bow Wow Boutique, Bubble Tunes, Creepy Crawlers, Game Genie, Micro-Machines, Power Rangers, X-Men and many many more! I was also the executive producer/director for the feature length documentary, 'Corrosion of Conformity - Live Volume - The Movie'.

Hollywood PI - Dennis Gelbaum and Becky Altringer - Executive Producers

2009-11-21T07:22:00.000-08:00

HOLLYWOOD P.I.
A new broadcast and web based series starring Becky Altringer.
Created by Becky Altringer with Dennis Gelbaum

Executive Producers:
Dennis Gelbaum, Becky Altringer

Co-Executive Producer - Eric Baron

Produced by ramp it up entertainment

Check out the video at:
http://web.me.com/whatifpics/becky/becky_profile.html

“Columbo" meets "Dog The Bounty Hunter". Becky “Hollywood P.I.” Altringer is a curious and quirky private investigator best known for her work in Kirby Dick’s “This Film Is Not Yet Rated”. She spends her days (and nights) driving around Southern California in her minivan trying to “catch the bad guys” and right the wrongs of the world. Taking on everything from pro-bono abuse cases to conspiracy cases by celebrities a’la Randy Quaid, you can be sure this Hollywood P.I. will NOT go quietly into the night.

Trapping thieves, catching stalkers, locating loved ones and even exposing the MPAA - it’s all in a days work for this female P.I. and her posse. Follow the real-life adventures of a woman who’ll stop at nothing - except maybe to feed a squirrel or pick up a stray dog – in her quest for justice. A survivor of incestual rape and a lifetime of abuse, Becky decided to spend her life fighting back and fighting for everyone else while she’s at it.

The premise of the show is simple; each week Becky will pick up a new case (carefully hand picked) and cameras will follow as she works the case. Each episode starts off with the alarm clock waking everyone in the house and ends with the family around the dining room table enjoying dinner - reflecting back on the day and the case.

With a P.I. apprentice to mentor, a lesbian life partner to take care of, her ex-con son, her school-teacher daughter and an 87-year-old Mamasita by her side, this Hollywood P.I. has her plate full! This is a family screaming out for their own reality series!

Between cases, we’ll follow Becky in her daily life. Not unlike “Little People Big World”, this is a show about an unconventional family and the life they’ve made for themselves. Becky volunteers at Peace Over Violence (an organization she holds near to her heart), she holds seminars for aspiring female P.I.’s, teaches local high school students about staying on the right side of the law and in her spare time uses her annual Disneyland pass to unwind at her favorite place. Whether she’s cracking a case, hanging out with her family or getting caught in the middle of a celebrity conspiracy, Hollywood P.I. is always an adventure!

She’s a bigger than life personality, with the ability to blend right in while investigating a case. “I even wear Disney clothes so that I look non-threatening! Nobody thinks twice about a women with Tinkerbell on her pocket” Becky doesn't look like a P.I. so she can go places where other people would get caught, "It's a great cover." Altringer says that in general, "someone like me who's meek and makes fun" can get people to open up where an intimidating man might fail. She plays dumb at times. But it's not always an act, she adds. "Sometimes," she admits, "I am a big dork." Can you imagine Philip Marlowe saying such a thing?

About Becky Altringer
Becky is a licensed private investigator and owner of a successful investigations firm, Ariel Investigations, Inc. in Southern California. She was recently featured as the prime investigator in the IFC documentary titled, "This Film Is Not Yet Rated," directed by the Oscar-nominated director, Kirby Dick and conducted the investigations in the newly released documentary, “Outrage.”

Becky has appeared in the following films: 'Outrage' – 2009 (Investigations - Magnolia Pitcures/Chaincamera), 'The Red Door' -2008 (Fabi - LomaLynda Productions) and 'This Film is Not Yet Rated' - 2006 (Herself - IFC/Chaincamera).

Becky has appeared in the following TV series: 'Undercover Investigation' - 2006, Teen Intervention/Herself, CBS/'Dr. Phil Show', 'Stalkarazzi' – 2008 - Herself/Assistant Producer, Hobnox, Inc. USA, 'Sex Offenders & Megan’s Law' – 2008, Herself - SBS Global

About Dennis Gelbaum
Dennis Gelbaum is an international award winning Producer, Director, Author ('Beyond Reasonable Doubt') and Inventor (The Buddy Light Illuminated Leash). He is the Founder/CEO, Executive Producer of ramp it up entertainment.

His recent work includes creating/producing the broadcast series, 'Rick Barry's Incredible Celebrity Fishing Adventures', creating/producing the broadcast and web based series, 'Rising Stars' - produced with Corey Rogers and Antoinette Bruno in association with starchefs.com - creating/producing the multi-media touring show, 'NAAME' - 'Native American Arts Music Experience', writer/director broadcast special and feature length documentary, 'Girls With Wings', directing promos to launch Guitar Hero 5 for Nintendo Wii, creating/co-directing ‘Get Fit With Alyson’, a web-based series sponsored by Nintendo, writing, producing and directing a fundraising and awareness film for Worldfund, writing/directing a multi-media campaign for Special Olympics to help erase the ‘R’ word, producing/writing a visually stunning and innovative commercial for Alize Bleu, directing a multi-media campaign for Bazooka Bubble Gum, producing an interactive multi-media show for BASF and executive producer/director for the feature length documentary, 'Corrosion of Conformity - Live Volume - The Movie'.

Dennis has worked with the biggest touring acts (and venues) in the world. He has worked with the major record labels, radio stations, AOL, MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, FOX Sports, Music Choice, Miller Beer, BRAVO, UPN, WWE, AVON, VW, ESPN, A&E, AFL, USA Olympic Teams, Special Olympics, Professional and College Sports/Teams, Motor Sports, Chicago Museum of Science and Industry (Titanic Exhibit) and many more.

Check out:
http://www.beyondreasonabledoubtbook.com
http://www.thegelbaumblog.blogspot.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/dennisjg3153
http://www.rampitupentertainment.com

ramp it up entertainment - not another production company!

2009-10-13T03:59:00.000-07:00

You are invited to join us on an adventure. We will know no boundaries and accept nothing that smells or looks or tastes like anything you have ever experienced before. We have created a company where our clients will find the most creative ideas on the planet! We will produce results that exceed expectations every time - guaranteed!

Welcome to the world of ramp it up entertainment.

We create brilliant ideas for all media. We design 'em, smash, 'em, pulverize 'em, twist, shake, spin and abuse 'em in ways you can't even imagine. It' ain't pretty - but it's effective. Then we bake 'em in our secret (patent pending) high temperature multi-purpose oven until they are cooked to perfection. And that's just the beginning.

Our ideas morph into content for broadcast, internet - podcasts, webcasts, interactive mulit-media, live events and entertainment, original scripted and unscripted short/long form programming and unique branding experiences. It's building a sense of community that embraces the world - two eyeballs at a time. We are building a company that will look like no other company. Pack a toothbrush and a change of underwear and join us for the adventure of a lifetime and experience things you’ll never forget.

Our core business will be the generation of ideas for clients looking to do something differently. It’s not about producing a TV or Radio commercial or a Billboard or Print ad - it's about creating an unforgettable experience that has the greatest impact on the community.

We will develop ideas internally and create relationships externally that provide us with property/content ownership.

Two exciting collaborative efforts we are involved in -
Hang 10 Technology - live streaming mobile video available worldwide! It is truly amazing and this is where entertainment is going - into the palm of your hand! We are working with Hang 10 to develop entertainment channels including a 24/7 music and live entertainment channel.

4ACause - changing the world - one coin at a time - one good deed at a time. An engaging concept where the passing of coins and good deeds are connected through technology. The coins can be tracked - worldwide - the good deeds can have an impact and help change the world we live in. It's about doing more than a billion good deeds! Count us in.

Dennis Gelbaum creates ramp it up entertainment

2009-10-12T12:10:00.001-07:00

Promos for Guitar Hero 5/Nintendo/Wii Produced /Directed by Dennis Gelbaum

2009-09-11T17:19:00.001-07:00

Dennis produced/directed 4 promos for Guitar Hero 5 (Vicarious Visions, Nintendo/Wii)...and they go live 9.14 on the Nintendo Channel. Check 'em out!

Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Dennis Gelbaum

2009-08-18T15:37:00.000-07:00

Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Dennis Gelbaum questions the validity of DNA. Here is an interesting article worth sharing:

Report: Israeli scientists discover way to counterfeit DNA

By Haaretz Service

Israeli scientists have shown it is possible to fabricate DNA evidence, according to an article published in the New York Times on Tuesday, August 18th, 2009.

The findings could possibly call into question the credibility of DNA as evidence in criminal cases.

In their tests, the scientists fabricated blood and saliva samples that contained DNA taking from a different person, the New York Times reported. The article states that the scientists also could take a DNA profile in a database and use it to make a DNA sample to match the profile without needing any tissue from the person.

The article quotes the lead author of the scientific paper, Dr. Dan Frumkin as saying that the study shows "you can just engineer a crime scene" adding "any biology undergraduate could perform this." Frumkin is one of the founders of Nucleix, a Tel Aviv-based company that developed a test to distinguish real DNA samples from fake ones. According to the New York Times, the firm is looking to sell the test to forensics laboratories. Legal and civil rights experts quoted in the article say the test is troubling, in that it could mean more cases of fabricated DNA being used as evidence at crime scenes. The article quotes Tania Simoncelli, a science adviser to the American Civil Liberties Union, who finds the test "worrisome." "DNA is a lot easier to plant at a crime scene than fingerprints," Simoncelli said. ?We?re creating a criminal justice system that is increasingly relying on this technology."

Rick Barry's 24 Most Incredible Celebrity Sports Adventures

2009-07-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Rick Barry's 24 Most Incredible Celebrity Sports Adventures

A 30 minute broadcast series with content re-purposed for web and mobile - starring Rick Barry - fantastic locations, once in a lifetime experiences and celebrity guests.
Created and Produced be Dennis Gelbaum and Rick Barry

Hall of Fame forward Rick Barry, (born March 28, 1944, in Elizabeth, New Jersey), is the only player ever to lead the NCAA, NBA, and ABA in scoring. His name appears near the top of every all-time offensive list. He scored more than 25,000 points in his professional career and in four different seasons averaged more than 30 points. He was named to 12 All-Star teams, four All-NBA First Teams, and five All-ABA First Teams. In 1966, Rick Barry was named by the NBA as one of the 50 Greatest Players in history.

'Rick Barry's 24 Most Incredible Celebrity Sports Adventures' is one part adventure and one part celebrity - a great recipe for success! Each episode will feature Rick and a celebrity participating in a sport/adventure at an incredible location/resort. Rick plays golf with Donald Trump, and then, together, they go up in a hot air balloon. Rick plays tennis with Jimmy Connors, maybe a quick game of ping-pong overlooking the Pacific and then they are off - fly-fishing in Alaska. Rick rides a horse with Billy Crystal - then they take off on ATV's through the desert. (Can't you see it - Rick and Billy taking a Yoga Class and indulging in a massage?) The idea is to take each celebrity out of their element and put them into an adventure they will remember for a lifetime. What happens will be unexpected, (and completely unscripted), engaging, fun and very entertaining. Each show is about the sport, the location, food and drink (yes they will eat and drink), friendship and adventure.

'Rick Barry's 24 Most Incredible Celebrity Sports Adventures' will be honest, simple and more about spending time with friends and going to exciting and beautiful places…than it is about learning the techniques of catching fish. The real success of the show will come from Rick Barry's presence and the way the series is shot (we will be shooting in HD) and edited. The pacing will be pleasant, relaxed (but not slow) and flawless and sometimes even a bit hectic. Interviews will be staged in interesting places and will appear to be very natural - as if the viewer is there, eavesdropping on the 'guys'. We'll never know what (or whom) they will be talking about.

'Rick Barry's 24 Most Incredible Celebrity Sports Adventures' is a countdown of epic hikes, killer climbs, backcountry rides, roller-coaster raft runs and much more. Adventures might include rafting, (Colorado River), dog sledding, (Brooks Range, Alaska), hiking, (Zion National Park, Utah), skiing, (Jackson Hole, WY), climbing, (Yosemite National Park), horseback riding, (Monument Valley, Arizona), road cycling, (North Carolina), fishing, (Salmon River, Idaho), mountain lion tracking, (Pocatello, Idaho), motorcycling up Highway 1, (CA), windsurfing, (Oregon and Washington), sailing (SF Bay), racing in the Birkebeiner, (Wisconsin) and more.

When we have a guest 'guide', they will be exceptional, smart, clever and very patient. The interaction with the guys' and nature will be pure magic. The 'guys' really appreciate where they are and viewers will be able to feel 'it' in each and every episode. Viewers don’t just watch this show - they experience it. They participate in it.

And throughout the season, viewers will learn how they can join Rick and a special celebrity guest on an adventure of a lifetime. It will be an online sweepstakes with winners chosen from a select group of viewers who answer questions correctly about show content. It will be fun and interactive.

Some of the celebrities we would be inviting to join Rick are: (and the list is not even close to being complete…there are unlimited opportunities but those listed have personal relationships with Rick…)
Tennis: Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras
Boxing: Roy Jones Jr., Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Carlos Palomino
Golf: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd, Lee Trevino, Chi Chi Rodriquez, Phil Mickelson, Greg Norman
Auto Racing: Richard Petty, A. J. Foyt, Dan Gurney, Tom Sneva
Entertainment - Donald Trump, Billy Crystal, Jack Nicholson, James Woods, Dennis Haysbert, Jimmy Smits, Huey Lewis, Bruce Hornsby, Alice Cooper, Rob Schneider, Adam Sandler, Dwayne Johnson, Hulk Hogan, Bill Cosby, Jet Li, Lance Armstrong, Boz Skaggs - musician

'Ptolemais and the Red Sea'

2009-07-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

'Ptolemais and the Red Sea'
Executive Producers, Dennis Gelbaum. Michel Pons and Steven Sidebotham

A broadcast 6x30 series, web based series of 3-minute updates and highlights, a 24/7 live 'webcast' from our liveaboard and a feature length documentary revealing a never-seen part of classical history - the ancient ports, anchorages and shipwrecks of the Pharaos - especially from the Ptolemaic, Roman and early Byzantine periods.

'Ptolemais and the Red Sea' is an archeological reconstitution of a portion of the antique sea trade route, with anticipated discoveries of ancient ports, anchorages and shipwrecks and antique settlements/cities. Our expedition will include both land and underwater investigations at stops along the ancient maritime routes linking the northern Red Sea with the Indian Ocean, in the countries of Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti.

'Ptolemais and the Red Sea' will be focused on a number of sites which may be associated with the ancient ports of Kleopatra’s harbor, Ptolemais Theron (also named Ptolemais of the Hunt, built by Philadelfus in 254BC and served as a hunting ground for the capture and the shipping of elephants to be used in Alexander’s army as war-tanks and the place where the circumference of the earth was discovered), Panchrisos, Berenice near Saba, The Altars of Konôn, the Grove of Eumedes and other ancient coastal cities along the African coast.

'Ptolemais and the Red Sea' will scientifically identify and date the occupation of the sites visited before, discover what the coastal ruins, spotted on satellite imagery, exactly are to confirm the locations of the Ptolemaic-Roman settlements known only through literature, and the two oldest fish-farm complexes from Pharaonic time.

Such a project has never before been undertaken.

'Ptolemais and the Red Sea' - is a four week adventure in the Red Sea - navigating as the Ancients did - searching for classical looking architecture, ruined ‘houses’, water management systems, underground cisterns and more… The danger to sail inside the reefs is real. The depth on charts is only approximate and on several occasions we are sure to experience zero depth below the keel.

'Ptolemais and the Red Sea' multi-media project provides us with a unique opportunity to educate and exchange cultural, historical and geographical knowledge one can’t read about in books or experience in a traditional classroom. 'Ptolemais and the Red Sea' will help define, give credibility to and/or rewrite the world's history and geoheritage - and Sudan's patrimony.

Arriving at Port Sudan, the Republic of Sudan's main port city, we board 'My Cuba Libre", a liveaboard powered catamaran captained by Ricardo and start our four week adventure - recreating conditions of ancient merchant ships in coastal navigation and facilitate access to many remote locations that would be difficult to approach from land. We will search for artifacts at natural moorings, identify underwater piers and classical looking ruins on land, and near obstacles to navigation.

Our adventure takes us between Port Sudan, Eritrea and fish farms near the border.

'Ptolemais and the Red Sea' expedition will help define the significance of Berenike, port of the Ptolemaist and reveal two, possibly three additional ports. These findings will demonstrate that global trading between Europe-Africa-India-China-started in these ports - in about 254 BC by Greek Pharao Philadelphus controlling ports down to Djibuti - and that the Roman Empire extended to the south along the coast and islands of the Red Sea, taking over the Ptolemaic places and constructing new buildings, cisterns and piers for boats.

By compiling and studying detailed satellite imagery and combining this with reading the ancient literary sources, Nautical charts, and sparse archeological literature published on this part of the Red sea, we will be able to select among the GPS positions of coastal remains that we believe are the most likely ancient settlements linked with the maritime trade route and that have not been previously published.

We will anchor the boat at moorings near the three sites that we previously visited and will try to date the occupation and identify them by collecting artifacts and ceramics. We will visit the three other sites (with GPS positions) that we propose to identify and consult with local residents and fishermen to locate other ancient remains. The discoveries will be documented precisely using GPS positioning, photography and, where feasible, the drawing of more detailed measured architectural plans. This data will form the basis for the publication of a gazetteer that can be used in more detailed possible follow-up investigations and excavations.

Cruisin to Alaska with Dennis and Valerie

2009-06-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

Check out the movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTqx_kAd_TQ
We recently cruised Alaska. If you have the chance - don't miss this life changing experience.

Jeremy Graduated From UC Santa Barbara

2009-06-16T12:39:00.001-07:00

On June 14th at 1PM, my son, Jeremy, graduated from UC Santa Barbara. It was a perfect day and an incredible ending to a vacation that included visiting Alaska.

Interview of Dennis Gelbaum

2009-06-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

There is an author out there just like me – maybe it's you? Wanna know what writers really go through and what drives them to keep going and going and going? Read my interview!

Author: Dennis Gelbaum
Book: ‘Beyond Reasonable Doubt’ and “Something About Going Home’
www.beyondreasonabledoubtbook.com
See the book trailer at :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ7zNzHJsDI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGm-Y0s1lQM

Bio:
Dennis Gelbaum
Quote to live by:
“When You Have The Chance – Dance.”

Dennis Gelbaum is an International award winning Creative Director, Writer, Producer and Director and is The Managing Director, Partner of TRIBE Pictures, Chatham, NJ. He has worked with clients all over the world, directing hundreds of commercials, music videos, live multi-media events and concert productions, multi-media interactive presentations, in-store promotions and museum exhibits, corporate films and hours of long/short form programming for broadcast and web based/mobile/podcast content.

Dennis’ most recent projects include directing a promo introducing ‘Mixed Messages’ for the new Nintendo DSI, directing promos for Nintendo’s ‘Animal Crossing’, producing a fundraising film for Worldfund, writing and directing a multi-media campaign for Special Olympics Texas to “erase the ‘r’ word” and creating and co-directing a web based series, “Get Fit With Alyson”, starring Alyson Stoner (‘Cheaper By The Dozen’ and Disney’s ‘Camp Rock’) and sponsored by Nintendo. The series encourages kids to exercise and make choices to live a healthier lifestyle.

Dennis is a published author, (“Something About Going Home” and ‘Beyond Reasonable Doubt’) and an inventor of the Buddy Light Illuminated Safety Leash, featured at The Sharper Image and many retail/specialty outlets. Dennis received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from American University and established the NAVARAC Scholarship...an annual contribution providing funds, services and resources to students to complete film/video/multi-media projects.

INTERVIEW:

Can you tell us whether you are published for the first time or multi-published? Can you give us the title (s) of your book (s)?
I have published – self-published – two books. In 2006, I published a book of poetry with illustrations by Christina Qualiana. In December 2008, I published my first novel, ‘Beyond Reasonable Doubt’ - a story with more twists and turns than a double helix.

What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?
My first book was a collection of short stories ‘In The Lion’s Den’. I started writing when I was about ten years old and continued to add to the collection until I was seventeen – when my father died. I never thought about publishing the stories. The writing process, although I didn’t know it at the time actually helped me get through a lot when I was growing up. So, I didn’t need to get it published. It was way too private and personal. I was also writing poetry at the time and continued to write poetry into my forties - until my best friend John died. (You can’t make this stuff up – really you can’t.) That poetry turned into ‘Something About Going Home’. I published the book when I connected with Christina Qualiana. She read each poem once and created an original illustration for each - that helped bring my poetry to life. It was an incredible experience.

For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?
For ‘Something About Going Home’ everyone told me it was almost impossible to get a book of poetry published. I sent out hundreds of letters and samples of the illustrations. I could not believe that I could not hook up with one publisher who saw the merit of the work. Even if the poetry wasn’t the greatest – and I never claimed it was – the combination of Christina’s artwork and the poetry made for an incredible, engaging experience. I decided after receiving my one-hundredth rejection (I have kept everyone…) to self publish. It was the best decision I ever made. I wanted this book published in the worst way – and self-publishing was my only option at the time. My plan is to turn each poem into a short film and create a unique multi-media experience.

How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?
Rejections suck! How does it feel? It feels horrible. It feels like someone has determined that you are not worthy…that your work is not worthy. That your work isn’t worthy of being published and that no one would be willing to buy it and/or read it. OK, that’s a bit out there. But it is true. Being rejected hurts. But you have to take the personal stuff and put it away. There are so many reasons why your book isn’t published. I get that. I get how important it is to find the right publisher, the right agent to get it to the right publisher. Publishers are looking for something specific. And unless you have exactly what they are looking for at exactly that moment that they are reading your query letter or looking at your materials, the ‘right’ connection is never made. I did an incredible amount of research to find the right publisher and the right agent. I’m smart. I figured that the process could not be that difficult. I was so wrong. But I did not give up. I decided to sell publish ‘Something About Going Home’ because I wanted to see it published. Did I overcome the blows? No. It still hurts. But I have learned to deal with it and I get some satisfaction every time someone purchases my book and writes me to tell me how I touched them, how I made them feel, how they connected with me and the poetry and the
Illustrations.

With ‘Beyond Reasonable Doubt” I followed the same path – researching agents and publishers. The emotional approach was a bit different because I wrote the book first as a screenplay – and then I decided to convert the script into a novel – because I thought it would be easier to sell a script if it was based on a published novel. I gave myself thirty days to get connected and when that didn’t happen, I decided to self-publish. I am very proud of the book. It’s character driven with lots of twists and turns. It’s so real many readers have asked me if the book is based on a true story or not. I have packed the book with a lot of ‘real’ details and information - articles to support my theories. It challenges the reader to make a lot of decisions for themselves about what’s real or not real, what’s true or not true.

When your first book was published, who published it and why did you choose them?
In both cases, I connected with Booksurge. I did considerable research and decided that going the Print On Demand (POD) route was a good one and made sense. Booksure is also connected to Amazon, so I know I would get some good coverage. I wasn’t completely satisfied with the experience. There were times when my expectations were not met. I wanted my hand held a bit more. Mistakes were made that could have been avoided. A few times I felt like I was dealing with an auto salesman – they wanted to sell me more and more options. I wanted to publish my book. They wanted to sell me rust proofing and an extended warranty.

How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?
I felt great when I received a box with 20 copies of my first book. It was delivered to my front door. I brought the box into my den and looked at it for a few minutes. I had seen the Author’s Proof, so I knew what the book was going to look like. I took a deep breath and gently opened the box. I removed one of the books, held it in my hands, opened the cover and read the dedication page. Seconds later I reached for a tissue to wipe the tears from eyes. I had seen a dream come true. It felt amazing. At that moment in time it didn’t matter to me if no one was ever going to buy the book or read the book. It really didn’t matter at the time. Whenever I see the book on my shelf, I still have to touch it and look at it and open the pages. I love seeing it in print. I enjoyed a nice dinner at home with Valerie, my wife to celebrate the arrival of my first book.

The feelings I get for ‘Beyond Reasonable Doubt’ are a bit different. I loved seeing the book printed. I designed the cover and it came out exactly how I wanted it to. The book feels like a book. It reads like a book. It is a book. 526 pages long! And it will make for a great movie. I look at it often and open it up and reach a few pages. I am, for the most part, happy with it. I have taken one copy and written notes on many pages – things I might have written differently. I tell the story often to friends and family – and each time I do, I realize I left something out of the book and wish I could go back and add some more stuff. That’s why I am now writing the sequel. Val and I went out for a dinner to celebrate. But I tend to celebrate internally. It wasn’t so much about getting my books published as it was about finishing them. Do I want to be a best selling author - sure I do. Do I wish I had my books published by a ‘real’ publisher – yeah, OK – maybe that gives an author some credibility that you don’t get when you self-publish.

What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?
I started a website for each book, set up blogs, sent out press releases, got interviewed, connected with friends and family, just got the word out any way I could. I spend an hour a day looking for additional ways to get my book in front of readers and publishers. The effort never stops.

If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?
I don’t know what else I could have done differently to get the attention of publishers and/or literary agents. It is very competitive out there and the risks are high for a publisher to work with an unpublished author. But when you look at the success of many authors, and they all started out unpublished, you have to wonder how did they do it? Why were they lucky and I wasn’t? Are they better writers? Maybe. But I’m not sure.

Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?
I grow as an author every day. I think about my next book, the sequel to ‘Beyond Reasonable Doubt’ and ‘Dolphin Boy, a children’s book and interactive multi-media experience I am developing. I love to write. I love to talk about my writing to others. When I talk about my writing my passion is contagious. People connect with my stories. I like that feeling. I like seeing that connection in their eyes and hearing it their voices.

Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up? What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?
I don’t now what I could have done to speed things up. I did the research. I really did. I spent hundreds of hours writing letters, making telephone calls, and trying to connect with the people I thought I could connect with. But it was not my fulltime job so I never gave it one hundred percent. It was a passion, a hobby. And maybe that is what I would have done differently. I always thought I could juggle and multi-task with the best of ‘em. But in this case, maybe if I had given it my all, 100 percent of the time, stayed focused and determined and a bit relentless in my pursuit, it might have been different. I am really not sure. As far as making mistakes, except for being impatient, I’m not sure I made too many mistakes. But then I never do.

What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?
Receiving my first royalty check and not cashing it. It’s still sitting on my desk. That was not easy. But seriously, being published, even self-published was a great accomplishment. Finishing my books, getting them published made me whole. Giving the books to my wife, my kids and my Mom, seeing their reactions, made me complete.

If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?
I am doing exactly what I always wanted to do.

Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?
I have combined all my worlds to be the person I am. I have great accomplishments behind me and a fantastic journey ahead of me.

How do you see yourself in ten years?
Older, by ten years!

Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?
Write. Write. Write.

Dennis Gelbaum Produces Fundraising Video for Worldfund

2009-05-15T06:22:00.000-07:00

Tribe Pictures (www.tribepictures.com) recently produced the 2009 Fundraising and Awareness Video for Worldfund. (www.worldfund.org) The film, shot in Tepic, Mexico, features Brenda Yanez Ledesma who teaches 160 1st-6th grade students, adults and SEP teachers. She talks about her passion for teaching, what makes a good teacher, her training, her dream for her students and her impact on the community. Special thanks to Alfonso Manjarrez, Dir/Prod and Joe Solis, Co-Executive Producer (La Fabrica Films) with Executive Producers Dennis Gelbaum and Vern Oakley. Eric Baron edited the 5 minute video. Please visit http://tribepictures.com/tribevideo/Worldfund5-14.html to see the video.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt - Chapter One

2009-04-26T08:06:00.000-07:00

I was sitting at my desk, relaxing, daydreaming, and looking out the window. Our neighbor's always annoying, white and brown cat had just passed by, not a care in the world. She acted like she owned the place. Three squirrels were looking for food. The fat one came up to the window and stared at me. I stared back, growled and barked like a dog. He ran off, laughing at me. I remembered his brother, who not long ago had caused a power failure on our street. The squirrel had obviously climbed onto a transformer looking for food and touched a high voltage conductor and a grounded portion of the transformer at the same time, electrocuting him. It was funny at the time. Not so funny now.

The trees were bare. Winter had set in. There was a light dusting of fresh snow on the lawn, covering the ice that had been there for weeks. The sky was blue, the sort of blue you get on a cold, crisp winter day in the Northeast. A photographer's dream shot. It's the kind of day you just want to spend in bed with a bowl of fancy, whole cashews, a good book, the newspaper, your IPOD, your most favorite person or dog. You know the kind of day I am describing. We all look forward to just this kind of day with great anticipation. And when it does come along, something always comes up and we never get to enjoy it. I woke up thinking today was going to be that kind of day. I was totally prepared to do nothing. But, something came up, as it always does. And my plans changed. So much for doing nothing today.

I was in Key West the last time I enjoyed a day with absolutely nothing to do. I was sitting in an outdoor café on Mallory Square, watching the sun setting into the Gulf of Mexico. I had just finished a pound of peel and eat shrimp, twenty large sweet and succulent Key West Pinks that were served with an incredible, homemade, spicy cocktail sauce. My companion was enjoying Conch Fritters with her Key Lime Pie Martini; Absolute Citron, Liquor 43, Lime Juice and fresh cream with Graham Cracker Crust. We snuggled and people watched for what seemed like hours. The street performers and their interaction with the tourists made for great entertainment.

I love Key West. It is such a unique place and I could really appreciate why Ernest Hemingway felt so at home in his house on Whitehead Street. Hemingway would say, "It’s the best place I’ve ever been anytime, anywhere, flowers, tamarind trees, guava trees, coconut palms..."
When I'm not sunset watching, you could usually find me at the Dennis Pharmacy Luncheonette. It's said that Jimmy Buffet wrote "Cheeseburger in Paradise" at the Dennis Pharmacy. They were best known for their wonderful conch chowder, peccadillo and Cuban sandwiches. Along with the great food you could rub elbows and chat with visiting celebrities and with the locals. Not to long ago, the original Dennis closed and relocated in Bahama Village, at Henrietta's Art of Baking, on Petronia Street. The location has changed but the food is still great. Trust me, even though we don’t know each other that well, trust me. When in Key West, visit the Dennis.

Although I tend to enjoy full service resorts when I can and when they are available, staying at a local Bed and Breakfast just makes sense when visiting Key West. My favorite, The Blue Parrot Inn, is an authentically historic Key West House, located on Elizabeth Street. Each day starts with a simple, complimentary poolside breakfast. Coffee, tea and juice are available every morning along with English muffins, bagels with all the fixings and fresh pastries brought in each morning from a local bakery. The gardens are exotic. The pool is heated. And two cats, Mel and Truffles, protect the property and the guests. The Blue Parrot Inn is truly a slice of heaven.

I read the letter from Jason over and over again. The letter was very compelling and I was flattered that he had reached out to me and asked for my help. He wanted me to help tell his story. He felt he had a lot left to say and it was time to say it. He also knew that this was his time and that people would still be interested because there were so many people still fascinated by everything that had happened.

He had been offered tons of money to tell his story, on a variety of talk shows, to magazines, newspapers, and even major motion picture studios had come a knocking on his door, but he had refused. Now for some reason, he had decided it was time to tell his side of the story. I thought most of it had already been told. Not much time had passed since the trial had ended and Jason got all his money from his mother's estate and the insurance policies. I couldn’t understand what Jason thought he might accomplish by telling his story.

I was there in person for a lot of it and for what I missed, believe me when I tell you, there was no shortage of information available on the internet, nightly broadcasts, just about every where you looked. I wasn't sure there was much more to tell or if there was anything left worth telling. I also wasn't sure if anyone really cared about Jason and his story. I really didn’t care that much about it. But I knew if I could find an interesting angle, twist, turn, reveal something cool, maybe it might excite me and I could get you excited about it.

For Jason, it wasn't about the money anymore. He had plenty of money. More than plenty. He didn't want to be exploited, nor did he want anyone else to benefit from the telling of his story. He wanted to make sure that he told his story before someone wrote an unauthorized biography or tried to tell the story without his cooperation. He just wanted an opportunity to set the record straight. At least that's what he said. I wasn't really sure of his true intentions. I also wondered why he didn’t just go away. It would have been better for everyone if he just disappeared. I mean really, aren’t you sick and tired of seeing OJ's face in the news? C'mon, go and hide away in a cave somewhere. That was my best advice for Jason. But he didn’t take any advice from me. In the end, or maybe right from the start, as I said, I was flattered, sort of, to be asked to participate. I never anticipated how deeply involved I was going to get. I never anticipated how this project was going to change my life.

After reading my most recent book, "Something About Going Home", he said he was touched in many ways, loved the poetry and the original illustrations by Christina Qualiana. He especially liked the poem about my father and this one in particular:

A Confession
I remember the day, clearly.
It was not that long ago.
They said I had done it,
but I knew it was a lie.
They were searching for an easy way out.
And I was an easy way out.
They accused me of murder
killing my mother and father
my own parents who I loved very much.
How could they even think I did it?
Sure I was an easy way out
but this was absurd.
The evidence was less than circumstantial
but they were confident of a conviction.
How could they even think I did it?
They found no weapons
they found no bodies.
How could they even think I did it?
The police needed a conviction
the officer needed a promotion
the politician needed to win re-election.
Me, I needed a good lawyer.
How could they even think I did it?
The last time I saw my parents
was just before the time of the crime.
I was sure to give myself an alibi
or at least enough time to get one.
They will never find the weapons.
They will never find the bodies.
Me, I always liked the smell of gas, actually,
I’m a good conductor of electricity.
One could say it runs in the family.
How could they even think I did it?

Jason wanted to know more about where I was, emotionally, when I wrote this poem. What was my motivation? What was my inspiration? What was I thinking? What was I feeling? What provoked me to write what I did? When I was younger, I would read a book, a short story or a poem and wonder how did the writer, the author, think that stuff up? And I often wished I could have had the opportunity to chat with the writer and learn more about their process. When an actor acts, you can see it in their face, in the way their body moves in relationship to others. Their performance goes way beyond the words. But a writer works alone, sitting in front of a typewriter, a computer screen and keyboard or a blank piece of paper. I get excited just participating in the thought process.

In my book of poetry, I provided insight into my inner thoughts that surrounded my writing. I thought this was a very unique approach and a feature that provided the reader with insight into me, the author, which they would otherwise never be exposed to. I knew it made me vulnerable, but I was willing to expose myself for the sake of selling a few more books. Although I thought it was a good and original approach, it didn’t help sell any books. That was a big disappointment for me. I was told it was difficult to sell poetry books. I was told that the price of my book was too high. I wasn't willing to change anything. The poetry was brilliant and the illustrations were fantastic. Really incredible! I convinced myself that the most important thing I could do was to get it published. And I did. I thought I knew better than everybody else. Obviously, I didn't. I don’t.

Here is what accompanied this poem: "There was a time I was going crazy. Self destructive, and I didn't care who I hurt along the way. No self esteem. I felt like dirt. I felt like I wasn't worthy of living. I felt alone. I felt tricked. I felt cheated. I felt like I could hurt myself. I felt like I could hurt someone. But no matter how bad it was, I went on and I'm not sure why!"

Jason said he often felt the same way. He was reaching out to me and trying to connect on many levels. I am not that complicated of a person and I was receptive to the idea of us working together. I was looking for another project, so his timing could not have been more perfect.

Not that this defines me or qualifies me as a writer, but I do know how to put a sentence or two together, maybe a few paragraphs too. But being an advertising copywriter and a published author of poetry, I still didn't think I was really qualified to write this story. I had taken a few journalism and introductory writing courses while attending American University in Washington, D.C., but nothing had really prepared me for this kind of exercise and journey. I didn’t think I really had the right experience or skill set to do this properly or do it justice, no pun intended. But I thought, why not give it a try. I figured if I could get Jason to sit down in front of an audio recorder, he might 'write' the entire book. The story is more than fascinating and it really tells itself. But you can be the judge and the jury and the pun is intended.

I came along with no preconceived notions as to where we would go and how the story would unfold. I was also open to the idea of reaching out to another writer, with more, applicable experience, to help me put the story together in a form that would make sense to everyone. Yes, I also thought it would be important to do that to make the book as commercial as possible. The idea of course was to sell the most books. I even toyed with the idea of contacting James Patterson, who I had worked with (actually, worked for) briefly when I was a very junior copywriter at J. Walter Thompson, a New York advertising agency. But I knew he wouldn't remember me and between his book writing, TV series and movie deals, he was probably way to busy. And to be honest, I have never read any of his books.

I had been good friends with Rickey, Jason's father. Rickey and I took Hebrew lessons at a synagogue on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx and had our Bar Mitzvah on the same day. I never told my mother that one day, when visiting Yankee Stadium, I had run into my Rabbi and he was eating a non-kosher hot dog! With that information, my Grandmother would have certainly questioned the validity of his rabbinical credentials.
Rickey and I frequently sneaked into the Paradise Theater, one of the greatest movie theaters ever, to watch the newest movies. I remember the cast iron seats covered in red velour, goldfish ponds in the lobby, the night sky with twinkling stars and slow moving clouds gliding by in the balcony, the intricate carvings on the ceiling, the Baroque Italian garden, the sweeping staircase and the elegant rest rooms on the upper floor. And the Paradise Theater, located in the Bronx, wasn't just for films, stars like Bob Hope, Milton Berle, George Burns and many others, performed on its stage and many Bronx high school and college students received their diplomas there. I didn’t attend my high school graduation. I graduated in January, not June, and rushed to start college. Looking back, that was a mistake. They just keep coming.

We played softball at Harris Field, named after Father John Joseph Harris. Father Harris, a native of Yonkers, NY, had dedicated much of his life to working with youth. On June 8th, 1937, while on a field trip with a group of children at Bear Mountain State Park, he died from a heart attack. Though Harris’s sojourn in the borough was brief, he left such a strong impression in the Bronx that in 1940 the City Council named this park in his honor. Harris Park, part of the Jerome Park complex, was previously owned by Leonard Walter Jerome, the maternal grandfather of Winston Churchill. He operated the Jerome Park Racetrack there from 1866 to 1889.

There were four baseball diamonds, two softball diamonds, fields for football and other sports, and a sitting area. In 1961 the field house, with its lockers, bathrooms, and showers, was opened. The park’s neighbors include Lehman College to the south (originally built as Hunter College), the Bronx High School of Science to the north and the subway yards of the Lexington Avenue Line of the Interborough Rapid Transit.

I was a great third baseman and could hit the long ball. I practiced with my friend Allan for hours at a time. Alan would hit me sharp, hard grounders and line drives and I would field them all cleanly. I also pitched, but I really enjoyed playing in the field. I pitched a no-hitter in junior high, one of the first no-hitters on record and my coach, the school's choir teacher, didn’t even realize what I had accomplished. The other team confirmed I had pitched the no-hitter and the teams' coach said he would notify the Athletic Commission. I thought I would get an award or something, but that never happened. I didn’t even keep the ball. Two days later, in another game, I gave up eleven runs on nine hits to one of the weakest teams in the league. That was embarrassing. I figured I only used up five minutes of my fifteen minutes of fame.

Ricky was fast, one of the fastest kids I ever saw. He played centerfield and a ball never got by him. He was a finesse player, hitting the ball where the other team wasn't. He was always good for a single or double and often just kept running towards third base. Never stopping to look where the ball was coming from. He just ran and ran. He was fun to watch. Ricky was one of those kids that all the parents liked. But that's because they didn’t know him, like the other kids did. Ricky was a troublemaker and a real smart ass. He could sit on an ice cream and tell you if it was chocolate or vanilla. But Ricky never got caught doing anything wrong. Ricky was a good looking kid, and he knew it. People would always say that with Ricky's good looks and charm, he could get away with murder.

After a softball game, no matter who won or lost, Ricky and I would lead the group to Jahn's Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor (off of East Kingsbridge Road) and share The Kitchen Sink, a dessert that had a little bit (more like a lot) of everything including twenty flavors of ice cream and eleven toppings. The Kitchen Sink serves eight, but to be honest, no matter how hard we tried, and we tried, no matter how many there was of us and there were many, we were never able to finish The Kitchen Sink.

I had my first ice cream soda at Jahn's. I had my first chocolate egg cream at The Village Green on the Grand Concourse. And before I go any further, I have to tell you about the chocolate egg cream. Despite its name, an egg cream contains neither eggs nor cream. The basic ingredients are milk, seltzer, and chocolate syrup. It is traditionally made in a small Coke-style glass. And true New Yorkers insist that it is not a classic egg cream without Fox's U-Bet Chocolate Syrup.

I recently ordered a chocolate egg cream at the famous Carnegie Deli in NY and noticed they were not making my chocolate egg cream with Fox's U-Bet Chocolate Syrup. When I pointed that out to my server, he looked at me like I was crazy. I was sure he spit in my chocolate egg cream when I wasn't looking. But I would never know. He would never admit it, that's for sure. I didn't tip him very well. And I was very disappointed in the chocolate egg cream.

In the early 1900s, Fox's U-Bet Chocolate Syrup was created. And according to the cookbook called 'The Brooklyn Cookbook', by Lyn Stallworth and Rod Kennedy Jr., "You absolutely cannot make an egg cream without Fox's U-Bet." The cookbook refers to Fox's grandson, David, for the story of the syrup's name: "The name 'U-Bet' dates from the late-'20s, when Fox's grandfather got wildcatting fever and headed to Texas to drill for oil. 'You bet' was a friendly term the oilmen used. His oil venture a failure, he returned to the old firm, changing Fox's Chocolate Syrup to Fox's U-Bet. He said, 'I came back broke but with a good name for the syrup,' his grandson relates."

It is perfectly proper to gulp down an egg cream. In fact, an egg cream will lose its white, foamy head (that's probably where the egg in the egg cream legend originates from) and become flat if it is not enjoyed immediately. If you put a scoop or two of ice cream in a chocolate egg cream, add some whipped cream and place a cherry on top, you got yourself an ice cream soda. There was nothing I enjoyed more. Of course, I had other favorites. When I was growing up in the Bronx, lunch at the Village Green would include a cherry coke in a tall glass with ice and a cheeseburger deluxe which came with crispy, French fries, Cole slaw and a sour pickle.

Ricky and I had our first sexual experience with Evelyn, the daughter of my apartment building's superintendent. We used to have sex with her in my apartment before my mother got home from work. There was usually four or five of us taking turns having sex with Evelyn and watching for my mother to come up the street. When she was spotted, we knew we had to finish up and get out of the apartment. We would run down the stairs as she was in the elevator heading up towards to the fifth floor. This lasted about three months, until my mother caught on and one day and sent the elevator up empty, as she waited for us in the lobby. When we burst out of the staircase door and into the lobby, she stood there, motionless. She didn't have to say a word, we knew she got us and she got us good. That was the last I ever saw of Evelyn. I wrote my first short story about Evelyn, 'In The Lion's Den', the 'Den' referred to me and I thought that was very clever. I shared a copy of it with the guys and even got a copy to Evelyn. I heard she liked it.

Ricky and I liked Hope, but had a crush on her friend, Suzanne. I don’t think either one of us ever got to her. I know I didn't and I'm pretty sure Ricky didn’t either. I haven’t spoken to Ricky in decades. The last I heard he had moved to South Florida and was a General Contractor, building million dollar homes on the inter-coastal. He had always wanted to be a professional golfer, but I don’t think he was ever good enough to make it on the tour. I had heard he was on his fifth marriage. I have no idea what happened to Suzanne.

Jason's grandparents and my parents were best of friends. His grandmother and my mother attended Evander Childs High School together in the Bronx. (Located at East Gun Hill Road.) His grandfather and my father were in the service together. When I moved out of the old neighborhood (181st Street and Creston Avenue) and into the Riverdale section of the Bronx, (Johnson Avenue, just a few blocks south of the Monument), we all sort of grew apart. And when my father died and Ricky didn't show for the funeral, I sort of wrote him off. I needed my friends around and he was too busy. He never even called. That hurt me for years and I have never forgotten or forgiven many of those who did not attend. (Especially Robert and Michael.) I never cared that much about Ira not showing up, but I always wondered what ever happened to Rhonda?

I had followed the Ruth Warren/Hal Warren case, as most of us had. Everywhere you looked, the story was front and center news. "Husband Brutally Kills Wife." It was the lead-in story on every newscast. XM Radio covered the trial live - exclusively. All the elements of a major feature film script were here, a horrific crime complete with a range of strange, engaging characters and twisting storylines. I was thinking Ridley Scott or Martin Scorsese would be perfect candidates to direct the movie based on my book. Sure it's Jason's story. But it's my book.

As for characters, except for me, there aren’t many likeable characters in this story. (And that could be a problem for Hollywood.) I never intended to be a major character. I'm just the storyteller. The conduit. The tour guide. The messenger. And as far as the storyline goes, you can follow much of it without a problem, but there are lots of holes, and no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to fill 'em. And that's one of the biggest problems, challenges and opportunities I faced. How do I tell this story in a way that answers all of the questions? Maybe I can? Maybe I can't? Maybe no one will ever be able to figure it all out? Maybe we're not supposed to figure it all out? And if we don't figure it all out, I might have enough material left over for a sequel. Just so you know, if you are reading this, I am already working on the sequel. It's very cool. I have complete access to Senator Thayer and his staff. All I can reveal to you at this point is that this man will not be denied what he believes is his, no matter what the cost.

Everyone wanted to know how a "sane" man, Hal Warren, could do this to a woman, his wife, Ruth Warren, a woman he was supposed to be in love with? The sensational, media covered trial or should I say media circus event became the focus of our daily discussion opportunities; around the dinner table, the water cooler, on the bus, the train, the plane, in the car and in bed. People who knew me, would approach me, wanting to know the real dirt. They thought because I knew Jason and the family, that I was connected. But I was just like everybody else, I was mostly curious. Because of personal relationships, I had the ability to get inside and see what was going on for myself. That proved to be a tremendous advantage and probably got me invited to a few parties that I would not have ordinarily been invited to. There were times when I was almost a celebrity just because of my connection to Jason. I used people's perception of me to my advantage, opening up doors along the way. And why not?

Photographs from the crime scene were everywhere, leaving nothing to the imagination. Hundreds of video and audio clips were put on the Internet every day. You can imagine the impact the Internet had in spreading the stories surrounding this trial. It was truly amazing how the public could not get enough. This was the hottest of stories. And like the OJ trial, everyone involved became a celebrity. No matter how hard I tried, I could not stop from being caught up in the whirlwind that was created by the trial. When I saw my picture in People Magazine I was blown away.

Although he was often misquoted, Andy Warhol said it best; "in the future everyone will be world famous for 15 minutes." Well, almost every participant who wanted it, got his or her fifteen minutes (or more) of fame. From being a guest on nationally syndicated talk shows to hosting their own, albeit short-lived talk shows, I hadn't seen anything like this since the OJ trial. You do remember the OJ trial, don't you? If you read OJ's new book, "If I Did It, Here's How It Happened", I would prefer you not continue reading this book. Put it down. Give it away. Throw it away. Just don’t read this book. You are not worthy.

Did Simpson kill his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman? I was not there so I don’t know for sure. And I never saw video from a security camera, heard testimony from an eyewitness or that OJ's fingerprints or DNA had been found at the scene of the crime. There’s certainly a good chance Simpson may well be the perpetrator of that ghastly double homicide. And I believe he did it. But the glove didn’t fit so the jury didn't convict. I hate that line but I felt compelled to repeat it here.

Like the OJ trial, the outcome of the Warren trial enraged many, pleased others and left no one with any sense of real comfort or the feeling that justice had been served. Similar to the emotions we all displayed and kept inside after the OJ verdict was read, many of us felt as if something was wrong, went wrong and we were powerless to do anything about it. There were those who believed that the jury was right and regardless of any new "evidence", the right man, Hal Warren, was convicted for killing his wife. The right man was going to spend the rest of his life in prison. He got what he deserved.

Did OJ get what he deserved? Probably not. Most likely not. Did Hal Warren deserve to go to jail for the murder of his wife? Probably not. Most likely not. I think most definitely not. I'm going to be asking many obvious questions, not surprisingly, not being asked by the media who covered this trial relentlessly. I'm going to try to determine, once and for all, who did what and to whom and why.

Was Hal Warren framed for the murder of his wife? Up to this point, nothing I have seen, heard or read comes close to supporting that theory. All though, I have heard others talk about the possibility. And when they do, they always mention Jason as the mastermind behind the framework. It's almost as if they want Jason to be the mastermind. I'm not sure. Not yet anyway. Nothing I know about Jason makes me think he is that smart, or that angry or that capable. I just don’t see it. Maybe I am being naïve? It would make for a much better story if it turns out that he did arrange for the murder of his mother to get his hands on the family fortune. But it creeps me out to think that it's true.

I want to be clear about this, unlike my thoughts about OJ; I believe Hal Warren did not commit the crime he was accused of committing. OJ got away with murder, a double murder. Hal Warren did not get away with anything. Hal Warren wasn't guilty of anything. He was married to Ruth Warren. He was not the biological father of Ruth's son. Ricky was. I throw this out, only to ask the question, what did Ricky have to gain if his ex-wife, Ruth Warren died? Did he have a motive to commit this crime or help Jason commit the crime? Did he have access to the money? Could they have done this together? Could someone I grew up with have committed such a horrible act? Shit, now I am freaking myself out. I have got to find Ricky.

In most criminal prosecutions where DNA evidence is utilized, the DNA evidence serves to corroborate, in a powerful manner, other circumstances pointing to the guilt of the accused. But in Hal Warren's case, there was no other corroborating evidence. No fingerprints were found at the crime scene. And that was very strange. No one questioned this at anytime before or during the trial. He lived in the house of the victim. He slept in the same bedroom as the victim. He used the same bathroom as the victim. Is it possible that Hal Warren never missed the toilet bowl? How come his fingerprints were not found anywhere near the victim? No eyewitnesses saw Hal Warren commit the murder. No eyewitness saw Hal Warren anywhere, for that matter, when the murder was taking place. This all becomes even more important as this story unfolds. You might want to take notes. There will be quizzes throughout the reading of this story.

I believed then, as I do now, that DNA evidence, without corroborating evidence, (fingerprints and/or an eyewitness) is not sufficient evidence to convict and that DNA evidence should not be used without other supporting evidence. I believe that DNA evidence in itself is not proof of one's guilt or innocence. USCOM, the world's leading authority on DNA would have us believe otherwise. What do you think? What do you believe? I will help provide you with the information you need to make your mind up. That's part of my responsibility, to you, throughout this process.

In the end, Jason got what he wanted. He inherited hundreds of millions of dollars from his mother's family estate. But at what cost? How many souls did he destroy along the way? And was it worth it? I promised to keep an open mind, although I had my doubts. But I did want to find out the truth. And I was prepared to do as much research as I needed to do, to help provide me with a rock solid foundation of truth and fact. I wasn't looking to write a non-fiction review of the case, but I wanted to be clear on the facts and what part they played in the telling of this story.

The truth always intrigued me. It was far more fascinating then a stack of lies. I hope you will keep an open mind as we journey through and try to make sense of this mess. I have read all the documents you will read throughout this book. Some of them are boring and go on and on and on and you'll ask yourself why did I include them all. I included them because Jason wanted me to read them and I thought you should read them too. I thought if I had to read them, I would make you read them. Jason believed they could help connect me to the story. I was never able to connect all the dots. The stories were somewhat interesting but often repetitive in content. I just thought they would make the book longer. I was so thrilled when I hit two hundred and eighty pages. I was glad you would be getting your money's worth.

As Jason left the courthouse, with his millions intact, the headlines referred to his victory as "the dance of death". The lead story that night on NBC News, "As we think about the impact on the new evidence that has come to light questioning the reliability of DNA testing and the DNA evidence produced at the trial, we are reminded that death lurks everywhere, everyday, just like in Holbein's 'dance of death'. We have embraced the double helix and now find ourselves looking into the crystal clear eyes of reasonable doubt. The controversy surrounding DNA is just beginning."

The millions of dollars came to Jason with an even bigger price tag. Somewhere along the way, the brutal murder of his mother, his father found guilty - commits suicide - then declared innocent of committing the murder, all became secondary issues. If you can believe it, the murder and suicide actually became non-issues. Everyone was so infatuated with who Jason was, what Jason was up to, what Jason might have done or did do or didn't do they lost focus on what was really important. Two people had died. One was murdered. The other one committed suicide while being in prison. Someone was responsible for all this. Was it Jason Warren? Who else could it be?

Jason Warren was a really good-looking young man. He was often described as a real man's man and a ladies man at the same time. He wore his blond hair, often sun streaked, long. He was always naturally tan. He had a great smile, perfect skin and wore his six foot two frame well. And no matter what time it was, he always wore a five o'clock shadow. He was neat casual in his style and his uniform consisted of a pair of Wrangler Jeans, a black corduroy shirt, purple POLO socks, a pair of Bass loafers and Ray-Ban Aviator Metal II Sunglasses. Jason wore gas permeable hard contact lenses to support his optical condition, Keriticonis, that if not treated, could one day cause Jason to go blind. His right eye was worse than his left eye. Jason never wore jewelry. He was a tennis player, once being internationally ranked at number one hundred and forty four in the world. He also played racquetball religiously and enjoyed white water rafting trips with friends. He especially likes rafting down the Arkansas River in Colorado that provides Class IV+ whitewater and travels through three unique canyons, Bighorn Canyon, Brown's Canyon and the Royal Gorge. When you met Jason, you liked Jason. He disarmed you with his charm.

What became important to those who played this human chess game, was how one could play, no that is too simple of a word - lets try manipulate, twist, turn, stretch, pulverize, pull and distort the system - that's a better description. Jason had challenged the government in a huge way; the high priced experts, FBI profilers, DNA researchers, analysts and labs, the judicial system, the political system and he had won. None of us knew exactly what had happened, because at some point during the process, near the end, all of a sudden, the news stopped coming. Nothing. Not a word. It was as if someone pulled the plug, literally. Someone had shut the door tight. Air tight. One second we were all talking about the case and the next second, it was gone. A deal was struck. Silence was the payoff. Jason disappeared. I was left to tidy everything up, wrap it and tie a nice bow around it. I had still had so many questions. But when it was time for this to end. It ended. Just like that. It ended. New chapter.

The only thing we did know for sure was that Senator Thayer was going to be the next President of the United States and that USCOM was the biggest contributor to his campaign. For just about everyone, it would be business as usual.

And for those of us who found ourselves connected throughout the trial and the process, we were cut off. We were all like junkies in search of our next fix. I had this feeling before, it was like when I needed to go to Harold's Deli in Edison, NJ and order a brisket sandwich on rye, a potato knish and a really thick chocolate shake. And I can't forget about their pickle bar, the world's largest pickle bar. Incredible. Just incredible. Look, we all have those feelings; there is no reason to make fun of mine. I would never make fun of yours. And I could. But I won't. I don't know you well enough to make fun of you. Not yet.

Jason was no different than any of us. Wait a minute. That's really not true, although he tried to make it seem that way. He was different than most of us, thank god for that. Apparently, Jason wasn't quite finished. He hadn't had enough. He was now on a new mission and had invited me along. I invited you along. That's why were here together.

When Jason reached out to me, I thought, through my connections and networking capabilities, maybe I could get a book deal out of it, a screenplay, an article in the local newspaper? If nothing else, maybe I could find out the truth? What really happened? That would be a fascinating story to tell and that's what really interested me from the beginning. Now that would be cool. My friend Don had written a book, and I figured if he could do it, I could do it. So, why not? Then I thought, maybe I should be making a documentary of me writing this book? Maybe not!

I told my mother I was writing a book with and about Jason and about the murder of his mother. She was really pissed off. "I hope he is paying you a lot of money" she remarked. I assured her, he was being very generous. She still wasn't happy about my new assignment. "Be careful", she said. I thought that was odd. She asked me if I had heard from Ricky and I told her I hadn't. I hung up the phone and smiled. Although she was proud of my first book, she was never thrilled about the content. It was a bit risqué for her. She liked the illustrations though. I didn't know if she would feel any different about this book, so I decided to thank her in the dedication page. Call it a little guilt trip, an insurance policy. Sometimes you just have to do that for your mother, and for yourself.
Here's my favorite poem from my book:

As I sit here alone
I remember us sitting together
the wind blowing through our hair
the grains of sand
slipping through our fingertips
splashes of purple and blue
and the reddish hue from the setting sun
the cool breeze off the timid water
the absence of a crowd.
We were comfortable in each other's presence
sitting closely holding hands
enjoying subtle glances.
I wanted to kiss you
but I didn’t want to spoil anything
so I didn’t.
And I could have. And I should have.
But I didn’t want to spoil anything
so I didn’t!
And I could have. And I should have
But I didn’t want to spoil anything
so I didn’t!

And the accompanying story behind the poem: "Arthur introduced me to Brenda. She was beautiful, sophisticated, intelligent and sensitive. I fell in love instantly. I felt a connection with her soul the moment I looked into her eyes! We went to the Santa Monica Pier to play games, walk on the beach, eat soft serve ice cream and freshly sliced and fried potato chips. The connection was so strong it was almost unbearable. Brenda made the first move and after watching the sunset over the pacific, we went back to her house. The closeness we felt, the feelings we experienced, the exploration of our bodies and our thoughts..."

I knew one thing, I wasn't going to let Jason manipulate me into doing or saying anything I did not want to do or say. I was willing to go on this wild adventure, but I had set up some conditions that were non-negotiable. The biggest one, whatever came out of this exchange, I could and would tell it like it is, like it was. The story I was going to tell was going to be the truth as I saw it. No spins on the truth, just the truth, as I was about to uncover and reveal. The story told exactly as it happened. I was going to examine every detail, do exhausting and extensive research, evaluate every twist and turn, conduct interviews with the players involved, travel the world and in the end, lose lots of sleep, eat some great food, gain some weight and probably start to drink and smoke. Yeah, I was really looking forward to this project - note the sarcasm.

There are a lot of questions to be asked and answered, for sure. There are lots of details to review, all to be used to help clarify any misconceptions and close any loose ends. And Jason had promised he would be available to answer any of my questions, truthfully. We decided we would communicate on a regular basis through emails, instant messaging, through our SKYPE accounts and if necessary, the occasional cell phone call. We hadn’t set up a time or a schedule to meet in person. That would come later.

Commercial break: Don't know what SKYPE is…"With Skype’s free software you can chat away with free Skype-to-Skype calls and never worry about cost, time or distance…It's a great way to stay connected - for free!" Check out http://www.skype.com/getconnected/ to learn more about SKYPE.

Jason and I would probably not meet up in person, until the story was complete and the manuscript was ready to be presented to publishers. I promised to send Jason fifteen to twenty pages at a time, not for his approval, but to make sure I had not omitted any important facts. Jason, it appeared to me, was as concerned and as committed as I was, about telling the truth. But I wasn't sure that his truth was going to be the same as my truth. We did agree that whatever we did come up with was going to put an end to the story, a period at the end of a sentence. I felt this was a good plan and I was looking forward to setting the record straight. If I got a movie deal out of it, so much the better. A friend asked me just the other day, who would be playing me in the movie. Of course my first reaction was that I would play myself. But then I realized that would never fly. Who then? Phillip Seymour Hoffman of course. I would make sure to get a walk on part, just because.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman doesn’t look anything like me. But he is such a fantastic actor and I would be crazy not to attach him to the project. If I really had my way and could turn back the clock, I think Brian Dennehy in Blake Edwards' '10'. Brian played Donald, the bartender. He doesn't look like me either, but I loved him in that role. I see a lot of myself in him, and that character.

What I really hoped, was that I wasn't being played by an expert. I really wanted to believe him. As I stated earlier, it was agreed that I had the final say about content. And that was very important to me. If telling this story was going to have any real impact, I had to have credibility and I felt I could only have that if I had the final say. I didn't want anyone to challenge me in regards to what was the truth and what wasn't the truth.

As I saw it, my biggest problem, was that I had to determine very early on who Jason really was. If he was anything like the media had made him out to be, he was a ruthless son of a bitch who probably didn’t deserve to live. At the least, he should have been in jail for the rest of his life. Yeah, Senator Thayer made him a deal which kept Jason out of jail, allowed Jason to keep his money and paved the way for the Senator's race to the White House, but that didn’t change the facts.

And if just a little bit of what Jason, Jennifer Neal and Dennis and his team were going to expose about DNA and USCOM was true, don’t you think we should all know about it? I would like to know about it. And I'm sure every defense attorney and prosecutor would like to know about it too. The difference is that I don’t have anything to gain by telling you the truth or not telling you the truth. I have no motive other than to write a great book about a story that will make a great movie. That's it. I don’t care about anything else. If I believe Jason did it, I will state that and prove it to you, if I can. If I believe Senator Thayer is guilty of crimes that should prevent him from being the next president of the United States, I will get in front of the media and say so. That's my plan.

Dennis Gelbaum Directs Promo for 'Mixed Messages' and Nintendo DSi

2009-04-20T05:30:00.001-07:00

Wanna learn how to play 'Mixed Messages' for Nintendo DSi. Watch the video directed by Dennis Gelbaum (http://www.tribepictures.com/tribevideo/nintendo0402.html)
'Mixed Messages' (created by Vicarious Visions) is a hilarious party game that puts a modern twist on the classic game of 'telephone'. One player (2-21 can play) writes a sentence, then another draws it, and then the next player writes a sentence based on that picture, and so on and so on and so on. You never know how mixed up it all gets or if it will make any sense at all - but that's the fun of playing 'Mixed Messages'.
The 2-minute promo was shot in HD on location in NYC.
Executive Producers: Vern Oakley & Dennis Gelbaum
Director: Dennis Gelbaum
Producer: Felicia Jamieson,
DP: Blake Eichenseer
2nd Cam: Daniel Watchulonis
Sound: Paul Cote
Make-Up: Nicole LeBris
Editor: Juliano Lutz
Casting: Judy Keller Casting Inc.
Cast: Courtney Bree, Karthryn Avery, Alex Odell, Christopher David & Jay Devore

Dennis Gelbaum Interviewed on 'The Authors Show'

2009-04-01T06:33:00.001-07:00

On April 17th, Dennis Gelbaum will be interviewed by Don McCauley, the host of 'The Authors Show' on the WNB Network. Dennis will be talking about his new novel, 'Beyond Reasonable Doubt'. Check it out at http://www.theauthorsshow.com and watch the video book trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ7zNzHJsDI
You can learn more about the book and Dennis at www.beyondreasonabledoubtbook.com

Dennis Gelbaum Interviewed on 'The Authors Show'.

2009-04-01T06:31:00.000-07:00

Trailer for 'Beyond Reasonable Doubt'

2009-02-20T19:32:00.000-08:00

Check out the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ7zNzHJsDI This is the story Jason Warren hired me to tell. At its core the story challenges DNA, the American Judicial system and the International Scientific community.

Trailer For 'Beyond Reasonable Doubt'

2009-02-20T19:19:00.000-08:00

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ7zNzHJsDI to see the trailer for 'Beyond Reasonable Doubt'. This is the story Jason Warren hired me to tell. It has more twists and turns than a double helix. Also visit http://www.beyondreasonabledoubtbook.com to read more about the story - at its core the story challenges the validity of DNA, the American Judicial System and the International Scientific community.

'Dolphin Boy' In The Works!

2009-02-19T11:16:00.000-08:00

‘Dolphin Boy’ is a new children’s book written by Dennis Gelbaum (Something About Going Home and Beyond Reasonable Doubt). The book features include 3D pop-up illustrations, pages to color and an audio CD with sound effects and original music. The book will be accompanied by an interactive website where visitors can share stories about friendships - imaginary and real - and connect with others who have engaging stories to tell and share. The story will also be re-created as a web based series with flash animation and an original music score.

Readers have compared the story of ‘Dolphin Boy’ to the movies ‘Cocoon’ (Directed by Ron Howard, screenplay by Tom Benedek and story by David Saperstein) and ‘Splash’ (Directed by Ron Howard, screenplay by Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel and Bruce Jay Friedman, story by Brian Grazer and screenstory by Bruce Jay Friedman)

Check out the bok trailer for Something About Going Home at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGm-Y0s1lQM

Watch the trailer for 'Something About Going Home'

2009-02-16T18:44:00.001-08:00

Watch the trailer for Dennis Gelbaum's 'Something About Going Home' on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGm-Y0s1lQM

Dennis Gelbaum Interviewed On AuthorsOnTheNet.com

2009-01-30T05:20:00.001-08:00

Go to www.beyondreasonabledoubtbook.com to learn more about me and my book. Also check out www.authorsonthenet.com - I was recently interviewed by Phillip Davis and the interview is now available online. Just click on The Authors Blog section on the left side of their website and it will take you to my interview. And for more stuff - go to www.tribepictures.com

Beyond Readsonable Doubt Available Now at Amazon.com

2008-12-12T05:06:00.000-08:00

Dennis Gelbaum’s new book, 'Beyond Reasonable Doubt' is now available at Amazon.com – check me and the book out on www.beyondreasonabledoubtbook.com
(ISBN# 9781439213612)

Beyond Reasonable Doubt - the new novel by Dennis Gelbaum

2008-09-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Written by
Dennis Gelbaum

Beyond Reasonable Doubt - a dramatic , character driven story that will engage you - with more twists ands turns than a double helix.

The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecule is the genetic blueprint for each cell and ultimately the blueprint that determines every characteristic of a living organism. In 1953 American biochemist James Watson and British biophysicist Francis Crick, described the structure of the DNA molecule as a double helix, somewhat like a spiral staircase with many individual steps. Their work was aided by X-ray diffraction pictures of the DNA molecule taken by British biophysicist Maurice Wilkins and British physical chemist Rosalind Franklin. In 1962 Crick, Watson, and Wilkins received the Nobel Prize for their pioneering work on the structure of the DNA molecule.

To get his hands on his family fortune, Jason Warren has to prove DNA evidence convicting his stepfather of his mother's murder was wrong. With the help of research scientist and DNA expert, Dr. Jennifer Neal and a team of doctors and graduate students from the USCOM North American Research Center at UC Berkeley, he sets out to challenge the International scientific community and the American judicial system.

Hal Warren was convicted of killing his wife, Ruth, solely on DNA extracted from hair samples and bodily fluids found at the crime scene. The prosecution convinced the jury that the DNA Profile matched and identified Hal Warren as the killer. There were no fingerprints found at the crime scene. There were no eyewitnesses to the crime. In fact, Hal Warren had an airtight alibi. He was someplace else when the crime was committed. But he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole. This illustrates just how strong DNA evidence can be. But what if the DNA results were wrong? What if the DNA samples actually belonged to someone else? What if Hal Warren did not commit the crime he was convicted of?

Jason asks us to think about this - without the presence of collaborative evidence, how can we trust DNA - especially if he can prove DNA is not only not as accurate as we have been led to believe, but that DNA in fact, might just be the fabrication of scientists and is based more on theory than fact? DNA Profiling has become big business. Think about all those we have found guilty solely on DNA evidence - think about all those we have set free solely on DNA evidence? Think about it.

But what is Jason Warren really up to? What has he done? What is he about to do? What's his motive in all this? Is he as innocent as he wants us to believe or is he manipulating everyone and everything around him? Is he that smart, that clever, that ruthless? Will Senator Thayer and USCOM be able to control the damage as Jason jeopardizes his run for the Presidency of the United States? Is this the story of a really bad person who wins it all at the end?

Jason hired me to tell his side of the story. But I had one condition to accepting the assignment, I wanted to tell the entire story, the true story and I wanted complete access to all of the players. Jason promised me there would be no restrictions on where I could go, who I could speak to and what I could write. Jason would make all of the arrangements and coordinate all the introductions. I brought in two experts, a retired FBI Profiler and a Psychiatrist, to help me through the process. They warned me about Jason. I could not tell this story without them.

*****
The ocean water was seventy-eight degrees warm. The emerald color, the shade of green that is particularly light and bright, with a faint bluish cast was breathtaking. The water was crystal clear. A forty-seven foot Catalina Yacht is anchored about two hundred and fifty feet offshore. The Yacht, registered in Newport Beach, California was named 'The Double Helix'. A Bayliner Runabout, registered in Fort Lauderdale, named 'Reasonable Doubt', is on shore.

On the secluded, powdery soft beach, a couple with their young child are enjoying a beautiful day in Antigua, away from their home in Montserrat. The woman wearing a soft, white and lilac lace summer dress turns to her male companion and embraces him. He kisses her, gently and them more passionately.

The young girl snuggles up between the couple. She reaches for her daddy. He lifts her up and turns her around so her back is facing him. He wants her to say hi to her grandmother who is sitting in a chair on a porch about one hundred and fifty feet away. The young girl waves to her
grandma and blows her a big kiss. She giggles as her daddy places her back on the silky sand.

Grandma waves back to her granddaughter and smiles. She reaches for a glass of lemonade and brings the glass slowly to her lips. The man lifts up his daughter and turns her upside down, threatening to dunk her in the ocean where she will be eaten by the fish. Grandma yells at her son-in-law to stop playing with his daughter like that. The man yells back to Grandma, not to worry. He has everything under control. Daddy, mother and child sit down on the beach, facing the ocean. It is a perfect day.

I walk in on Stuart, apparently unexpected. It's been some time since we last spoke. As I enter his office, I pick up an envelope off the floor. It is from the Lawyer's Club of San Francisco. I place it on Stuart's desk. Stuart is sitting in his worn, dark brown leather chair. He had been
packing. Boxes were everywhere. I knew he was moving to his new office in the Civic Center Courthouse on McAllister Street. He was headed to Department 622 that had been vacant prior to his appointment. Stuart looked right at me but didn’t say a word. He motioned to me to sit down in one of the two chairs opposite him. I picked the one closest to the door. I removed the boxes and papers from the chair and sat.

The blinds are closed, blocking out the sunlight. He is listening to his IPod, with his eclectic mix of music. The sound coming from the BOSE Sounddock is truly fantastic. Stuart has the black one. I have the white one in my study at home. Stuart is trying to find just the right song to play.

He finally settles on Jimmy Buffet's 'Margaritaville'. He is holding a postcard in his right hand. He offers it to me but I ask him to read it out loud. He does, speaking loudly over the music, "Wish you were here." Stuart offers me the postcard again and this time I accept it. I read the writing on the postcard. It is signed by Jason, Valerie, Morgan and Grandma Jennifer.

Stuart hands me a sealed, white envelope. I knew what was inside. It was the results of the fingerprint analysis on Jennifer Neal. I don't bother to open the envelope. I looked at Stuart. He looked at me. I looked at my watch. I knew that this was probably the last time I would ever see Stuart.

Stuart's cell phone rings. I got up to leave. He asks me to wait for a few minutes while he answered the call. I knew it was time to go.

I had a plane to catch.

Dolphin Boy - A New Children's Book by Dennis Gelbaum

2008-09-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

Dolphin Boy
by Dennis Gelbaum

Caleb is a ten-year old boy who has the ability to communicate with dolphins. Although he tries to convince others of his unique and often magical ability, no one believes him – except for his best friend and neighbor Sara and her father Sam, who is a Marine Biologist and a Professor at the local University.

Caleb has been diagnosed with a life ending disease and although he has days when he feels he can do anything, he is digressing very quickly. The doctor’s agree that he has very little time left and they recommend that he spend his time out of the hospital and at home with his family. They offer the family very little in the way of comfort but do try to prepare them for the inevitable. They are told Caleb should die within the next few weeks.

Every afternoon, Caleb, Sara and Sam visit the beach and swim in the ocean. Sam is amazed to see the number of dolphins who appear and he begins to notice that their numbers are increasing each day. When Caleb enters the ocean, he is instantly surrounded by dolphins. And with every swim in the ocean, with every touch of a dolphin, Caleb gains some of his strength back. But the improvements in Caleb’s condition are only temporary, remaining for less than a few hours after swimming in the ocean.

One morning, Caleb calls his parents into his room. He calls for Sara and Sam too. He tells everyone that he is OK and that he is ready to die. He assures everyone that he is not in pain, but that he must go now. He explains that he wants to go out on the family boat.

Caleb, his parents, Sara and Sam are in the family boat holding Caleb, who is going in and out of consciousness. He whispers to his mother and father that they need to place him in the ocean. He wants to feel the coolness of the sea.
They reluctantly agree. They jump overboard and Sam and Sara gently hand Caleb to them. As they do, dolphins appear, swimming right up to the family..

One of the dolphins places his head on Caleb. Caleb strokes the dolphin and the dolphin responds to Caleb’s touch and sounds. Caleb looks up to his mom and asks her to let him go. She doesn’t know what he means. Caleb tells her that she needs to let him go with the dolphins. She becomes hysterical and as she and her husband loosen their grip on their son, a miracle begins to occur.

Caleb grows stronger and a bright light shines through his eyes and his smile provides a sense of warmth and calmness for everyone. He takes one last look at his parents, Sam and Sarah and says goodbye. Caleb is slowly transformed into a dolphin and jumps high in the air as if to celebrate life. He is alive and he is home.