Steffy Spin Room Blog

GIOVANNI helping hand

2011-03-22T14:39:00.000-07:00

Fame musician GIOVANNI has pledged to help the refugees in Japan.
“I feel close to them, my son is married to a Japanese lady and I have grandchildren.”
The need is great and that’s why he pledged and has given free concerts to help raise money for Japan (contact if you want to set up a concert to help Japan). All the money will go to the RED CROSS. This is the same Organization Yoko Ono donated too.

Giovanni is one of the most successful expressionist pianists of the 21^st Century… composer, arranger and performer, with scores of accolades attesting to his credit. One hundred twenty thousand CDs sold in one 120 minute segment on QVC! A record that still stands as one of the outstanding achievements of Giovanni, international composer, arranger and pianist who was born of Italian heritage.

Over the years, Giovanni performed throughout Europe, Asia and America,

filling concert halls, venues and showrooms worldwide, and has sold over six million CD's during his appearances on QVC and The Home Shopping Network. All of Giovanni's current CD's and mp3s are available at ITunes, Amazon or other online outlets .... You can watch clips of performances on YouTube.

Two years ago he released "The Giovanni’s Roll Out Keyboard" for Christmas. The keyboard was a portable roll up piano that is compact enough to take just about anywhere. Along with the keyboard, Giovanni invented an easy to learn system called the "Gini Method" to teach beginners the fundamentals of the piano, included with the Giovanni Roll Out Keyboard.

OPRI on HALLE BERRY PATERNITY FILINGS

2011-02-01T14:11:00.000-08:00

      Hollywood's leading family law expert, DEBRA OPRI (www.DebraOpri.com) – renown for Anna Nicole Smith & David Caruso custody case victories – is the ultimate analyst on today’s heated battles between household name celebrities engaged in contentious for control of their children.
      “A child’s life is in play right now. This should not be a tug-of-war between two strong-willed personalities. In the interest of their child, her/his two parents should be sitting down and working out what’s best for the kid. Instead, it’s turned into the SuperBowl of all family law battles, an epic custody war,” summarizes OPRI.
      Padma Lakshmi and Halle Berry are both fighting to keep their baby daddies away from their young kids.  According to OPRI, “Paternity filings are common when a parent wants a relationship with his natural child. In these particular cases, the fathers [of each child] in filing paternity actions are asserting their parental rights for a presence in their child's lives. The courts will enforce these rights -- unless there are threats to the health safety and welfare of the child.
      It is very common that IF the court finds that if negligent care of the child did exist, mandatory parenting classes are the norm. Additionally, there must be very serious circumstances for a parent not to have parental rights, which could include drugs, alcohol and/or child abuse."
      Addressing specificity on why Berry has gone so far as to pull out of a film to concentrate on fighting Aubry’s request for joint custody, "If Aubry filed on Dec. 30, there are strict deadlines for responding in court. If I were Halle's attorney, I would tell her she must be present to assert her concerns and her presence. If the child has been prior in the father's custody while Halle was out of town for any duration, and the child was not with her/nanny on location, this is something she would have to explain to the Judge.
     Halle cannot argue it both ways. She cannot state that she trusted Gabriel enough to have an agreement for him to have the child while she was 'working' or otherwise not available for the child. So, to retain either primary OR full custody, Halle had to pull out of the movie. If something happened to the child while in his care, the severity of the incident will be looked at by the court once it assumes jurisdiction [ie., a paternity filing/case no or if a prior written agreement has already been filed as part of a mediated settlement at time of the breakup]. Further, if the incident is serious enough to warrant an independent third party evaluation, the court will assign a ‘730 evaluator’ to conduct interviews of the parties, and any witnesses [ie., nannies]. This scenario would take time, and clearly, both Halle, her ex [Gabriel Aubry] and their child –Nahla— would end up in the vortex of the Family Law courts. This is a long journey which should clearly be avoided," explains OPRI.
      In regard to Padmav Lakshmi going to court with multimillionaire Dell over his request for increased visitation, according to OPRI, "Courts are very liberal with father's rights today to the point where the goal is a 50-50 custody split. This is not uncommon.”
      Addressing the rights of non-married dads (who are not a threat the health & welfare of their kids)….”50-50 equal time with the child is usually mandated so that the child has the benefit of both parents in their life. This is the direction the courts specializing in family law are most often heading," emphasizes OPRI.
      “There are bi-lateral benefits for these kids to having relationships with their fathers, who obviously want to spend time with them,” says OPRI. In fact, "family law courts and the legislation deemed it beneficial that the child has the full benefit and presence of both parents. This is something that is encouraged."

And why are these moms specifically fighting so hard to keep the dads at a distance?
OPRI concludes, "As with everything, it comes down to control. When a relationship is over, the custodial parent usually wants to cut the cord of involvement with their ex’es. While it may get ‘messy’ with future relationships by having an ongoing presence with their baby’s daddy in the child's life, parents need to understand that once the child is brought into this world, both parents have equal rights to the care and raising of their child. Control does not include cutting off a parent's rights. That's why more and more paternity actions are. being filed, because one parent deems it appropriate that the child's life not include an ex-relationship of a natural parent. This is ‘control issue’ must, unfortunately, be dealt with by the courts until societal norms evolve to include both parents as a matter of right whether they are married to each other or not. We are close but old ways die hard."

Diane Ladd Gets Star on Walk of Fame with Laura Dern and Bruce Dern

2010-11-02T15:40:00.000-07:00

"I ask the universe that these three stars right here - when I'm dead and gone or if I'm still alive - that whoever comes and looks at it or stands on it, may the energy of the three of our lives permeate into their foundation and help each and every one fulfill their destiny with joy and love, as I wish for you," Diane Ladd told the crowd as she accepts her star Monday Nov. 1, 2010.
It was a family affair for Laura Dern, her father, Bruce Dern, and her mother, Diane Ladd. Actress Diane Ladd, left, actor Bruce Dern and actress Laura Dern pose after all received stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday. The acting dynasty was honored during a ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, marking the first time that three stars were dedicated to family members at the same time.

This was not the first time Laura and Diane made Hollywood history, Laura Dern and Ladd received Oscar nominations in 1992 for their roles in “Rambling Rose.” That marked the first time that a mother and daughter received nods together.

The family trio, Hollywood ace actress Laura Dern, her father Bruce Dern and mother Diane Ladd were honored at Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday at landmark in front of the W Hotel. The three Academy Award-nominated actors marked the history in Hollywood where all members from one family received the stars. Laura Dern, Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd honored with the 2,419th, 2,420th and 2,421st stars respectively.

Tesla Allgood debut in Films

2010-10-14T23:46:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not.... Tesla Allgood (age 6 months) spent the afternoon with Debra Opri at her home for Debra's photo session. Well a few photos were take with Tesla and Tesla's photo was cropped out... put into Breakdowns... She was submitted for Baby Max for the film BBF & BABY. The casting director contacted Tesla's manager (me) and Tesla auditioned. Got a role in the film as JJJ and begins shooting Oct 21, 2010 (she will be playing the little girl).

The director and screenwriter is Kat Coiro the producers are; Justin Levine, David Phillips, Corbin Timbrook and the film stars: KRYSTEN RITTER (Kim and screenwriter), KATE BOSWORTH (Deena), FALLON GOODSON (Jayde), Jason Biggs (Sergei), and the cast goes on and on. Leslie Woo is the casting director. STORY LINE: Unabashed party girl, Kim, is in for a rush of reality after a one night stand results in unexpected motherhood. Clearly not ready for the dating "buzz kill" that having a baby can bring, Kim eventually comes to realize that being a good parent to a precious little boy has its own rewards... Great cast...

Shaquan Duley, Columbia SC Mom who Killed two sons

2010-09-16T19:48:00.000-07:00

September 16, 2010 – If you missed “Oprah” this afternoon, Thursday (09/16/10), the country’s leading daytime television show featured a story that was first covered on HLN’s groundbreaking, “Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell” over two weeks ago on the Orangeburg, South Carolina mother, Shaquan Duley, accused of killing her two young sons. Her mother, Helen Duley, who spoke of the tragedy candidly to Oprah, brought the queen of talk to tears. Mom Duley accentuated precisely what family law expert, DEBRA OPRI, voiced on “Issues with JVM” when the story first broke (which Velez-Mitchell brought to national consciousness). According to Opri, the 29-year-old single mom who confessed to suffocating 2-year-old Devan Duley and 1-year-old Je'Van inside a hotel room at Orangeburg's Trumps Inn, then dumping them into the river, is textbook “massive depressive and obviously suffered a psychotic break.”

     A pathologist's report supported Duley's confession.     Helen Duley vocalized to the television audience today that she knew her daughter was depressed but never thought she would take such drastic action. "She was highly upset, raging, acting like a crazy person," Helen Duley told Winfrey when discussing her daughter’s mindset in the hours leading up to the drowning.
     "The thought never came in my mind that she would do anything like this," Duley's sister Adriane told Oprah on Thursday. "I'm totally shocked. She must of snapped," "
     Adriane said Duley was in a manic state before the deaths and became irate after a fight over her inability to take care of her children.
      Opri’s legal assessment of the accused mother broadcast nationally nearly three weeks ago was validated today by Duley's attorney, Carl Grant, who appeared alongside the family on “Oprah.” He relayed that mental health workers met with Duley hours after the incident and diagnosed her with severe major depressive disorder with psychotic tendencies. He emphasized this diagnosis shows “Duley didn't know right from wrong” at the time of the killing.
     Grant also said Duley tried to slit her wrists with a box cutter that same day, took 12 headache powders and tried to drown herself in the river.
     Duley remains in jail after being denied bond on Monday, Sept. 13. They are, as Opri predicated, presenting an insanity defense.
For more information on Debra Opri go to: www.DebraOpri.com
Press contact: Monique Moss 310-858-8230; 310-994-4582

Debra Opri Opinion on Britney Spears Harassment Case

2010-09-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

Britney Spears' Ex-Bodyguard Must Prove Ongoing Harassment, says Nationally Known Expert Legal Analyst, Attorney DEBRA OPRI: Burden is on Fernando Flores to prove his hostile work environment.

(Los Angeles, CA September 10, 2010) After mounting a successful comeback and maintaining a relatively low profile in the press for the past year, Britney Spears must now deal with, what some are calling, a ridiculous bout of disturbing claims regarding her personal life.

On Wednesday (Sept. 8, 2010), Spears' former bodyguard, Fernando Flores, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit alleging that the singer made multiple unwelcome passes at him, exposed herself on numerous occasions and engaged in sex in front of her two young sons. Not surprisingly, a post on Spears' site denied the allegations.
"What filing this case and making these allegations by Flores means is that he will have to show he was subjected to a hostile work environment with solid evidence," says DEBRA OPRI. "If this even goes to trial - which is highly unlikely due to the fact of the exorbitant expense of bringing a civil case like this to a courtroom - a Judge, as well as a jury, will look for material evidence, in the form of official complaints from [Spears'] previous employees. There may be an outside chance that Flores' documented concerns and voiced these to friends indicating wrongdoing on the defendant's part," says Ms. Opri.
As an expert in the field, Opri states there is no question that California's sexual harassment laws are "employee-friendly" with no cap on punitive damages. However, the onus is still on Flores to demonstrate the extent to which his experience and employment status with Spears affected him.
The suit states that Flores reported an incident in which Spears called him up to her room "for no other purpose or reason than to expose her naked or near naked body to Plaintiff." According to the suit, Flores apparently voiced his issues several times to his superior, but "his complaints were ignored or mocked, and no action was taken to rectify the situation."
According to Opri, "What courts and what juries look [for] is: Did he act consistently with the way you would expect someone to act who was actually offended by this type of conduct? In other words, did he make complaints? Did he tell her to stop? Did he talk to his friends and colleagues? Is there corroboration that, at the time this was happening, it was actually bothering him and is there anyone willing to come forward and be able to testify?"
What is most disturbing to family law expert Debra Opri is the allegation of child abuse and/or child neglect. "The child abuse accusations Flores' threw into this legal filing are outrageous and if they were true," explains Opri, "wouldn't DCFS had different findings the last time they investigated the children? If the kids were negatively affected, wouldn't ex-husband Kevin Federline have noticed something wrong with their children and have reported it to DCFS?"
The fact of the matter is that the bottom line is always money. "Cash trumps all," Opri emphasized and moving forward with a suit like this in our justice system is going to cost all parties - including the Court for added staffing - to properly proceed.
More on Debra Opri go to her website.

Las Vegas D.A. Hardliner Unlikely to Give Paris Hilton Special Treatment

2010-09-01T18:05:00.000-07:00

(Sept. 1, 2010 – Los Angeles, CA) According to leading attorney DEBRA OPRI, Paris Hilton is about to discover what O.J. Simpson already knows – when it comes to justice, Las Vegas can be a lot tougher than Los Angeles. Opri, the Los Angeles-based legal expert best known for high-profile cases from the Jackson family to James Brown and Anna Nicole Smith , she is certain (L.V.) District Attorney David Roger is highly unlikely to offer Paris a plea bargain deal that won’t include formal probation with mandatory community service which may involve (minimal) jail time on her felony cocaine possession charge.

Can you imagine Paris Hilton picking up garbage on the side of the road in Las Vegas? “I can,” says Opri.

(Note: The veteran Clark County, Nevada prosecutor – David Roger – put Simpson behind bars on robbery charges after the former football great beat murder charges in Los Angeles.)

Hilton is facing a felony drug possession charge that possibly could carry a prison sentence of one to four years. The man who arrested Hilton, Lt. Dennis Flynn, said a small plastic "bindle" of the drug fell out of her purse when she reached for a tube of lip balm.

Hilton claimed the purse she was carrying, where the .8 grams of cocaine was found, did not belong to her. She reportedly told a Las Vegas police lieutenant that she had borrowed the purse from a friend, but acknowledged owning money, credit cards and a broken tablet of the prescription drug Albuterol that was also found in the bag.

The Vegas bust was the third encounter in three months with law enforcement for Hilton. “You’d better believe that even though Hilton’s other infractions and as well as reported possession of illegal drugs – and her 2007 DUIs for which she went to Jail – were outside of Nevada jurisdiction, the presiding Judge will certainly take these earlier brushes with the law into serious consideration when Paris is in his court. It's going to be extremely difficult for Paris to get out of these charges, even with the brilliant legal skills of her experienced criminal defense lawyer,” says OPRI.

DEBRA OPRI live on ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL on HLN

2010-08-31T15:25:00.000-07:00

Today’s National Headlines

Riveting Analysis

with

Debra Opri

www.DebraOpri.com

Celebrity Justice Expert

“Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell”

4 p (PT) & 7 p (ET) on HLN

(live from CNN LA)

Attorney Debra Opri fills the Airwaves on Lindsay Lohan

2010-08-27T21:49:00.000-07:00

The day is August 25, 2010.

The renown Family Law Expert, Debra Opri began the day giving what will happen to Lindsay Lohan and what the new Judge will rule in court on KFWB NEWS TALK Radio at 7 am in Los Angeles from her home.

the time now is 8 am in Los Angeles, and Debra Opri has gone to the CNN building in Hollywood. She is now giving a her legal expertise on the release of Lohan from rehab and what the court will do. The show is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT a special edition covering the release of Lohan. "Lohan will be free to leave LA in November."

the time now is 10 am and Opri is now at FOX Studios in Santa Monica going live on FOX NEWS "Strategy Room" about Lohan...

... Opri's media day ends... Attorney Debra Opri goes to back to work at her office
More about Opri

Keith Coogan to star in CATS DANCING ON JUPITER

2010-08-27T21:23:00.000-07:00

Keith Coogan to star in CATS DANCING ON JUPITER which he will portray Fred (a surprise role for Keith) under the direction of Jordan Alan (this role was written for Keith), shooting will begin Sept 11th in Los Angeles.

Check out Keith's daily monologues at YouTube.

TMZ does Keith Coogan

2010-05-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

Harvey Levin - TMZ promoted Keith Coogan doing his monologues. It is a funny bit and they caught up with Keith out side Art's Deli in Studio City - Keith was there to meet the cast and producer Tina Brown.

Here outside Ats's Deli in Studio City -

Tina Brown, Keith Coogan and George Katt along with Gary

TMZ filmed them and it was on the show.

Keith replaced the late Corey Haim, who dies March 10, 2010 in the film A Detour in Life.

Maray Ayres on Set of POE

2010-05-02T12:46:00.000-07:00

Last day of filming on set of "Poe" with fellow actor David Fine.
It's a wrap!
Directed by Francis Xavier more on the film
www.metpix.com

Today Maray is shooting "Funny Or Die" for HBO.

Keith Coogan does Othello

2010-04-30T18:04:00.000-07:00

Act II Scene III Othello
Watch Keith Coogan on day 95 at
http://www.youtube.com/user/hollywoodkids#p/a/u/0/mo1pw2mIZNA
Keith is taking requests..

2010-04-28T22:39:00.000-07:00

      Actor Keith Coogan (Adventures in Babysitting / Toy Soldiers etc) has been set to replace the late Corey Haim as James by producer Tina Brown. Coogan caught her eye after Corey died and she was trying to find the right replacement she went to YouTube and found his daily monologue postings (http://www.youtube.com/user/hollywoodkids#p/a) on YouTube… his manager called (Stephany Hurkos) in response to her breakdown posted.
     “It was like instant YES,” Tina said “when I answered the phone and she said I am Keith Coogan’s personal manager and I would like to discuss my client!”.
     Deal was set and signed and shooting will begin end of June in Folsom, California now, under the direction of Rob Walker.
     Keith was inspired to post a monologue a day by the book and film JULIE & JULIA and just took it to another level.
     Everyone wants to know what do you look like now etc. So Keith Coogan might have found a cutting edge way to market himself. It’s working cause now he has four new script that have been sent to via his agent (Media Artists Group, Drew Elliott) and Personal Manager (Stephany Hurkos) for him.

MARAY AYRES in POE

2010-04-08T11:27:00.000-07:00

Maray Ayres from a scene she did as Mom in the motion picture POE, directed by Francis Xavier which is currently shooting in Los Angeles.

COOGAN is DOING IT ON YOUTUBE

2010-04-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

What would you like KEITH COOGAN to do as a monologue? Do you have a favorite monologue? Think. Let him know... He is posting daily on YOUTUBE http://www.youtube.com/user/hollywoodkids now you can see a new monologue daily... Keith got the idea when he saw the film JULIE & JULIA and read the book... so he thought... maybe I can do the impossible an post a new monologue daily... well he is doing it... CHECK IT OUT!

Happy Birthday

2010-04-08T10:47:00.000-07:00

Today is Channah's 2nd Birthday.

Happy Birthday Channah!

4.08.10

Keith Coogan posting Daily Monologues on YOU TUBE

2010-04-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

Keith Coogan is doing the impossible. Daily he is posting a monologue on YOUTUBE) since January 1, 2010.
(http://www.youtube.com/user/hollywoodkids) Inspired by the book/film "Julie & Julia" Keith set out to do what no other actor has done. And to date he is doing it. If you have a special monologue you would like him to do - feel free to add your suggestion there.

Peter Van Der Hurk

2009-11-03T13:01:00.000-08:00

Peter Van Der Hurk, jr son of the late Peter Hurkos (foremost psychic of the 20th Century) is now following in his fathers footsteps. Peter won the Sixth Sense show in Europe and was voted the #1 psychic, having solved numerous cases on the show. (http://www.petervanderhurk.nl/vervolg.htm - his official website).
Here Peter is at the Whaley House in San Diego.
Peter flew to America to visit us.

Psychic Dayle Schear Predicted Jaycee's return!

2009-10-12T21:40:00.000-07:00

Dayle Schear, a woman whose psychic abilities have been used internationally, says when she was hired to give some insight into this case in 1991, she told Jaycee's parents--this day would come.
Schear has worked on many crime cases, including some high-profile ones such as the O.J. Simpson case. But Jaycee's case always stuck out in her mind.
Schear recounts the day she spoke to Terry Probyn, Jaycee's mother. "I looked her in the eyes and I said please do not give up on this child...eventually she'll walk through the door, you're going to see her again."
Schear also told Terry some unsettling details. "I described general area and how she was being held I said it was sexual...I knew she was being held at force and she could not get to a phone to call."
Jaycee Dugard's mother always held on to the hope that she and her daughter would one day be reunited, because of what Dayle told her even though other psychics said she was dead.
Schear says, "She never gave up hope in her heart and she always believed someday her daughter would walk through her door."
So what does Schear say lies in the future for Jaycee? She predicts that Jaycee will pull out of this with guidance and counseling, and will become a spokesperson to help others.
If you would like to contact Dayle Schear you can call her at (775) 671-1650 or visit http://www.dayleschear.com.

Wesley Books....

2009-10-10T08:38:00.000-07:00

Wesley is busy this week he booked two jobs. You will see him soon in the NORM commercials and he is shooting an independent film this weekend.

Diane Ladd & Maggie Wagner

2009-10-03T17:56:00.000-07:00

Diane Ladd is sitting with Maggie Wagner at a recent SAG meeting.

CHEYENNE MARTIN

2009-10-01T14:39:00.001-07:00

Cheyenne Martin attended the the Point Foundation Charity in Hollywood where her client Frenchie Davis sang for the event. The Point Foundation provides financial support, mentoring, leadership training and hope to meritorious students who are marginalized due to sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. The event was a class act 100%.

Marvin Kaplan Film

2009-10-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

The film with the little white dog is called "Watch Out For Slick" Produced by Marvin Kaplan and directed by Herb Lynsey. My client, Maray Ayres (holding the white dog in the photo).

You all will remember Marvin Kaplan - he was in David Lynch's WILD AT HEART... brings back memories. I represented Diane Ladd for that film and she got nominated for an Oscar...

Maray loved working with Marvin... Will be out next year.

MARAY AYRES shooting short

2009-09-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

MARAY AYRES is currently shooting “Traces Of Memory” under the direction of Jody Jaress. Two more weeks shooting on weekends then they begin the editing process.

2009-09-30T11:16:00.000-07:00

Fred Williamson just returned from Chicago where he visited his school Northwestern and gave a pep talk to this years football team. Fred has been set to play his friend "Jim Brown" in the feature film "Heated Rivalry".

What is UP........

2009-09-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

Wesley Harris was just honored to join Who's Who and will be in the next issue (2009/2010). He is best known for his role as the Science Teacher in ABC-TV's "Pushing Daisies".