Monday, January 3, 2011

Fearless Fairies Are Coming!



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

Thursday, December 9, 2010

LMU AND RAMP IT UP ENTERTAINMENT PARTNER TO CREATE REALITY SERIES


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

Monday, November 1, 2010

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



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.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Dennis Gelbaum - Sharing My Passion For Travelling and Photography



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.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

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


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.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Darryl Tookes Falls In Love With America Again!


"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