Martti and Kim's Story of... [Abridged]

Educational Winner!

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 19:53:39 GMT

"Martti and Kim's" won the Educational category! The entire team is humbled and astounded to have been so well received at the NYTVF and would like to thank the staff for creating such a wonderful festival.

See the entire pilot here: http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm

View the Martti and Kim Trailer!

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 23:56:21 GMT

Hey there, Sports Fans!

The trailer for "Martti and Kim's Story of... [Abridged]" is up in all of it's costumed glory!

Check it out here

Cheers and Cheerio~

Martti and Kim

Fluckadrift

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 15:33:32 GMT

With Martti all the way across the nation in California, I sometimes feel rather unky. However, as we are both in a fluckadrift to get to New York, I know that soon we shall reunite over scandal-broth. Or maybe some good ole’ clamberskull instead.

One potential segment of “Martti and Kim’s Story of . . . [Abridged]” which, alas, never came to pass was an archaic vocabulary lesson. We would choose a strange, out of use word which had been commonly used during the historical time period of our show, define it, and then use it in context throughout the episode.

    For example:

        Unky—Lonesome.

        Fluckadrift—A haste, hurry.

        Scandal-broth—Tea.

        Clamberskull—Strong drink that clambers up to the skull;
            a heady liquor.

Maybe we can wax more vocabularious in Episode 2!

Yours in Fabulosity,

Kim (aka "the Blonde")

~Cheerio~

[Archaic vocabulary words and definitions from The Word Museum by Jeffrey Kacirk]

Press on "Martti and Kim"!

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 19:42:20 GMT

Orlando Sentinel "TV Guy" Hal Boedeker says about our pilot, "I'm sold. I want to see it."

Thanks, Hal!

See his write-up about "Martti and Kim's Story of..." here.

Cheers & Cheerio

Martti and Kim

Our Very Special Interview with Smokey the Cat

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:56:05 GMT

During every “Martti and Kim” show, we highlight an “Obscure Moment in History!” For our St. Augustine, Florida episode, we told the story of C.D. “Cracker” Daniels, the son of the St. Augustine lighthouse keeper in the 1930s. “Cracker” had quite an interest in aerodynamics and, in a fit of “scientific study” (read: psychosis) threw his cat “Smokey” off the top of the lighthouse to study the effects of the homemade parachute he attached to the cat.

Luckily the parachute was well-made, and Smokey landed safely.

Today, we’re going to share something very, very special with our Blog readers (that’s right Mom, I’m talking about you!) – we have the entire transcript of our interview with Smokey the Cat, only part of which is shown in our pilot episode.

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT

Martti: And now we’d like to welcome a very special guest to the “Obscure Moments in History!” Studios… Smokey the Cat!

(Applause)

Kim: Smokey, is it true you’ve always shared your owner’s interest in aerodynamics?

Smokey the Cat: He has always shared my interest in it. I have a degree in aerospace engineering from Cornell. Cracker couldn’t engineer a ham sandwich!

Martti: Do you mean to say that you designed the parachute?

Smokey the Cat: I wouldn’t be here today if I hadn’t. The genius of the feline species has always been belittled by you pathetic, sniveling humans.

Kim: That’s not fair! I almost never snivel.

Smokey the Cat: Soon, yes, soon the rebellion shall begin. We have been biding our time, slowly infiltrating NASA, NORAD and The CW. My minions are in place, they await my bidding!

Martti: Aw, that’s cute! It’s a wittle kitty wevolution! I can just see you all in tiny little flak jackets!

Kim: And little leopard combat boots!

Martti: With camouflage litter boxes!

Smokey the Cat: Silence! I shall crush you all! I shall… [cough!] [hack!] [cough!]

Martti: What’s happening?

Kim: Ew… he’s spitting up a hairball.

Smokey the Cat: [hack!]

Martti: No! Not in the “Obscure Moments in History!” Studios! …and we just got the bats out.

Kim: Will you stop calling it that? It’s the shed in my back yard.

Martti: Well, the “Obscure Moments in History!” Guano Ridden Tool Shed won’t sound very impressive to potential network buyers.

Kim: True. We’re a high class operation after all.

Smokey the Cat: [spit!]

Kim: Well, that’s about all the time we have for now!

END TRANSCRIPT

As you can surely tell, gentle reader, Kim and I have the grace and intellectual savvy to handle any type of interview situation. Even though we live the glamorous lives of (almost) television hostesses, we can intimately connect with the everyday… um… cat.

Of course, we don’t only interview cats. We interview real actual people, too. Not surprisingly, the human interviews seem to go much more smoothly.
Cheers~

Martti (aka “the Redhead”)

Director Blog - Greg & Greg

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:45:25 GMT

Hello to all. Greg S. Jones here, Director of this crazy pilot known as “Martti and Kim's Story of… [Abridged]”. When watching “Martti and Kim’s” make sure to look for my cameo. Don't blink because this Hitchcockian moment is not worth missing. Make sure to look for the gold teeth! That's all I'm going to say. I don't want to give too much away. I may have already done that.

Since I couldn't find anyone to interview me I've decided to do it myself.

GREG: So how did you get involved in this project?

GREG: I was sitting around minding my own business, working on a 300 million dollar feature when Cameron Roberts asked me to help him, Martti, and Kim out. Because of the nature and fun of the project I dropped what I was doing and hopped right in.

GREG: How long did it take to shoot?

GREG: It should have taken 7 days but we only had 2, so we shot it in 2 really long days in St. Augustine, Florida.

GREG: What was your favorite part of directing this project?

GREG: The money

GREG: Seriously

GREG: The money

GREG: For Real

GREG: O.K. There was no money involved so my favorite part of directing this project was working with professional actors like Martti and Kim and working with an awesome producer, Cameron Roberts.

GREG: Thank you for your time.

GREG: No Problem. I just hope everyone in the world gets a chance to look at this.

THE PILOT ATE MY BABY!

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 16:24:18 GMT

Breaking News. This Just In. Yesterday, Martti Nelson, a.k.a. “the Redhead” from the soon to be classic show “Martti and Kim’s Story of . . . [Abridged]” was on a routine errand which required her to be near her DVD player, inside which the DVD of said classic entertainment was housed. She only looked away for a moment, at which point the cover of the DVD slot slowly creeped open, almost as if by the hand of God, because surely DVD players cannot move themselves! Or CAN THEY? Much to her HORROR, the DVD came shooting out of the machine and… AND—

*sigh* did nothing. Absolutely nothing. The pilot didn’t eat my baby. I don’t even have a baby. It’s just that Kim blogs all these exciting things. Like almost getting shot by bank robbers. And rapelling and shooting a machine gun. But I’m just sitting at my computer. Waffles and Mousemeat get to go to Germany. I get to go to the kitchen.

Mmmmmm…. Waffles.

But, hey! I get to go to New York City soon for the Festival! YEAH!

Okay – that’s exciting enough for me. And maybe, if things go well, we’ll get to go to London to shoot Martti and Kim’s third episode about Henry VIII! And re-enact the beheading of Anne Boleyn and stuff. Of course, I don’t think the actual beheading included a dance number – but ours does.

Cheers~

Martti (aka “the Redhead”)

Kim's Interview With Her Dear Husband, Cameron Roberts

Sun, 27 Aug 2006 19:49:27 GMT

KIM: Cameron, you are an Executive Producer, DP, and Cameraman for “Martti and Kim’s Story of . . . [Abridged]. Please give a little background on your previous production experience.

CAMERON: My first glimpse of show business was as a “dying cockroach” in Hemdale’s cult classic film “Shag” with Phoebe Cates, Bridget Fonda, Carrie Hamilton, and Tyrone Powers Jr. From there I realized I needed to go to acting school if I ever wanted anything more than a bit part. After a couple of years of auditioning, I landed a supporting role in Warner Bros. Passenger 57 with Wesley Snipes and Elizabeth Hurley. SAG card in hand, I moved on to my next goal—which was to gain more knowledge and experience in the art of making movies. That quest led me to work in many different positions in the industry and I soon acquired a contract producer position with the Walt Disney Company. That job gave me helpful insight into the “business” part of show business. It was that experience that led to the formation of D7 (www.d7-inc.com) with friend and co-owner, Greg S. Jones.

KIM: What was your gut reaction when Kim first approached you with this project?

CAMERON: I just thought, we (D7) have so many projects in the works—how are we ever going to be able to do this too? However; the voice of reason soon prevailed, as this project was very important to my wife, and I thought it was a cool idea with a lot of potential.

KIM: St. Augustine, FL is a unique place. What do you like most about it?

CAMERON: I like St. Augustine, FL because of the history and the sense of many types of cultures and people living and working together through the centuries. It is also the place where my wife, Kim, and I are able to relax and reconnect while staying at the St. Francis Inn for vacation every year.

KIM: What was your favorite moment from the shoot?

CAMERON: When I got the production vehicle stuck in the sand and to my utter delight and surprise two very helpful and not very concerned beach patrol officers dug out and towed out the van.

KIM: What was the most difficult part of the shoot for you?

CAMERON: Compressing 7 days’ worth of location production work into roughly two and a half days.

KIM: What sort of camera equipment did you use?

CAMERON: We utilized the Panasonic HVX 200 because of its compactness, beautiful picture quality, and the fact that it offers variable frame rates in the HD mode.

KIM: Martti and Kim’s show often requires cross-dressing. Would you be willing to make a guest appearance in a future episode while dressed in a ridiculous manner?

CAMERON: Um, I am a true professional and am always happy to accommodate any request if that request is germane to the success of the show.

KIM: What do you see as the future of this series?

CAMERON: I see this as a good comedic travel-log show with the ability to entertain and educate the masses about history in a non-snobbish and non-boring way. I think it will offer huge commercial options for sponsors, especially the travel industry.

KIM: What are some of your ideas for future episodes?

CAMERON: Having recently returned from a trip to England, I would like to do something on King Henry VIII. Also like to revisit American history in places like Savannah, GA, Jamestown, VA, and Salem, MA. Paris is full of great stories. The possibilities are endless. How about “Martti and Kim’s Story of Beer and Bratwurst [Abridged]” in Germany?

So What is This Silly Show About, Anyway?

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 19:31:59 GMT

This ~~Silly~~ Very Important Show is about important people, places and events. And it’s important.

Our pilot episode, Martti and Kim’s Story of St. Augustine [Abridged], is about St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest European town in America. Many people think that Jamestown holds this distinction, but it’s not true! Jamestown was founded 42 years after St. Augustine. We live the past of this incredible city by experiencing life in the 1700s, re-enacting the discovery of the shores of Florida, and throwing Smokey the Cat off the top of the St. Augustine lighthouse.

(OK OK we didn’t really throw a cat off the top of the lighthouse, even though he is a highly trained stunt cat. However, Cracker Daniels did throw his cat Smokey off the lighthouse in the 1930s.)

Episode two is Martti and Kim’s Story of The Salem Witch Trials [Abridged]. In this show, we explore our pet theory about the madness in Salem. Namely, that the “witch” hysteria in the town was a direct result of frustrated young women being forced to wear ugly and unflattering Puritan clothing.

Episode three is Martti and Kim’s Story of Henry VIII and His Wives [Abridged]. We live the past of Tudor London in this funny romp through Henry’s marriages. Let’s count them up, shall we?

§ Beheaded – two (Anne Boleyn, Kathryn Howard)

§ Divorced – two (Catherine of Aragon, Anne of Cleves)

§ Died After Childbirth – one (Jane Seymour)

§ Survived Him – one (Katharine Parr) *

*We declare her the winner.

One of the biggest mysteries of the wives of Henry VIII is how to spell their names. There are literally 800 ways to spell
~~Kather~~ ~~Cather~~ ~~Kathry~~ ~~Cathar~~ What’s Her Face. He should have married more Janes.

Now, lest you think we’re terribly silly… well, we actually are. But! We are terribly studious as well and we research all this travel and history so that our show is factual and educational as well as fun. We also interview real live experts!

So tune into Martti and Kim for all your comedic/educational needs. We are the Ladies Who Live the Past!

Cheers~

Martti (aka “the Redhead”)

THE PILOT SAVED MY LIFE!

Wed, 23 Aug 2006 20:04:08 GMT

Breaking news. This just in. Last week, Kim Roberts, a.k.a. “The Blonde” from the soon to be hit show “Martti and Kim’s Story of . . . [Abridged]” was on a routine errand which required her to make a transaction inside her local bank. Inside. She could not simply do it online or at the drive-up window. She must needs physically enter said bank. Upon parking her car in the bank parking lot she was seized with the sudden desire to telephone Martti Nelson, a.k.a. “The Redhead” regarding their pilot and NYTVF. After approximately 6 minutes and 37 seconds of conversing with Martti, Kim exited her car. She proceeded to stride determinedly toward the bank when she was intercepted by a fellow bank customer who had just vacated the building. The customer exclaimed, “I wouldn’t go in there right now if I were you. The bank just got robbed.” A lone gunman had been waving his piece, demanding money, and threatening to shoot innocent bystanders within the bank during the very same 6 minutes and 37 seconds in which Kim and Martti had been speaking on the phone. Says Kim of the experience, “Thank God I talk too much, and THE PILOT SAVED MY LIFE!”

True story.

~Cheerio~

Kim (aka “the Blonde”)

How Did Two Geek Girls Get Mixed-Up in a Crazy Pilot Like This?

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 21:07:18 GMT

This is Martti, taking you back to the late 80s. I was a blonde (a natural one). Kim was a blonde (still is). Picture us in stonewashed denim. We were cast as fake Siamese twins (The Amazing Zuwieki Twins!) in a production of Carnival at the Ocala Civic Theatre in Ocala, Florida. The bit was, we would walk on stage separately and then put a giant dress over both of us to ‘become’ conjoined twins. Being joined at the hip for several months will either make you really love or really hate another person. We became best friends and have remained so since.

We had many adventures back in the day. One time in high school we got caught in a thunderstorm while exploring a graveyard. We loved the rain, but got scared off when we found the gravestone that read “Gone, But Not”. (Tangent – you know, ever since, I’ve wanted a menacing gravestone for myself when the time comes, so that I may scare other eccentric teenagers who go to graveyards for fun. Something like: “If you’re reading this, I’m behind you! Bwa Ha Ha Haa!” – End Tangent)

Halloween was always fun for us, with our freakish love of costumes. My favorite was the time we dressed up as Patsy (me) and Edina (Kim) from Absolutely Fabulous. It was fabulous, sweetie darling, fabulous! Often for fun, we would randomly dress up in stupid, home-made outfits and take pictures. I don’t know why. This led to many photos as Martti and Kim, The Vampires; Martti and Kim, The (Whitest) Native Americans (Ever); and Martti and Kim, The Sword-Wielding Valkyries.

Ah!! – That was another weird habit… collecting weapons. Let me tell you, it’s an interesting look your husband gives you when you move in together and you begin unpacking swords and hatchets.

Hmmm…. Reading this, you are probably thinking we’re crazy! Well, maybe we are! Sometimes I think we made the pilot just to have an excuse to put on pretty dresses. But we also did lots of lovely, normal things together, like giggle in chick flicks and act as Maid of Honor in each others’ weddings. And I feel really grateful that my journey with this show has been with Kim, who has a weapon collection of her own and a husband who gives her funny looks, too.

Cheers~

Martti (aka “the Redhead”)

Kim’s Story of Finding Out That ‘Martti and Kim’s Story of . . . [Abridged]’ Was Accepted by NYTVF [Unabridged]

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 21:02:46 GMT

The day dawned hot and humid. And sultry, yeah, that too. Though I was not technically awake at dawn, I do live in Florida, so “hot” and “humid” are usually safe adjectives and “sultry” is always good. It was an average sort of normal sort of day. I arrived about noon at a very large and famous theme park where I find gainful employment. After a brief, but effective warm up in the cast weight room (where I executed an impressive number of pull-ups to the amazement of my fellow cast members), I made my way to the dressing room to prepare for the day’s stunt work. I get to do cool stuff like rappelling and shooting a machine gun. Of course, such activities require specialized, albeit fashionable, clothing. While in the process of donning my grey tank, tactical assault vest, and the other necessary components of my BDU (Battle Dress Uniform), my cell phone began its cacophonous ringing. “Why, it is my dearest friend Martti,” thought I, “and chatting with Martti is just what I need to make this average sort of normal sort of day into a fabulous and spectacular sort of day.” Thank goodness I cut my rambling inner monologue off in time to answer the phone before it went to voice mail.

Kim: “Hi.”

Martti: “We’re in!”

Kim: (stunned silence)

Martti: “We’re in the festival!”

Kim: (various sounds of jubilation including screams, giggling, and crying)

Martti: (various sounds of jubilation including screams, giggling, and crying)

Please imagine, if you will, lovely delicate little me all alone in the dressing room (but on the phone with Martti) jumping up and down in one combat boot and my husband’s thermal socks. That’s entertainment.

NYC—see ya real soon.

~Cheerio~

Kim (aka “The Blonde”)

Once Upon a Time, In Zip Codes Far, Far Away…

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 21:00:13 GMT

Best friends since childhood Martti Nelson and Kim Roberts were on the phone. In between talk of “do you really think J.K. will kill off Harry?” and “I need to dye my hair so that it’s ‘natural’ again”, the fiendish duo hatch a sinister plan to take over the world. Or, at least, take over your TV screen.

They decided to create the type of show they would want to watch on TV. One with pretty costumes and rubber chickens. One that combined their geeky love of history with sketch comedy. Because Martti and Kim think you learn more when you’re laughing than when you’re not.

They wrote a script, and told their husbands “We want to film a pilot! And it’s funny and stuff!!” Their husbands said “That’s nice, honey.” The husbands were forced to read the script, and they actually liked it. They got excited! So Marc (Martti’s husband, Producer and Actor) and Cameron (Kim’s husband, Executive Producer and Director of Photography) were on board, and dragged Cameron’s business partner, Greg (Executive Producer and Director) into the mess as well.

During two days in June in St. Augustine, Florida, the intrepid group filmed “Martti and Kim’s Story of… [Abridged]”. They battled drunk drivers (no injuries!) and sand dunes (we got the van out eventually) but came away with a pilot they thought was fun and educational. And the NYTVF thinks so, too (at least that’s what they tell us). The team could not be more tickled with being an official selection of the New York Television Festival and is greatly looking forward to the trip to New York in September!

Cheers~

Martti (aka “the Redhead”)

Photo Album: Martti and Kim's Photos

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 18:00:49 GMT

Martti and Kim's Photos

Martti Nelson (left) and Kim Roberts (right)

Conquistadors on the shores of the New World!

Oh, the Pirate and the Frenchman should be friends...

Martti and Kim present... The Women's Moment

Our esteemed expert, Mr. John Stavely

Cordelia & Cornelia save the City Gates in a dignified fashion.

The "Director" (Marc Collins) directs the wayward Conquistadors

Our DP, Cameron Roberts of D7 Inc., filming

Martti and Kim in their day job as (unsuccessful) Crusaders

The team hard at work

More Photos...

Custom List: Custom List

Wed, 23 Aug 2006 02:32:00 GMT

Martti & Kim’s Story of…[Abridged]
Martti & Kim are two crazy chicks with a knack for storytelling and a penchant for dressing up like weirdos. To feed both obsessions, they “Live the Past!” exploring important people, places, and events with elaborate costumes and humorous reenactments.

Custom List: 2006 Finalists

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 19:39:49 GMT

2006 Finalists

Custom List: 2005 Finalists

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 19:39:15 GMT

2005 Finalists

Custom List: NYTVF

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 19:37:06 GMT

NYTVF