http://alihandal.com/news.html Ali Handal: News Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:07:52 -0700 http://alihandal.com/news.html#48
About the film:

Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer John Kaplan was at the top of his world. Never before ill, he was used to documenting the life ordeals of others. But when suddenly diagnosed with a rare case of potentially deadly Lymphoma, it was a blind side. Turning the lens on himself, Kaplan's remarkable imagery takes us beyond his despair and through his powerful belief that he can, and must, beat it. Through his visual journal, with help from his family, doctors, and even Mother Theresa and a rock star, Kaplan shares the same boundless determination that helped him become a famous photojournalist.

The filmmaker is confident that the documentary can help other cancer patients face their treatment with new courage, and the belief that they can make it through difficult treatment back to health, with the knowledge that many cancers today can be treated like chronic illnesses and no longer as instant death sentences.

Kaplan's goal is to get a free copy in the hands of any cancer patient, or family member, who would desire a copy.

The film features music from Michael Stipe, Cowboy Junkies, Ali Handal, Cookie, and more.]]> http://alihandal.com/news.html#48 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Ali Handal Official Website - Ali Handal - News http://alihandal.com/news.html#47 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUbE0R68RHo

The original producers of the show are Denise Serrette, Mike Serrette, Shauney Baby and Jaymes Hines.]]> http://alihandal.com/news.html#47 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Ali Handal Official Website - Ali Handal - News http://alihandal.com/news.html#46
In addition to playing a few songs on guitar with James accompanying her, Ali also debuted her solo rendition of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" on her iPhone Ocarina, much to the delight of the crowd. Ali began by playing the song's signature melody on the iPhone, then began to sing the song WHILE STILL PLAYING IT on the flute-like Ocarina. The audience screamed, hollered, and sang along at the tops of their lungs.

The iPhone Ocarina is a musical application on the iPhone which makes a flute-like sound when a person blows into the phone's microphone and moves their fingers over simulated "holes" on the face of the iPhone. Video of Ali's performance will be posted to YouTube as soon as possible.]]> http://alihandal.com/news.html#46 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Ali Handal Official Website - Ali Handal - News http://alihandal.com/news.html#45
People who enjoy movies about the inner workings of Hollywood (like "Swimming With Sharks"), will love the Assistants. The film stars a talented ensemble cast, including Stacy Keach, Joe Mantegna and Jane Seymour.

The film premieres at The Arclight in Hollywood on October 25, 2009.]]> http://alihandal.com/news.html#45 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Ali Handal Official Website - Ali Handal - News http://alihandal.com/news.html#44
I can't believe it was already a month ago that I did my third "guitar model" gig on The Price Is Right (TPIR). As it wasn't my first (or second) time on the show, I felt more prepared than ever for any potential "bumps in the road" (See below to read about my first two adventures on TPIR).

Previously on TPIR, we had some last-minute techical difficulties that seriously encroached upon my hair & makeup prep time (unthinkable in TV-Land!). So this time, I decided to come hair and makeup ready, just in case we hit any unforseen technical glitches.

The day of the taping, as I was gathering my gear (tuner, various colors of guitar straps, etc.), I received a phone call from TPIR requesting that I arrive "as close to hair and makeup ready as possible." Okay...I was planning on doing that anyway. But a curious request, nonetheless...

I asked my friend -- and phenomenal rockin' pianist-singer-songwriter -- Bob Malone to accompany me to the taping. As soon as we arrived at the studio, we were whisked into the hallway, following a group of people excitedly gathered around a man who was to be a special guest on the show: Paul Marcarelli -- otherwise known as "The Verizon Guy."

As we walked towards the soundstage, my escort whispered to me, "he's the reason you were bumped from hair and makeup!"

Excuse Me?!? The VERIZON guy bumped me from HAIR & MAKEUP??!?! How much hair and makeup does Verizon Guy need?

Apparently, not much, as it turns out...

Of course, despite all my own preparation, I ended up getting plenty of time in the hair and makeup chairs (and believe me, the professionals' touch was very much appreciated!). The taping itself was a whirlwind -- they hooked my guitar up to a wireless transmitter and I walked/rocked across the stage playing one of my songs for about 30 seconds, waved to Drew Carey, and made my exit.

I spent the remainder of the taping hanging out backstage with Verizon Guy. He was very friendly & charming, and I watched as all the PIR models insisted on getting their photos taken with him (his job doesn't suck!). When he did his part onstage, everyone went nuts for him & there was some cute audience participation -- I can't wait to see it on air!

The air date for this show is currently set for Monday, October 12 on CBS.]]> http://alihandal.com/news.html#44 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Ali Handal Official Website - Ali Handal - News http://alihandal.com/news.html#43
I'm pleased to announce that three of my recordings have been nominated for JPF Music Awards! The JPF Music Awards is the largest music awards program in the world. Over 560,000 songs were submitted this year -- in 70 genres, from a capella to Klezmer to rock, from 100 countries around the globe.

JPF's volunteer judges include music industry professionals, peers, and music fans. Their sole criteria for juding is: "Does it move you?" Here are the songs of mine the judges nominated:

1. Shut Your Mouth - written by myself and a girl named jaen. This recording will appear on my next album -- you can download a copy on the Music & Video Page under "Free Downloads."
Nominated for Best Alternative Song.

2. My Sharona - my slowed-down, rocked-up version of The Knack's classic sexy pop song. This recording will appear on my next album, and you can hear it on the Music & Video Page under "Streaming Songs."
Nominated for Best Cover Song.

3. Beneath the Mistletoe - written by myself and a girl named jaen. It was produced by Bob Malone in the style of a holiday jazz standard.
Nominated for Best Holiday Song.]]> http://alihandal.com/news.html#43 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Ali Handal Official Website - Ali Handal - News http://alihandal.com/news.html#42
If you missed my first appearance as a "guitar model" on The Price Is Right, you can catch it on YouTube (many thanks to my friend Robert Vincent for posting it). It was surreal to watch myself on TV, and pretty funny seeing my over-teased metal hair! (I wanted to rock it out, but I might have gone just a teensy bit overboard!)

Fortunately, the producers liked my first appearance enough to ask me back to "model" a second guitar on the show. I was happy to perform another one of my original songs on national TV, and this time I'd be playing an acoustic guitar.

When I arrived at the studio, a comment was made re: "trying to do better" with the food provided in our dressing rooms. Curious, I thought...
A few minutes later, when one of the producers welcomed me back to the show, she mentioned that she & the other producers had read my blog and my comments about the "craft services" leaving something to be desired and had tried to provide us with more food (DOH! I felt like such a jerk! But I also kinda felt like laughing...).

Overall, the second time around on the show, I felt MUCH more comfortable (and much less hungry!), though we did have our fair share of pre-show drama. For starters, they had rigged up the acoustic guitar to work wirelessly so they could have me walk across the front of the stage playing the guitar (no turntable this time). The only problem was, we were getting NO SOUND from the guitar throughout rehearsal!

My guitar was the first prize offered on the show, and time was rapidly running out to make everything work (not to mention that I had been yanked out of makeup with the job half done!). Fortunately, these guys are total pros at MacGyver-ing solutions to technical problems, and they were able to concoct a last-minute solution that worked beautifully! With a few minutes to spare, I rushed upstairs, finished applying my eye makeup (the show's makeup artist was working on Drew Carey by then), and ran back down to get the guitar tuned. I had FORGOTTEN to pack my guitar tuner (DUH!), so they rushed me over to the show's sound booth and I tuned the guitar to the Price Is Right theme song -- just in case they asked me to play along with it (which they didn't this time).

With just minutes to spare, I got myself downstairs and into position on stage left for the opening of the show, and the rest you can see when it airs this Friday.

Air Date: Friday, June 26 on CBS. Check your local listings.]]> http://alihandal.com/news.html#42 Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Ali Handal Official Website - Ali Handal - News http://alihandal.com/news.html#41 http://alihandal.com/news.html#41 Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Ali Handal Official Website - Ali Handal - News http://alihandal.com/news.html#40
My day actually started the night before the show taped. I knew that the guitar I'd be playing was a "rocker" guitar, and that they'd be shooting a close-up of my hands, so I painted my nails black just before going to bed that night (rock on!!). I wear nail polish an average of approximately 3 days a year, so it was no small feat to accomplish this task reasonably well (not to mention preventing any Indy fur from embedding itself into my polish before it dried!).

On the day of the taping, my magic man Andrew drove me to the studio in Hollywood -- on the same lot, incidentally, where they tape American Idol. Did you know that there are people who line up at 4:30 in the MORNING to get on the Price Is Right?!? I had no idea...

Everyone involved with the show was really friendly and on the ball -- it's truly a well-oiled machine they've got going there... Upon arrival at the studio I was shown into the Green Room. They had two bottles of water and some pretzels waiting for us -- admittedly not a lavish spread from craft services, but thankfully enough of a snack to keep me going thru rehearsal, which started soon after.

When they brought me downstairs to the stage, I couldn't believe I was actually going to be RIDING on this turntable thing as it revolved to reveal...ME, playing a BRAND NEW ELECTRIC GUITAR!!!! Andrew just had to take some pictures and backstage video of me on the turntable -- it was SO classic and cheesetastic! Incidentally, #1 Tip for playing guitar on a moving turntable -- lean back *slightly* against the backdrop (in this instance, an electric guitar case mounted on the wall), and make sure not to lose your balance when the turntable first lurches into gear. Thank GOD I decided against heels that day!!!

We did several technical rehearsals -- making sure my backing tracks and guitar were loud enough in my monitor (which they were during rehearsal, but *not* during the show while the crowd was screaming at the tops of their lungs!). I had brought my POD to plug the guitar into which makes it sound really distorted and rock n roll --- the producer requested "less metal, more AC/DC," so I tweaked the settings accordingly (though I hear that Drew Carey likes the metal!).

After I played my piece several times, the producer came up to me and asked me if I knew the Price Is Right theme song, as they loved what I was doing and wanted to feature me on air some more. This was something I wasn't prepared for, and not being a PIR fan, I didn't know the song off the top of my head. I promised him that I'd learn it for next time, but as the show was taping in about 40 minutes, I hadn't gone through hair and makeup yet AND I was going to be playing a brand new song on an unfamiliar instrument on a moving turntable for the first time in my life, I thought I had enough to deal with for the afternoon. Thankfully he agreed!

Once we finished rehearsing my piece, the art department placed a potted plant at my feet to conceal the POD (a move my mom would've appreciated), and we were off to chill out in the Green Room. Well, actually, Andrew was chilling out -- I was practicing my 30-second musical piece ad nauseum, doing my best to get comfortable playing my new guitar.

Throughout the day, Andrew and I had been debating which shirt I should wear for the taping. I wanted to wear what I had worn to the studio -- a green thermal with a dragon on it -- but Andrew thought I should wear my blue peace-sign hoodie. While waiting for the show to begin taping, Andrew showed me some of the rehearsal footage of me in the green dragon shirt...and the hoodie it was! Fortunately, I didn't have much time to dwell on t-shirt drama, as I was called downstairs for hair & makeup.

I *love* having professionals do my hair and my makeup, and the PIR ladies did an awesome job. While I was sitting in the makeup chair, the Price Is Right Models would flit in and out of the room -- changing their outfits for their different segments on the show (which was taping by now). They all looked like supermodels (even from super close up!) and were very friendly to me (maybe they took pity on how vertically challenged I was without my heels - haha!).

Soon the stage manager came in to hand me my guitar and bring me to the turntable for my big moment. I climbed on the turned-around-turntable, strapped in my guitar, made sure the volume was up all the way and that the sound guy had a good signal, and all of a sudden the stage manager was counting me down on her fingers...five...four...three...two...

A BRAND NEW ELECTRIC GUITAR!!!

"All the Way!" I hear myself sing on the backing track -- *lurch* goes the turntable, and away we go! I start jamming out on the guitar, the lights get brighter and brighter, and as I'm slowly being turned to face the contestants, the screaming audience and the camera, I can BARELY hear my guitar! A panicked thought races through my mind that maybe I *didn't* actually turn my volume knob up all the way, but I quickly dismiss this thought and dive back into the music...

Before I knew it (and before I remembered to look into the camera while it was "looking" at me), I was being turned back to the darkness of backstage, and my 30 seconds of rock was over. Or was it? Just as I was getting ready to put down the guitar, the stage manager says -- "Do you know Sweet Home Alabama?" Seriously.

Of course I said "Sure -- no problem" (I mean, what professional guitarist CAN'T play Sweet Home Alabama?). But really I just about fainted when he asked me (note to craft services: here's where something a little more substantial than a bag full of mini pretzels would've come in handy).

I mean, I *guess* I know "Sweet Home Alabama" -- it's only three chords, right? But are they playing the song in the original key? Am I 100% SURE I know what key it's in before I play along? And what exactly do they want me to play? I furiously started jamming in the key of D, making sure I had at least a couple of cool country rock licks ready for the occasion.

Right when I felt at least marginally prepared to wing it, I heard the familiar riffs of "Sweet Home Alabama" fill up the soundstage, and thankfully, I was still turned around atop the turntable in the dark. They had already cut to commercial, and all I had to do now was take off my guitar and get ready to join Drew and the PIR girls onstage for the finale.

Since I only had a couple of minutes to spare, I decided to stick close to the turntable, and that's when I experienced this ultimate Model Moment:

A few feet away from me, the Price Is Right Models were gathered together. Now take a moment to picture three drop-dead gorgeous young women in high heels and little blue dresses, all standing in front of a mirror, very studiously sweeping their hands up and down, slowly, from side to side, back and forth -- each comparing their arm gestures with the others. Seriously!!!! I just about DIED from wanting to laugh so hard!!! The way they were discussing arm technique and taking it all so seriously...I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my very own eyes!

To be fair, this IS their job (and lord knows they're getting paid a LOT of money to do it well), and I'm sure there's some stiff competition to be a PIR model, so they need to stay at the top of their game at all times. And really, how different is what they were doing with each other from me trading riffs with another guitar player? And they were really, really nice to me...

So maybe I'm a bad person (or maybe I'm just jealous my legs aren't as long as theirs), but I still found it hilariously funny... ;)

ANYWAY...somebody ended up winning something on the show, so the models and I joined the winning contestant, her posse of friends, and Drew Carey onstage for the grand finale. Immediately afterwards, the producer brought Drew over to officially meet Andrew and I, and we all talked magic and music for a minute -- Drew was very nice.

Of course, I was famished after such a long day -- it's unbelievable how much preparation and rehearsal went into my 30 seconds of on-camera performance -- from getting my backing tracks ready several days in advance, to choosing which guitar strap I'd wear, painting my nails a suitable RAWK color, practicing my solo till I had it down pat, RE-practicing it on the new guitar, picking my outfit, choosing guitar sounds on the POD, RE-choosing guitar sounds during rehearsal, changing my outfit, getting my hair and makeup done, and remembering to LEAN BACK WHEN RIDING THE TURNTABLE!!! Oh, the life of a PIR guitar model... hahaha!

All in all, it was a lot of fun, and the show airs on Tuesday, June 2 on CBS. (I think it's on at 10am in LA.) Now when you see it, you'll know all the stories from behind-the-scenes!

Incidentally, the day after the taping, the producer sent me a thank you email with the sheet music to the Price Is Right theme song attached...looks like they may want me back some time in the near future. You know I'll keep you posted! ;)]]> http://alihandal.com/news.html#40 Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Ali Handal Official Website - Ali Handal - News http://alihandal.com/news.html#38
As living proof that you never can tell where a career in music will take you, I'm tickled to tell you that I'll be playing a rockin' guitar solo from my soon-to-be-released album live on the legendary game show "The Price Is Right" this week. Seriously! Haha!

I'm looking forward to meeting Drew Carey (I've been a fan of his for years), and I'm excited to do my first live performance on network television. The show is giving away an electric guitar as one of the prizes (I suppose the contestant will have to guess its price), and I'll be demonstrating how rockin' it is.

Apparently, the show airs on June 2, so set your TiVos!]]> http://alihandal.com/news.html#38 Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 Ali Handal Official Website - Ali Handal - News