August 20, 2009

DiNo & Sammy "You Make Me Feel So Young"


Fun video from an appearance at
Little Vegas club, July 18, 2009.
Shot by Princess Vaw.

August 11, 2009

MUSICAL KOMEDY CHARACTERS


Corporate Custom Comedy!

"THE PITTSBURGH RAT PACK!"


This summer, we've been having Big Vegas Fun with all of our RAT PACK tribute acts, playing everywhere from outdoor festivals, country clubs and local casinos to the showroom at the Tropicana in Atlantic City. Keep schwingin', babe...

September 27, 2008

Voicing "The Debt Monkey"


Many thanks to Bryan and Gary at GIANT IDEAS for auditioning and booking me for the primary primate's voice. I attempted to make this shaggy simian a proper British gentlemen who was actually concerned about the welfare of the people who were carrying him around on their backs. Isn't every monkey?
You can read more about Gary's funny concept and how the campaign came about at his very amusing site, "The Giant Blog!" (the client is Advantage CCCS). Did you spot Pittsburgh's beautiful skyline in the background of the first spot? Hey, come to town and monkey around with us!

September 17, 2008

"I would never want to be part of a group that would have someone like me as a member."

Thanks for the amusing quote, Groucho, but your prolific writing skills would have thrived in the blogging age, and you certainly would have been invited to join...  
View Buster Maxwell's profile on LinkedIn
...the most user-friendly bizness networking site on The World-Wide Interweb. In fact, MKC fans - you're all welcome to join me and my multimedia cohorts as we create communications camaraderie by writing heartfelt recommendations about each other. It's a certified cyber lovefest.  

I'll stop the hype right there. As a devout disciple of Marxist philosophy, I am reminded not to overstate my case by a second Grouchism: "I have a good mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it." 


August 14, 2008

George Costanza, eat your heart out!



I recently spent two days doing hand modeling on a clever commercial, where my flexible fingers portray five basketball players discussing the new Pennsylvania Lottery game, QUINTO. It was shot on the newest, red-hot digital camera from RED - does that make it digital puppetry shot digitally?

The neatest part of the project was that tiny basketball jerseys were painted on my dextrous digits by Joanne "Kiwi Jo," Gair, a uniquely talented artist who is most famous for creating sensationally sensual body painting like this on those flawless supermodels in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues.

To keep me occupied through my makeup marathon, she graciously let me page through one of the swimsuit issues with my free hand. For some reason, that felt...very...familiar.

OK, back to Joanne (above, touching up Heidi Klum) - she's so multitalented, she also does each model's
facial makeup in the same session, and then - shoots the actual photographs for the issue. How does one apply for that job?

The QUINTO spot is the brainchild of Pittsburgh's marvelous Marc USA, and was brought to life by the inventive and talented director-animator Michael Killen and his gang of video innovators at
Animal, Pittsburgh's supercoolest production house. Michael's well known for creating the hilarious Taco Bell talking chihuahua. (Hey - someone just lifted that idea and made a full-length film out of it! Michael, call me - we'll have lunch with my lawyers - Dewey, Cheatum and Howe.)

Just found out yesterday I was also cast as the voices of the fingers. I've got to hand it to MARC USA for being so open to audition me twice for the same spot. Thank you Lynn Weatherly, Francis & Gordon! And many thanks to Katie Shenot at Nancy Mosser Casting for bringing me in on the initial audition (you, too Nancy!). And finally, my love and admiration to the most adorable, helpful and friendly talent agent on the entire planet - mine, Becky DiNapoli of The Talent Group (412-471-8011). She makes every booking fun, even when it's complicated or trying. The v-o session is 9am tomorrow at sophisticated sound design studio Big Science Music, which brings this 1:24am blog to a close.

Next up, creating the voice of "The Debt Monkey."



July 28, 2008

"World's Best Dino Impressionist"

That's my good buddy Bobby "Dino" Morelli, whom many consider to be the best Dean Martin vocal impressionist in the world. I've heard them all, from London to Las Vegas, and I agree. He's got the slightly sloshed insouciance down to a science, and his singing voice is subtle, sincere and elegant. Bobby's one of the talented performers I've been lucky to work with in my so-called career; our RAT PACK act will be at the Tropicana Showroom in Atlantic City Monday, Sept 22. Hear his mellow tones here or see Dino dancin' with our showgirls here. Now That's Amore...