A DAY IN "THE LIFE OF RILEY"

Hi folks!

LIFE OF RILEY always has something baking towards keeping the creative juices flowing and the revenue streaming (and I look forward to sharing some of those updates, once they firm up --- including some synergies to which I look forward to inviting you).

MEANWHILE, my current hustle includes my own appearances and - primarily - my Brand Ambassador work for Miss Jessie's... and something new. Please read on...:

ANTOINETTE WHITE

1. NEW LIFE OF RILEY PARTNER for the next few months: MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER and AUTHOR ANTOINETTE WHITE (based in the DC/MD/VA area). I'm attracting SPEAKING/PANEL opportunities and PRESS in promotion of her self-published memoir "WHO'S PROTECTING ME?".I met Antoinette while on hosting duties for XSCAPE PR 2017 Memorial Day arts & music festival. She was brought in for the Authors Showcase...and I was so moved by her PRESENTATION and her TESTIMONIAL. 
2. And I really couldn't put the book down. I just had to see where this emotional tale was going to take me - from heart-ache to heart-break to healing, OH MY!!! And Antoinette STAYED THE COURSE...and via her TRIUMPH, she now UPLIFTS others!
3.  A series of personal triumphs helped Antoinette find the faith to overcome sexual abuse, unstable living situations, her sister's sudden death, homelessness, a failed marriage, and years of underemployment. 
4. Antoinette is CEO of "Mission to Motivate LLC" which provides Corporate Morale Improvement workshops and programs that refresh and uplift your labor force, improving performance, quality, productivity, and efficiency from bottom to top. For more info: www.antoinettewhite.com.
5. SPEECH EXCERPTS: RESET Conference - Oklahoma: https://youtu.be/Retf4SusAvM ....Homeless speech: https://youtu.be/J5w8gVIJDeI ...RESET Conference 1of 2 - VA: https://youtu.be/f_CaC0UibTM ....RESET Conference 2of 2 - VA: https://youtu.be/XtZuSgsHC4s ..."Minute of Motivation" every Tuesday: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxr0VMWU-BR9DFydUbRmerw  
6.  SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Antoinette-White-Motivational-Coach-1728209424080073/  ...Twitter: Antoinette White (@mission2motivat): https://twitter.com/mission2motivat?s=09 .... Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/antoinettewhite_mission2motiva/
7. Please advise if you have room for Antoinette White inside any of your programming/presenter needs (Antoinette currently lives in: DC/MD/VA area). Or if not, PLEASE SHARE with someone who might. We THANK YOU - as always - for your support!
8. 
   

MISS JESSIE'S

As Miss Jessie's CEO Miko Branch is promoting the paperback launch of her national best seller "Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch - Naturally" (Harper Collins/Amistad), she is looking forward to the National Association of Black Journalists' Convention August 9-13th.
A few things to know:

Miss Jessie's bags will be available via the NABJ vendor fair booth. Pop by and pick up MissJessie's latest.

Miko will also be around to say HI!
Miss Jessie's VIP bags will be available at the NABJ A&E Task Force Reception featuring cast-members from OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network's Queen Sugar and Greenleaf OWN.
Miss Jessie's VIP bags will be made available to NABJ guests on the Dayvee Sutton & NewOrleans Tourism's "Beyond the Usual" food and jazz tour.

Miss Jessie's bags will also be available at NABJ Founder Paul Broch's panels - including Friday's "Do I Have a Film Project in Me?" at 4pm. 
Miko will also be available for any select press and promo on Friday, August 11th and the morning of Saturday, August 12th.
Some of Miss Jessie's recent New Orleans press:
            a. New Orleans' own Brassy Brown NOLA journalist Kiri Lanice Walton talks to Miko about hair (of course), black female entrepreneurship and Miko's life today: http://www.brassybrown.com/2017/07/miss-jessies-co-founder-miko-branch-talks-success-love-course-hair/.  

           b. Miko was a Keynote Speaker at the Inc. GrowCo conference a couple of months ago: https://www.inc.com/video/miko-branch/how-to-turn-your-product-into-successful-brand.html?cid=sf01001&sr_share=twitter 

           c. Miko was an invited guest on The 504 with Sheba Turk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_0LLZKLBug.  

           d. We appreciate multiple WBOK-AM impressions with NOABJ President Rachel D. Graham and THE GOOD LIFE with EILEEN CARTER.
       5. Miko is EXCITED to meet some more New Orleans media pros - for TV or radio appearances; on-line or phoner interviews; additional product donation synergies; and select invites. She's in town and available on Friday, August 11th and the morning of Saturday, August 12th. 
       6. If you see Miko and the Miss Jessie's team, come STRIKE A POSE with her...and post some MISS JESSIE'S LOVE on social media: 

@mikobranch Twitter and Instagram
@miss_jessies Twitter and Instagram

SOME SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES you folks can use in addition to your own of course:
#missjessies
#missjessiesbook
#iammissjessies
#Legacy of #TitiBranch
#miss_jessies

CAN WE TALK?

Am doing more BUDGETED TALKS these days. My PRUDENTIAL talk last month still has legs: 

http://news.prudential.com/news/lgbt-financial-experience-symposium-worth.htm.  The DEBT FREE GUYS quoted me in their FORBES column: https://www.forbes.com/sites/debtfreeguys/2017/06/15/profiting-from-the-rising-equity-in-your-individuality/2/#4f71cf4365db. Also: they invited me to make a guest appearance on their MASS MUTUAL-presented podcast QUEER MONEY: http://debtfreeguys.com/patrick-l-riley/. Additionally, I've taken my ART OF THE INTERVIEW talk to more than the NYU Urban Journalism Workshop this year. The Hugh N. Boyd Journalism Diversity Workshop at Rutgers University for New Jersey high school students also invited me to present. And for NABJ, I'm looking forward to hosting two screenings for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation - also at the NABJ Convention: short film "90 Days"--- co-directed by Nathan Hale Williams and Jennia Fredrique... and GAY LIKE ME, a documentary Executive Produced by Derek J.

NEXT STEPS 

                                      
AND FINALLY: I have been on the festival circuit all this year in promotion of an independent film that goes down as my FILM DEBUT. I play what has become "fan favorite" RUDY in the Shaquille-O'Neal and Michael Baumgartner-Executive Produced film STEPS - Co-Directed by award-winning Rock Davis and Jay Rodriguez, Jr. - which just played to an enthusiastic, packed house at the NEWARK BLACK FILM FESTIVAL (which is hosted at The Newark Museum every Wednesday through the summer: www.newarkmuseum.org/nbff). STEPS is the vision of filmmaker/writer EDDIE HARRIS. He and casting director/producer/actress extraordinaire Penwah cast me in STEPS, which has received several film festival prizes and critical acclaim: 

a. Official Selection at the 2nd annual HUFF - Hampton University Film Festival.
b. Winter 2016 presented STEPS as an Official Selection in the Jersey City International Television and Film Festival-JCITFF; STEPS took home BEST DIRECTOR (for our AWESOME Co-Directors Jay Rodriguez and Rock Davis); and BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE FILM! 
c. STEPS PREMIEREd on my birthday in Jersey City November 2015.
d. In April 2016, we did a Harlem NYC PREMIERE at#MISTHarlem.
e. Peachtree Village International Film Festival in Atlanta, GA (Closing Selection).
f. Newark International Film Festival (Inaugural Event).
g. Urban World Film Festival (Official Selection).
h. Brooklyn Academy of Music. May 2017.
#STEPSthemovie #STEPS #LifeofRiley #RudySTEPS
XO
PLR

OLDVINE FLORALS

If you know anything about #LifeofRiley, you KNOW I love me some Ti-Ti - as in Itika Oldvine. And now, I'm elated to send ALL MY PEEPS - L.A. and beyond - to her new digs: OLDVINE FLORALS!!!! LOCATION
Address: 111 W. 7th St.
Suite 205
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Phone: 213-212-4760
Email: hello@oldvineflorals.com
Mon - Fri: 8am - 8pm
​​Saturday: 8am - 6pm
​Sunday: By Appointment Only
#LifeOfRiley #OldvineFlorals

 

frank ishman

World-renowned photographer - Frank Ishman – also my Morehouse College brother! He married his GENIUS to the COLLABORATIVE BRANDING GENIUS of Myrdith Leon-Mccormack... to the STYLING GENIUS of Janine Linton... and – VOILA! – you have MAN-HOGANY! LOL! Was FUN to get my MAHOGANY on with FRANK! Frank Ishman is THE BEST! www.frankishman.com #frankishman

mahogany

How is it that I tell a slew of people on social media to go see MAHOGANY at the IFC and – by the time – I got around to securing my own ticket, it was SOLD OUT! Then, when I do an outreach, I get an emailed reply from Rhonda Ross! Yes, my friend! But also: daughter of Miss Diana Ross and Mr. Berry Gordy… and MAHOGANY was their 1975 Blockbuster project for which Miss Ross designed (and/or styled) ALL OF THE COSTUMES! Oh, and wait for it! Rhonda was seeing it ON THE BIG SCREEN for the FIRST TIME! Her escort? Bob Silberstein, the man who raised Rhonda - also father of her sisters Tracee Ellis Ross and Chudney Ross. The occasion: "Black Summer Nights", a celebration of queer African American artists and their unique role in shaping American culture and history. Tonight's selection was curated by another industry buddy, Tony-nominated actor for "Passing Strange" Colman Domingo via SKYPE (who - last we hung out - I was helping navigate the red carpet at the World Premiere of Lee Daniel's "The Butler"). As I'd just asked our sponsor at "Billie's Black presents ALL STAR KARAOKE with Patrick L. Riley", Miko Branch of Miss Jessie's, her favorite film at a recent book signing, LOVE that it was "Mahogany" and she came out to enjoy it as well --- along with other buddies, filmmaker Andre Robert Lee; legendary performer Flotilla Debarge whose next show "FLO-REAL!! Here & Now" goes up Thursday, June 25th at 9p at Kraine Theatre -   www.horsetrade.info - and many others! FAB Monday Night! Next month on July 20th, pick up the series with "James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket". For more info on Queer/Art/Film at the IFC Center...and the awesome folks associated - including filmmaker Stephen Winter, poet Pamela Sneed, Ira Sachs, Adam Baran, please visit www.IFCCENTER.COM/SERIES/QUEERARTFILM.  #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke#mahogany #queerartfilm

invisible life

Week 7 of BILLIE’S BLACK presents ALL STAR KARAOKE was VISIBLY VIBRANT as EVERYBODY ENJOYED their “Miss Jessie’s” grab bags (and Miko Branch’s current book). Highlight of the night was the cast of “Invisible Life: The Musical” coming by to promote their week-long, almost-SOLD-OUT engagement at The Apollo June 25th – 30th. We gave away tickets; sang Miss Ross’ “The Boss” produced by Motown Legends Ashford & Simpson who wrote the music and lyrics for “Invisible Life” (with additional lyrics by my brother friend Stanley Bennett Clay): https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/vb.662073736/10153063149713737/?type=3&theater.  Based on the novel “Invisible Life” by E. Lynn Harris, the musical’s book is written by Proteus Spann & Javon Johnson who joined us on stage for the fun! They co-direct “Invisible Life: The Musical”. And can we talk about the cast which is full of Broadway star power? Tony Award nominee Brenda Braxton (Smokey Joe’s Cafe) will portray Mama Tyler, the mother of Raymond Tyler Jr., who will be played by Gregory Williams. Raymond’s two closest friends Kyle and JJ, will be Terry Lavell (La Cage aux Folles) and Grammy- nominated Frenchie Davis (RENT). The iconic stage songstress Vivian Reed is also in the cast. Terry and Frenchie came to play – singing with me and solo! Ant’s sister Sabrina does Frenchie’s PR – so these moments were extra special. Purchase Tickets: http://gn-bp.com/invisible-life. ALSO IN THE MIX: One of our All Star Karaoke Journalism DIVAS, NBC4’s own anchor extraordinaire Shiba Russell and her crew were in the house as well as FIT grad Travis and his friends – led by ALL STAR KARAOKE FAITHFUL Antoinne who brought a fun group to CELEBRATE. And to all my peeps, THANKS! BILLIE’S BLACK presents ALL STAR KARAOKE is going through Tuesday, July 14th. PLEASE COME JOIN US! RESERVATIONS are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:212.280.2248. AND COME TUESDAY, JUNE 23^RD, LET’S LOOK TO ALL STAR KARAOKE plus CELEBRATE BILLIE’S BLACK’S 9^TH ANNIVERSARY – including a “special surprise guest”! #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack #invisiblelife

sidra and tasha smith

I was too excited to see my girlfriend Sidra Smith who has been busy as ever of late, but not too busy to bring the cast of “Invisible Life” to see me at All Star Karaoke (with the coordination of my friend Richard Pelzer). Sidra - NAACP Image Award winning producer of “Free Angela” - is Executive Producing "BOXED IN" - a film project her identical twin sister, Hollywood star Tasha Smith wrote and directed in association with producer Kim Ogletree. ABFF – the American Black Film Festival – screened the awesome flick . Shout out to ABFF and Jeff Friday for curating this one! For more information visit: http://www.abff.com/).What a compelling story that anecdotes brilliantly the struggle and stigma of mental illness among our African American brothers and sisters. Beautiful film andawesome cast! Walter Fauntleroy plays a character who suffers with bipolar disorder. His mom is played by the amazing actress Tyra Ferrell who I've missed from the big screen a la the days of Poetic Justice and School Daze! We also loved her from HBO's The Corner (with Tasha Smith)...and - this just in - she told me we'll see her in Season 2 of Empire. BOXED IN also features the lady who cast me in upcoming film Steps- due out later this year: Penwah Phynjuar!! She's THE BEST! Director of STEPS, Eddie Harris
also in attendance tonight - saw an early screening of BOXED IN...and says he had to have Walter Fauntleroy for STEPS! And he and I have a few scenes together. Eddie also says I'm looking good in edit - as Rudy, the character I play, my acting debut in a feature film... Stay tuned..

tony awards

Another of my Broadway predictions on Arise Entertainment 360 has come TRUE! From my last visit, I figured Helen Mirren is so well-decorated in so many platforms for portraying THE QUEEN, the Great White Way would CROWN her accordingly. I was right! CLIP: http://bit.ly/bway_arise360_mirren! Tony Awards Leading Actress in a Play -- Helen Mirren in "The Audience". Mirren played Queen Elizabeth II in the Broadway play, written by Peter Morgan. Mirren also originated the part at the play's original 2013 run in London's West End. #TheAudienceBway #TonyAwards #Arise360 #billiesblack #allstarkaraoke

drums

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/UGOqHhjbZ3k - SHOUT OUT to Carl Nelson - BFF for 20+ YEARS and Producer of Drums Along The Hudson -Inwood Park joined me on stage recently at Billie's Black Gourmet Soul for Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke to promote #drumsalongthehudson which he produces every years. I host the afternoon stage this Sunday, June 14^th – an event that honors Tichina Arnold and His Holiness the Dalai Lama! #allstarkaraoke #billiesblack

 Hosting 2015s Drums Along The Hudson -Inwood Park, 13th annual! Honorees: my friend Tichina Arnold andHis Holiness the Dalai Lama! And George Faison andLotus Music Dance put on quite the FABULOUS presentation! #weareONE #drumsalongthehudson#rhythmnation 

#wearetheworld #thewiz #tony#lotusmusicanddance

If you cannot view this Invitation Click Here:
http://item.slide.com/r/1/110/i/yPf2mPBLxT8BNLW2rWwwkwkJ-CV6bqOy/

 http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/1470897 

This business of TV and entertainment is a blessing. Many blessings and opportunities come about for those of us who commit to be a part of it. Parties, premieres, and supermarket openings are business as usual.

Still, with these accesses come responsibility, focus, maintenance, and everything in between as it relates to positioning ourselves even higher or as it relates to staking our claim for belonging. The external validation piece can be rough and yet we do it. We put ourselves out there vulnerably with our talents, our looks, our energy... and we aim to connect. We hope our purest intentions will shine through (sans ego, selfishness, and vanity) and really lift people up. (And my hope is that those around me who are on the journey - no matter what level - are breathing and breaking through any struggles to land their context, which can be such a challenging act... as balance and timing go).

Additionally, we also hope to keep bills paid, food on the table, and all the things that allow this "life" to be "styled" just so.

With that, for all that I am accomplishing, I am always looking at new and innovative ways to elevate my brand as an independent producer/personality/writer. But for me, I'm also interested in maintaining my sanity, inner-peace and joy, plus my quality of life. Not one child to call my own and I am - with the aforementioned order - still sometimes overwhelmed. But I do it... and aim to BE IT!

This summer, for example, I'm off the clock from the work that is my main source of revenue, so I challenge myself to "have a relaxing summer" but also find creative ways to make some revenue. Alongside researching new credit lines and some home improvement equity, I am also open to work that is a good fit. I do TRUST that who I need to be to come through any challenge is enough. But I also commit to BE whatever difference I can be to have something reveal itself.

So far, I've managed to ATTRACT a few days of work in Chicago that will help out. PRAISE THE LORD!!! 

Then, there's the possibility of hosting a pilot or a segment of a pilot around travel in July (but that helps my overall branding. No promise of pay or pick-up).

Also, J. Maurice Jamal is poised to begin principle photography on "B-Boy Blues" and there's a possible cameo in that for me. Cool. Stay tuned. That could be exciting as I've expressed in previous entries about the impact this book had on me in the '90s and now to be a part of it in some small way. WONDERFUL!!! (www.bboybluesthemovie.com/)

And my second feature with Uneq Magazine (www.uneqmagazine.com) on Luther Vandross is now on the stands. And much good feedback on that piece is coming my way. The editors really did a nice job of laying it all out . You can read what Luther's friends Patti Austin, Curtis King, and others who've performed and worked with him had to say about the "all-time legend of beautiful music". Also, many - like R&B powerhouse Ledisi (and me) - who have been inspired by Vandross and his unique way around a love song. As a BONUS, here in "A Day in the Life of Riley", I share a few that didn't make the issue:

    Matthew Hatchett, former NFL wide receiver; film producer & actor (“The Take” [Sony Screen Gems] with John Leguizamo, Tyrese Gibson, and Rosie Perez)

“I AM LUTHER” because I like to sing to the female audience and have them love it.  I think I AM LUTHER because of how I make people feel when I sing a song.  I think a lot of people get to that point in their career where they try to put out songs that make people feel a certain way.  I think that everyone of Luther’s songs and his voice make people feel a certain way.

“THAT’S MY SONG”:   I think it just starts out like, “a chair is still a chair, even when there’s no one sitting there.” “A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME” 

                   Geoffrey Freeman, legal assistant and former dancer

"I AM LUTHER” because once, every few decades, the heavens sends a cultural ambassador graced with creative powers and abilities, the likes of which have never before been experienced here on earth, and while often mimicked and imitated, will never again be experienced in its purest sense, until the next celestial gift arrives in possession of a rare new combination of talents.  Luther Vandross is the most recent in that list which includes a few of my favorites -- William Grant Still, Dinah Washington, Jackie Wilson, Mahalia Jackson, Donnie Hathaway, Jose Feliciano, Stevie Wonder, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Aretha Franklin, Minnie Ripperton, Phyllis Hyman, Diana Ross, Stephanie Mills, Patti LaBelle, Jill Scott and Fantasia Barrino, to name a few, -- whose musical gift reaches our very core to deliver a heavenly message of peace and comfort.  Luther's smooth, cascading vocals, interpretative instincts and musical arrangements delivered to the masses such comfort to which I and countless others will continue to return by way of his recordings – his legacy to us all. WE ARE LUTHER!

“THAT’S MY SONG!”: “ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART” from the “Give Me The Reason” CD is a most pleasingly, haunting interpretation of an old Dionne Warwick classic that I felt compelled to listen to repeatedly. It so demonstrates the smooth, cascading vocals and interpretive instincts alluded to above that stirs deep emotions while at the same time offering comfort.  I remain in awe of Luther's musical brilliance.  I'm touched and inspired daily by his music.

Back to my summer, I too am working on some low-maintenance, commissioned work for the National Association of Black Journalists convention including a roundtable I'm producing with all the African American talent on our mainstream entertainment shows - like "Access Hollywood"; "EXTRA"; "Entertainment Tonight"; and "The Insider"; and a handful of other programs under my role as Chair for the NABJ Arts & Entertainment Task Force.

Meanwhile, I've updated my talent reel - based on the last six months of work to which I've contributed. "Our World with Black Enterprise" hosted by Ed Gordon used me for one of its episodes. See that and some of my most recent work on the following link:

http://216.117.188.141/PRiley/PRileyGeneralReel.wmv

Thanks to Jim, who worked on tweaking the reel with me this time. The folks at Murray Hill Studios are the best and I recommend them to anyone who has production needs - from pre-production, shooting - in-studio and on- location, satellite needs, editing, graphics, etc. (www.murrayhillstudios.com/) Paul, who normally helps me put it all together, dropped by to say HI with 40 pounds less of himself as he and his wife are on Weight Watchers (www.WeightWatchers.com). CONGRATS PAUL!