i play with photo booth when i'm on the phone.

Welcome!  You may be here because I’ve been updating my site and hence sharing it with more people.  So first, here’s a sticky post with a quick re-cap of what I’ve been up to this busy beginning of 2009.  I’m basically at work or glued to the computer at home, but I’ve been lucky enough to get out to some great events in Chicago.  And then glue myself to the computer afterwards.

I have been . . .

• Editing video for Playboy Enterprises, Inc.  The redesigned playboy.com launches at the end of March.  Just as the magazine has always been lauded “for the articles,” this new site will feature plenty of new editorial video content, including a travel show, a fashion show and special interest vlogs.  Stay tuned.
• Writing for cheekychicago.com. Check out some of my links on the writing page.
• Performing improv with pH.  Late-night, BYOB comedy at Stage Left Theater.  Check out a recent highlight reel I made of our show pHamily: The Musical!
• Teaching kids improv at The Second City Training Center. My class this term quite simply rules.  Check out more of my teaching history at the teaching page.
• Editing One Up, my friend Adam’s comedic short film about gamers.  I got to make lasers in After Effects.  We are so close to finished.  Stay tuned.
• Editing more KEXP Equalizer footage.  KEXP Equalizer Chicago is a monthly indie music showcase sponsored by Seattle-based radio station KEXP.  I’m gradually making my way through a backlog of great live music and interviews to make more videos like these.  Again: Stay tuned.
• Seeing shows!  I’ve been lucky enough to see these Chi-town shows & events which I highly recommend:
  • True West and Topdog/Underdog in rep at the American Theatre Company (two dramas in rep with lead actors swapping plays every week for non-traditional versions of each play – I wrote a post about it just now.)
  • America: All Better at the Second City Mainstage (sketch comedy)
  • Chasing Dumb at Annoyance (dark comedy in two acts)
  • Panic! at Darkroom (A monthly brit-pop / new wave DJ dance party where I danced my tuchas off).
  • Metallica at Allstate arena.  My first time.  I’m no metal head (the tickets were my Christmas gift to my boyfriend Matt) but I must say this was one of the tightest, most high-energy bands I’ve ever seen.  If you can somehow catch the European leg of the tour, do it.
• Not going to the gym.
• Facebooking.
• Being mad at Blago for lying and Daley for destroying my city.
• Watching and discussing Season 5 of Lost.
• And chances are, I’ve been meaning to call you.

What a great start to 2009.  Thanks for stopping by!

Ali