– TOM KIDD prespak1@verizon.net heart.com for review or interview consideration. A new promotional tool has launched called Famous Authors, World Class Musicians, and Business Minded Individuals. A one-time $30 fee purchases room for a photo, any live links and information about any business, book, CDs or DVDs. To find out more, visit http://lawrencej-king.weebly.com. A new show in Branson, MO, has an immediate opening for an experienced piano/keyboard player. Call 417-699-1008. Eagle Ranch Resort in Missouri is looking for country bands for this year's big events. Call Jerry at 417-275-1105. Sean De Simone Casting is looking for singing seniors for an upcoming talent-based reality series around senior citizen vocalists. Seniors with serious talent who have dreamed of a big break their entire lives should send a brief letter of interest, photo, any performance links if available and a contact number to seniortalentcast ing@gmail.com.
Milan Records has just released the Filly Brown – Original Score Album digitally. The recording features original music by Reza Safinia (Snap) and includes original hip-hop songs co-written and produced by Safinia performed in the film by leading actress Gina Rodriguez and other artists. Filly Brown is an inspiring and gritty portrait of a young artist striving to find her voice and seize her dreams without compromise. The cast features Lou Diamond Phillips, Edward James Olmos and the legendary Jenni Rivera in her final on-screen performance. For more information, contact Chandler Poling at White Bear PR, 818605-2237 or chandler@whitebearpr.com.
MTV is casting for a new and fun music competition show. They are looking for nonprofessional singers who sound just like a famous and current musician. Contestants should appear to be between the ages of 18-25. Please send an email to soundalikecasting@gmail.com with your name, age, location, contact info and which current contemporary artist you sound like. Don’t forget to send links to vocal samplings of you singing their current hit song(s).
CHRISTINE WU
Composer/Multi-Instrumentalist Email: c/o livia@squirespr.com Web: http://wutunes.com Most Recent: The Voice
The Voice is looking to find talented 7-14 year old singers for NBC’s new The Voice Kids show. Streamlined invite-only auditions will be held in Los Angeles on May 12th. Winner receives a cash prize and a deal with Universal Music Group. Email chris@koffeehouse.com.
PROPS
Blowsight have released a “making of” minidocumentary for their music video to the single “This Pain.” Directed by Tim Abmann at Visionary Moments in Burscheild, Germany, the song is taken from the band’s full length CD, Life & Death, newly released in North America on Eclipse Records. For more details visit http:// blowsight.com or http://eclipserecords.com/blowsight or contact press@eclipserecords.com.
TWENTY FEET FROM STARDOM
In his compelling new film Twenty Feet From Stardom, award-winning director Morgan Neville shines a spotlight on the untold true story of the backup singers behind some of the greatest musical legends of the 21st century. Triumphant and heartbreaking in equal measure, the film is both a tribute to the unsung voices who brought shape and style to popular music and a reflection on the conflicts, sacrifices and rewards of a
Out Take
career spent harmonizing with others. The film boasts intimate interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Mick Jagger and Sting to name just a few. However, these worldfamous figures take a backseat to the diverse array of backup singers whose lives and stories take center stage in the film. For additional information, contact Guido Götz at MPRM Communications, 323-933-3399 or ggotz@mprm.com.
MARK ISHAM Grammy-winning composer Mark Isham gives musical voice to Jackie Robinson in the biopic 42, currently in theaters. 42 is written and directed by Oscar winner Brian Helgeland (Academy Award for Best Screenplay, L.A. Confidential) and stars Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford and Christopher Meloni. The 42 Score Album is now available digitally. For more information, contact Alex May at Costa Communications, 323-6503588 or alex@costacomm.com Recorded prior to his debut as a composer on NBC’s Smash, Drew Gasparini headed into the studio for the first time to record 17 songs. This new music theatre CD, I Could Use a Drink, out now on Broadway Records, features stage talents Jeremy Jordan (Newsies), Jennifer Damiano (Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark, Next To Normal), Justin Guarini (American Idol) and Caissie Levy (Ghost). For more information contact Beth Krakower at CineMedia Promotions, 212-5336864 or beth@cinemediapromotions.com. TOM KIDD's 20-year career includes extensive experience as an artist, producer and performer. Tom has promoted, marketed and developed Emmy- and Oscar-winning composers. He is President of Pres Pak Public Relations.
CHRISTINE WU IS a classically trained violinist, formerly tenured with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, who reinvented herself to work in the recording, TV and film industries. She is seen regularly on shows such as The Voice, American Idol, America’s Got Talent, Spike TV’s Video Game Awards, the GRAMMY Awards Telecast, The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live. Her talents allow Wu to find work easily in the classical, pop, film and TV worlds. That’s a good thing because as the woman who is single-handedly redefining the term “Multi-Talent” points out, “It’s all part and parcel of the same thing.” The parts of the whole seem far flung to most artists but it’s her versatility across genres that sets Wu’s work apart. “It’s helpful to offer a few things in a package,” she points out. “Film and TV are always changing and the artist has to reinvent him or herself for each project. I look for the opportunities that may not be obvious.” Wu notes that musicians are specialists making it hard for them to see the other side of the business. This blindness leads careers down blind alleys. The way is wide open for Christine Wu. To further her career, she’s learned production and the construction behind jingles. She’s become versed in digital audio and, most importantly, learned the business side of the entertainment business. This is one artist who isn’t done learning yet. “There’s always a lot of opportunity when things are changing,” she says. Some change is being spearheaded by Wu herself. She is creating a multimedia project which incorporates original music with dance. “Make plans while you have other things going,” she tells others. “That’s how I got closer and closer to what I wanted to do.”
May 2013
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