Word! First and foremost, was this week not the most amazing in our lifetimes? Obama won, and his victory only proves that democracy is still alive and kickin! We got a lot of work to do, but we finally got an individual at the helm that could actually make that shit happen!!!! Brought tears to my eyes, to see our country finally come back to a place of possible potential realization. So big ups to Obama, to everyone that made phone calls and campaigned, and, as Prop 8 shows us, we still got a lot of work to do. As for me, career shit has been poppin recently - booked a commercial for CafePress.com, and got cast as the lead in a SAG episodic pilot called "Die Cupid Die", directed by Scott Morgan. It'll debut on the internet - and it's pretty damn funny! Lots of insanity this year, but art always seems to be the Answer. Here's to living right!!!!

Episode 2 & Episode 3 of The Daily Sports Show are hot off the presses and onto the net! We just pitched the series idea today, so please come check us out at http://www.myspace.com/thedailysportsshow and http://www.youtube.com/user/thedailysportsshow. Cut & paste, and then let me know what you think of the sports comedy insanity. Enjoy!!!!

Hey there, gang! I've been working on this project for the last while, and I'm really excited about it! Even if you don't like sports, I think you'll get a kick out of Mike and I making total asses of ourselves. It's like ESPN meets Weekend Update.
The following are links to check us out on the web - The Daily Sports Show on YouTube! The Daily Sports Show on MySpace! The Daily Sports Show YouTube Channel! We have several pitch meetings to try and bring the show to your nearest television, or flat screen, or whatever boob tube you come home to every night to watch and try and forget about the stock market. Mike and I are trying to get all the support we can muster before these meetings. If you're on MySpace, become our friend; subscribe to our channel on YouTube or leave us a comment; and if you hate sports or find most of what we say to be offensive, well, we don't blame you.
The Daily Sports Show website will be out in the next week, so stayed tuned. Other than that, life is really good right now. With all the financial and political entropy that is occurring right now, it sure feels good to be making people laugh. Or at least attempting too.
Much love!

Just found out some exciting news from Tony Randel - "The Double Born" was selected as an opening night film for The Portland Underground Film Festival! So for all you Northwest peeps, please go and check it out. I am very proud of the film, and the tireless work that went into all aspects of making it. Here's to a great summer!!!!

My good friend Kalimba Bennett, brilliant actress, artist, and political activist, e-mailed me a while back with an amazing idea - every month, Kalimba invited some friends to take $20 out of her own pocket and put it into the world. The rules were as follows - 1) "do something good for a fellow human being with the money", and 2) "record the experience with words and pictures". This was the what I came up with - El Batey is a local grocery store in Echo Park, owned by a Latino family for 30 years. The owner - one of the nicest women I've ever met, and who asked not to have any pictures taken of her, nor her name used - is an Echo Park legend. She knows everyone, and seems to really care about the local community and its well being. The store has great prices, and great selection, but ever since the gentrifrication of Echo Park started several years ago, business has been down. This is due to two issues - 1) the increase of corporate supermarkets (i.e. Vons, Ralphs, 7/11, etc.) throughout the Echo Park area, and 2) the fact that she cannot afford a credit card system, and thus takes cash only. Most of the new residents in Echo Park tend to use their credit cards, and thus she loses out on a ton of business. My original idea was to give her the $20 towards a credit card system for the store, and put out a donation box for just this purpose. Running the idea by her, she said that she had been saving up for one, but did not want to ask for any type of donations. She is probably one of the most prideful people I've ever met, and thus it is understandable why she would not be comfortable asking for any type of help with this necessity. After much convincing, she finally did take the $20, and thanked me profusely. It was a great feeling to not only help local, small business, but also a woman that I have grown very close too in a short period of time. Kalimba, you are a modern day saint. Thank you for letting me a part of your project, and for helping spread a little goodness in a world that everyday seems to need it more and more. For any others interested in her project, please visit her blog at - www.liloprah.blogspot.com. Here's to the revolution, one city block at a time!!!!

What up, Gang! As you may know, THE DOUBLE BORN had been chosen as an official selection of the A NIGHT OF HORROR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL in Sydney, Australia. It's quite an honor and we've gotten some incredibly validating feedback from the our new friends in Australia. In particular, we were notified just a day ago that the film had been nominated for awards in three categories! Best Film, Best Director Tony Randel, and Best Performance for Sammi Davis. Regardless of the results, I am very sincere when I say that being nominated is pretty sweet all by itself. Thanks to the wonderful folks in Australia who saw something special in the film. Another piece of news, as promised is the launching of the official DOUBLE BORN WEBSITE. Check it out at: www.thedoubleborn.com We owe huge thanks for its creation to a great friend and constant supporter, Mr. Erik Lundy. Erik is a very accomplished web designer but his true calling is making people laugh as a writer, stand up comic and producer of comedy shows. He works harder than anyone I know, sometimes performing 4 - 5 nights a week. You can catch him at THE LAUGH FACTORY, THE ICE HOUSE or a number of other venues around town. If you are in LA, do yourself a favor and check out his act. www.myspace.com/eriklundy Thanks again for tuning in and the great support you've all given us. We'd love more subscribers (click my top friend, "The Double Born"), so please spread the word and don't forget to check out the new website. Currently, Mike Barber and I are pitching a pilot idea to ESPN, and with any luck, will get at least the 1st episode up and running over the summer. I was in NYC still meeting with possible backers for the Oakland A's script I've been working on, and the music is coming together like clockwork (Brian Satz, you are thee Man!). A lot of great things happening, so tune in for more news on the Joker Journey! Finally, below is the 411 on my man Michael Skolnik's new documentary - please support a great director, and a doc whose message can no longer be ignored!!!! Dear Friends, Family and Fans, As I look back at my journey for the past 2 ½ years, since I first started making WITHOUT THE KING, it brings back incredible memories. It brings me back to the time when the idea of doing a portrait of the last ruling King in Africa was still very fresh in my mind. After my first filming trip to Swaziland, I came home to New York knowing that I had a potentially interesting film about King Mswati III and his eldest child, Princess Sikhanyiso. I was fascinated by a world so different than mine, where the King had 12 wives, 22 children and lived lavishly while his subjects were suffering from the worst HIV prevalence rate in the world. I was ready to make a portrait film of King Mswati III, but when the phone rang one early September morning in 2005, things changed dramatically. "Jabulani?" The mysterious voice said on the call (calling me by my Zulu name given to me by my UCLA Zulu professor). The man went on to tell me that I was being watched in Swaziland by various people. He asked me if I wanted to see the real Swaziland? Not the Swaziland from behind the palace gates or the chauffeured BMW x5's? Of course I was interested in telling a complete story of the Kingdom, so I welcomed his invitation to film a secret, underground meeting of the banned opposition political parties. That changed everything. When we got back to Swaziland for the second trip, I was approached by all kinds of people. Ordinary Swazis would show up at my hotel and wait for me in the lobby at all hours of the day. I would drive through Swaziland worrying if I was being followed by the King's security or by the people trying to overthrow the King. I knew I was playing with fire, but something in my gut told me that I must be loyal to the truth. I began to realize more and more that there were two Swazilands; one of the Royal family and one of the ordinary citizen. This would be the movie that we would make, no matter what happened. And if we could bring those two sides together, it could be the start of something special. A lot happened along the way…the least of which was when my cinematographer and I almost got our heads blown off by a tear-gas canister rocketed from police cannons. But, at the end of it all, I stuck to the truth. I hope you get the chance to see our film this weekend in the theater. It is a story of pain, but it is also a story of hope and inspiration. I have recently read that there is a rumor in Swaziland that if someone in Swaziland possesses a copy of the film, they can be charged with sedition. I can only hope that the people of Swaziland can see this film and begin a dialogue about how the country can heal and move forward. I hope one day to return to Swaziland. With deep respect, Michael Skolnik Director Opens this Friday, April 25th! QUAD CINEMAS (34 W. 13th Street -- b/t 5th & 6th Aves.) SHOWTIMES: 1:05, 2:55, 4:45, 6:35, 8:20, 10:10 For Tickets, more Info go to: www.quadcinemas.com or www.movietickets.com To view the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o37iJhBo7VU PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD TO ANYONE YOU THINK WOULD BE INTERESTED -- AND PLEASE SUPPORT THE OPENING WEEKEND!

More great news from the Festival front. The Miami Underground Film Festival has accepted THE DOUBLE BORN as an official selection. We’re not quite sure what to expect but are thrilled to be a part of this festival. This is our second festival acceptance and we look forward to more. The festival was held March 5 - 9, 2008 in Miami Beach, Florida, and received rave reviews! Photos from the film can be seen in their slide show. http://www.miamiundergroundff.com Also, we are very proud to announce that Australia’s popular Horror Festival, A NIGHT OF HORROR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL have accepted the film as an official selection. Upon acceptance, they commented on the film calling it "Chilling and Breathtaking". The festival, known as Sydney’s premiere genre film event, aims to screen and promote the work of independent filmmakers working in the horror genre from both Australia and abroad. Although the film isn’t neccessarily a true Horror film by most standards, but rather a dark, sexual thriller, it is very validating to have this terrific festival recognize the film’s merits and screen it at this year’s event. Screening days and times will announced shortly. Meanwhile, check out the festival’s website at: www.anightofhorror.com Thanks for sticking with us! I’m leaving for NYC this Sunday to continue making sure my movie happens, as well as pan out some possible pilot ideas with Major League Baseball. Most importantly, I’ve set up some theater auditions when I’m there - any excuse to prolong my stay in the Big Apple, the better. Hope all is well, and here's to a hell of a Spring!

Been way too long since I updated, and I promise I'll get better at it. Just been so busy, lately - VW commercial, Bram Stoker film hustlin', pilot writing and getting ready to shoot this Oakland Athletics film I wrote next summer/fall. Most time consuming is dealing with my puppy dog Che destroying everything in my backyard. He's cute, he's adorable, and he's a pit bull - just a terrible combination. I want to thank all of you for your recent letters of support, and constant check ins - most of you I've never met, but it is your constant good vibes that keep my path blessed!!!! Go to my Links page, then click on MySpace Blog (under Personal Links) for an in-depth update - the NYC pics will not disappoint! Until next time...and Hillary, if you do end up winning, you best ask Obama to be your VP. If not, then all your talk of uniting the country, that we are not a land of red and blue states but a UNITED States, well; it'll all be just another politician spewing words in their endless climb for power.

Word up! This is the article that Major League Baseball just released regarding our winning video. You all had an active part in this whole process, and again I thank you for your constant love and support. Let's enjoy this weekend, then go make a movie!!!! actober.com winners announced October 23th, 2007 Tim Ott / MLB.com Each of the three actober.com grand-prize recipients won an all-expense-paid trip for two to Game 3 of the World Series, which many would argue is much cooler than a tiny statue of a bald guy. Major League Baseball National Press Release - Actober Winners! Thanks for visiting MLB.com, where baseball is always on! Towards the Fun!

Another Thank You & On to the Next Thang... You all are so amazing - just want to thank you once again from the bottom of my heart so your support with this Actober.com contest. We won, and we won because of you. Thanks for voting, thanks for spreading the word, and tune in to Game 3 of the World Series in Colorado, cause we'll be reppin Oaktown there. If you get a chance, please check out the Bram Stoker film I did last winter at - Bram Stoker's The Double Born Friend us, hit us up with ideas to get the word out, etc. etc. We just submitted to various festivals, so look out for a premiere soon!