(Long Island, NY) As usual this weekend my calendar was filled with splendid invitations to launch parties, movie premiers and cocktail soirees. I chose to go to two fabulous events a pre Kwanzaa, Christmas, Chanukah Bash thrown together by my outrageous and fabulous friend Fashion Bridal Designer, Mr. Henry Roth from the hit TV show Style Court on the Style Network and a Private Theatrical Screening of the much anticipated film “Searching For Bobby D” starring handsome hot Italian American Actor William DeMeo and directed by the talented Paul Borghese.
My darling friend Henry is one of the most sophisticated stylish designers I know. His creative diversity, precision and flair for fashion makes him defy the “expected”. I am just not a cookie cutter and either are my brides”. I want everyone to say WOW when my brides walk down the aisle on that special day with exceptional elegance. Mr. Roth’s bridal collections are dramatic, sophisticated but yet totally wearable. Being a Gemini he is a man of many talents. Not only is he a bridal designer but also he currently hosts Style Court – visit www.stylenetwork.com. He also commands a law degree and has coauthored his first bridal planner and DJ’s (by hobby), which happens to make him the host of all his perfect parties. Henry’s parties are a recipe mixture of urban professionals, artists, writers, magazine publishers, fashion models, photographers and fashion designers.
Bridal Designer Henry Roth, Cognac Wellerlane, Count Vlad
Some of the wonderful New York personalities that attended Henry’s event on Friday evening were gorgeous Wendy Diamond Editor in Chief of Animal Fair Magazine, Count Vlad of Vladicouture, Publicist and Manager Ron Caparella, Financier Owain Morgan and my best friend in the whole wide world Event Photographer Shane Gritzinger. Henry Roth and his Bridal Collections have been editorialized in upscale publications including W Magazine, Glamour, Vogue, In Style and Many others.
To learn more about Henry and his bridal collection, please visit www.henryroth.com.
Saturday evening was glamorous and star studded as my driver pulled up to Tribeca Cinemas. Wearing my Golden Island Fox Fur, cognac diamonds and my Chanel suit I stepped out onto the red carpet to be photographed immediately with Director Paul Borghese, Star and Actor, William DeMeo, Actress Karen Lynn Gorney from Saturday Night Fever fame and Actor Joseph Manuella who play Robert DeNiro’s Impersonator in the film “Searching for Bobby D”.
Director Paul Borghese, Cognac Wellerlane and Actor Joe Manuella
The star of the film, William DeMeo plays Johnny Argano with such conviction as a frustrated Italian American actor born and raised in Bensonhurst Brooklyn, NY. (William DeMeo) Johnny is totally disgusted with being considered for mafia gangster roles, I know the feeling Will darling, casting directors usually like to typecast me as the glamorous blond socialite dripping in furs and diamonds getting out of limousines going to galas and fundraisers as I was cast in the 20Th Century Fox flick “The Devil Wears Prada” or as the retired platinum blond Las Vegas showgirl who is now the mistress to an Italian gangster mob boss as I was cast in “Born Yesterday” playing the Billie Holiday role.
The synopsis of the film (William DeMeo) plays Johnny Argano, the leading role in “Searching for Bobby D”. Johnny is determined to alter his lackluster career and with the help of his acting amigos, he decides to write his own screenplay and sets out to raise funds to produce a movie with his idol Robert DeNiro to star in the film with him.
Actress Karen Lynn Gorney, Cognac Wellerlane, Actor Joe Manuella and Director Paul Borghese
William DeMeo co-wrote the script with Director Paul Borghese who both did a brilliant job. I found the storyline to be a trifle weak, but the film is hilarious and outrageously humorous with perfect comedic timing reminding me of the screwball comedies of the thirties with a modern Italian American twist. The casting is perfect and the chemistry that Mr. DeMeo has with his acting crew truly shows on screen. In my opinion the film should be later made into a TV sitcom.
The ensemble of characters is terrific too. Sexy Carmen Electra, Sandra Bernhard, Tyson Beckford, Tony Darrow, Frank Pellegrino, Karen Lynn Gorney, Kevin Dobson, Mario Cantone and Michael Nouri are just some of the wonderful actors that are cast in the movie.
My friend Actor Joseph Manuella also did a tremendous job of impersonating a drunk Robert. DeNiro and his scenes in the movie are hysterically funny.
Actress Karen Lynn Gorney plays Will DeMeo’s mother. Karen revealed to me on the red carpet that her character in the film is very submissive to her chauvinistic husband played by Actor Frank Pellegrino. It was good to see Karen again. I interviewed her few years ago for my TV show when she was promoting her cabaret act after playing Stephanie in “Saturday Night Fever” and she looked happy and beautiful.
Cognac Wellerlane and Star of the film Will DeMeo
“One Deadly Road” was the first producing accomplishment for Actor William DeMeo, which he produced, starred and wrote. Mr. DeMeo went on to produce, write and co-direct the feature film “Wannabes”. The film was picked up by Artisan Entertainment and was released in theatres before its national Home Video/DVD release in 2002.
Mr. DeMeo has also played in numerous other films. He portrayed a young Carlo Gambino in “Boss of Bosses” and the character Al Pacino in “Analyze that” with his idol and favorite actor Mr. Robert DeNiro. I remembered in an interview that I did with Will a couple of years ago for my TV show, Cognac’s Corner how thrilled he was to be working with Mr. DeNiro. I remember him saying that Robert DeNiro gave him a small role in “A Bronx Tale” and how it had changed his life forever.
Paul Borghese is not only the director of this film but he has directed several other films and is an accomplished actor with many roles under his belt. Between 1990 and 1995 Mr. Borghese served as Casting Director and Associate Producer for five independent films including Perfect Lies and New York Nights. Then Oliver Stone and Columbia Pictures recognized Mr. Borghese’s talents as a director and moviemaker and decided to hire him for a montage segment in the Academy Award nominated, The People vs. Larry Flynt.
A former President of (GIAA) the Guild of Italian American Actors he currently is working on co-producing a documentary with my high school mate John Turturro who is Executive Producer: Wiseguys and Beyond; Italian American and the Movies. The prestigious cast appearing as themselves include Paul Sorvino, Martin Scorsese, Chazz Palminteri, Marisa Tomei, Dominick Chianes, David Chase and Spike Lee among other notable filmmakers and actors.
For more information about please visit www.PaulBorghese.com
