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Congratulations to Stephen Saux and Lori Murphy Saux who recently welcomed Sophia Adele into the world!

This beautiful occasion reminded me of a sketch of mine those two terrific actors performed with me back in February of 2004. So I dug up the tape of our momentous performance of “Maternity Specialist, Episode 2″ in front of about 12 people on a heinously rainy night in Santa Monica at the Comedy Underground — and here it is!

Sophie (if I may call you “Sophie”), this one’s for you.

Performed by Stephen, Lori, & me way back in the yesteryears…

requires QuickTime

I can’t wait to meet you, Sophia!

It just so happens that this week sees the DVD release of two documentaries done by friends of mine.

RISK/REWARD captures an intimate look into the corridors of financial power from a unique perspective. It follows the lives of four tenacious Wall Street women — a research analyst, a currency trader, a NYSE floor broker and a rookie investment banker. Despite their privileges, the women are always mindful of the industry’s downside: it is notoriously unforgiving of one’s personal life. These women negotiate multi-million-dollar transactions, new babies, intense competition, and personal doubts.

RISK/REWARD was co-directed by Elizabeth Holder, the A.D. for the Bear City project. I had the privilege of building MySpace pages for RISK/REWARD and Roland Park Pictures, her production company. Elizabeth is tremendously talented and damned dedicated. She also has a wonderful laugh.

“The Closer She Gets” is Craig Ouellette’s chronicle of his mother’s battle with brain cancer.

Official selection of the SLAMDANCE film festival, “The Closer She Gets” is “A moving, powerful documentary” (Filmthreat), “An honest, unpretentious portrayal, very intimate” (International Documentary Magazine), and it “Eschews the crude sentimentality of most fictional portraits of disease.” (Variety). Unflinching, thought-provoking, and surprisingly charming.

I worked with Craig on the Feature in 48 project “Ricky is Famous” and hung out with him at No Shame Theatre. He is a terrific filmmaker and just about the nicest guy you’d ever hope to meet.

Take a look at these two very different but very gripping stories of real people dealing with real life.