TV

No God But Funny Contest Offers $40,000 in Prizes for Sitcom Scripts and Webisode Pilots With Positive Atheist Characters

04/29/2015 by Susan von Seggern

The Center for Inquiry and the Freedom From Religion Foundation have teamed up to create a unique competition for current and aspiring television writers and directors, the No God But Funny Contest. The contest will award $15,000 to those crafting the winning sitcom script and $25,000 to producers of the winning webisode that takes the “ass” out of atheists.

James Underdown, executive director of the Center for Inquiry Los Angeles notes “of the few atheist characters on TV, virtually all are unlikeable. You know TV would be in big trouble if any other group were so unfavorably portrayed. We happen to know lots of godless folks who are great fun to be around. So we are challenging writers to develop funny, fun and well-adjusted atheist characters.”… Read More

American Paranormal Research Association Pilot to run as episode of “The Unexplained Files” October 14

09/23/2014 by Susan von Seggern

The American Paranormal Research Association team

Science Channel’s top rated show “The Unexplained Files,” will air a pilot centered around California’s respected investigators, the American Paranormal Research Association (APRA), on October 14 at 10pm.

American Paranormal Research Association (APRA), a scientific paranormal research organization specializing in research and documentation of haunted historical locations, has teamed up with world renowned scientist, Dr. Harry Kloor, PhD to document and classify paranormal phenomena. According to the council of graduate schools, the national research council and US department of education, Dr. Kloor is the only person to earn two PhDs simultaneously in any discipline. He holds PhDs in Physics and in Chemistry.… Read More

Veronica De La Cruz moves to the Bay Area as new anchor for CBS San Francisco

07/10/2014 by Susan von Seggern

The Eric De La Cruz Hope for Hearts Foundation is pleased to announce their founder, former NBC News and MSNBC anchor, Veronica De La Cruz has made her long awaited debut in the Bay Area anchoring the KPIX 5 News at 6pm as well as launching a new 10pm show on the CW, which debuts in July. Becoming a part of Northern California’s pioneer television station after a long run in national news represents a homecoming for this self-described “California girl”.… Read More

It’s a Boy for NBC Early Today Host and Humanitarian Veronica De La Cruz

04/04/2013 by Susan von Seggern

Photography by: Adele Godfrey, http://www.adelegodfrey.com
Makeup by: Alisa Jurnari
Hair by: Mary Wood

The popular host of NBC’s Early Today Show, MSNBC anchor and founder of the Eric De La Cruz Hope for Hearts Foundation, Veronica De La Cruz, gave birth to a healthy baby boy on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The television journalist’s 8 pound, 4 ounce bundle of joy was born with dark hair and green eyes and has been named Hartley Eric, after the journalist’s brother who died in 2009.

“Before my brother died, I started an online campaign to raise money for a life-saving heart transplant,” noted De La Cruz. “Thousands of compassionate Twitter followers came out to support the effort and we lovingly referred to them as Eric’s Twitter Army. They all displayed banners on their online avatars that read, ‘<3 Eric,’ which is where my son’s name comes from. If you look at my own social media profile, you will see still see a heart followed by the name Eric. That is what inspired my son’s name.”

De La Cruz and her mother Rose have been over the moon at little Hartley’s arrival, with the new mom noting, “After the pain and devastation of losing Eric almost four years ago, having a healthy baby feels like an incredible miracle. Of course, he couldn’t be any more beautiful. I think I can safely say I have finally met the love of my life.”… Read More

On April 23 Liberty Hill Awards Alex Gansa & Howard Gordon, Alison Morgan & Parke Skelton, and Charles F. Johnson

03/20/2013 by Susan von Seggern

Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa will receive the Upton Sinclair Award at Liberty Hill’s Annual Dinner April 23

Liberty Hill Foundation’s annual Upton Sinclair Dinner celebrates and honors community leaders at the frontlines of change in Los Angeles and beyond. This year’s recipients of the namesake Upton Sinclair Award are co-creators and executive producers of Showtime’s award-winning series, “Homeland”, Alex Gansa and Howard Gordon. Political activist-philanthropists Alison Morgan and Parke Skelton will receive the Founder’s Award and award-winning television and film producer Charles F. Johnson will receive the Creative Vision Award.

The 2013 fundraising gala takes place on April 23 at the Beverly Hilton. Liberty Hill expects more than 600 friends, supporters, and allies to join in celebration of their 2013 honorees. All proceeds will support Liberty Hill’s mission of change, not charity. Through grants, training programs, and campaigns, Liberty Hill advances social justice in Los Angeles.

The Upton Sinclair award is given annually to a person whose lifelong crusade for equality and justice inspires us today. This year Liberty Hill is proud to present the award to two outstanding individuals, Alex Gansa and Howard Gordon, executive producers of “Homeland.” Friends and collaborators since their senior year at Princeton, Alex and Howard also worked together on television’s “Spenser for Hire,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The X-Files,” and “24.” Alex’s additional television credits include being executive producer and writer on “Dawson’s Creek,” and “Entourage,” as well as writing for numerous other television shows. Howard Gordon’s twenty-five-year career in television includes work on “Angel,” “Sisters,” “The Inside,” and “Strange World.”… Read More

NBC Early Today Host and Humanitarian Veronica De La Cruz’s Bi-Coastal Baby Showers Hosted Notable Guests

03/05/2013 by Susan von Seggern

CBS Sports Anchor Steve Overmyer with Veronica at her NYC shower

The popular host of NBC’s Early Today Show, MSNBC’s First Look anchor, and noted founder of the Eric De La Cruz Hope for Hearts Foundation that aids heart transplant patients, Veronica De La Cruz, was feted recently to celebrate the rapidly approaching birth of her first child.

The New York City baby shower, held at L’Amant in the West Village, was attended by numerous notable faces including world-renown opera singer Alyson Cambridge, celebrity doula Latham Thomas, author Meryl Hartstein, actress Bree Michael Warner, actor, model and producer Brandon Yankowitz, CBS Sports anchor Steve Overmyer, as well as colleagues of De La Cruz’s from the peacock network and MSNBC.

The popular anchor was also showered with baby gifts in Los Angeles at the classic Hollywood restaurant Off Vine where it was a family affair attended by notable names in the music industry, as De La Cruz got her start as a music journalist. Attendees included KCRW DJs Valida, and Dan Wilcox who attended with wife and children, head of GoldenVoice and Coachella Festival founder Paul Tollet, URB magazine founder and long-time LA music veteran Raymond Roker who also brought along his family, as well as CSI Actor Archie Kao, who all came together to celebrate the mama-to-be.… Read More

NBC Early Today Host and Humanitarian Veronica De La Cruz Expecting Baby in March

02/12/2013 by Susan von Seggern

Veronica De La Cruz expects her son in March

Veronica De La Cruz expects her baby in March

The popular host of NBC’s Early Today Show, MSNBC anchor, and noted founder of the Eric De La Cruz Hope for Hearts Foundation that aids heart transplant patients, Veronica De La Cruz, has announced that she is indeed expecting and that her baby is due in March.

De La Cruz is excited for the arrival of her first child noting, “I am so thrilled to be having this baby, I am extremely family oriented so this is the culmination of a lifelong dream! After the pain and devastation of losing my brother Eric in 2009, it is a miracle to be able to add to our family in this way.” De La Cruz said she looks forward to sharing her personal journey into motherhood, with a new non-profit organization and website which will launch later this year.

Prior to joining MSNBC in 2010, De La Cruz spent five and a half years at CNN Worldwide, serving as an anchor and correspondent. Most recently, she was a correspondent for CNN’s “American Morning.” In addition, she founded and anchored CNN Pipeline and created the segment “Dotcom Desk.” During her tenure at CNN, De La Cruz anchored and reported live coverage of major breaking news stories such as Hurricane Katrina, the Southeast Asian Tsunami, the 2008 presidential elections, the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict, the death of Ronald Reagan, the collapse of Wall Street, the housing market crash, and a series that celebrated diversity entitled “Asian in America.”… Read More

Liberty Hill Gives Prestigious Upton Sinclair Award to Paris Barclay

05/08/2012 by Susan von Seggern

Liberty Hill Foundation’s annual Upton Sinclair Dinner celebrates and honors community leaders at the frontlines of change in Los Angeles and beyond. This year’s recipient of the namesake Upton Sinclair Award is noted Producer-Director-Writer Paris Barclay.

The 2012 fundraising gala takes place on May 9 at the Beverly Hilton. Liberty Hill expects more than 600 friends, supporters, and allies to join in celebration of Paris and their other 2012 honorees. All proceeds will support Liberty Hill’s mission of change, not charity. Through grant funds and training programs, Liberty Hill strengthens leaders and organizations in communities of color. The goal is to change hearts and minds, win concrete change, and advance equality for all.

The Upton Sinclair award is given annually to a person whose life-long crusade for equality and justice inspires us today. This year’s recipient, Paris Barclay, has made a lasting contribution to our nation’s political and social landscape through stage and screen work that demonstrates his commitment not only to artistic excellence but also to human rights. Best known as an Emmy, DGA, Peabody, Humanitas and NAACP award-winning television producer and director, and as a labor leader in his role as the First Vice President of the Directors Guild of America, Paris has been a pioneer and a mentor throughout his career. His groundbreaking Black & White music video production company nurtured people of color behind the camera, and as a philanthropic activist he has served on the boards of the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, Project Angel Food, the Advisory Board for the Carsey-Wolf Center at UC Santa Barbara, and as a Trustee for the Humanitas Prize. Among his upcoming projects is directing the story of civil rights leader Barbara Jordan, starring Viola Davis.

Paris Barclay will receive the Upton Sinclair Award at the Liberty Hill Dinner.

Second Season of MY CAT FROM HELL to Premiere January 7

12/16/2011 by Susan von Seggern

Get a new year’s dose of mischievous cats with new episodes of MY CAT FROM HELL on Saturday, January 7 on Animal Planet. MY CAT FROM HELL premieres at 8 PM (ET/PT) with all-new episodes. For cats causing a ruckus, viewers can see it Saturday nights on Animal Planet!

Cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy tackles the most catastrophic cat cases he’s ever encountered in six all-new, one-hour episodes of MY CAT FROM HELL. Armed with 15 years of experience, a proven training program and his signature guitar case filled with cat toys, Galaxy is on a mission to help cat owners find the source of conflict with their furry friends. In this season, Jackson swoops in to solve a gamut of feline-related issues and repair the relationships they’re ruining, including the hair-raising case of a cat terrorizing its owner’s Pilates business by attacking her clients. Whether it’s the cat or the owners behaving badly, leave it to Galaxy to save the day!… Read More

The Golden Pitch Festival at the 2011 Screenwriting Expo Connects Writers and Producers September 16-18

08/25/2011 by Susan von Seggern

On September 15-18, 2011, the Screenwriting Expo returns for its 10th year bringing with it the Golden Pitch Festival, a unique opportunity for screenwriters to pitch their scripts to top Hollywood executives, for three of those days.

Golden Pitch Festival producer and Creative Screenwriting Magazine publisher Bill Donovan notes, “In one room we will have up to 60 of Hollywood’s A-list producers, development executives, agents, and managers all looking for new material. No other event offer writers better access to the people and companies capable of setting their writing career in motion.”

Pitch your screenplay to top producers at the Golden Pitch Event

Many Golden Pitch Festival participants are top names in the industry, including studio, network and cable development executives as well as agents and managers. These confirmed executives have studio deals and/or have produced several major motion pictures, television shows or Movies-of-the-Week. Executives seeking features of all budgets, MOWS, as well as hour and half-hour television formats will be hearing pitches. Literary agents and managers are from the top companies representing elite screenwriting talent and making deals that grace the pages of The Hollywood Reporter and Variety every day are involved. Each year, the Golden Pitch event also includes several execs from script-hungry smaller companies that writers might otherwise overlook; all of these companies are actively seeking great scripts. That’s why they attend.

Some of the companies committed to this year’s Golden Pitch Festival include Phoenix Pictures (Black Swan, Shutter Island), Platinum Studios (Cowboys & Aliens), Suntaur Entertainment, The Radmin Company, Starz Network (“Torchwood,” “Spartacus”), Zero Gravity Management, Destiny Pictures, Madhouse Entertainment (Country Strong, “Burn Notice”), Magnet Management, Pantheon Entertainment, Towerhill Entertainment, PB Management, Varsity, 617 Films, Intrigue, Overbrook Entertainment (The Karate Kid, “Hawthorne”), Laurence Mark Productions, Whitewaterfilm, Convergence, Farah Films, Occupant Films, Gallagher, Sunrise, Media Talent Group, Archetype Management, Kaplan Perrone (Knowing), Bohemia Group, Mutual Films and many more.… Read More