Wednesday, December 28, 2011

NON COMPOS MENTIS Premiere sold out

A low budget film with no cheap shots or tricks
                       
The newly remodeled Independent Theater (251 S. Main, downtown Los Angeles) is doing quite well if premieres and attendance are any indication. It was standing-room only last night (12-27-11) with a crowd lined up from the red carpet walk to the outside sidewalk for the premiere showing of NON COMPOS MENTIS: or Jerry Powell and the Delusions of Grandeur. Inside the two story theater self-taught underground filmmaker and musician Director/Writer Mike Cuenca wiggles his way through the elbow-to-elbow movie goers and stars to lead the select cast and crew onto the red carpet.
There were no cheap tricks in this low budget movie ($500), which was shot in 31 days. To hear the behind the scenes stories from Director/Writer Mike Cuenca and lead star Joe Halter makes it sound more like a western in the desert than a comedy drama. “The biggest challenge was shooting the movie in a month with a budget of only 500 bucks,” said Ceunca on the red carpet.  “But even more grueling was wearing sweaters and sweating in heavy jackets in the summer time to shoot a winter scene. It was 90 degrees and awful, but worth it.” This story was first published on Examiner.com
See images at MAYOPR.com and TV interviews on the red
carpet at http://Youtube.com/mayopraccounts.  

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Actor Robert Davi, June Lockhart and other stars join SoCal Journalists for some holiday cheer


     SPJ LA Holiday party in Beverly Hills, CA

About 75 freelancers, newspaper editors, magazine writers, TV and radio newsman huddled in Beverly Hills this week to kick off the holiday season. Among the guests  was long time award-winning actress June Lockhart, RTNA Board of Director (Lost in Space (1965), (General Hospital (1963)Lassie (1954), which I just saw on TV in syndication, and Petticoat Junction (1963)
(L-R) Frank Mottek, host KNX, Robert Navi, June Lockhart, and
George McQuade at the SPJ LA holiday party in Beverly Hills, CA.














But one of the most recognizable faces in TV dramas that date back to the late 1970's and on the big screen was 
Robert Davi, a native New Yorker. 

He's been in so many TV drams, but on the screen my favorites were  James Bond, 
Die Hard (1988), Profiler (1996), Licence to Kill (1989)Davi told this writer he's singing a different tune this holiday season, literally in the name of charity - The Salvation Army.

 He just cut an album of tunes just in time for the holidays, songs made by the original legendary songmaster of "New York, New York" singer Frank Sinatra

Davi will sing the tribute to Frank Sinatra,  an event he is billing as “Mistletoe Tuesday”, December 13th. Davi is donating his proceeds from his Capitol record downloads on Amazon and iTunes for "O' Blue Eyes."
                      Navi is also busy singing and performing in Las Vegas.

THE VENETIAN LAS VEGAS CASINO, HOTEL AND RESORT

 In case you want to keep track he also has these projects upcoming on his Robert Davi IMDB.
The Iceman (pre-production)
Leo Marks (rumored)

Swamp Shark (TV movie) 2011
Sheriff Watson                                     

THE SPJ LA HOLIDAY PARTY A HIT
Image group shot of SPJ LA President Frank Mottek, Actor Robert Navi, Actress June Lockhart (RTNA Bd.) and George McQuade.(slide show at www.MAYOCommunications.com)
SPJ LA Pres. Frank Mottek, Sophie Gayot and Michael Levine at the SPJ LA holiday mixer in Beverly Hills, CA.
Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists event was likely the first time in a long time where many reporters and editors were not under deadlines and could actually come up for air to take that one minute vacation.
The festive holiday party took place in the heart of Beverly Hills. Many were tweeting and snapping shots outside on the sidewalk enjoying the wonderful holiday atmosphere of Via Rodeo.
Inside McCormick & Schmick’s on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Rodeo Drive, across the street from the Beverly Wilshire Hotel everyone celebrate holiday cheer catching up with old friend and activities.
The party included generously served hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, mini desserts and a cash bar.  The event was quite initimate and conversations buzzed for a couple of hours. If you have a communications, celebrity charity or industry event drop us note. You never know when we will bring our camera, too.

MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"


Pls. share and subscribe to this blog and you will receive new stories via email automatically.  http://www.venetian.com/

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Film, TV, Studio, and Entertainment Publicists offer insider tips on Social Media

Social Media Workshop at ICG Union Local 600 auditorium.
Social media took publicists by surprise, providing immense opportunities and significant challenges for many publicists, who are still trying to figure out how to measure its success. About 150 PR Pros (about two dozen  sat on the floor, too) packed into the International Cinematographers Guild,Union Local 600 auditorium, Hollywood, CA. this month (10-21-11) to sort it all out.


A packed house at ICG Union Local 600 auditorium for the monthly EPPS media workhop

The seven member panelist included Dawn Wilcox, Allison and Partners, Tracy St. Pierre, NBC, Beth Braen, NATPE, Andrew Stachler, Warner Bros., Jenny Connelly and Laurel Whitcomb from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 
It was moderated by Rosalind Jarrett, the Screen Actors Guild Awards®.

Social Media brings more accountability, challenges and a lot more opportunities says EPPS panel of experts



Images by George S. McQuade III


One of the big concerns in social media is that business has only a small view of their social media marketing campaigns, and often have no clue of how something such as the rate of posting on Facebook might influence the amount money spent by first-time visitors. Or how retweets by an influential blogger might boost membership or awareness of a brand.

Panelist Dawn Wilcox told the crowd unlike a year ago, social media has brought more accountability. “It’s more challenging now, but it also now gives us the opportunity to be more strategic,” explained Wilcox.



Beth Braen, NATPE/Content First
One hot button issue is how to respond to negative posts or comments on Facebook, Twitter, company websites or articles Online in the comment section. 

Most panelists agreed you can not ignore them. Beth Braen, senior vice president marketing for NATPE said her nonprofit organization actually engages visitors, because "NATPE is committed to being a catalyst for the content revolution."


NAPTE not only engages visitors, but also encourages them to participate on their site.





Todd Beck, president of Beck Media and Marketing, LA agrees. He says don’t ignore the negative comments, but be careful responding until you’ve had a change to analyze the motive or the reason for the posts.


Sometimes he noted by taking the agitated visitor offline or sending them a direct email or twitter message you can diffuse the situation.




Vice President Andrew Stachler of Interactive Marketing, Warner Bros. says WB, despite cutbacks the motion picture studio is careful what they post, and he said WB recently put one person in charge of social media.


“Think of Facebook to be used as marketing, and using Twitter as a mini news releases,” Tracy St. Pierre told the EPPS crowd.


NBC’s Tracy St. Pierre has worked on everything from daytime, primetime and late night to specials and made for TV movies. She continues to oversee campaigns for “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” Whitney” and the midseason drama “Awake.”


Additionally, she works with her PR, marketing and digital teams at NBC to create and implement social media events for the network.

Panelist Dawn Wilcox, GM, Allison and Partners noted that Social Media has changed the demands for new hires at her firm. She said the technology has made a noticeable advancement over the last year.



The growth of social media community is important from likes and comments on Facebook to retweets and direct messages on Twitter or Google+. 


A large amount of user activity on your company website shows not only you can engage your audience off the website, but you also covert those users on a path you have total control over – your website.


Once you bring in customers you also need to be consistent, in aligning everything with your main goal- your revenue stream. The EPPS media workshops are usually held on the third Thursday of the month. 


For more visit: www.eppsonline.org.





Do you agree? Please feel free to comment in the comment box below. We would like to know what your observations are on Social Media. Also, would you be so kind to subscribe in the top right hand column so you get updates automatically by email.



If you are a publicists you should join us on Linkedin.com:
ENTERTAINMENT PUBLICISTS AND COMMUNICATORS
ON FACEBOOK.COM/MAYOPublicRelations ON Twitter.com/MAYOPR or /GMcQuade



MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

Saturday, October 15, 2011

"Deep Fathoms" brings stars deep into downtown Los Angeles for world premiere


The movie delivers on action, drama and comedy. Premiere spotlights the stars of the film at the Los Angeles Independent Theater, downtown

I have never been to the Los Angeles Independent Theater, which has been hope for three years. Nice place for premieres, parties, and it even has the tradtional snack bar with drink, nonalcoholic and beer, wine. Inside it is a totally remodeled and modern architectual design. Big enough for parties, yet small enough for intimacy..


And tons of energy from the Producer, Director and Star Zachary Ryan Block (runs in the family. His brother was plenty to sell a stack of DVDs on hand, and with same ear to ear friendly smile.) From one interview to the next there is a lot of buzz and excitement about the film. I bumped into Allison Mattox, who had plenty of energy, too.

The movie is a comical, yet thrilling look inside the life of two partners in crime, Hicks and Cash. They now have to wait out the storm while opposing crime boss Lou Garris has them hunted down. Will they make it out just in time? There are some violent scenes, but pretty dark humor, too. Not a good move for teens under 18..


In the aftermath of a deal gone bad, two partners in crime, Hicks (Zachary Block) and Cash (Robert Dill) are mere puppets in a twisted lineup of crime lords and "not quite so right in the head" villains. Amongst the haunting backdrop of the Mojave Desert, they now have to wait out the storm with a less than appealing safety man, Pox (Austin Galante of Bad Fathers) while an opposing crime boss Lou Garris (Duane Daniels) has them hunted down.


Will they make it out just in time, or is there even a way out? Fathom's Deep is a thrilling and often comical look into the life of un-organized crime and one things for sure... "There's no such thing as Good Guys." I give this movie two thumbs up and a must see of independent films. Let me know  what you think about his movie when you go to the theater downtown in the comment section below. More photos at MAYOPR.com or www.mayocommunications.com




MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Powerful movie with plenty of action, drama and a "twisted lineup" crime bosses



Hollywood, CA - Buzz is starting to mount around a new movie coming out called Fathom's Deep.
The independent movie is being shown at the downtown Los Angeles Independent Theater.




Linda Bella stars 

The movie is a comical, yet thrilling look inside the life of two partners in crime, Hicks and Cash. They now have to wait out the storm while opposing crime boss Lou Garris has them hunted down. Will they make it out just in time?

In the aftermath of a deal gone bad, two partners in crime, Hicks (Zachary Block) and Cash (Robert Dill) are mere puppets in a twisted lineup of crime lords and "not quite so right in the head" villains. Amongst the haunting backdrop of the Mojave Desert, they now have to wait out the storm with a less than appealing safety man, Pox (Austin Galante of Bad Fathers) while an opposing crime boss Lou Garris (Duane Daniels) has them hunted down.

Will they make it out just in time, or is there even a way out? Fathom's Deep is a thrilling and often comical look into the life of un-organized crime and one things for sure... "There's no such thing as Good Guys." I give this movie two thumbs up and a must see of independent films. Let me know in the comments below if you do see it. Thx.

FATHOM'S DEEP
Director:

Stars:Zachary Ryan Block, Gregory Andrejko (One Man's Goal, Missing Persons, 2010)  and Linda Bella (Monsters in the Woods (post-productionAshley2011

Filth to Ashes, Flesh to Dust, Caitlin2011 and EcstasySusan 2011. 

World Premiere of Fathom's Deep happens Thursday, Oct. 13th, at the Downtown Independent Theater in Los Angeles. Media and VIP's contact: 406-261-3798zachariahryan@gmail.com
to RSVP. 

For more about the film and cast and crew visit: Imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1746565/

Follow me on Twitter @gmcquade or @MAYOPR
On Facebook: Facebook.com/MAYOPublicRelations
MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

Saturday, September 24, 2011

I Am Neda a powerful movie right out of today's headlines



 This year a powerful movie is the featured film of 14th Annual ARPA International Film Festival ‘ShortProgram


SYNOPSIS:

June 2009 marked another turning point for Iranians, when mass anti-government protests erupted across major cities in Iran, following the June 12 rigged Iranian presidential election against the disputed victory of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which came to be known as the “Green Movement”. These events provoked the Islamic Republic government to declare war on its own people and the world became a witness to some of the most horrific acts that were shown daily through major news outlets, twitter reports and even youtube. Many innocent Iranians were, imprisoned, tortured, raped and killed for standing up for their basic human rights in non-violent civil disobedience.

This story is centered on a courageous young woman who has since become the symbol and face of this movement



Persepolis Pictures, United States of America. “I Am Neda” (http://www.IAmNeda.com/), Official Selection - 14th Annual ARPA International Film Festival ‘ShortProgram’(http://affma.org/).


MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

Sunday, August 28, 2011

"The Debt" - An espionage suspense Nazi thriller features Sam Worthington and Helen Mirren Opens Wednesday



In 1965, three young Israeli Mossad agents on a secret mission capture and kill a notorious Nazi war criminal. Now, thirty years later, a man claiming to be the Nazi has surfaced in Ukraine and one of the former agents must go back undercover to seek out the truth.

The Debt, Directed by John Madden, opens Wednesday in theaters, and is an action packed thriller about Israeli Mossad agents hunting for a Nazi war criminal. The powerful drama and love story features Sam Worthington (star of Avatar), Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life), and Marton Caoka (Lord of the Rings), The Tree, with Charlotte Gainsbourg). They’re the young Israeli agents sent to East Berlin to capture "the surgeon of Treblinka," which portrays them living secret and posing as an obstetrician. Ciarán Hinds plays Worthington's character, David, 30 years later, Tom Wilkinson has the part played by Csokas and Helen Mirren is the much older version of Chastain.  


The movie bounces back and forth in time, showing the dark secrets these characters have in common. And before things get ugly East Germany, the three young spies played by Chastain, Worthington, and Csokas feels like a James Bond movie with micro-secret codes, high tech gadgets, micro cameras,guns and plenty of many to man combat..

All the young characters each have their own demons and scores to settle, and they think this assignment will make everything even. But then we see what happens three decades llater.





The film was shot in London, Bucharest and Tel Aviv. The Debt was adapted from a Israeli movie of four years ago. According to AP “Matthew Vaughn (X-Men: First Class, Kick-Ass) wrote the original adaptation and was suppose to direct. Then Madden (Proof, Shakespeare in Love) came along,” and came to New Mexico to recruit Sam Worthington to do the movie.

It may not be the blockbuster “Best movie of the Year” but it will be the talk of the town  in Hollywood and could be a diamond in the ruff in one of the best movies of the summer. Two thumbs up! Enjoy.



MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

"Saving Private Perez" is one hilarious movie coming on September




Coming to movie theaters September 02, 2011
Sponsored by the Downtown Film Festival

(Courtesy Lemon Films)
Hollywood, CASaving Private Perez is one hilarious, must-see movie coming out September 2nd. A Mexican crime lord is forced by his mother to plan a suicidal rescue mission to find his lost brother in the most unexpected place on Earth.
It starts off funny and will keep you laughing throughout the movie by Lemon Films. The cast is great, the storyline is even greater.
Two thumbs on this one. If you don't laugh at the beginning I will buy your next popcorn. Directed and Written by Beto Gómez  and Francisco Payó González . It is already getting a little buzz on IMDB and in Social Media Circles.


I truly love this film, is so funny and also so exciting, something that most of Mexican movies today seem to have forgotten. Is also a powerful story about family, I don't think is about to sanctified criminals, is about bad people doing a good thing in the middle of a terrible war and a crazy world. Antiheroes are here to stay in movies, since the beginning of cinema. And the antiheroes of "Salvando al soldado Pérez" are well presented, displayed and put into action and a weird but very enjoyable trip. I hope Mexican cinema learns from this movie to think about what cinema-goers expect from a movie: to have a very good time! By the way, I loved the references to Sergio Leone's movies and all the cinephile paraphernalia, including "Scarface", "Star Wars", you name it!  (Maria Losa)


Here's the cast of characters: 

Gerardo Taracena...Carmelo
Joaquín Cosio...Rosalío
Jaime Camil...Eladio
Randy Vasquez...Lt. Diaz
Jesús Ochoa...Chema
Isela Vega...Doña Elvira de Pérez
Miguel Rodarte...Julian Pérez
Claudia Salinas
Veronica Falcón...Mujer Arabe
Adal Ramones...Benito García
Rodrigo Oviedo...Pumita
Guillermo Quintanilla...Delfino
Marius Biegai...Sasha Boginski
Michael Birnberg
Juan Carlos Flores...Juan Pérez Nomel
Gaston Peterson(as Gastón Manuel Peterson)
William Raymond...Willis
Leonardo Kourchenko...Himself
Roberto Espejo...Lucio
Kaveh Parmas...Ahmed Kubba
Alexander Minchenko...Yuri
Johnny Randall...Daily (as John Gerald Randall)
Alex Cervantes...Julian Pérez - niño
Michelle Marie Benoit...News Correspondent
Alfredo Herrera...Arab contact
Manuel Domínguez
Gerardo Ott...Pascual
Miguel Enrique Rodriguez...Carmelo - niño
Feel free to leave a comment about the movie or movie trailer your comments will be shared, thanks!


MAYO PR - "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"