Hello! Welcome to IN YOUR CORNER, a blog & podcast about anything and everything entertainment industry related!
I get asked questions, almost daily, by people in the biz, those just starting out and wannabes with a dream... so
I figured this would be a great way to share what I've learned and experienced over 3 decades in the industry.
For those who don't know me: I have been "in the biz" since I was 10. My Mom would probably argue it was since birth, and my Aunt Donna would say it was since age 5 when I fearlessly jumped on the stage to sing with the band at
her wedding! Nonetheless, I would say it was officially when I made my debut on stage as Bielke in Fiddler on the
Roof and that same year sang on The Al Albert's Showcase on 6ABC tv. I was 10 years old.
I would add The Chief Halftown Show on 6ABC tv, Lucille Russo's Boardwalk Star Revue, over a dozen plays/musicals, televised telethons and numerous pageant titles (yes, I was proudly Junior Miss Cumberland County, Miss Hemisphere, Tony Grant's Star of Tomorrow and Miss Spirit of America:) all before graduating high school. I took acting lessons, singing lessons, modeling lessons, dance lessons, piano lessons and even tried my hand at the clarinet. THAT was a squeaky mess! lol
After being granted a scholarship for singing at West Chester University, I entered College Star Search with an
amazing pianist/composer named Ted Rafetto... we performed an original tune called "Someone Special" (more on
that at a later date) and won! At any rate, my college days at WCU were cut short when it was discovered I
had benign tumors on my vocal cords.
Six months of silence, steroids and vocal therapy followed. I no longer had the ambition (or self esteem) to
pursue singing as my beautiful high soprano voice was gone. How could I expect to one day be on Broadway
if I couldn't belt higher than a C? As fortune would have it though, all was not lost. I enrolled at Rowan University
and was discovered in the hallway by the Rowan Radio Director... apparently, my lower speaking voice was perfect
for radio. I started DJing, got picked up by a larger station in the Atlantic City area (104.9 WRDR), eventually became a news/traffic reporter in Philadelphia which lead to my first film opportunity. You still with me??? lol
The movie was called "Mafioso: The Father, The Son". Never saw a dime from that movie, but the lessons learned
and people I met were invaluable. Just being on a movie set was thrilling! I fell in love immediately, not with the
"Lights... Camera... Action!"... but, with the entire process. From extra work to makeup, from casting to post...
I soaked it all up like a sponge! I took jobs in every aspect including being an agents assistant, PA, stage
manager, director, set decorator, painter, makeup artist, extra, stand-in, stunt performer (NJ Drivers have no
fear! lol), writer, editor... all the while still taking jobs acting in film, tv and theatre, singing, modeling, voiceovers,
clown, mime, magician's assistant, singing telegrams, commercials and industrials. I pretty much did it all and along
the way encountered some unsavory types.
In my younger years, I had a motto: "If my dad can't see it, I won't do it!"
This kept me out of trouble... there's always that rebellious stage we go through as we age;p Shhhh!
Anyway, Silver Phoenix Entertainment was formed nearly 5 years ago. I was working for ESPN and was laid off
for nearly a year. During this difficult time, I made the decision to use what unemployment had to offer, mainly information on starting a small business. Since then, SPE has been blessed to have produced and executive produced feature films, industrials, co-wrote and produced a tv series for kids, an Off-Broadway musical, along with a music video, and a comedy show in NYC. We also created and published a kids book and will
be directing/co-writing a comedy about dating in March.
I just want you to know I'm IN YOUR CORNER and hope I can help you to develop your talents, believe in
your dreams and have fun doing what you love whether it's as a hobby or a career! Not everything is sweet, kind
and glamorous in this business, but I've figured out a way to navigate through the rude, unkind and ugly... and so
can you!
Send any questions you may have to: silverphoenixentertainment@gmail.com (Put IN YOUR CORNER in the
Subject line) Your question may be featured in a future post!
Break a leg,
Blaze xoxo
I get asked questions, almost daily, by people in the biz, those just starting out and wannabes with a dream... so
I figured this would be a great way to share what I've learned and experienced over 3 decades in the industry.
For those who don't know me: I have been "in the biz" since I was 10. My Mom would probably argue it was since birth, and my Aunt Donna would say it was since age 5 when I fearlessly jumped on the stage to sing with the band at
her wedding! Nonetheless, I would say it was officially when I made my debut on stage as Bielke in Fiddler on the
Roof and that same year sang on The Al Albert's Showcase on 6ABC tv. I was 10 years old.
I would add The Chief Halftown Show on 6ABC tv, Lucille Russo's Boardwalk Star Revue, over a dozen plays/musicals, televised telethons and numerous pageant titles (yes, I was proudly Junior Miss Cumberland County, Miss Hemisphere, Tony Grant's Star of Tomorrow and Miss Spirit of America:) all before graduating high school. I took acting lessons, singing lessons, modeling lessons, dance lessons, piano lessons and even tried my hand at the clarinet. THAT was a squeaky mess! lol
After being granted a scholarship for singing at West Chester University, I entered College Star Search with an
amazing pianist/composer named Ted Rafetto... we performed an original tune called "Someone Special" (more on
that at a later date) and won! At any rate, my college days at WCU were cut short when it was discovered I
had benign tumors on my vocal cords.
Six months of silence, steroids and vocal therapy followed. I no longer had the ambition (or self esteem) to
pursue singing as my beautiful high soprano voice was gone. How could I expect to one day be on Broadway
if I couldn't belt higher than a C? As fortune would have it though, all was not lost. I enrolled at Rowan University
and was discovered in the hallway by the Rowan Radio Director... apparently, my lower speaking voice was perfect
for radio. I started DJing, got picked up by a larger station in the Atlantic City area (104.9 WRDR), eventually became a news/traffic reporter in Philadelphia which lead to my first film opportunity. You still with me??? lol
The movie was called "Mafioso: The Father, The Son". Never saw a dime from that movie, but the lessons learned
and people I met were invaluable. Just being on a movie set was thrilling! I fell in love immediately, not with the
"Lights... Camera... Action!"... but, with the entire process. From extra work to makeup, from casting to post...
I soaked it all up like a sponge! I took jobs in every aspect including being an agents assistant, PA, stage
manager, director, set decorator, painter, makeup artist, extra, stand-in, stunt performer (NJ Drivers have no
fear! lol), writer, editor... all the while still taking jobs acting in film, tv and theatre, singing, modeling, voiceovers,
clown, mime, magician's assistant, singing telegrams, commercials and industrials. I pretty much did it all and along
the way encountered some unsavory types.
In my younger years, I had a motto: "If my dad can't see it, I won't do it!"
This kept me out of trouble... there's always that rebellious stage we go through as we age;p Shhhh!
Anyway, Silver Phoenix Entertainment was formed nearly 5 years ago. I was working for ESPN and was laid off
for nearly a year. During this difficult time, I made the decision to use what unemployment had to offer, mainly information on starting a small business. Since then, SPE has been blessed to have produced and executive produced feature films, industrials, co-wrote and produced a tv series for kids, an Off-Broadway musical, along with a music video, and a comedy show in NYC. We also created and published a kids book and will
be directing/co-writing a comedy about dating in March.
I just want you to know I'm IN YOUR CORNER and hope I can help you to develop your talents, believe in
your dreams and have fun doing what you love whether it's as a hobby or a career! Not everything is sweet, kind
and glamorous in this business, but I've figured out a way to navigate through the rude, unkind and ugly... and so
can you!
Send any questions you may have to: silverphoenixentertainment@gmail.com (Put IN YOUR CORNER in the
Subject line) Your question may be featured in a future post!
Break a leg,
Blaze xoxo