Rounding out the Maneater cast

We are so excited with the Maneater cast! We've added some great people to the cast - including handsome Paul Leyden (an Aussie), Marla Sokoloff, Shalim Ortiz (from Heroes) and Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon. This is a really wonderful ensemble of actors... we went to Scottsdale for the table read and it was fantastic! Sarah Chalke is so likable and funny and she is surrounded by a great group. The chemistry between Sarah and Philip Winchester, who plays her beau, is just terrific.

They put us up at the Valley Ho hotel, which was just super. It's an old 50's style hotel totally redone in a retro-modern sort of way. There is a Trader Vic's in the lobby and the beds were incredibly comfortable. If I had to stay in a hotel for any period of time, I'd want it to be the Valley Ho!

Holiday Season at AreUaStar.com

Well, the holidays are upon us.... I find it very amusing that in Hollywood, Christmas vacation fever starts at the beginning of December. It's almost as though the whole town starts shutting down and people are unable to focus on getting things done. We, however, have a lot to accomplish before we shut down for the holiday. We've started have casting sessions for "Maneater" and are making offers on some of the roles. I'll have more to report once we've set some people.

Sarah Chalke has been in some of the auditions to read with the actors and she is fantastic! Not only is she a wonderful, real and funny actress - but she's a lovely person as well. I am enjoying working with the creative team which includes Director Timothy Busfield (who most people know as an actor from "Thirtysomething" and "West Wing"); writer Suzanne Martin (who was on "Frasier" for many years); Gigi Levangie Grazer (who wrote "The Starter Wife" book) and executive producer Stephanie Davis.

Looking forward to seeing the "Star-ving" webseries on Crackle.com. It begins in January. And the AreUaStar site is getting into the holiday spirit with a special on Gold Star packages. If you've been wondering if you have what it takes to make it in Hollywood, now is the time to find out! Gift certificates are available, too....

Check back next time and hopefully we'll be able to announce some of the star names who we've cast in "Maneater".

Sundance, here we come....

It's been an exciting and busy time since I last reported. We are full steam ahead on "Maneater" - the 4 hour miniseries for Lifetime. Sony is the producing studio, Sarah Chalke ("Scrubs") is set as the lead role Clarissa and Tim Busfield is directing. This will shoot in Arizona starting in early February. We are making offers on a number of the roles and casting many others. A number of the smaller roles will be cast in the Phoenix area.

We got great news that the short film that I cast and Executive Produced, "Boutonniere" will be premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. This is a great little film that I've talked about before starring Wendi McClendon-Covey ("Reno 911"), newcomer Sarah Swain and Zach Quinto ("Heroes"). I've never gone to Sundance before, so I'm looking forward to it.

Additionally, we heard that the film we cast earlier in the year, "Pedro" is an official selection at the Berlin Film Festival. I won't be going to that festival, but a number of the cast members are attending.

In the meantime, AreUaStar.com continues to generate lots of hits and many people are giving the gift of an AreUaStar evaluation for a holiday present. It's a very unique gift for that special person in your family or friend who dreams of stardom. Gift certificates are available now!