Eduardo Sanchez - Director, Producer, Screenwriter

Eduardo Sanchez was born in Cuba. His family eventually came to the United States, settling in Maryland.

With a degree from film school, Eduardo and Daniel Myrick wrote and shot a movie about three student filmmakers who disappeared in the Black Hills of Maryland. 

They named their movie The Blair Witch Project. It grossed over $248 million worldwide.

Eduardo still lives in Maryland, and is working on television and movie projects with completion dates of 2014 and 2015.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Ethnic Beauty

Rich, warm skin-tones and darker hair and eyes are exceptionally stylish. 

The trend in fashion is to move away from the Kate Moss-look as demographics change within the United States.

The beauty industry is promoting and capitalizing on the look of ethnic women, like Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez, whom they say have individual, exotic appeal.

Perhaps this change indicates we are more culturally-aware, and open to diversity.

Model: L.P.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

DC-3 Airliner

This majestic Douglas DC-3 sits atop The Roasterie in Kansas City, Missouri.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Laura Katherine Hunt

Laura Katherine Hunt embarked on her ballet career at Montgomery Ballet in Montgomery, Alabama, then furthered her training at Alabama Dance Theatre. 

She received scholarships and attended Joffrey Ballet School, Ballet Academy East, School of American Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre.

Laura dances as Alice in, "Alice (in Wonderland)", and she celebrates her seventh season with Kansas City Ballet. 

This photograph is not an "Alice" production image; we were just having fun while she modeled her grandmother's veil.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Bill Plympton - Cartoonist, Illustrator

Academy Award nominee Bill Plympton's cartoons and illustrations have appeared in The New York Times, The Village Voice, Vogue, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and National Lampoon, as well as computer games, and numerous movies and television shows.

Three of the opening-sequence couch gags on The Simpsons were done by Bill.

With regard to music, Bill animated the music video for Kanye West's, "Heard 'Em Say", and created the music video for "Wierd Al" Yankovic's, "Don't Download This Song".

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson - SAG / AFTRA. All rights reserved.

Gerardo I. Lopez

Cuban-born Gerardo I. Lopez is CEO of AMC Theaters. 

With degrees from Georgetown University and Harvard Business School, his career is stellar as a business authority. 

Hispanic Business Magazine recognized him as one of the Top 100 Hispanic Business Leaders.

Prior to his move to AMC, Mr. Lopez was Vice-President of Starbucks Coffee, and President of Seattle's Best Coffee.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Greg Orman

Greg Orman worked his way through Princeton University, became an entrepreneur, and is an Independent candidate in Kansas running for a seat in the United States Senate.

When actress Debbie Reynolds and her son Todd Fisher planned a museum of Reynolds' Hollywood memorabilia in Tennessee, Greg loaned them money. 

His campaign has drawn national attention. Orman is expecting scrutiny, and says he is ready for it.

Pictured is Greg with his wife Sybil.


Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Ger Duany - Actor, Model

Ger Duany is an actor and model who was born in South Sudan.

In the early 1980's, he was recruited against his will to be a soldier in the Sudanese Civil War. When he was 14 years old, he fled to Ethiopia, then Kenya.

A humanitarian effort brought 3600 lost boys and girls to the United States. At 16, Ger was one of those boys; one of the Lost Boys of Sudan.

The Good Lie is the story of an American woman, played by Reese Witherspoon, welcoming Sudanese refugees to the United States, and one of them into her home. The movie is produced by Ron Howard.
 
Ger stars as Jeremiah.

I saw the movie at an advance-screening, and highly recommend you see it. 

To help South Sudanese children in crisis and Lost Boys and Girls' communities, you may donate to The Good Lie Fund.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Rob Benedict - Actor, Writer, Singer

Rob Benedict's degree in Performance Studies from Northwestern University paid off. 

You have seen Rob in House, Law & Order: LA, Felicity, Alias, Supernatural, The Mentalist, Franklin and Bash, 1600 Penn, Shameless, NCIS: Los Angeles and Cold Case, and this is a very small portion of his resume.

When he is not writing or starring in movies, commercials and television projects, Rob is front-man for Los Angeles-based rock band Louden Swain.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Edward Villella - Dancer

Edward Villella, recognized as the foremost male ballet dancer produced in America, changed the way men danced in America, and the way male dancers were perceived.

Edward entered School of American Ballet at age 10, however he discontinued his dance training to finish his academic studies. He lettered in baseball, earned a college degree and was a championship boxer. 

He returned to the School of American Ballet, and was soon invited to become a member of New York City Ballet where he was promoted to Soloist, then Principal Dancer. 

Edward received nearly every significant honor bestowed upon artists in the United States. He was appointed by President Johnson to the Presidents National Council of the Arts. He was the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, and awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Clinton. The Dance Heritage Coalition named him one of the first 100 of America’s Irreplaceable Dance Treasures and later, he was granted a fellowship to the Academy of Arts and Sciences. He holds 11 honorary doctorate degrees.

Edward was the first American male dancer to perform with the Royal Danish Ballet, and the only American asked to dance an encore at Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. He danced for President Kennedy’s inauguration and for Presidents Johnson, Nixon and Ford. He was Producer and Director for the PBS series, “Dance in America”, and won an Emmy Award for his CBS television production of, “Harlequinade.”

University of Pittsburgh Press has re-issued his autobiography, Prodigal Son: Dancing for Balanchine in a World of Pain and Magic, written with Larry Kaplan.
 
He resides in Manhattan, New York.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Larry the Cable Guy

Daniel Lawrence Whitney grew up on a farm in Nebraska. 

In college, he had roommates from southern states, and that is where his simulated thick, southern accent originated.

He dropped out of college to pursue comedy, utilizing "Larry" from his middle name.

Pawnee City, Nebraska named a street after him, and he has generously donated money to the high school there for theatrical equipment.

"Larry" and his wife live on a large farm near Lincoln, Nebraska. 

He has never worked for a cable television company in any capacity.

Photograph © 2009 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Blake Robbins - Actor, Writer, Director

After graduating with a college degree, Blake Robbins followed his heart and attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.

His extensive theater background includes Broadway, Odyssey Theater, Atlantic Theater Company, Black Dahlia Theater and more. For his performance in Placement, he was awarded the LA Weekly Award for "Best Solo Performance" of the year. 

You have seen Blake in dozens of prime-time and cable television shows including The Office, Private Practice, Medium, 24, The O.C., Oz, Firefly, and Cold Case. Plus, his movie credits are constantly growing.

Most recently, he wrote and directed The Sublime and Beautiful, which has garnered numerous awards, and is in high-demand at film festivals. 

Blake, James Burgess Cox and Baruch B. Kaufman are presently in pre-production for a new movie, Ctrl Alt Delete. Production is scheduled to begin January 2015.

If you would like to financially support, "Ctrl Alt Delete", I did, you may do so here: KickStarter.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Casey Twenter: Co-Writer, "Rudderless"

The world premiere of the movie, "Rudderless", was at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. It stars Billy Crudup, Anton Welchin, Felicity Huffman, Selena Gomez, and Laurence Fishburne.

This is the directorial debut of William H. Macy, and was written by Casey Twenter, Jeff Robison and William H. Macy.

Here is the trailer. And, go here for one of the sound tracks (scroll down to the red "play" button).

Here is a scene with Selena Gomez.

Look for Rudderless in theaters October 17th.

Pictured is Co-Writer, Casey Twenter.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Michael Brandt - "Chicago Fire", "Chicago PD"

While studying at Baylor University, Michael Brandt met Derek Haas, and they began collaborating on screenplays.

Their first production, 2 Fast 2 Furious with Universal Pictures, made over $236 million. 

They went on to write the re-make of 3:10 To Yuma starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale, and the movie opened #1 at the box office in 2007.

Michael and Derek's adaptation of Wanted, starring James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie, grossed over $400 million.

In 2011, Michael directed his and Derek’s screenplay of The Double starring Richard Gere, Topher Grace and Martin Sheen.

More recently, Michael and Derek are Creators, Writers, and Executive Producers of NBC's prime-time drama Chicago Fire, and now Chicago PD.

Update: Sadly, Molly Glynn, who had a recurring role on Chicago Fire, passed away in Chicago. My condolences.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Java Monster

I asked Josh if he could balance a can of Java Monster on his energized bicep.

Cans are not team players, and its cooperation was lacking. Although the can was falling in every shot, the photograph still worked fairly well.

Model: Josh Hall

Stunt Can: Java Monster Irish Blend Coffee Energy Drink

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Kristi Capps

Writing in Dance Magazine, Janet Light describes ballerina Kristi Capps as, "A Classic Beauty", and praises every turn in her career. 

Kristi trained at School of American Ballet, The Harid Conservatory and University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and was selected to study and perform with the Hungarian State Ballet School in Budapest, Hungary. Upon graduation, Kristi became a member of Atlanta Ballet for three seasons, then joined Cincinnati Ballet where she rose quickly to Principal.

She danced numerous lead roles, and as guest artist performed with ballet companies such as the International Ballet Festival of Miami, International Dance Festival in Vail, Colorado, and with Stars of American Ballet in Spain.

Kristi danced as Principal with Chautauqua Ballet Company in New York, performed at New York City’s Guggenheim Museum and performed the leading role with The Suzanne Farrell Ballet at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

Most recently she performed with the Morphoses dance company in Paris, France.

She is part of the faculties of Colorado Ballet Academy, Sweatshop Dance, Colorado Conservatory of Dance, a rehearsal coach for Ballet Ariel, and now Ballet Mistress for Kansas City Ballet.

I recommend clicking on this Dance Magazine link, as the article about Kristi is thorough and enjoyable.

Photograph and written content © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

"Rich Hill" - Sundance U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary

The 2014 Sundance Film Festival U.S. Grand Jury Prize for Documentary went to Rich Hill, a feature documentary by directors Tracy Droz Tragos and Andrew Droz Palermo.

The crew spent a year with young friends Andrew, Harley and Appachey in a declining, rural-American town. The boys live with hope amid unfortunate and overwhelming circumstances, and limited resources.

It is uncommon to see a documentary in theaters, however Rich Hill, which has garnered additional recognition, opens in select theaters in August, and in Kansas City August 8th. 

Vanity Fair's Hollywood just listed Rich Hill as one of nine independent movies to see this summer. 

Since the movie's completion, Harley was diagnosed with a brain tumor and has undergone surgery. If you care to make a donation to help with his medical expenses, you may click here.

Pictured are Harley, and Tracy Droz Tragos.  


Photographs © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Michael F. Kelly - Ferrari Aficionado, Racing Instructor

Engineer Michael F. Kelly is a race track driving instructor for Ferrari Club of America, as well as for high-performance brands Porsche, BMW, Lotus, and Audi. He has driven on race tracks across the United States.

He is also Chapter President and Technical Advisor for Ferrari Club of America - Ohio, and Chair of Ferrari's 2016 International Meet.

In the movie Blue Sky, Michael was the track Technical Director, drove the camera truck, and even made it into a few scenes.

Michael has owned a Ferrari 308 and Ferrari 355, and presently owns a Ferrari Testarossa.

He resides in Cincinnati.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Patricia Underwood Hat

For more than 35 years, Patricia Underwood has made luxurious, custom-made, hand-finished hats. Numerous design awards have been granted her.

They are sold in specialty stores worldwide, and have been featured in Sex and the City, Down With Love, and Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Tiffany & Co. commissioned Patricia to make this one-of-a-kind hat.


Model: CJ
Jewelry: Tiffany & Co.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Nadia Thompson

Nadia Thompson hails from Australia. She completed all examinations for Royal Academy of Dance, attaining her Solo Seal by age sixteen. She traveled to Royal Ballet School in London, where she secured a Bronze medal at the world-renowned Adeline Genee Awards.  

Nadia toured with Sadler's Wells Theatre, now Birmingham Royal Ballet (United Kingdom), in her graduate year of the Royal Ballet School, then joined Northern Ballet Theatre where she danced as Senior Soloist and performed all principal roles.

Later, she accepted a position with London City Ballet and performed as Leading Artist.

Nadia danced throughout Europe, and Singapore and Bangkok. 

She performed before Royalty, including HRH Princess Diana, Princess Margaret, The Duchess of York, Prince Edward, and Her Majesty the Queen at Royal Command Performance.

Nadia signed a Soloist contract with Boston Ballet where she danced numerous roles and taught, then proceeded to Milwaukee Ballet.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Dr. Jane Chu

Dr. Jane Chu is President Obama's nominee to head the National Endowment for the Arts.

Her mother was placed on a train as a teenager to escape Communist China, hoping for a better life in Hong Kong.

Jane's grandparents took significant risk putting their daughter on the train without travel papers, knowing if authorities checked for documents she would have been imprisoned. 

Jane's mother never saw her parents or siblings again.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Auburn Hair

"When red-headed people are above a certain social grade, their hair is auburn." – A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court – Mark Twain, 1889



Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Model: Jessi

On Their Way to The Cannes International Film Festival

Davis DeRock, Joe Carey and Chad Alan Crenshaw are leaving Monday for France to mingle with the most influential movie producers, directors and stars.  

Their short movie has been selected for the Cannes International Film Festival.  

What a wonderful opportunity, and acknowledgement of your storytelling prowess!

Photograph ©2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2014/05/07/5006444/fun-little-movie-turns-into-cannes.html#storylink=cpy

James Jordan, Ballet Master

In 1981, James Jordan became a Kansas City Ballet company member. 

In 1991, James was made Ballet Master where he has had a tremendous positive impact. 

He now has accepted the same post with Sarasota Ballet.

You will be greatly missed, James.

Photograph copyright Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

A Comment on Real Estate Photography

My price estimate was too high for a real estate sales person needing photographs of an upscale home.

He probably envisioned someone with a point-and-shoot camera walking through the house, and around the property, casually taking pictures. How long could that take, and the price could not possibly be very high, right?

A full-time professional photographer is going to spend ample time evaluating each point of interest and angles, and create magazine-like photographs. These can take hours to do properly, and the results are worth the time and expense.

I made this exterior image after location scouting a few days ahead, and much of the creative work was accomplished in-camera when I shot it.  At the request of my client, very little was done in post-production. 

Photograph copyright 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Eye Art is Big News

#WomenYouShouldKnow 

This eye artwork was created by my glamorous Korean model. 

Photograph copyright 2014 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Rolls-Royce Publicity

My dynamic subject is currently working in the New York City and New Jersey area publicizing British automaker Rolls-Royce.

A perquisite of the job is driving one of the company's half-million-dollar convertibles while there.

Photograph copyright Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Aaron Paul Dworkin

President Obama's first nominee to the National Council on the Arts was Aaron Dworkin, founder and President of Sphinx Organization.

Aaron, a consummate violinist, is a member of the National Arts Policy Committee, a MacArthur Fellow, and named one of Newsweek magazine's 15 People Who Make America Great.

He is a Royal Philharmonic Society Honorary Member, a recipient of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Lifetime Achievement Award and holds The Luise Vosgerchian Teaching Award at Harvard.

His mother is a White Irish Catholic; his father an African-American Jehovah's Witness. They were not married when he was born, and Aaron was given up for adoption at the age of two weeks. A kind and loving Jewish family adopted and raised him.

Thirty-two years later, he located his biological parents who had ultimately married, and they have a very close relationship.

Aaron describes himself as, "a Black, White, Jewish, Jehovah's Witness, Irish Catholic adoptee who plays the violin, writes poetry and creates artistic experiences."

Not surprisingly, in his lectures Aaron stresses diversity.

He, and his accomplished wife Afa, live in the Detroit area.

Here are books and CD's Aaron has authored.


Photograph copyright 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Bret Iwan

Bret Iwan is the voice of Mickey Mouse®, and you hear him wherever Mickey is - on television, video games, Disney On Ice, Disney theme parks, and Disney Road Shows. 

Bret was cast in 2009, when Wayne Allwine passed after being Mickey's voice for 32 years.
 

Photograph copyright 2014 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Melinda Petet

Melinda Petet and I have worked in tandem on numerous publicity projects.

Melinda was just honored as one of Kansas City's Most Influential Women for 2014.

Brava, Melinda. You deserve it.

Jewelry: Tiffany & Co.
Location: Kansas City Royals Diamond Club at Kauffman Stadium

Photograph copyright Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Julie Mulhern, Book Author

Congratulations to novelist Julie Mulhern. Her newest book, A Haunting Desire, was recently nominated for the distinguished Golden Heart® Award. 

Winners are announced in San Antonio this summer.

Photograph copyright Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Karen Day (Karen Agron Flattery)

Vocalist Karen Agron's first publicity photographs were made by Bruno of Hollywood when she was a teenager. An agent suggested she change her professional name to Karen Day because, "Agron isn't catchy enough." 

She entertained audiences across the United States, performing with first-class bands and orchestras.

The surname Agron appears to be working satisfactorily for Dianna Agron (Glee). Karen and Dianna are distantly related.

Photograph copyright 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Jason Wiles

After high school, Jason Wiles passed on the opportunity to play college football, working instead for the Parks and Recreation department. 

Jason was interested in movies, and was on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Bridge with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Robert Altman's Kansas City, and Stephen King's movie Sometimes They Come Back. These were shot in Kansas City.

He moved to Los Angeles where he appeared in commercials and in the Bon Jovi music video Always.

Jason's biggest opportunity came when was cast as Colin Roberts in Beverly Hills, 90210, making 32 appearances. He was then cast as Maurice "Bosco" Boscorelli in the television drama Third Watch, where he appeared in all six seasons.

Photograph copyright Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Fashion Model CJ

My regal model, CJ, is six feet tall. Wearing heels, she is as tall as I.

She tends to become the focus of attention in public.


 Jewelry: Tiffany & Co.

Photograph copyright Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Amy Seiwert

Amy Seiwert is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated with honors from The School of the Creative and Performing Arts.

She danced with Smuin Ballet, Los Angeles Chamber Ballet, and Sacramento Ballet.  

Amy was included on the 25 to Watch list by Dance Magazine, one of the Hot 20 Under 40 by 7x7 Magazine, and her first full evening of choreography was named one of the Top 10 Dance Events of 2007 by the San Francisco Chronicle. She was awarded the Gerbode Foundation's Emerging Choreographers grant, San Francisco Arts Council's Individual Artist commission, and the San Francisco Foundation's Fund for Artists grant. 

She retired from dancing in 2008, and is an active choreographer. She directs Amy Seiwert's Imagery, a contemporary ballet company based in San Francisco.

Photograph copyright 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

John P. Connolly, Actor

John P. Connolly has scores of television, movie, and stage credits. 

Television credits include Without a Trace, The West Wing, NYPD Blue, ER, The Practice, Law & Order, and Star Trek: The Next Generation (Orn Lote).

John served as Executive Director of Actors' Equity Association (AEA), President of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), and on the National Board of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG).

Photograph copyright 2011 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Headshot

Professional photographs are always carefully planned. 

Deliberate choices for wardrobe, hair, makeup, background and post-production are made, and all must come together perfectly.

I relied on decades of fine art and people-photography skills to suggest the best elements for this successful book author and actress.

Photograph copyright 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Coleman Barks

Coleman Barks is an internationally-celebrated poet, author, scholar and performer. He is also one of the top-selling poets in the world. 

Coleman has devoted decades to studying 13th-century poet Jelaluddin Rumi, and has been a student of Sufism since 1977. His work with Rumi was the subject of an hour-long segment for The Language of Life series on PBS with Bill Moyers. He was also a featured poet and translator on the PBS poetry special Fooling with Words with Bill Moyers.

Coleman published several volumes of his poetry, including Hummingbird Sleep, Winter Sky, and Early Autumn.

He taught poetry and creative writing at the University of Georgia for 30 years, and resides in Athens, Georgia.
 

Photograph copyright Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Bruce Weber, and Update

Bruce Weber, one of the most successful active Division I basketball coaches, is the head men's basketball coach at Kansas State University.

Weber has over 300 career wins, and eight NCAA Tournament appearances.

He has won numerous Coach of the Year honors, including consensus National Coach of the Year, Naismith Award, honored by The Associated Press, Adolph F. Rupp Cup, U.S. Basketball Writers Association's Henry Iba Award, National Association of Basketball Coaches Award, Chevrolet/CBS laurels, and praise from The Sporting News and Basketball Times.  He was also selected as the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year, and the Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Photograph copyright 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Update, March, 2022: 

Bruce resigned as basketball coach at Kansas State University.