Tuesday, March 8, 2011

My Film Debut, Dahhhhling!


I could sit here and moan and complain about how we continue to get bouts of sickness around here and how sick I am of being sick....

But instead I'm going to tell you about a little something special that happened to me a few weeks back.

I got an email one day, mid-January, from Alexa at Foodbuzz. She approached me with a quite delightful offer. She would fly out from San Fransisco to come to my little house in Kansas City, coordinate to have a PROFESSIONAL videographer show up, and have me star in two mini videos on how to make a video featuring Newman's Own products. Is there anything here I would object to? No.

A week later (yes, ridiculously fast) I welcomed Alexa and Adam (the videographer) into my mom's house- for she has a much cuter kitchen than I- and we set up to do these two super fun, silly and carefree videos to be sent out to bloggers in Foodbuzz's Tastemaker program.

Both videos are around 2-3 minutes in length. Take a gander!


In this video, I throw together a delish pasta dish, featuring Newman's Own Sockerooni Sauce. I also do some silly things that are about as cheesy as the Parmesan cheese that I sprinkle over the hot rigatoni.

And in this video I make a super easy salad to go along with a Newman's Own Thin and Crispy Pizza. This one is even sillier and I show you what to wear and what not to wear in a video of your own. My mom made sure her stockpile of vintage clothing and accessories were available for our use in these videos.

It really made me feel so special that they chose me to do this project. Here I was thinking that Foodbuzz hated my Emergency Cake video for Project Food Blog, since that was the round I got sacked, but oh, contrare, they loved my video and chose me to do these Newman Videos based on that ridiculousness.

I'm used to setting up my little video camera on a precarious, teeter-y tripod, hitting "record" and jumping in front of it, to make my cheesy little cooking videos. I'm used to doing hours of editing and spewing very heated words under my breath until the video is done. I'm used to losing videos, videos not uploading and more than a fair share of "glitches in the matrix". This time? All I had to do was be in front of the camera. I didn't have to do any of that other crap. 

See these two right here? Aren't they just darling? Alexa and Adam. Alexa was like a breath of fresh air, energetic and full of ideas and fun. Alexa and I were chatting like two high school friends, voicing ideas and thoughts, laughing our butts off and trying to focus on the task. Adam was laid back, super calm and just as sweet as he could be. That giant camera of his was staring me in the eyeball, stirring up a bit of nervousness, but Adam had this zen way about him, even the way he counted down to recording made me feel a bit better. He'd just say, "When you're ready." I was calling him "Yoda" towards the end of the day, for all his insightful comments that seemed to translate what Alexa and I were trying to say, in our chatter-y little way.

After sitting down and noshing on the product of the first shoot -the rigatoni- and drinking from the one and ONLY Taco Via cups (yes, that little lady logo stirs many childhood memories for me...mainly delicious, greasy, burrito bomb, Mexican food type memories.) we felt very at home with one another. Sharing a meal seems to break the ice and everyone relaxes. Or maybe it was the Taco Via cups, because we did laugh quite a bit over them and learned that Adam didn't really like Mexican food, to which, Alexa and I both gasped.

Okay, so this picture is a bit awkward of me (sorta look like I'm be dramatic about the salad or something...such a diva) but I like it because you can really see how cool that camera was! Isn't it so fancy? I was in awe of the quality of the video. It was so cool!

Alexa brought me a little treat from San Fransisco, a box of caramels. Six luscious caramels that I was not intending to enjoy so greatly or have to share so freely. I quickly offered up a piece to everyone and that was BEFORE I tasted them. After I tasted them, I wanted to reach down into everyone's throats and retrieve the golden, creamy, slightly salty treats. So I was down to three. I offered one to my mom, who graciously watched the kids all day for me so I could do the video, but was relieved when she said it would yank out her crown. So I still had three. I gobbled down two more and teetered on the fence of sharing the last one with the Hubs or not. I chose to be nice and shared, all the while I sat drooling and I watched him slowly chew that sticky piece of golden, creamy heaven.

 So here's a crazy picture of me at the end of the shoot. I look like a crazed woman with a fork, which isn't too far from the truth, and just floating on cloud nine. I felt so energized, filled and excited that I got to do something I love (cooking and being a ham) and get to do that with such wonderful people! Thanks again, Alexa and Foodbuzz for picking me. Thanks Adam for being such a great videographer!

Sorry for such a delay...again, between posts, dear ones. It has been so insane with the kids. Winter always brings much sickness, but this year is really nuts. When the kids are sick and I am sick, my creativity goes down the toilet. All I want to do is sleep, but of course, we all know that doesn't happen with three little sick baby birds, right?

Love Ya, Foodies!!! (ahhh-choo!...excuse me.)

24 comments:

  1. You are so cute that no one would dare hate anything you did. Now me? They really DO hate me. You rock but I can't open the video. May be because I am on my iPad. When I get off my ass and go upstairs to a real computer, I will look at it.

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  2. I was so excited for you when I saw that you were on the Newman's Own sample videos a few weeks back! You were a perfect choice! Oh, and I loved the emergency cake video, too, by the way!!! Congrats on your film debut!!!

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  3. Superstar!! Love it and love to see Alexa and Yoda here. =)

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  4. Congratulations, Lauren. The videos are great and you must have had a lot of fun!

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  5. Congratulations Lauren!!! How cool is that, and yet another reason why Foodbuzz rocks!!
    Cheers
    Dennis

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  6. I loved your videos! I am so freaked out about making my video. Hopefully mine will be half as good as yours! Love your blog!

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  7. YAY for you Lauren! Of course they chose you, I am not surprised - with your cooking skills PLUS your sense of humor. I'm off to watch your videos now. Again, a huge congrats!
    LL

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  8. How fun! Yay you!! Of course they love you, we all love you because you are totally original and fun and awesome. Haahaa, Yoda.... ;)

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  9. How much fun was that! I am so happy that you were fun and joyous about it instead of being stiff and stilted. I ENJOYED the videos. Very much! Congratulations.

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  10. How cool! Congrats, it was fun to watch the video. Your hair looks great:)

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  11. Yesssss! Of course they loved your video skillz. And that is even better that you didn't have to edit them yourself. They should just do that all the time, right?

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  12. Thanks for the behind-the-scenes peek at how your videos were made! I had such fun making my Newman's Own video and will be posting the final product on YouTube tomorrow. You have a very natural comfort in front of the camera...that's not easy to come by, but you've got the IT factor for sure!!!

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  13. Very well done. You're a natural. I learned a few things, too. So, thank you!

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  14. Lauren--that is so cool!! What an exciting opportunity. You have a very lovely speaking voice and you come across as so, so likeable both in print and in person. I think you should audition for the Next Food Network Star show!! You'd be great!! (Plus they film in NYC and we could finally meet:)

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  15. Lauren, you are such a natural! Love the videos, you are just so photogenic and original! When are you applying for the Next Foodnetwork Star? I think you would be perfect :o)

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  16. Cheers to you Lauren! That's awesome

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  17. So I'm not surprised that they picked you...you are such a charming, love-filled person. You would be my first-pick, for sure! You should have your own cooking show. Truly!

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  18. This is fantastic Lauren! You are a NATURAL!

    Great tips and I hope to see more soon!

    (Coincidentally, I shot my very first video with my sis yesterday!)

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  19. sweet bella Lauren, nothing makes me smile more than watching you shine your fabulousness....where is the LOVE button?? Love the new makeover, and loved the videos - LOVE YA! hugs, j

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  20. You were perfect for the videos. Very very funny, engaging- I want to see more! I love the robot dance- haha. You're amazing. :)

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  21. So cute, Lauren! You are a natural...

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  22. LOOOOVVVVE IT! I can't wait for Foodie House to be on the great world wide web regularty! I'm telling you, it's a favorite show already.

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  23. Really great videos Lauren!! Loved them! Rachel Ray has nothing on you!

    Geekly speaking I suggest that you embed the video inline in your blog post. Easy to do with Blogger. Just use the HTML tab and cut/past the embed code from YouTube in the place where you want the video to appear.

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  24. Sooo cool! Go Lauren Go!!!! Great videos - you are so natural and engaging! XO Michelle

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