Gazzo update!

The Gazzo shoot is going extremely well. We've now filmed eight 45 minute shows. Gazzo keeps throwing in new tons of new material every night.

We're hoping to have the new Gazzo Cups and Balls DVD ready in time for FISM (July 31st). We shot the instructional portion of the Cups and Balls DVD yesterday, and we're shooting a teach-in with Acar tomorrow. Gazzo is going to teach Acar his cups and balls routine ON CAMERA. Acar's got some mean cups and balls skillz (as you'll remember if you remember our old aluminum cups and balls demo video)... but he's got a lot to learn to take it to the GAZZO level. It's gonna be a fun shoot :-).

Here's a pic from dinner tonight:


Above: Gazzo and Acar can't agree on anything... (photo by Maxwell)

Oz races in the EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon!

1.2 Mile Swim, 56 Mile Bike, 13.1 Mile Run


Above: Oz gets out of the water after a great swim.


Above: Oz and his bike.




Above: Oz shifts into high gear.



Above: Oz crosses the finish line BTP style!


Congratulations to Oz on a great race!

Born to perform on Father's Day!

Morgan got the ultimate Father's Day gift today... a new baby boy!

Hunter Nathaniel Strebler was born at 5:39 PM.
He weighed in at 7 lbs 10 oz.
And laid in at 20 & 1/2 inches long.

Congratulations Morgan, Mikala, and Caleb!

Here are some pictures:

Pic from the Gazzo shoot.

Here's Gazzo... today... performing in Key West. Three awesome shows, and we filmed them all.

Gazzo Shoot in Key West!

I'm down in Key West with Acar filming Gazzo
right now. We're about to go grab some sushi with Gazzo. We're
filming him doing two 45 minute street shows tonight. I'll try to snap some pictures of the shoot to give you a sneak peek.

Acar and Maxwell out on the town with Tackey!

Here are some more pictures from Saturday night with Tackey. Needless to say the party didn't stop at dinner.

How do you show a top Japanese pop star a good time in Vegas? We took him to some of our favorite night spots.


Above: Acar and Tackey experiencing a momentary breakdown in rapport on the way to the club:




Above: Maxwell doing some preliminary stretching before being schooled on the dancefloor by Tackey.



Above: Acar, engaged in a great hair day.


Maxwell and Tackey make it home safely. As you read this, Acar may still be on the dancefloor...

TV Shoot with Franz, Tackey, and two members of Japanese pop group ABC.

This weekend the Penguin crew teamed up with world famous illusionist Franz Harary, Japanese pop star Tackey, and two members of the up and coming Japanese pop group ABC to vanish a Hummer in the middle of a dry lakebed in the Nevada Desert.

Here's the plot of the illusion:

A Hummer speeds through the desert in a straight line toward Tackey. At the last second, a pick-up truck cuts in front of the Hummer at a perfect 90 degree angle. If everything goes to plan, the Hummer will vanish just as it passes behind the truck and Tackey's life will be saved.

How? As the Hummer passes behind the truck it is momentarily engulfed in the thick cloud of dust unearthed by the truck as it careens through the desert at the edge of losing control. Franz says that instant is all he needs. In the blink of an eye the Hummer will vanish.

Two members of Japanese pop group ABC play a vital role and have the opportunity to call the stunt off at the last minute if the timing isn't perfect. The Hummer will pass them at the last possible emergency stop point. If something is wrong and they don't call off the stunt, the Hummer will have no way to stop in time to save Tackey's life.

Here are some photos from the shoot:


Above: Franz Harary explains the details of the illusion to members of ABC and American Musician John.



Above: Franz leads Tackey and one of his photographers on a walk-through of the area.



Above: Franz Harary and Acar talk strategy while Tackey looks on. Tackey is more than a little interested considering a six ton HUMMER is about to be speeding toward him at 50+ miles per hour.



Above from left to right: Maxwell, Morgan, Greg, ABC, John, Tackey, Franz Harary, Smiley, Acar.




Above: After the shoot we celebrated with Sushi!

This was an incredible weekend. We'll have video clips of the shoot to show you soon! The illusion we filmed will be featured on Franz Harary's Magic Planet TV Special which airs throughout Asia. The illusion will also be featured on massive video screens at Tackey's live concerts in Japan and throughout the world.