Author: FCA Editor

The Color of Rain on Hallmark Movie Channel

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rainBased on a true story, this heartening movie stars Lacey Chabert and Warren Christie. The Color of Rain is the story of two parents who experience the loss of their spouses just six weeks apart from each other. Together they find a way to move on with their lives and make a modern-day Brady Bunch.

 

When Gina Kell’s (Chabert) husband Matt finally succumbs to cancer after fighting it for several years, Gina finds that raising her two sons alone is difficult but she knows they will all muddle through the difficult time. Six weeks later Michael Spehn (Christie) finds himself in the same circumstance when his wife Cathy dies, leaving him alone to care for their daughter and two sons. The five children attend the same school, so they are familiar with each other. After his loss, Michael seeks out Gina to ask for advice since she is a little “further along” in the mourning process.

 

It’s not long until Gina and Michael decide to see each other socially. With that being successful, they bring the two families together. The kids are the center of their lives, so they are the ones who must approve of the merging of the two families.

 

This touching story is filled with emotion as all seven people deal with their tragedies, their lives, and their futures. Having bonded over grief, Gina and Michael discover there is more to their relationship than that. But is it too soon after the loss of their spouses to be this happy and start down a new path in life?

 

That is the question both adults ponder. None of the kids wants a new mother or father. They adored their parents who passed away. But together they decide that this new family just might work out for all of them.

 

Michael and Gina are the co-founders of The New Day Foundation for Families. This is a nonprofit organization that helps families with young children who have been affected by cancer.

 

Michael and Gina can attest to the fact that there is life after cancer strikes a family. Kids might be traumatized by the loss of a parent, but they can move on and be happy again. Their story is inspirational and touching. To learn more about their foundation, go to http://www.foundationforfamilies.com. The shared experience of Michael and Gina brought them together and they want to help others who have gone through a tragedy like they did.

 

The Color of Rain premiers Saturday, May 31, 2014 on Hallmark Movie Channel.

 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment business for 20 years. She also writes about technology and has been a travel writer for the past 12 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

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Glow with the Show in Disneyland

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Since it opened in 1955, Disneyland has sold more than 85 million Mickey Mouse Ear hats. If only I had my original it would be worth, well, plenty!
Today besides the original design of the black hat with black ears, the ear hats come in a variety of colors and designs. To date more than 200 different varieties of ear hats have been produced. But the most creative and amazing is the hat designed to coordinate with the nightly show in Disney California Adventure, World of Color.
The new Mickey Ears are high tech. They light up to interact with the show. World of Color is a spectacular night show incorporating water, music, lights, and even scenes from Disney movies that are projected on the fountains. The special effects are incredible, but making it even more so are the interactive Mickey Ears.

 

“Glow with the Show Ear hats let our guests become part of the color of our magical World of Color at the Paradise Pier lagoon,” said Steve Davison, creative entertainment vice president of parades and spectaculars. “Embedded pixels allow the Ears to dance and play along with each musical sequence. It truly brings the show’s environment out of the lagoon and into the audience in an amazing and dazzling new way.”

 

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As the show and the music changes, the ears change color via remote controlled LED lights that are controlled by a cast member. Sometimes the sea of ears will be the same color, and other times they will flash different colors. You don’t have any control over the colors so just sit back (or I should say stand up) and enjoy the show. It’s amazing to be in a sea of guests, watching the nighttime spectacular, and watching everyone’s ears change color to coordinate to the music, the lights, the laser show, and the fun.

 

The special Glow with the Show ears cost a little more than the usual Mickey ears. They run approximately $25 at select locations in the park, but you can use them every time you visit Disney California Adventure and watch World of Color.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment business for 20 years. She also writes about technology and has been a travel writer for the past 12 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Like her on Facebook

The Art of Disney Frozen

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artoffrozenFrozen is the highest grossing animated movie of all time, it won the Academy Award, it has brought sisters closer together, and according to Time Magazine, Elsa is the most popular Disney princess – and she doesn’t even end up with a Prince at the end of the film. So what makes this movie so engaging and popular? Part of it is the story, of course. It is the story of two sisters torn apart by magic that threatens to destroy them, but in the end brings them closer together, the story of a loveable talking snowman, and the story of a sweet young man and his adorable reindeer. The music is also a big part of the popularity of the film. However, the foundation of the movie is its incredible artistry. The Art of Frozen is a beautiful book detailing how the animators created the land of Arendelle and the memorable characters.

 

In the Preface by John Lasseter, he writes, “Simply put, at the center of every Magic Kingdom is a castle. Fairytales are such a part of what Disney Animation is. …And as this book shows, the work of the animators throughout Frozen’s design process has been nothing short of breathtaking.”

 

Arendelle, where Elsa and Anna live, is a beautiful place, even when it is covered with ice. And Elsa’s Ice Palace is just as spectacular. However, the little details that went into the design of the scenery and the costumes are what combine to create this magical and enchanting film.

 

This book shows sketches that were drawn and readers learn what it takes to create a visually spectacular animated film in these days of high tech. Besides the drawings and sketches, there are comments from the filmmakers who write about how the movie evolved, their involvement, the direction in which it ultimately went, the way the art was created and merged, and the story of Anna and Elsa.

 

Open the book to any page and you are instantly taken back to the movie. From the costume designs to the character designs, the scenery, the sequences, and the charm, this book takes you through it all. If you think putting Olaf into a summer scene was easy, think again. Yet, the animators made it look easy and effortless. In order to get the believability in the film, there was a lot of work that went into the details. And, as we all know, it paid off. Frozen became an instant classic.

The Art of Frozen is a book that will be cherished by the entire family. Adults will enjoy learning about the creation of the film while reading the book and perusing the artwork, and kids will simply enjoy looking at their favorite characters and scenes from the movie. This is one book that will be opened over and over again. Like the movie, it is engaging.

 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment business for 20 years. She also writes about technology and has been a travel writer for the past 12 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Like her on Facebook

Eric Mabius Talks About Signed, Sealed, Delivered on Hallmark Channel

Posted on by FCA Editor

mabiusThe Hallmark Channel series Signed, Sealed, Delivered is capturing viewers because of the storylines, the characters, and the positive messages it portrays. The series focuses on a group of employees at the dead letter office where they take letters that have not found their way to their intended recipients, research and follow leads, and ultimately deliver the letter or package to the person for which it was intended. Eric Mabius, formerly of Ugly Betty fame, now stars as Oliver, the head of the office.

 

“They sent me the script when I was taking off for China,” Mabius recently told some journalists. “I was working on a film in China and I read it on the airplane. And I remember watching Touched By an Angel when I was younger, and obviously being moved by it and remembering it as something that the whole family could sit down and watch.” Mabius likens his new series to Touched By an Angel in that there are always positive messages and hope in every episode. Signed, Sealed, Delivered is a series that the entire family can watch.

“I don’t know if it’s because not that many interesting films are being made, so it’s spilling over into TV, but I found most shows unwatchable nowadays, short of a few comedy things,” Mabius commented. “And I don’t know if that’s because I’ve changed or because I have two children – I have two boys at home – or what. But there was something that really spoke to me about the show.” He especially likes the way the storylines are written and how the show addresses issues “without an audience feeling preached to.”

 

Each episode has an element of truth. “We know we’re putting something good out in the world, but portraying something that really happened to someone makes us feel like we’re on to something that’s more authentic or we become more impassioned by what we’re portraying.”

 

His character of Oliver has been a longtime Post Office employee. Eric explained his character and the storyline. “He had been working for the Post Office for many, many years. He could work in any office at any level he wanted to. His pay grade is incredibly high, but he chooses to stay there, and he chooses to assemble his world the way he has, and he chooses his employees the way he has for a specific reason.” He has a special ability to bring the right people together to create the right ensemble to do the job they are tasked to do, which is following leads and getting the letters to their destinations. Along the way the stories that unfold are interesting, emotional, and hopeful.

 

This series has appeal to young and old alike. As Mabius explains, “A person from every walk of life at any age, male/female, young/old, there’s something for everyone in the episodes. And there’s a universal theme of hope that I think everyone is really attracted to.”

 

With all the reality shows on TV and so much violence invading our homes via all the ways media is used these days, Eric Mabius is happy to be part of a show that is positive instead of negative. As he puts it, “If you’re putting a negative message out there, with reality shows, people trying to base their lives upon superficiality or gathering money or fighting with one another, kids grow up thinking that’s okay. And it’s not okay, especially as a parent.”

 

The actor goes on to say, “I was raised by a certain amount of television. Like for instance, I use MASH because I think it’s one of the best examples. I feel like there is a type — a part of Hawkeye’s character in me that is part of my psyche. The anti-hero, the guy who no matter what the results would be, he always tried to do the right thing. And that’s the kind of television I think we need. I’m very passionate about it, especially because I have two young boys.”

 

Eric Mabius particularly enjoys the collaboration between the series and Hallmark channel, which he sees as a perfect fit. Signed, Sealed, Delivered airs Sundays on Hallmark Channel and is a show for family viewing entertainment.

 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment business for 20 years. She also writes about technology and has been a travel writer for the past 12 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Like her on Facebook

Dolly Parton’s Blue Smoke CD

Posted on by FCA Editor

bluesmokeDolly Parton has been entertaining generations of music (and movie and TV) fans for decades. She is one of today’s most talented all-around entertainers. Her newest CD, Blue Smoke, is a wonderful collection of songs with a majority of them written by Parton.

 

This CD includes upbeat, knee-slapping, toe-tapping tracks as well as soulful and contemplative songs. There is also a wonderful duet with Kenny Rogers. Rogers and Parton had a huge hit with another duet, “Islands in the Stream,” in 1983 that has been a continual favorite among Parton and Rogers fans. “You Can’t Make Old Friends” might become just a popular as their first duet. The lyrics will strike a chord in many listeners.

 

“Home” is another song that will charm listeners. With all due respect to Dorothy and The Wizard of Oz, there is no place like home. It is where many of our memories come from and this song epitomizes that feeling.

 

Dolly Parton puts her own style to a Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora 1983 song, “Lay Your Hands on Me.” Parton wrote “If I Had Wings” about escaping sorrow, troubles and woes, and flying to a better place. That is something to which we can all relate.

 

“Lover De Jour” is a great anthem for women who refuse to simply be a fling. And “Try” is another Parton song that will motivate people to “make the most of every moment.” This song is one of the most inspiring songs to come along in a long time.

 

Dolly Parton is a master of duets and “From Here To The Moon And Back” with Willie Nelson is yet another of her memorable collaborations and is a song that once you hear it, you will be thinking about it and humming it a long time after the song is over. It’s a great love song for all generations.

 

“On this CD I think there are all of the colors of my life in all the areas of music that you’ve allowed me to dabble in through the years,” says Ms. Parton. Her distinctive voice along with the collection of songs makes it a moving CD for fans of this music icon. The CD includes a booklet with all the lyrics, which is a great feature.

 

The tracks on Blue Smoke are:

  • Blue Smoke
  • Unlikely Angel
  • Don’t Think Twice
  • You Can’t Make Old Friends
  • Home
  • Banks of the Ohio
  • Lay Your Hands on Me
  • Miss You – Miss Me
  • If I Had Wings
  • Lover du Jour
  • From Here to the Moon and Back
  • Try

 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment business for 20 years. She also writes about technology and has been a travel writer for the past 12 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Like her on Facebook

Falling in Love on DVD

Posted on by FCA Editor

fallinginloveMeryl Streep and Robert De Niro star in Falling in Love, a sweet, sensitive, and enchanting story of two people who meet, and yes, fall in love. The problem is, they are married to other people. This 1984 movie transcends the decades. It is just as entertaining today as it was when it was released.

 

De Niro plays Frank, an architect married to Ann (Jane Kaczmarek. They have two sons. Streep is Molly, a housewife married to a doctor (David Clennon) who is living a satisfying life. Both couples live a train ride away from Manhattan. While shopping for Christmas presents in a New York bookstore, they meet by accident, strike up a conversation, feel an instant attraction, then go their separate ways. However, during their brief encounter, their packages get mixed up and she takes his gardening book that was meant for his wife, and he takes her book that was meant for her husband.

 

Forward a few months when they again accidentally meet again on the train and begin to get to know each other more completely. Against their better judgments, they agree to meet – this time on purpose – and the attraction for each other grows. Spending time together fulfills their lives. Sure, he is happy with his family and she is happy with her husband, but there is something about their companionship that fills a void in each of their lives.

 

They do not have just an affair. They actually fall in love, which takes a toll on their marriages. Will she leave her husband and will he leave his family? That is a dilemma with which they struggle, as their relationship becomes front and center in their lives. They honestly and truly love each other, and the feelings they have for each other make them different people. Their relationship is not cheap or tawdry. It is true love, affection, admiration, and to use a phrase from another film, they “complete” each other.

 

Meryl Streep is wonderful as the suburban housewife with excellent taste, a sense of duty, and love for her ill father. Robert De Niro is endearing as the family man who happens to discover the one woman who really makes him feel alive.

 

This is a situation that is timeless. Whether in 1984 or 2014, falling in love is something that can just happen, whether people are looking for it or not. What makes this movie as enchanting as it is are the performances by the actors. While viewers might want them to do the conventional thing and remain with their spouses, the love between Frank and Molly is so tender that the same viewers might also be pulling for them to get together.
Do they get together or stay with their spouses? You’ll have to watch this endearing movie to find out for yourself. Falling in Love is part of the Warner Archive Collection and can be ordered from their website at wbshop.com.

 

The movie is rated PG-13.

 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment business for 20 years. She also writes about technology and has been a travel writer for the past 12 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Like her on Facebook

Love Life by Rob Lowe – Book Review

Posted on by FCA Editor

Love Life coverIn his second book, Rob Lowe combines stories and reflections about life, his family, and his career. Lowe takes readers through a journey of ups and downs, sadness and laughter, and very revealing and honest introspections. Love Life is an interesting look at his life as an actor/husband/father/producer/writer/recovering addict.

 

As readers discovered in his first autobiography, Rob Lowe is more than a “pretty face.” He was the “IT” boy of the 1980s, and led a wild life while forging his career. Now he is a devoted father, husband, and actor who is more interested in his family than in making headlines. Love Life is an interesting read, and a page-turner.

 

Lowe has an amazing insight about life and what is important. The book reveals his philosophical ideas and how he has changed as he has aged. He writes about his advice to his two sons. He tells them they need to think of life as a “vocation” and not to be afraid of making their own memories. Lowe intentionally went out of his way to make special memories for his family, including the time he dressed up as a Bigfoot while on a camping trip because he wanted his sons to experience something incredible.

 

As readers will discover, Rob Lowe is not entranced by the trappings of Hollywood and by all the perks that being a celebrity affords him. True, he does enjoy special treatment at sporting events and other events, but his down-to-earth attitude about life is what comes through page after page.

 

“The people I admire the most are those who have the courage, foresight and ability to see themselves with cold-eyed honesty and fundamentally change themselves.” (Page 158) This is a statement from Lowe that describes his attitude about life and people. He is not celebrity-driven. His feet are firmly on solid ground.

 

Mr. Lowe describes himself as a patriot and proudly writes about his family’s history with America. He also pens stories about his love of sports and his involvement with his sons’ school events and sports activities. He also honestly writes about his oldest son Matthew going away to college and the future exit of his youngest son Johnowen. He and his wife are soon-to-be empty nesters and, as he explains, he is looking forward to a new chapter in their lives.

 

By weaving stories about his experiences with his family together with his experiences of Hollywood, Rob Lowe has put together a mesmerizing collection of events in his life that give readers a look at the man, not the on-screen actor. He is honest, witty, and very insightful. There are fun stories from the TV and movie sets, stories from his family experiences, and many great reflections on them as well as life itself.

 

This is not a tell-all book about Hollywood. It is a tell-all book about Rob Lowe by Rob Lowe. His interests, ups and downs, expectations and disappointments are honestly exposed throughout the pages. His comments and memories about his many television shows, with their good and bad aspects, explain the ins and outs of working in the entertainment business. His writings about his wife and sons bring to readers the clear love of his family this man truly enjoys. The way he weaves all of these aspects of his life together creates a well-rounded look at his experiences, but mostly about his perceptions, insights, and philosophies. This is definitely a good read.

 

Hardcover: 272 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (April 8, 2014)

ISBN-10: 1451685718

ISBN-13: 978-1451685718

On a personal note: I have interviewed Mr. Lowe several times over the years. He has always been very kind and not at all off-putting, like many celebrities often are. I have always enjoyed his company and a long time ago I realized how intelligent and multi-dimensional he is. He is not just a “pretty face.”

 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment business for 20 years. She also writes about technology and has been a travel writer for the past 12 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Like her on Facebook

1-Running-Dog Bike Tow Leash by LEON Engineering, Inc

Posted on by FCA Editor

The Amazingly simple and stable Bike Tow Leash is the only American Pet Association Approved safe way to Bike with your dog(s) running beside you. The BTL makes biking fun and stress free for your and your dog! The BTL attaches in seconds with no tools and prevents tipping and tangling. No special training is required just clip your dog on and go. The Bike Tow Leash is also approved for use with mobility scooters, trikes and wheelchairs so no matter your abilities, you can walk your dog. The Bike Tow Leash can be used on either or both sides depending on your needs. It doesn’t matter whether you are tent camping or traveling in a luxury RV, if your dog doesn’t get enough exercise you will wish Fido stayed home!

 

1-Running-Dog Bike Tow Leash

Happy Kids-Happy Pets: Learning About Dog Breeds

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We cover such considerations as size, weight, space and exercise requirements, energy level, medical issues, grooming considerations, trainability. We also address if specific  breeds are good around children, other dogs and other pets. Our goal with this set was to help families pick the right dog for their specific household so that fewer pets show up a the pound “Because he didn’t fit in”

 

Happy Kids-Happy Pets, LLC was founded in 2012 by Betty Delman of Buford, GA.  She assembled a group of animal lovers concerned about animal welfare and the societal issues facing our kids today.  The team worked for 2 years to produce the first 5 sets of boxed cards/CD that won the Family Choice Award when they were introduced in early 2014. The company ’s goal is to teach children important lessons about humane treatment of animals, personal responsibility, self-esteem, and respect for both people and animals…and to have fun while they are learning.