My day with Nonsociety

I'd read so much on the Nonsociety girls - Julia Allison, Megan Asha and Mary Rambin - since they started up back in the spring. Before that, really, if you count when Julia Allison was doing this sort of "lifecasting" solo. In fact it was probably about a year ago, when she was dating Jakob Lodwick and they had that Jakob and Julia blog. I was just beginning to date a Jacob myself and so I found myself tuning in to see their adventures.

For those of you undoctrinated into the Julia Allison phenom that all we New Yorkers are fascinated with, a brief history. Julia Allison is a 20 something journalist who moved up to New York after leaving Georgetown University to follow her dreams. She got a job at Star Magazine as their editor at large and started writing a dating column for Time Out New York. Somehow (I'm not clear on the details since I've read so many different accounts) she caught the eye of Gawker editor Nick Denton and the snarky Gotham based blog started writing about her and her adventures on a sometimes daily basis. Someone told me once that they took it upon themselves to see if they could, just by posting about someone, make them into a celebrity. And they certainly did - not without Julia's help, of course. In fact, say what you will about her, but she is a marketing genius! As a self-promoter in the minor leagues through Rebels of Romance and my book writing, I am in awe of all she's able to accomplish. I want her secrets!

She's posted online about her life through relationships, break-ups, successes and failures - posting even the painful stuff online for the world to see. Sometimes reading about her can be unbearably painful and you just want to hug her or tell her to stop oversharing because you know there are people out there who are just waiting to hurt her for doing so. Sometimes you think it'd be amazing to be her, othertimes you couldn't imagine undergoing the public scrutiny.

I'm digressing too much - all I wanted to do was write about my day with the girls. So to sum up, last spring, Julia enlisted her two best girl friends - Megan (a former hedge fund manager and self-professed geek) and Mary (a handbag designer) and together they started "lifecasting" through their new company Nonsociety. Each day they post stuff about their daily lives - both professional stuff (dating tips, technology updates, and fashion advice) and personal (sometimes very personal - though they told me they've learned how to draw the line the hard way.) They started an internet based show called TMI where they chat about these topics as well. Basically the whole thing is a like a multi-media magazine and diary combined.

So, of course, I figured the whole thing would make a great story for Better TV. To talk about what lifecasting is, why they feel compelled to do it -- the good, the bad, the ugly, etc. But I have to admit I was a little nervous to meet them in real life. It's weird to meet someone for the first time that you've read about for a year. Made me almost feel stalker'ish or like a voyeur who finally comes out of the closet, admitting they've been watching. But, I realized, that was silly. After all, they want to be watched. Otherwise they wouldn't be online to begin with.

Well, I needn't be worried. They were open and friendly and allowed me in without a filter. They talked openly about their experiences both on-camera and off. They're very much like their onscreen personas in real life and yet you get a touch of something more three-dimensional when you talk to them one on one. They're very enthusiastic about their company and what they plan to do with it. They have hopes and dreams and are having a ton of fun reaching for the stars. They're very honest that not every day is sunshine and roses, but in the end, they find it worth it.

I got a lot of great footage and I think it'll be an interesting piece that my viewers will really be into. Of course of all days I forgot my camera but here are a few iPhone shots and a couple I stole off their own blogs.







Here they are filming their show "TMI."


Me interviewing Julia.


The gang all at Merkato 55 - where I set them up to have dinner. More on the fab meal there soon!


And lastly, here's a video they took while Mike (my photographer) was taking a video of them!



Merkato 55 from Meghan Asha on Vimeo.


All in all it was a really fun day and I walked away with a newfound respect for what the Nonsociety girls do. Keep at it, girls! And know that for every loser who has nothing better to do than to cut you down to make himself feel good - there are hundreds of other people whose days are brightened by what you do!

Marianne

As the World Turns Backstage Tour

Yesterday morning, bright and early my photographer and I hopped into a car service (since no taxi driver in his right mind would take us) and headed deep into the bowels of Brooklyn to film a segment on the CBS soap opera AS THE WORLD TURNS.

We met up with Terri Colombino who plays Katie Peretti on the show and had her give us a backstage tour. They have two stages they film on - each filled sets of different rooms, restaurants, and shops. Each had three walls that looked just like a living room or kitchen or coffee shop - with a fourth open wall to film through. It was kind of like walking through a furniture store. I don't know why--I'm usually pretty jaded!--but it struck me as immensely cool. Like a little world existing on a soundstage. They had a huge wardrobe room, filled with outfits - including wedding dresses, of course! (Terri's character has been married six times during her ten years on the show - though only to five guys, she pointed out, since one lucky man got to walk down the aisle with her twice.) I especially loved the prop room - where each character had a basket filled with personal items. Terri rummaged through hers and found her alter-ego's fertility pills from when she'd been trying to get pregnant.

It was especially cool to tour As the World Turns in particular because my step-grandmother has worked on the show for the last thirty something years. She plays Kim Hughes, a member of one of the original families on the show. Unfortunately she wasn't filming the day we were there - it would have been so thrilling to see her at work! But I'm glad at least I had a chance to check out where she spends her days.

All in all, I found it a fascinating experience - to see how a soap opera works behind the scenes. I'd love to someday write for one. I think that would be the best job ever. I'll post the segment when it airs on Better TV, of course!

Marianne

Gypsy: The Better TV Segment

I talked a while ago about going behind the scenes of Gypsy and meeting the legendary Patty Lupone. Here's the final segment based on that trip!

Marianne

Tea Party - The Video

Here's the final product of the socialite tea party story I was talking about earlier in the week. I am really happy with how it came out. Makes me want to host my own tea party someday! :)

City of Ember: The Final Product

I talked a few weeks ago about my adventure of meeting Tim Robbins and Tim Murray during a press junkett for City of Ember. Here's the final piece, as aired on the Better TV show.

I've since read mixed reviews of the movie - many saying it's not as smart or interesting as the books its based on. But personally I have to say (without having read the books) that I really enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun and held my attention throughout - which is rare for me these days, it seems. Some criticized the movie for ending like a Disney ride. But then, I like Disney rides!

Marianne

Better TV: Halloween Costumes for Kids

Another Better TV story from yours truly. This one on popular Halloween costumes for kids. The kids are so cute, I had to post it!

So what are you guys going to be for Halloween? I'm going to be Little Dead Riding Hood! :)

Marianne

Tea Party

PICTURED: Anisha Lakhani (Author of Schooled), Tracy Stern (founder of Salon Tea), Me, Mina Jacqueline Au (Luxury Lifestyle expert and founder of Bon-Luxe), and Melissa Foss (celebrity stylist/former editor of Harper's Bazaar.)


I meant to post this photo before now, but didn't remember until today when I wrote the High Tea story for Better. A couple of weeks ago my photographer and I went to the beautiful Upper East Side home of Tracy Stern, Manhattan socialite and tea entreprenur, and shot a segment on hosting tea parties in your home.

Tracy had laid out the most gorgeous table I've ever seen, choosing a colorful garden theme. There were little watering pails for the milk and even the mini sandwiches had a flower theme, with edible geraniums and salmon rosettes. Move over Martha Stewart!

She talked about the odds and ends she picked up here and there to make the display. Stuff anyone could find - even on a budget. But it takes someone with a good eye - like Tracy - to pull it all together. Seriously, the woman is majorly creative!

Her teas were delicious too -- try them once and I guarantee you'll give up Lipton forever! :) Her company is called SalonTea and they import teas from the finest estates from around the world. She's even written a book on hosting tea parties - the subject of our segment.





It was a really fun segment to shoot and her apartment was to die for. She was really sweet, too. And so passionate about her teas - it's not just a business for her. It's a lifestyle.

I'll be posting the Better TV segment soon. For now, check out the SalonTea website and get yourself some tea!

Marianne

Shopping with Jamie Lynn Sigler

Yesterday I headed to Saks to interview Jamie Lynn Sigler. You might remember her as Meadow from the Sopranos. After six seasons on the show, she’s all grown up and moved on to new ventures. She’s appearing as herself on at least three episodes of Entourage. (And rumored to be dating the guy who plays Turtle in real life, though she didn’t confirm that on camera.) She just finished filming a movie this summer and will soon be introducing a new jewelry line called “C.J. Free” after her friend Holly Freeman’s son. The jewelry will be available this winter and can be customized with different charms. I couldn’t find a photo online, but she was wearing one of the bracelets during the interview and it was quite cute. When I post my Better TV report in a week or so, you’ll get to see it.

Jamie has recently partnered with Mastercard to promote their shopping savings program – good timing with the failing economy, everyone wants to save money! The program offers discounts at over 25,000 retailers nationwide for cardholders. You can find out more about the program here.

One of the participating retailers was Saks, where we conducted the interview. After we talked to Jamie, we took her upstairs to their shoe department (so big it has its own zipcode) to film her shopping. Not that she needed shoes – she was wearing an amazing pair of peep toe Louboutin booties. (Awesome, if not a bit tough to walk in…) I’m sure they cost as much as my monthly salary, but I hey – I can dream!

I zoomed in on the photo I had so you can get a better look.





She seemed nice, but pretty quiet. No small talk really while we waited for the elevator. She might have been tired though – this was her last interview of a whole day of interviews! And she was good on camera, which is all that really matters in the end. While it’s more fun to hang with someone who’s chatty (like Bill Murray for example!) in the end, I’d rather have someone who’s bright and interesting when it counts!

Funny - my photographer was excited (for the first time EVER, I think) to go on this interview. He's not really into the Hollywood scene and doesn't know or care about most celebrities. When I got the pitch for Jamie he was like "OMG we HAVE to do this!" So now he owes me big time. :) He was cool as a cucumber in front of her though. Didn't even shake when he hooked up her mic. Restrained his inner fan boy like a pro.





Who would you guys like to interview more than anyone? I think for me, #1 would be David Bowie. Though I'm not sure if I got the chance I'd even be able to stand, never mind speak.

Marianne

Let's Get Physical, Physical!

It's been quite a month for celebrity interviews. Not sure why they're all coming out of the woodwork in October, but I won't complain. Yesterday I interviewed Olivia Newton John about her quest to educate women on breast cancer and the importance of self examination.

Olivia herself found a lump when examining her own breast and pursued her case, even after her mammogram came back negative. So she's advocating for women to take charge of their health with a new product called Liv-Aid. (Pronounced Live - as in her nickname and also, of course, the obvious.) Any woman who goes into Curves fitness centers can get a free Liv-Aid: a heart shaped medical device used to help with self breast exams.





Olivia was telling me about her recent hike along the Great Wall of China - a 142 mile journey - done to raise awareness and money for the cause. She's quite a woman! Calls herself a breast cancer "thriver" not survivor - and she's been cancer free for years.

Anyway, you'll be proud to know I stayed on topic and didn't break down and beg her to break out in "Hopelessly Devoted to You". :)

Marianne

PS She looked great, by the way! And was very warm and easy to talk to, even though she was exhausted from back-to-back interviews. Very passionate about her cause, too!

Better TV: New Mom Uniform segment

Another segment I did for Better TV. This one's on creating a new mom wardrobe. Moms can look stylish and skip the sweats - even with the busy baby schedule.