The Hunter or the Hunted?

Question: Is it possible to be in rare form all the time?
Answer: Not unless your name is Mr. Thomas Kristian Russell.

Many of you may know this man by any one of his rotating monikers (i.e. TK, Tom Kristian, Kristian), or perhaps you have been privy to at least one of his notorious exhibitions from an impressive history of antics during the adolescent years, or maybe you have been fortunate enough to share an expensive drink with him at a lavish five-star hotel bar in any given city around the U.S.
Regardless how you may know him, we can all agree that the natural order of the universe would be turned on its head if you were to find him confined to any one box, or bubble, or type-face. At his very core, Kristian is an artist. If given the opportunity, he could surely wave his wand and grant musicians name recognition, throw together a web clip that snags him a nomination for a renowned international award, or redefine the meaning of diabolical intrigue in reality television.
How do we know this? Easy. He's already doing it.

A master of the delicate balance between creative talent and fierce entrepreneurship, Kristian is the brains behind at least three start-up companies, two of which have formed since January 2009.
Inside Interactive is a modern design firm specializing in the promotion of brand identity through websites, online marketing campaigns, visual interfaces, episodic content and viral videos.
CANDYSHOP signs artists, bands and producers with the objective of placing their music in film, television and commercials.
Inside Productions, his newest endeavor, is a production company assigned the first task of shopping a new reality show, "Girl Hunter," to major networks. Co-created by Kristian and top New York chef, Georgia Pellegrini, "Girl Hunter" centers around one woman who hunts and cooks her own food using, among many other techniques of the survival trade, a hefty double barreled shotgun.
And if you think running three businesses sounds ambitious, it gets better. Through Inside Interactive, Kristian is also directing and producing a comedic mockumentary about the country music industry, "American Country". In 2007 he strategically leaked a teaser clip, "Dumb Blonde Mic Check" , onto the web, sat back, and watched as it eventually garnered over 5 million views, and was honored with "Official Selection" for the 2009 Webby Awards in the category of "Best Individual Performance for Online Film & Video". For those of you who don't know, the Webby Awards honors excellence on the Internet, in the categories of Websites, Interactive Advertising, Online Film & Video, and Mobile, and are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Take a look at some of the other nominees for an idea of his distinguished competition.
In the spirit of Ron Burgundy, we don't know how to put this but Kristian's kind of a big deal. And while we often playfully imagine him reclined in his Nashville home, surrounded by many leather-bound books, the scent of rich mahogany, and a glass of single malt scotch, do not be mistaken. This man has his finger on the pulse, sleeps with a knife under his pillow, and keeps a hawk-like eye ever on his next prey of creative opportunity.
As usual, you have homework. Check out the direct link to Candy Shop Songs and the direct link to Inside Interactive, both under 'TCO Required Reading'.

She Got Moves You Ain't Never Seen

There are few friends TCO has known longer than the astounding Jennifer "Jiffy" Reed. We knew Jennifer back when slap bracelets were just catching on (pun intended!), Debbie Gibson rivaled Tiffany on our hot pink boom box, and our classmates were dying of cholera along the Oregon Trail for two grueling afternoon hours in the classroom. Back in those days, Jennifer was one of an exclusive group of young girls aspiring to be a ballerina--it was an exciting morning recess the day they learned they had graduated to 'en pointe'. We saw our way together through junior high, and high school and then lost track of Jennifer for a little while during the college years. It wasn't until we eventually made our way out to NYC that we found her again, larger than life. Not only had Jennifer succeeded in becoming a professional ballerina and performed with more than one prestigious company around the U.S. of A., but she had also come to the realization that her true love of performance also dwelled within acting. When we caught up with her she was working the NYC film scene, taking classes, getting cast in various small budget, independent features and television spots, and eventually auditioning for bigger budget projects (30 Rock, anyone?). Then came the time to make that difficult, risky, thrilling decision every professional actor must make at some point: to move to L.A. or not to move to L.A. So she did what any smart woman would do; she followed her heart and can now be found among the palm fronds and sculpted abs of Hollywoodland.
Well, thus far, luck has truly been a lady. Jennifer's latest accomplishments? Getting cast on CSI: NY, a contract that awarded her entrance into the often elusive and always exclusive Screen Actors Guild. Oh yeah, and, uh, within this last week she was also privileged enough to land an audition for a lead role in a feature film alongside....wait for it....Mr. Matt Damon (cue collective swoon). BUT, what is MOST impressive to us is that Jennifer has accomplished all of this WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. What does that mean? It means, simply put, Jennifer does not have an agent. She does all her own leg work, all her own networking, is her own boss managing her own talent, and is proving everyday to aspiring actors everywhere that there is no one right way to "make it" in L.A. (did we mention that Jennifer was the only female auditioning for that lead role w/ M. Damon who was self-represented? Woah.).
Jennifer is one of TCO's great mentors, continuously striding towards her dreams with grace and ease, never yielding to fear or doubt. She is the epitome of hard work and dedication, has a kick-ass business sense, and, of course, is extremely talented. And don't worry, she is still dancing. If you are in the vicinity of Venice, California this weekend, stop by the Electric Lounge to see Jennifer perform a Gothic waltz ballet in Astra von Berlifitzing. But before you run out and jump in your car, you've got some quick homework. Please check out Jiffy's official website through the 'Jiffy Reed' link under 'TCO Required Reading'. There you can view some of her self-produced dancing videos, see her acting reel, check out her ever-expanding resumes, gaze into her alluring eyes through her lovely headshots, and much more.
ALSO, CLICK HERE for a fantastic interview Jiffy did for the popular entertainment industry blog, "The Industry Insider."
We love you, Jiffy!

We now interupt our regularly scheduled programming for a "TCO Inspirational Moment"

Turn away brutish men and gruff women who are not comfortable with the sappy expression of human emotion. Today TCO had the great privilege of observing senior citizens with total visual impairment perform karate. This after having also had the privilege of hearing Dr. James Kutsch speak on the topic of "Daring to Succeed" in a world that more often than not shuts out persons with disabilities. Dr. Kutsch, it should be noted, is a fine fellow who, despite becoming immediately blinded (and an amputee) at the age of 16 when one of his chemical experiments blew up in his hands one afternoon in his backyard, went on to excel at electrical engineering and earned two PhDs (Computer Tech. and Humanities). His speech today was about making change happen for yourself, rather than waiting for it to happen on its own. He claims that while some great changes may very well happen if you wait long enough (black president, anyone?) over all, it's important to analyze what is and isn't working now in your day to day, and how you can change those things to be workable, or in his case accessible and usable, successes. Take the risk to innovate in your own life, and you will find yourself achieving what you never before thought possible. Kutsch used his creative genius in the 1960s to figure out how to tell time on his own by taking the glass off his clock so he could feel the hands. Later on? He created radio dials that can be deciphered based on audible tone levels, then he applied tones to decipher data output on his computer through morse code, then he built his own brail printer, then he constructed the first ever talking computer, then, then, then... Rather than hold out for the already rapid evolution of modern technology to include a man with a visual impairment, or the entire collective of individuals with disabilities for that matter, Kutsch continues to step up to plate and make a grand salami look easy. Sound like an applicable theme for the life and times of the artistically ambitious? Absolutely. Go ahead, grab a tissue, you know you wanna. And here, cradle this comforting mug of Mama's hot chocolate.
Now back to your Stories.