The book trailer for The Karma Club launched only yesterday and already the question I've been asked several times over is: "How did you get Deepak Chopra to cameo in your book trailer?"
I had a feeling this question might come up. So I thought I'd do a quick blog about it.
I'll start by saying, I don't believe in accidents. Nor do I believe in coincidences. I believe the universe lines up exactly the way it's supposed to and this story is more proof of that than I'll ever need.
When I wrote The Karma Club a few years back, I created a character in the novel named Rajiv--a wise, kindhearted Indian man with a rich, melodic accent and a playful sense of humor. Rajiv's purpose was to offer guidance to my broken-hearted teen character and inherently influence her journey throughout the book. Of course, he was inspired by one of my favorite spiritual teachers, Deepak Chopra.
Two years later, I was on a flight from New York to LA, somewhere high above the middle of the country, on my laptop, checking Twitter (thanks to Virgin America's Wi-Fi enabled flights!) Deepak's latest tweet happened to be on my screen at the time and the man sitting next to me noticed, tapped me on the shoulder and said, "That's my dad."
It turned out I was sitting right next to Deepak Chopra's son! And if it hadn't been for GoGo's Inflight Internet service, I never would have known. Gotham Chopra (also a writer) and I started chatting, exchanged contact information and a few weeks later I asked him if he thought his dad would be interested in making a cameo appearance in my newest book trailer, playing the character that he inspired. He said, "Possibly," and the next thing I knew, I got a call from Deepak himself saying that he'd love to participate! It was, for lack of a better word, unbelievable.
So I, along with my lead actress and a small crew of five people, traveled down to the Chopra Center in Carlsbad, CA to shoot our big scene. Deepak was a pro. So generous with his time and just an overall joy to be around. We were in and out in a matter of a few hours and I think it's safe to say, we all left feeling just a little bit...well, inspired.
Now if that isn't a story of universal alignment, I don't know what is! Maybe I should just chalk it up to Karma. :)
To view the book trailer with Deepak's cameo, click here.
After three months of pre-production, production, post-production, blood, sweat and a lot of tears, The Karma Club book trailer is FINALLY finished and ready to show to the world!
So without any further ado, here is the official book trailer for The Karma Club, with a special cameo appearance by Deepak Chopra!
Sorry for being so quiet lately. The past few weeks since the holidays have been a total blur. I've been working night and day to get the Karma Club trailer ready for its big debut next month! It's coming along SO well and can't wait to share it with everyone!
AND I've been trying to wrap up my new book. I'm SO nearly there!
Well, enough excuses, on to the fun stuff...
The Karma Club - UK Release!
I've just heard from my fabulous YA publishers across the pond, Tick Tock Books, and they've designed the cutest cover for The Karma Club, which will be out there in June of 2010! You ready? Are you sure? Okay, here it is...
Tada!
Isn't it gorgeous!? I'm supposed to get a galley this week. I can't wait!
Okay, back to work. It was fun to come up for some air though and chat for a while. But now it's back to my writer's cave.
Sorry it took me so long to post these. Been a busy bee with production work, Christmas shopping and trying to get some actual writing in. But here are a few behind the scenes stills from our Karma Club Trailer production! Aren't they gorgeous!?
All photo credit goes to the fabulous Holly Karrol Clark of C Level Photography. She is THE master!
Maddy (Madison Hill) walks through the Loft party, looking for her boyfriend.
The Karma Club Girls (from left to right), Jade (Megan Yelaney), Maddy (Madison Hill), and Angie (Gina Cecutti), scheming in Maddy's room about Karmic retribution.
Flashback scene when Jade (Megan Yelaney) finds evidence that her boyfriend Seth (Nico Nevolo) cheated on her.
The queen bee of Colonial High, Heather Campbell. Played by actress/model Leah Clark.
The Karma Club girls set up their revenge on Jade's ex boyfriend, Seth.
Watching to see if their revenge scheme on Maddy's ex-boyfriend is working.
Maddy (Madison Hill) contemplates the meaning of Karma.
Me and my Director of Photography, Jason Fitzpatrick set up an outdoor lunch scene shot.
Angie, played by Gina Cecutti, calls Maddy with bad news.
Maddy (played by Madison Hill) recreates the book cover image with our awesome Karma Club notebook prop!
Me and my Karma Club girls in the wardrobe room! I miss them already!
Just got done with an exhausting, but totally exhilarating two-day shoot for The Karma Club book trailer! My feet are sore, my legs feel like jello but my spirits are sky high. It was probably one of the best experiences of my life. And I simply cannot WAIT to edit it all together and share it with all of you! Plus we've got some special surprises in store that I'll be able to talk in the new year.
I'll be posting pictures from the shoot VERY soon so watch this space. But in the meantime, check out this other cool stuff:
Also, there are two national giveaways going on right now. The first is in the National Examiner magazine. They're giving away copies of both Love Under Cover and Fidelity Files. And Complete Woman magazine is also giving away some copies of Love Under Cover in their current issue. So check out both the magazines for more info!
More exciting news, updates and photos coming soon!
Many, MANY apologies if any of you have been trying to email me through my website at: email@jessicabrody.com and the email got bounced back. I've been having technical difficulties with my email addresses lately and I'm happy to say they're all resolved! So you can now use that address to send me email. I look forward to reading them!
Two more days until we shoot the Karma Club Book Trailer. I can hardly contain the excitement!
Hey everyone! This just in from my young adult publisher. The Karma Club has finally been given a release date. The book will hit stores in May 2010. Yippee!!! Everyone mark your calendars!
I just got the final cover image for my first young adult novel, THE KARMA CLUB and it is, by far, better than ANYTHING I could have ever imagined for this book. I am SO in love with it. It's just a total love fest going on over here. I simply can't WAIT for the book to come out next Spring. Oh, what a long, lonely winter it will be!
AND...I just got news that The Karma Club's first foreign sale is complete. It just sold in the UK to Tick Tock Media and will be one of the first titles in their new young adult division!
The UPS man and I have formed a special relationship. No! Not that kind of relationship. Geez, get your head out of the gutter. He's become my year-round Santa Claus, bringing me gifts from all my favorite retailers (mostly Amazon) and my favorite people (mostly my publishers!) And today was no exception. In a rare freak coincidence, I got not ONE but TWO sets of First Pass pages today. One for LOVE UNDER COVER, my new adult book coming in November and one for THE KARMA CLUB, my new YA book coming out next spring! It really was like Christmas morning over here!
First pass pages are my favorite part of the publishing process (well, apart from receiving the finished books of course!) It's the first time you get to see your 300+ slaved over pages as anything other than just a word document. They're laid out on the page exactly as they will appear in the finished book. With fonts and spacing and chapter headings...and my name on the top of every page (I won't lie, that's a pretty freaking cool feeling!) Now if only I felt like I actually did write all those words...that part is still pretty surreal.
My YA publisher, FSG, is doing some really cool stuff with the title for THE KARMA CLUB. It's not finalized yet, but when it is, I'll be sure to share it here!
And later this summer, I'm going to be premiering the final trailer for LOVE UNDER COVER and the first released excerpt. So stay tuned!
The book trailer for The Karma Club launched only yesterday and already the question I've been asked several times over is: "How did you get Deepak Chopra to cameo in your book trailer?"
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