And The Academy Award Goes To...

Since the opening of The Toddlewood Studio and the launch of "Fabulosity" (photography birthday parties at the studio), a couple of projects were put on hold.  But we're back on track.  One of my newest and most exciting projects is the re-creation of African American Oscar winners.  I've already shot 7 images and still have more to go.  If all goes well I'll be done sometime next month.  And yes, there will be a red carpet gallery exhibit here at the studio.  Cranking away here…not only are my models anxious to see their feature but my media friends and a couple of new, local buddies are tapping their fingers at me!  UGH!  The pressure.  But rest assured, it's going to be fab.

The pressure is not only on me but some of these looks require the magic fingers of my designer, Andrea Pitter of Pantora!  Only problem for me is that I'm not the only one on her calendar!  Andrea's business is wedding dress design and tis the season!  She won't let me down….well she better not

The other challenge lies in some of the executions.  Louis Gossett Jr. for instance…I'm really looking to replicate some of these action shots with Richard Gere!  Mini-Louis's shots won't be bad, Mini-Richard's shots may be difficult.

Another challenge is Cuba Gooding Jr.  The most memorable shot is "Show Me The Moneeeeeeeey".  Well he's shirtless!  Problem…not appropriate for a little kid, at least according to my standards.  Gotta figure this one out.

Everything else I think I've got under control.  So game on!  Let's make this happen!
 

By the way, you may have noticed that I'm missing a recent inductee in the Oscar hall of fame.  Don't worry, I'm still developing my vision for Mini-Lupita.  

CASTING CALL - Making It happen for all to enjoy every day next year!

Making It Happen for the nation to enjoy all year round!
Toddlewood is in production for the 2015 calendars!  Yes plural.  We'll be shooting for 3 different calendars, three different concepts!  And they are all fun!  I've got a small team working on the negotiations with mega companies like these so keep your fingers crossed!

The first calendar concept is just for GIRLS.  Sorry fellas but no worries, you can get into the other two.  I love classic black and white images of women who made it happen in the past and some are still around making it happen today.  On a creative standpoint, I'm excited about this challenge because lighting is truly important to execute the right shadow and contours to deliver that "Classic" look.  So to kick this off ASAP, here are the first 6 women!  These are not necessarily the exact shots I will be replicating but this should give you a clear understanding of the person.

If you have a daughter, niece or friend who may resemble or can pull off any of these looks please send photo with age and name of child to:  Casting@Toddlewood.com

Please note:  You MUST be able to shoot in New York!  MUST BE BETWEEN AGE 3 and 8.  Also note some of the submissions will be posted on this blog to show how fabulously classy our young girls are today!

Love Love

   

Lights Cameras, Smile!

So it's been a while since we've been here on this blog.  Well that's because I've been...dare I say it…trying to "Make Things Happen"!  And things have been happening.  Since the 3rd annual red carpet award season recreations, I've decided to take a HUGE leap and open the first ever Toddlewood Studio.  Now this studio has been a pleasure, a journey, a labor of love and the bane of my existence.  Yes I said it.  Like any new business, especially when there's a physical door and a key to turn, it just ain't easy!  Why you ask?  Well check this out:

1.  The set up.  This used to be an old Yogurt Shop called "32Degree FroYo" (I think that was the name).  It only lasted 2 years because I heard the "Fro" part of FroYo was soft and not frozen.  That's sad because in the previous photos it looked like the place to be.  So after my landlord gutted everything out, I was left with four walls and barely a floor.  He almost put in drop ceilings!  UGH!  You know, like what you would find in a corporate building or in a dental office?  NOT for a creative studio! Are you kidding me.  Problem is that the ceilings were badly patched with a million small piece of sheet rock.  My solution…Paint that sucker!.  Paint it white and it will give me that industrial, SOHO look that I love so much.  And yes, keep the vents exposed.  Why?  Because I think it's cool too.  Well really I can't afford to do anything else.  But I do like it!

2.  Furnishing.  I'm on a "Gremlin's" shoe string budget!  So what do a I do?  I ask my coolest friends and family members to "Housewarm" my studio.  Yes, I sent a list of links to what I needed and oh my, I am a lucky girl.  My peeps took great care of Tricia, TMezz, TriciaThePhotographer, Trishy or whatever they call me.  Love is GREAT!

  

 

 3.  FLOORS!  To get the floors that I really want will cost $4000.  Ummmmm  plan B!  So I got someone to level the floors and then my father-in-law and I PAINTED 1500 square feet of floor!  Multiple coats of paint!  I have a new found respect for painters!  OUCH!

4.  Crickets!  So now we're here…hello!!!????  Come on in…PLEASE!  OK, Tricia, time to take your brain back to your years as Senior Vice President of the best global advertising firms you've worked at everyday of your life after college.  Marketing, Marketing, Marketing.  I have to say, it was much easier developing a marketing campaign for my million dollar clients as opposed to my miniature dollar self!  But I've got to make it happen man!

It's been 2 months and I think I'm doing pretty good!  The studio has clients and the "Fabulosity" birthday parties are a BIG HIT!  Even women in their 40's are booking parties for them and their friends!  That wasn't in my original plan but when someone asked me about it I said "Heck yeah, of course we do that!  You didn't know that?"  If she's reading this blog then I just outed myself!

Well there's so much that happens here!  I mean so much comedy.  From my mini-moguls to my next door neighbor nail salon owners, you are sure to be entertained.

Stay tuned!  It's real in here!!!!    

Pre-ToddleWood Golden Globes 2013

So last night I watched the Golden Globes with a couple of moms who always lend a hand for ToddleWood.  I have to say that we were not overly excited about the dresses coming down the red carpet.  Last year's looks were amazing!  I loved the details of the dresses, the gorgeous hair styles and even the poses!

This year, we were able to find some interesting looks last night and some great kids to go with them.   So congratulations:  Dallas, Brady, Ali, Brielle, Lanie,Leila and Emma!  Get ready for a fun shoot and I'm sure a great feature on Inside Edition.  My beloved designer has her work cut out for her.  Andrea Pitter of "Pantora by Andrea" let's make it happen.

My take on what I saw last night...
The SNL hosts were very good.  So nice to see 2 female comedians do their thing.

Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrel were HILARIOUS!!!  I thoroughly enjoyed their presentation.

It was so sweet that Jennifer Garner finished Ben Afleck's thank you speech when she was presenting.  Very nice touch.

OK, so I've got a lot of work to do to get these looks together, the set, all the extra details and we've got an early start time tomorrow.  So I can't sit here and write a blog!  Bye!

In case you missed the winners:

MOTION PICTURES

Motion Picture, Drama: Argo

Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: Les Misérables

Actor in Motion Picture, Drama: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln

Actress in Motion Picture, Drama: Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty

Actor in Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables

Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook

Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

Supporting Actress in Motion Picture: Anne Hathaway,Les Misérables

Director, Motion Picture: Ben Affleck, Argo

Screenplay, Motion Picture: Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained

Foreign Language Film: Amour (Austria)

Animated Feature Film: Brave

Original Score, Motion Picture: Mychael Danna, Life of Pi

Original Song, Motion Picture: "Skyfall," Skyfall, Adele & Paul Epworth

TV

TV Series, Drama: Homeland

TV Series, Comedy: Girls

TV Movie or Miniseries: Game Change

Actor in a TV Series, Drama: Damian Lewis, Homeland

Actress in a TV Series, Drama: Claire Danes, Homeland

Actor in a TV Series, Comedy: Don Cheadle, House of Lies

Actress in a TV Series, Comedy: Lena Dunham, Girls

Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie: Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys

Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie: Julianne Moore, Game Change

Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie: Ed Harris, Game Change

Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie: Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey

Cecil B. DeMille Award: Jodie Foster

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It's day 2 after Hurricane Sandy blew into the tri-state area.  Being from New York and living in Long Island, my house surely got offended by Sandy's invasion.  So we're staying at my sister's place in Queens.  So that's myself, my husband, my 2 year old, my 7 year old and oh yeah, my sister.  My sister has a very nice place but my normal schedule is "Tricia on the run".  Always going here and going there, shooting this and shooting that, drop off the girls, pick up the girls, client meetings, client calls...need I go on.  The best part of this experience is cracking up at my poor husband being tortured by girly flicks (like my favorite "The Devil Wears Prada" and Nickelodeon.  He couldn't wait until the roads opened up.  He's out of here!  

Oh the other funny part is watching Mayor Bloomberg's hilarious attempt to show off his latin-flavor every time he translates his speech into spanish.  It's so funny!  Mayor Bloomberg has done some incredible things for the city, I highly respect the man...but his "spanish speaking friends" as he puts it need to de-friend him!   Oh, I have to add that he speaks in English of 20 minutes and then his "spanish" translation is only 30 seconds!  Como?  But you rock otherwise, MB. And your entertaining sign language interpreter is the best!

My 7 year old's school is officially closed for the week.  She has watched every Nickelodeon show ever produced.  She introduced me to a new show called "See Dad Run" starring Scott Baio.  Wait, isn't that Charles from "Charles in Charge?"  He's back?  Who knew?  

The 2 year old is probably confused about "walking".  Well here's the deal, my sister has a very sensitive-to-noise neighbor who lives the floor below her and she complains a lot.  My 2-year old, Sunday, is a heavy-stomping toddler.  So just to go from the living room to the kitchen it sounds like a mini King Kong running!  So we are constantly snapping at her...

"No Sunday No!" 

"Stop walking, Sunday, Stop Walking!"

"Sunday I said Stop Running!" 

"Come here, Sunday, no more walking for you!"

The poor girl.  Next week I think I'm going to take her to a giant bouncy house everyday for a full week.  

Well, all this to say that we officially have cabin fever.  But we're glad to have a cabin to call home!  Gotta love sisters!

     

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What’s Trending Wednesday...According To Tricia

So it’s the day after Sandy!  We have taken over my sister’s apartment because I live right on the water in Long Island, New York.  Well, family is safe but the house is WET!  Ugh! What can you do but make the proper phone calls to try and get things back to normal. The entire experience from here-on-in  can be wrapped up as an annoying inconvenience.  So what else is happening this week?  





Well, since the uninvited guest, Sandy, has decided to reaarnge things, I have to figure out how to get the last Whitney Houston shot for ToddleWood done.  I want to launch the images and video within the next 2 weeks.  

Then, on Monday, I was supposed to interview a very a  young actorwho happens to be the voice of “Boots”  from Dora the Explorer.  The movie launches in a week or 2 so I have to get this interview done asap.

Well, let me tell you what’s trending in fashion According To Tricia!

Dawn of New York!

I haven’t yet visited the boutiques but I plan on doing so within the next week or so.  I had the pleasure of meeting Dawn and checked out some of her products at an event once or twice and I admired her jewelry line.  Her boutiques aren’t just jewelry, they carry  fashion-forward clothes for women.  But the accessories is what caught my eye...not to mention her cool logo.

Also, what’s trending for kids According To Tricia is my daughter’s new passion for this book series.  For some reason she can’t put the book down.  She even walks through the house  reading...and bumping into this.  Love to see the girl read!

  

So I took my 7 year old, Skylar, and her best friends to see Hotel Transylvania today!

I wasn't prepared to like this movie but I did.  It was funny and the animation was very well done.  The story-line was a bit predictable...Husband loses wife, he's determine to protect his daughter, daughter falls in love with someone her father disapproves, but father ends up doing everything he can to get the boy back after he realizes he was wrong.  I may be crazy but the end of the movie reminded me a lot of "Meet The Parents" with Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, except this kid didn't say "Bomb" on the plane.  

Gotta appreciate the talent behind all the colorful animation.  It's gotta be really hard acting out to a microphone and not getting any reaction to keep you motivated.  Usually I can always tell whose voice is behind which character.  Aside from Fran Dresher, for obvious reasons, I couldn't pin point the other voices.  Great job all.

Overall I give this movie a 9.  Great movie but I would have given it a 10 if I laughed just a little harder!