Stephen Schochet has worked for over ten years as a tour
guide in Los Angeles, collecting literally hundreds of vintage Hollywood
Stories to tell to appreciative sightseers. A few years ago he decided
to take his tales beyond the tour buses and embarked on several unique
and creative entrepreneurial projects.
Tales of Hollywood
Audiobook
First came the audiobook Tales Of
Hollywood. "The idea was to focus on the origins of how famous
things in Hollywood began, and combine it with funny anecdotes about the
stars," Schochet says.
Slide Show and Sound Byte from "Tales Of
Hollywood":
The background music and sound effects were provided by producer Ivor
Francis using orchestrated tunes from APM (Associated Production Music)
a Hollywood based company which many filmmakers use for their scores.
"Ivor was wonderful in our collaboration. We had very few disagreements
as to what music should be used for what stories. He made ninety-nine
percent of the choices; once in a while I contributed a suggestion. We
were very restrained with sound effects; the goal was never to knock the
listener out of the story."
Fascinating Walt Disney Audiobook
Schochet's second project was a two CD set called Fascinating Walt Disney which actually had its
roots years before. "I was going to do a another Hollywood CD but it
went in a different direction. As a kid who liked to write I had an
idea for a Walt Disney play, it never really went anywhere except for
the research. When you give tours you get stuck in traffic and you need
something to say to the people on your bus. I have always had a great
memory for stories, so on different days my customers would hear about
how Walt created Mickey Mouse, Disneyland, Snow White etc. Each time I
told the Disney tales, I was armed with a little more information so the
anecdotes came out better and the idea for the new audiobook came
together."
Slide Show and Sound Byte from
"Fascinating Walt Disney:
Once again with Ivor Francis and
APM, Schochet set out to do his inspiring project. "It was more a
lighthearted look at Walt and his creations, than a pure biography. If
you mention Alice in Wonderland or Fantasia in a short oral anecdote
they are like song hooks. Ivor did a brilliant job with the music, it
starts off quiet while Walt is struggling and then picks up steam as he
becomes more successful."
Sound Byte and Slide Show
from the audiobook "Fascinating Walt Disney:
Media Interviews
To publicize his two self published audiobooks Schochet began to do radio interviews
with hosts from around the Country.
Not only did the sales of his CDs go
way up but it lead to other opportunities.
One Minute Radio
Feature
Hollywood Stories
is his new one minute syndicated feature which is now heard on
several stations throught North America. Stephen connected with Victor
Ives, CEO of TalkStar who loved the concept. The sixty second segments
are written in Los Angeles by Schochet, who then sends them to Producer
William Madden in Florida to add music and sound effects. Stephen says,
"The listeners will constantly be surprised; sometimes the vignettes are
funny, other times they have twist endings. The next story could be
about anyone from Charlie Chaplin to Tyra Banks. The only rules about
the show are that every tale is resolved in the alloted time, they are
all packed with information, and they are told in good
taste."
Slide Shows and Sound Bytes from the
Hollywood Stories One Minute Feature:
Speaking Engagements
Hollywood
Stories Speaking
Engagements provide an additional opportunity for listeners to be
transported by Stephen's tales. "I've gotten great reactions from live
audiences telling anecdotes about the stars I've met just by giving the
tours and going to the places where they hang out." The combination of
storytelling delivery and historical knowledge combined with personal
encounters with luminaries such as George Burns, Sammy Davis Jr, Gene
Hackman and Michael Jackson just to name a few make for a very enjoyable
evening for listening groups!
Slide Shows about
Celebrities Stephen has met:
"On behalf of the Palos Verdes
Library District, I would like to thank you for a wonderful presentation
on February 15th, 2005. Your delightful tales of Hollywood were not only
informative but very entertaining as well. The many bursts of laughter
from the group would testify to that!" Jennifer Addington Adult Programming Librarian Palos Verdes
Library District
Online Articles
After being
fortunate enough to acquire the domain name http://www.hollywoodstories.com
Stephen began promoting the site with a series of online articles
about Walt
Disney and
Hollywood articles. "It started with me hiring somebody to write
something on my behalf and being very hard to please. I paid them off
and then began writing myself. It was a worthwile investment though
because I didn't stop with one article." Web masters are free to use the
content in exchange for a byline and a link.
Hollywood Plus One Hour
Radio Show
Another radio program Stephen is involved with is Hollywood Plus, with
veteran co-host Judi Paparelli, also syndicated by TalkStar. "Judi had
a great show on the Talk America Network and I was her guest every week.
We would find ways to tie current news events to Hollywood; for example
during the Republican Convention we did a show on the 1939 movie "Mr.
Smith Goes to Washington." Broadcast out of the famed Watergate Hotel,
the entertaining banter between Judi and Stephen caused members of the
Washington Press Corps to stop what they were doing so they could
listen. The new show covers a wide variety of subjects. Schochet
points out,"We've done episodes on baseball movies, John Wayne, Its a
Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and many other topics." This timeless, taped
one hour program comes complete with sound bytes from the movies
discussed and enough anecdotes and observations that the time breezes
by.
or toll
free twenty-four hours from Book Clearing House at
1-800-431-1579. Gift Wrapping is Available!
"So many of
our listeners have told me that when they needed gifts your Hollywood
and Disney CDs have really helped them out" -- Tron
Simpson, Morning Host KCMN Radio, Colorado Springs
"These two elaborate productions are exceptionally
entertaining." --The Saint Louis Post Dispatch.
Hear The Origins of Hollywood! Sound Byte and
Slide Show from the audiobook
Tales of Hollywood:
Written and narrated by Stephen
Schochet "The ratio of fresh to familiar is surprisingly high" --
The LA Daily News One CD isbn 0-9638972-3-3
You can also ask for Fascinating Walt Disney and
Tales Of Hollywood wherever books are sold. If you are a bookseller or
librarian click
here.
Presenting Entertaining Slide Shows from the One Minute Hollywood
Stories Radio Feature:
Produced with background music and sound effects in the style
of old time radio, Hollywood Stories with Stephen Schochet is a new
syndicated one minute program on the TalkStar Radio Network heard
throughout the USA and Canada. To find out where you can hear the show
and how you can ask your favorite stations to carry it click here!
"
Hollywood Stories" has become a regular feature on our morning show and
we enjoy the program very much." ---- Chris Burgin Director of
Broadcast Operations SportsRadio 1410 WPCC.
