Some of the Pop on $ GAME

The emails, text messages and phone calls flooded MOHOSTUDIO.COM after the screening. Before I list the sampling, here's a shot of the boy who stole the show, Marquis Rodriguez, who played the role of Ruby. After the screening, I turned around to my family and my dad and uncle didn't say, "Congrats! You were terrific! Loved seeing you up there!" They said, "Who's the kid? He was awesome!" My tap dance teacher was kind enough to let me use her studio for a last-minute casting call two days before we started shooting. And that's where I found Marquis.

“I just wanted to say again how much I admired your accomplishment in realizing "$ Game" to the big screen. There is a ton of energy and good humor packed into it, as evidenced by the crowd reaction the other night, and also a lot of well-earned sentiment. I love the trumpet player parts and thought they carried a lot of that spirit from the longer screenplay into the short. There was a brief moment of eye-contact between you and Reo toward the end that I thought had the kind of chemistry that many films spend two hours trying to establish and often fail.” -- Tim B.

“You were $! Clever, exciting, well-acted, and those hoops scenes were strongly edited. You willed this to happen by the sheer force of you. Your mother would have been very very proud of you.” – Jack R.

“Mo, I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your film the other night. It was awesome. And I know you put a ton of work in over the last 5 years. I was so touched by the stories and tribute to your mother.” Jen S.



“Just awesome.” -- Dave L.

"Hey, Mo, Just wanted to congratulate you on an AMAZING job with $ Game! Glad all that hard work finally paid off! Hope I get to see a full-length movie soon! I’m rooting for you!” -- Deb B.

“Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the screening on Monday night. I think you and Tom did a great job. From my little experience with writing, I know that it is not easy to put pen to paper and create characters, plot, etc. And then to put it on film is another difficult challenge. You should be very proud of what you put together. Congratulations, and continued success.” – Simon L.

“Dear Maureen, Thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of your world the other night - you have every reason to be proud and joyous. That is wonderful piece of film and I wish you luck with Sundance.” – Tom T.

“The boys had a great time. Hopefully it gave them a good idea of what it means to have passion for something.” – Carol G.

“LOVED IT! Look at you, crazy talented ballplayer. I’m not ever playing against you, that’s for sure.” – Gil M.

“Great job getting to the finish line. You have a terrific supporting cast and a group that had a goal to get it done. Congratulations and keep at it!” -- Rob M.

“Lots of fun, particularly for hoops junkies.” -- Tom M.

“Supercongrats! It was really cool and fun.” -- Nunyo

“Great job, Maureen. You did it and you looked beautiful on the big screen. I can only imagine how much work it took to put it together - good luck with the next phase.” – Dave P.

“Great job, Mo. My mother and I had a great time last night. Thanks for inviting me.” – Ricky “7-footer” Lopes

“I just want to let you know how much we enjoyed being there last night. The film was fantastic. So well done. So fun and funny and inspirational. And, Tom was a fantastic emcee. There was such a great feeling in the room, with all the players there. And Marquis (sp?) who was sitting right in back of us, was so incredibly cute.” – Linda B.

“Mo, CONGRATS!!! The film was great – from the acting, to the sound, to the editing, all of it! I also thought your acting was great. I know that this was your baby, and you put so much into it, and I’m happy for you that it finally hit the screen! Enjoy it!” --Ted S.

“On behalf of my wife and myself we'd like to thank you for having us at the premiere last night. It was truly a great film and I fully expect big things from it.” -- Elix B.

“Hey, Mo. Wow that really was terrific. I thought the short was really realistic—a great message! I was so impressed with the participation and the cooperation to make it.” – Jamie M.

$ Game Screening News & Photos

Well, here he is folks. Tom Cavanagh basked in the applause as he led us to the all-city title last night, bringing the house down with his artistic brilliance. The theatre was packed with 350 people--adults, teens, kids, men, women. When we gave people a chance to leave after the film -- to get home and put kids to bed -- not one person moved and someone called out, "Play it again!"

Here's the packed house:
Thanks to Ryan and Kevin Holohan, who drove three hours to stand in as bouncers for the screening (I asked them to put on weight and look big for this role). Immediately after the show, they had to return upstate and report to work. And my brother Kevin came, despite the fact that he has three little ones -- the 1.5 year old broke her leg on Saturday coming down a slide -- his wife insisted he go to NYC to see the blockbuster short of the decade.

Such troopers!

Big Ricky Lopes, who played the role of Thug #1 but could not be a nicer gentlemen.










Here's Ben "Boo" Greene, who played our third teammate in the Harlem Hustle scenes.

















Line producer Holly Hurley with trumpet coach Joey V.


Keith "Truck" Hudson, our musical supervisor and sideline player strikes a pose.


Me with my hair straightened and sporting the pretty necklace my Aunt Carol let me borrow. I prefer wild curls, but my sister told me I had to look a little more collected for the evening.







Speaking of my sister, her she is, as she put it, "Keeping the reigns on Dad." (Dad is a proud Irish gentleman who can tell stories upon stories, adding much fiction to fact to the point where we have to call a time out.)



Now for the total stud who played the supporting role of Reo, Mr. Chris Collins...

Here's the very pretty and friendly Maureen Cavanagh in the mix...

DeeMorris and Tom.

Dan and Luke ... pickup player, thug & emcee, both stand-up comedians.


Tom with his buddy Rasheed.


Me talking to Rob Burnett, one of the best moments of the last eight years of my life.
Mary Ciuk, my college assistant coach and I laughing along with my brother Ryan.

And before we move to the after party, we must get those team photos. Here are a few that show how difficult it is to get the siblings together and to stand still, show affection and in unison, smile at the camera. Here we are looking for Dad to join us ... he's yakking someone's ear off ...


Here we are. I am one of the smallest Holohans, and I am no lightweight. Ryan and Kevin are going to have a weigh-in at Thanksgiving this year, and we're going to bet on who's got more padding, but not playing any football.

And here we are, after convincing Ryan to stop talking so we can focus and get this over with. Dad, as expected, is in a conversation with someone else.

And here is some of the crew from Wynantskill, N.Y.: Neighbors, high school friends, my post-college roommate, Mama P along with Tom C.

$ GAME After-Party Photos!

Producer and superb comedic actor Victor Hawks and Ginger.


Tom Cav and our super sound mixer John Bosch...


Some of the girls who road-tripped from my hometown.

My brother Ryan and Jeff Harley. Jeff grew up across the street from us and was by far, one of the most competitive kids on the block. After working at the hardware store for years, never having gone to college, he found his passion: health and fitness. He now owns 37 health and fitness centers in North and South Carolina.


And last, Chris Collins and me.

$ GAME POSTER complete!

Here's the poster--finished it just in time for screening, $ GAME website + Sundance submission! Screening is at Columbia U on Sept. 15th...over 350 people have RSVP'd!

Photoshoot in the Outerbanks

My sister Meghan saw that I'd accomplished my goal of writing 100 pages and said, "Good, just get in the car and let's drive." I strapped on my boot, packed a bag, got into the rental and we were off on the first vacation I've taken in about 1.5 years (due mostly to $ GAME cost and timing issues plus an issue I have with not giving myself time off unless I've earned it.)

I was not supposed to swim in the ocean due to my recent ankle reconstruction (thanks to $ GAME, too, another blog) and the fact that the waves, driven by undercurrents of pre-Hannah, were knocking healthy people over. My sister helped me into the water and it was fun until a wave hit me so hard that I crashed into her and ended up being wrapped around her ankles.

Activities (everyone else enjoyed, but I could not participate in) included: tennis, swimming, Marco Polo, synchronized swimming competition (I was a judge), biking, golf.

Activities (where I could play, too): kayaking with Gman, trivial pursuit and sitting on the couch, staring in shock and fear as we watched Sarah Palin become the Republican party's rock star.

Here are my photos, some of them are doctored with a paint tool.

Vote on your favorite photo:


Meghan H. over the shoulder.

Meg H. having a brew.


Patrika and Meg H.

Gman

Lavinia and her husband making a whirlpool.

Mike B and Meg H.

Another one of Mike B.

This could be my favorite. Not the best light and the camera started throwing a fit. But here is pretty Lavinia, aka Vinny, our Romanian sister.

Meg striking a Women's Health pose.

This is Trika. I dry brushed her a bit. The natural photo may be better.

Me as sexy house photographer, dressed like an albino.

Here's me in my OBX office, a screened-in porch overlooking the ocean. I spent most of my working hours planning the NYC screening of $ GAME. I also found a small gym where I could lift and a coffee shop for my daily run. Gman and I did go kayaking though. The plan after we were done was to say the heck with doctor's orders, I'm going to put on the Speedo and swim the sound!

Problem was that the sound was a gigantic five-foot mud puddle. It was best to stay in the boat.

Yes, we did eventually get in the water after going through a demo on land. I enjoyed our easy (free) ride and the lesson on the environment. Meg and Mike bailed on us second before we departed.

Here's a grainy shot of me in the Speedo, having had no luck with our swim in the sound. Meg and I went in the ocean and I enjoyed getting knocked around for a while. The ankle felt great, so I decided to push it with a walk in the ocean, no boot, no brace.

My sister took this photo of me when I was unaware of her presence, preoccupied with simply putting one foot in front of the other. I painted it in photoshop. It's the perfect shot of a washed-up athlete with a sore back and an ankle on the mend.

Looking forward to going back to OBX next year.