MY URBAN KVETCH

Wanna Learn Hebrew? Twy (Oops, I meant "try") Twebrew School

2009-11-09T10:11:55-08:00

What would Eliezer Ben Yehuda Tweet? Well, from what we know of the eccentric father of modern Hebrew, he probably would have found the technology (let alone the prospect of what to name it) overwhelming. But that doesn't mean we have to... The latest initiative from NJOP (National Jewish Outreach Project) is a Hebrew literacy initiative, with Twitter and social media as its hook. And its promotional video features several...

What Would Don Draper Tweet? (LAist)

2009-11-07T22:38:06-08:00

[image from TheVox] My new post at LAist, "What Would Don Draper Tweet?" shares words from Hank Wasiak, ad man extraordinaire who started in advertising during the 60s and who is now fully embracing social media's potential to enhance the effectiveness of campaigns in his industry He's even incorporating social media into the class he's teaching next semester at USC's Marshall School of Business. If “Mad Men” has taught us...

Steinhardt Urges Jewish Orgs to Do Better, But How?

2009-11-04T13:19:41-08:00

This week, philanthropist Michael Steinhardt took the microphone for a speech to a group of philanthropists and Jewish professionals that seemed to condemn Jewish organizations for focusing on discussion and conversation over action. According to TJCTV, the speech "came at an event touting a study claiming Birthright Israel, which was founded in part by Steinhardt, has done quite [...] a lot to combat intermarriage." (You can view the study here,...

Eli Valley Vs. The Sway Machinery

2009-11-03T09:51:41-08:00

My friend, the demented and subversive, but hilarious and talented (it's ok to say "demented and subversive" as long as you follow with a compliment) Eli Valley hosted an evening of comics analysis and new Jewish music at the legendary Joe's Pub venue in New York City last night. To get a flavor for Eli's presentation style, check out this video. (video footage by Mobius; music by the Sway Machinery)

"Dr. Horrible 2: Teenage Boogaloo"

2009-11-01T10:41:12-08:00

OK, so that's not its name. But someone (I suspect College Humor) has created "A Horrible Turn," a sorely needed musical prequel to "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog." It's unauthorized, made by superfans, and depicts Dr. Horrible's early years. (And it'll be out on November 10 - view the trailer here or below.) Production value looks good, and I have every expectation that the original cast and creator of "Dr. Horrible"...

10 Twitter Lists I Don't Want to Be On

2009-10-30T17:15:15-07:00

It was supposed to be a secret, but it's the kind of secret that no one is keeping. As some of us logged into our Twitter accounts, we were blessed with the appearance of "Tweetie" (that's the Twitter bird) who bore the following message: New! Lists. A great way to organize the people you follow and discover new and interesting accounts. (BETA) Lists are timelines you build yourself, consisting of...

This Post Will Not Be 140 Characters: A #140Conf LA Recap

2009-10-29T01:58:26-07:00

[Picture: Billy Bush speaks at the 140 Characters Conference in Hollywood, October 27. Credit: Jason DeFillippo ] I've just spent the last two days at a conference about Twitter held at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, also known as "where the Oscars are held." You can feel free to insert your own joke here, like "Did people actually go or just attend online?" "Were all the responses 140 characters or...

Kelly and Erin Form a Band; Record a Song about Ryan

2009-10-26T09:00:00-07:00

In case you didn't know, "The Office" has a rich online life at NBC.com and at Hulu.com, with webisodes starring the non-JimPamDwightMichael characters going up regularly. This Thursday will see the launch of a webisode about Kelly's girl band that she forms with secretary Erin. And yes, Ryan and Andy get involved too. The webisode features a new song that the actors assure you is incredibly catchy, and if this...

Fans Claim Scenes and Refilm Them for "Star Wars Uncut"

2009-10-25T10:29:57-07:00

Not so long ago (now), in a galaxy not so far away (here), a small band of internet rebels stood against the evil Empire; mobilizing from separate rebel bases, they used all the tools at their disposal - PhotoShop, DreamWeaver, Flash, Java, iMovie and others - to recreate their favorite scenes in the classic sci-fi film "Star Wars." Some scenes are animated, others re-enacted with live actors, and still others...

"Writing for Hollywood" - A Contemplation

2009-10-24T21:27:25-07:00

Ever since I moved here a year ago, people have been voicing their predictions/assumptions about what I'd come out here to do. "You're totally moving out there to write a screenplay, I know it," some opined, while others were convinced I'd write the next "Friends" ("It'll be Jewish! And set on the Upper West Side! And instead of going to Central Perk, they'll go to shul!") One of my friends...

Digital Hollywood: Publicists, Writers, Content Developers Talk Blogs, Celebs and More

2009-10-22T10:48:45-07:00

For a woman like me, this Digital Hollywood conference is like a crash course in some things I know and some things I don't know, all at the same time. Obviously, being at a professional conference specifically geared for the entertainment industry in the town I moved to a year ago is a new experience for me: I don't know who the players are; how a TV writer hones her...

Digital Hollywood Content Summit: Initial Observations

2009-10-20T00:50:00-07:00

So, in case I haven't mentioned it, I'm at Digital Hollywood's Content Summit this week in Santa Monica. This is exciting a) because I love learning about how technology has impacted the entertainment sphere and b) because this is the first conference in a while that doesn't feature the term "good for the Jews" anywhere in the program. Here are some initial "shorts," just perfect for you short-attention-spanners for whom...

Conan Confirms My L.A. Rain Observations

2009-10-15T13:47:52-07:00

Leave it to a fellow transplanted New Yorker - with a bigger studio budget - to produce a segment that illustrates my earlier point about how confused Angelenos are by rain. Thanks, Conan.

L.A.nniversary Drinks Tonight: Lola's on Fairfax (with LimmudLA)

2009-10-15T12:48:19-07:00

If you're in Los Angeles tonight, I hope you'll join me and my LimmudLA friends for Happy Hour at Lola's (the martini-specializing bar that claims to have invented the green apple martini). In addition to gathering with other LimmudLAniks past and future, we'll be celebrating my first year in Los Angeles. 6:30-8:30 pm at Lola's, 945 N. Fairfax Avenue (between Melrose and Santa Monica) RSVP to the Facebook event page.

L.A.nniversary: Could I Find a New Home in Digital Hollywood?

2009-10-14T20:48:41-07:00

One of the reasons I moved here - yes, I'll admit it now, although I might not have last October - is that Hollywood - TV & film and the people who create meaningful or comedic content - interests me. At this particular moment in the life of Hollywood, there are more scripts than there can be network shows or big Hollywood productions. As it is doing in nearly every...