Family Values Cast party, SAG foundation fundraiser

Saturday morning i picked TJ up from NIU to come home for the long weekend. He had a cast function he needed to attend. "Whisk Chicago" with "Living good coffee" sponsored a party for the cast and crew of Family Values. In addition there was a SAG foundation silent auction.

Whisk just opened 2 months ago on Damen/Chicago. Oh as it good!!

Yes, TJ had to sign autographs. So weird that he is at the point of making appearances. I wont lie, I love it!

  

TJ with Merverth from Emurge Magaizine that did a story on Family Values. I still need to order the magazine. Jayson the creator/Star was on the cover.
FV was also featured in the Glenview newspaper

 Just a fun shot of tj coming from the garden party

 The boy was under the weather when I picked him up, but handled everything like a pro. He always gets sick the first weeks of school it seems

 I was happy he jumped out of the car for a picture in front of cool wall. He did not feel good by the end of the party

Family Values Premiere

12 foot banners adorned the hallways and ballromm

After close to a year of filming the big night was finally here. The Family Values cast, family members, actors agents, press, casting agents and friends gathered at the Ravenswood Event Center  for a screening of the pilot.

Tj had to be there early to meet with press and do interviews. After a morning battling nerves TJ handled all of it with grace and ease. My father and some close friends were able to come and support TJ

TJ's agent and owner of his agency Lily Liu (Lily's Talent Agency) came to support Family Values

Tim and I with TJ...we were one set of proud parents. It was great to see TJ work a room. He represented Family Values like a pro, mingling with guests, press and the who's who of the Chicago acting world. All his years of auditioning has paid off as he was at home with all these important strangers

We are at that point that our son dwarfs us

My boy can wear a set of clothes....no one should look that good

The cast with  Rob Johnson of CBS News who mc'd the event. There was also nice coverage of the show and event on the 10 pm news

TJ and I with FV hair and makeup artist Joesph Robert. He has kept everyone looking beautiful and entertained during 12-16 hr days on the set

Cutest couple Callahan and Katie

True to form with Karrick as he always gravitates to the hot girls

If there's a chance to photobomb...he takes it.

I really didn't take many pictures which seems to be happening quite a bit lately...photo burnout I think?

Tim and I took none on the red carpet or with TJ in front of the FV banner.

Not 1 shot with my dad who at 77 years of age drove from the south suburbs to the north side of Chicago

 A great night was had by all, the pilot was a hit...left me wanting to see more!!!

Jayson the creator, producer and star of FV was summoned to LA to meet with 2 distributors interested in the series!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

just a few days after the party!

Such a Fun fun week!

TJ has a new hair style. Just when you thought he couldn't be any more good looking. Love the short cut. Im really over the longer hair. TJ had 2 auditions, one independent movie and 1 independent TV series. Both called for 18 and over. He was offered a smaller featured extra part in the movie (they called him to audition for the lead, a nerd but said he looked too cool) which we declined because it was a SAG project and 1 more SAG and he will be required to join the union at 3K. If he has to join SAG it has to be a worth it role financially. The TV series he is still waiting to hear. It's a gritty underworld crime series and Im not sure he is old enough. Still have hope...it's also a non-union role, so anything they would offer would be great!

I received a call today from TJ's agent, after 5 years they want him to be exclusive, so we will honor that. My guess is he is turning 18 and an entire new world of opportunity will open up for him. The magical age where you are an adult on the set, in addition to getting a lot of attention in the acting world and lets be honest he is freaking beautiful. They are his Mother Agency and signed him on 1st 5 years ago. He is with 2 other agencies but we will opt out

This past week was just a ton of fun. It totally felt like summer to me. Having a 5 day weekend helped. 

Karrick's best friend Ryan moved to Arizona 2 years ago and comes back to visit every year. Karrick could barely control his excitement. Ryan stays with us for 2 days and they pick up right where they left off. 

Karrick had a dress rehearsal for his Dance recital and Ryan came to watch and was able to see Karrick hip hop!

Karrick also had pictures for tech classes-recital. (non competition routines)

I took a bunch after out in the parking lot. Karrick is so happy when he is dancing. 

This summer for intensive he starts new classes: break dancing, funk tap and contemporary in addition to hip hop , turns and tumbling  

 Saturday was recital...I didn't take any pictures.

Sunday Karrick and I went with a dance mom and dance friends to the Lyric Opera to see

Flying Bach

It was fantastic! It is great for Karrick to see men (break) dancers. It's great to see the result of hard work and what you can achieve if you take the turns, contemporary and tumbling classes etc. I keep telling karrick "look at the big picture". He isn't a fan of tumbling because he totally lacks upper body strength.

In time I tell him

Fun fun week!

We leave for the Nationals Sat, just Karrick and I. We are heading to the Jersey Shore with his team for 9 days

My little man is looking pretty cute!

winding down

 TJ had his last day of high school April 28th. He officially graduates June 7th

It is the strangest feeling that your son is done with school...done done. This last week he and his buddies have been bike riding, playing basketball, going out to eat and late nights hanging out wherever.

Two and a half months of freedom...to just chill and revel in the summer that is after high school before college. I can't even believe College is here. It's so exciting to hear where everyone is going. I ask all  his friends when they come over.

St Ambrose, U of I, Columbia, Western and Univ of CO, Boulder are where his close buds are going

TJ is set for NIU, aced his Math and Chemistry placements tests.  Can go straight to second semester sophomore levels for both. Still waiting on English results.

Im so excited for TJ to just enjoy the summer and work of course.

 Sunday TJ filmed the final scenes for "Family Values" We used a private to home to shoot in. The homeowner the sweetest lady ever at 94 yo, sat me down in her living room and told me all about her son that lives in LA. She spoke as though we had been friends forever. It was lovely, just lovely. She shared so much of her knowledge of the business with me.
It's surreal that all this is happening If it goes no further I w'll still feel honored to have been a part of it all. What a ride....fun and exciting. Have met some amazing people along the way. I am beyond thrilled for TJ. He is so not affected and nonchalant about it all. Might as well be going to McDonalds to flip burgers. He did say "Mom, she told me I was just beautiful" all shy like he's never heard it before. It was cute

Oh, her son? I'm sorry
Armyan Bernstein 

/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0077000/

  

TJ in Us Weekly Magazine!!!!

TJ is in the Us Weekly Divergent collectors edition magazine! Biting his damn thumb none the less.

It also looks like he is on the top right of the Amity box. Ill have to wait until he gets home from school and ask him. Now I have to go buy the magazine...

#Thrilledtoseemychildinatabloid

Two 9 Productions launch party

Saturday night the cast of Family Values was invited to the Two 9 Production  launch party. As fate would have it the party was held in Bloomingdale a mere 15 min away.

Everyone walked the red carpet and there was a photographer to take photos of everyone.

There was live music, food and a raffle which I donated a portrait package.

It was really a good time as

our cast is absolutely hilarious to hang with

 Above TJ is standing with Shannon Brown a Chicago actor who also has a reoccurring role on FV. He and his wife Suzette own the two 9 production company.

 

 Tj ran into a girl he knows, so that was fun for him. Girl in red

 I printed out a bunch of 3 x 5 and wallet  size head shots of TJ to pass out...network network network! Chicago is so hot right now with all the TV shows and movies being filmed here