Music & Movie Mojo: Robin Thicke & VH1 In Chicago, Pei Wei's Ultimate Videographer Contest, Casting For 'Momagers', & Summer Movie Releases

On Thursday, April 26th, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation will launch the 2012 Songwriters Music Series in Chicago, IL with an acoustic performance by Award-winning, soul singer-songwriter Robin Thicke. This marks the first stop in the series, sponsored by Swiss watch company RAYMOND WEIL and William Hill Estate Wines, which will then travel to New York City in June and close out at the breathtaking William Hill Estate in Napa Valley this September.

Songwriters Music Series benefits the VH1 Save The Music Foundation in their mission to provide children with access to a complete education that includes music.  These intimate evenings serve as a platform for energized, informed and socially conscious individuals to network amidst great music, a sponsored bar and food.  Each event will also feature today's emerging musicians and most celebrated artists/bands performing hit songs in support of the cause. In total, the 2011 Songwriters Music Series raised over $358,000, which was enough to restore 11 music education programs nationwide.  This year, the Foundation hopes to raise even more so that a greater number of students are provided the tools they need to create, innovate and become the next great leaders in an increasingly competitive world. 

The Chicago event will take place at Studio Paris from 6:30 PM-10:00 PM and will include opening performances by local sponsors Sing4's YouTube Contest Winner and Houlihan's Restaurants employee musicians contest winners.

This year, beginning with the first installment, the Foundation will also present an exclusive social media initiative, "Songwriters Moments In Time with RAYMOND WEIL," which will give audiences everywhere a behind the scenes look at each Songwriters event, with special talent interviews and more. Additional local sponsors include: New Amsterdam Gin, Tequila and Vodka as well as PSAV Chicago.

Tickets for the evening are $100 and can be purchased at www.vh1savethemusic.org/songwriters. For guests who would like to further show their support or are unable to attend any of the events the Foundation is offering additional opportunities to get involved:

Crash & Burn Apparel, a rock-n-roll inspired clothing line based in Los Angeles has teamed up with the Songwriters Music Series to create a limited edition Songwriters T-shirt to benefit the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. The Songwriters T-shirts will be available for purchase at www.shopcrashandburn.com/songwriters beginning April 1, 2012.

On April 10th, the first phase of the 2012 Songwriters Music Series auction launched online at www.charitybuzz.com/auctions/Songwriters, featuring items like 2 tickets to VH1 Storytellers, 2 tickets to the 2012 Do Something Awards and tickets to the Rock of Ages movie premiere and after party.

Proceeds from event sponsorship, ticket sales, the auction and a portion of t-shirts proceeds will benefit the VH1 Save The Music Foundation in its mission to keep music alive in American public schools.

Pei Wei Asian Diner, the fast-casual restaurant concept by P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, is excited to announce a rare opportunity for one lucky videographer. Pei Wei is looking for a talented individual to document its annual culinary innovation tour in Asia on video this June, where its chef-led team will gather inspiration for new recipes and dishes. The call for entries is open from April 9 through April 29, 2012.

 

This year’s trip, called InspirAsia, will explore the marketplaces, local restaurants and signature cuisine of Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. The selected videographer will spend 10 days capturing the journey and earn $5,000 for the once-in-a-lifetime assignment.

 

“Traveling abroad and immersing our Innovation Team in local culture and cuisine is the best way to inspire menu ideas,” said Chef Mark Miller. “To capture this dynamic process, we’re looking for a gifted videographer to document our exploration. We can’t wait to find the right talent to join our adventure.”

 

This year’s trip will be brought to life online for fans to follow and share their reactions to the discoveries in real-time. 

 

Pei Wei is looking for applicants with a distinctive shooting style, an insatiable curiosity about travel, food and cultural discovery, and the ability to tell a compelling story through video. The selected videographer will be required to shoot footage on-the-fly while the team tastes everything from street food to five-star cuisine, interview local influential chefs, and capture the sights, sounds and flavors of the three countries. Candidates must have the ability to edit short clips daily to upload across Pei Wei’s social media channels.

 

The official call for entries launches April 9 and candidates have until April 29 to apply. As part of the submission process, Pei Wei will ask videographers to show off their talent while completing a specific assignment. For more details or to submit a video application for consideration, please visit www.peiweiinspirasia.com.

495 Productions & Doron Ofir Casting the starmaking team behind “Nashville Star” & “Jersey Shore” are looking for Mothers who are managing their child all the way to stardom.

Motherhood may be your life, but managing has become your career. Like Tina Knowles (Beyonce’), Pattie Mallette (Justin Beiber) and Gretchen Sheckler (Ryan Sheckler) before you, you've been blessed with the most talented kid in the world. Music, sports, dancing or acting…from your child's first steps and first words, you recognized their star potential; and who better to lead them down the path to stardom than their own mother? You know them better than anyone and no one will ever be more committed to their success than you.

From dance classes to theater camp, auditions to call backs, you've been there every step of the way supporting your child's destiny. Whether you're already a working talent manager who discovered a “spark” in your own child or the ultimate "Momager" who’s figuring it out as she goes along…Doron Ofir Casting, the star making casting company behind, "Nashville Star", and "Jersey Shore" wants to shine the spotlight on the women behind the world's next big stars.

“Whether your child is a diva, a prodigy, a comedic genius, a future mogul, a thespian, or a triple threat, this brand new documentary series will get to know the true stories behind the future faces of entertainment, and the entrepreneurial Moms who will do whatever it takes to earn Top Billing for their kids.”

Is your child on the cusp of greatness; the next Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez or Daniel Radcliffe? Are you putting your life on hold to get theirs on track? Are you juggling other clients while trying to keep your kid a priority?

If you are a mother of a burgeoning star between the ages of 16-25 who manages every detail of their budding career, we are looking for you!

Applicants are encouraged to apply at www.momagerscasting.com

Your Sister's Sister

Two upcoming Summer releases are "Your Sister's Sister," starring Emily Blunt (Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, The Devil Wears Prada) Rosemarie DeWitt, and Mark Duplass. The fourth feature from Sundance award-winning filmmaker Lynn Shelton (HUMPDAY), 

Your Sister's Sister is a tale of grief, romance and sibling rivalry that continues to showcase Shelton's extraordinary ability to portray human stories with remarkable humor, sensitivity and warmth.    

A year after his brother Tom's death, Jack (Duplass) is an emotionally unstable slacker. When he makes a scene at a memorial party, Tom's ex-girlfriend Iris (Blunt) offers up her family cabin on an island in the Pacific Northwest so Jack can seek catharsis in solitude. 

Once there, however, he runs into Iris' sister Hannah, a lesbian reeling from the abrupt end of a seven-year relationship who finds solace in the affable Tom's unexpected presence, and the two bond over a long night of drinking. 

The blurry evening concludes with an awkward sexual incident made worse by Iris' sudden presence at the cabin the next morning which sets into motion a twisted tale of ever-complicated relationships.

With raw, funny and emotional performances from an all-star cast, Shelton once again honestly explores the complexities of interpersonal relationships while gently poking fun at her characters' predicaments.

The film premieres on June 15th in New York and L.A. with a national roll-out to follow.

Hit and Run

 

Parenthood star, Dax Shepard, stars in "Hit and Run." Written, produced and directed by Shepard, 'Hit and Run' is the story of Charlie Bronson (Shepard), a former getaway driver who busts out of the Witness Protection Program to drive his girlfriend (Kristen Bell) to Los Angeles so she can land her dream job. 

Their road trip grows awkwardly complicated, when they are chased by the feds (led by Tom Arnold), and increasingly dangerous, when Charlie’s former gang of criminals (led by Bradley Cooper) enter the fray.
 
Hit and Run premieres in theaters on August 24, 2012.