Chaperone - A Short Film with a Different Take on Dating

Experienced in electronic journalism and movie production, Hampton Barringer Luzak now renovates and resells homes in Wyoming. Hampton Luzak’s film background includes casting the multiple-award-winning short film Chaperone, released in 2000.

Directed by Victor Buhler, Chaperone depicts a date in which the couple is accompanied by the girl’s aunt. The girl dislikes the arrangement, but her date’s attitude is different, as shown in a final plot twist.

Three actors take the main roles. Joshua Harto is the male lead, and his later television credits include JAG, and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. He also appeared in the 2015 film Bridge of Spies. The female roles are played by Anne Carney (seen on TV in Person of Interest and The Blacklist) and Jessica Dunphy (several performances in The Sopranos and As The World Turns).

Chaperone was nominated for seven awards, and won five. The wins included the Portland Festival of World Cinema, the American Film Institute Fest, the Method Fest, and the Hamptons International Film Festival.

After Chaperone, director Buhler switched to documentaries, such as A Whole Lott More (about employees with disabilities), The Beautiful Game (soccer in Africa), and Rikers High (students in prison).

Three of the Most Accomplished Olympic Cross-Country Skiiers

The recipient of a bachelor's degree in American Studies from Hollins University, Hampton Barringer Luzak is a self-employed residential real estate investor who enjoys restoring and re-selling historical houses. Beyond his professional pursuits, Hampton Luzak is an avid winter sports participant who enjoys cross-country skiing. 

With sporting origins dating back to the 18th century, cross-country skiing has been a part of the Winter Olympic Games since 1924. Listed below are three of the sport's most decorated athletes.

1. Dario Cologna. This Switzerland native has won four Olympic medals, all of which were gold. He won the 15-kilometer men's race in Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, and PyeongChang 2018 and, in doing so, became the first man to win the same cross-country event in three consecutive Olympic Games.

2. Andrus Veerpalu. This 37-year-old Estonian native participated in six different Olympic Games, but won each of his four medals during the Salt Lake City 2002 and Turin 2006 Olympic Games. He won gold in the 15-kilometer men's race at both events and is a two-time silver medal winner in the 50-kilometer race.

3. Raisa Smetanina. Having competed in five Olympic Games from 1976 to 1992, Smetanina was the first woman to win ten medals and one of three Olympians to win five silver medals. She won the first two of her four gold medals in 1976, and won her last in 1992 as part of the 4x5km women's relay event.

Colonial Dames of America Promote History of the Revolutionary Period

Hampton Barringer Luzak renovates American homes from the 18th century for resale. To build her knowledge of that era, Hampton Luzak supports the Colonial Dames of America.

A leading force in historic preservation, the Dames educate the public about the formative years of the American republic with three museums, one in Great Britain and two in the United States.

Located in Oxfordshire, England, Sulgrave Manor is the seat of George Washington’s family. It was built in 1539 by Lawrence Washington, whose great-grandson John emigrated to America during political upheaval at home. Opened to the public in 1914, Sulgrave Manor is a superb example of the architecture and gardens of its time.

Gunston Hall in Lorton, Virginia was the home of George Mason, an early advocate of press freedom, religious tolerance, and other rights. Constructed and appointed in the Georgian style, Gunston Hall features elegant period ornamentation by a renowned English craftsman.

In addition to serving as the headquarters of the Colonial Dames, Dumbarton House in the Georgetown section of Washington, DC, was built in 1799 in the Federal style, typified by symmetric design and classical themes. Exhibits tell the story of an emerging nation using artifacts, furnishing, and documents.

For further information, visit the Colonial Dames at www.ncsda.org.

The ASPCA Helps to Protect Retired and Active Racehorses

A graduate of Hollins University, Hampton Luzak has worked in advertising, fashion, television, and film. She has most recently leveraged her creativity to restore and preserve the architecture of historic homes. Dedicated to giving back, Hampton Luzak supports several nonprofit groups, including the ASPCA. 

In addition to rescuing and facilitating the adoptions of at-risk dogs and cats, the ASPCA advances a variety of programs and initiatives to protect farm and working animals. Since 2010, it has conducted its Rescuing Racers Initiative, which provides financial support for organizations that care for retired racehorses. 

As part of the initiative, the ASPCA recently awarded $185,000 to 10 equine rescue groups. They include the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Canter, and MidAtlantic Horse Rescue. With the recent funding included, the ASPCA has awarded equine organizations nationwide more than $2 million since founding the initiative. 

Along with providing funds to protect retired racehorses, the ASPCA advocates for stronger regulations in the racing industry. Most recently, the organization has been advocating for the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2017, which would establish anti-doping and safety regulations in horse racing.

Jackson Hole Features Range of Outdoor Sports Options

After a long career in media and advertising, Hampton Luzak turned her attention to restoring historic houses. Focusing primarily on homes from the late 1700s, Hampton Luzak completed projects in Connecticut, Nantucket, and South Carolina. In her leisure time, she participates in a wide range of winter sports in Wyoming.

Wyoming’s varied terrain includes the Teton Mountain Range, the Snake River, and a number of national parks, making it desirable for outdoor sport aficionados. People travel to Wyoming to enjoy a range of activities including skiing, hiking, biking, rafting, and paddleboarding. Two famous Wyoming resorts, Jackson Hole and Sleeping Giant, provide base camps for travelers who wish to participate.

Jackson Hole offers a particularly stunning array of outdoor sports to visitors. In addition to skiing and snowboarding amid the Tetons, people have the opportunity to enjoy mountain biking and hiking trails, fly fishing, paragliding, and a variety of water sports on the Snake River. The most recent addition to the resort, the Via Ferrata, allows climbers to venture out high above an impressive valley just south of Grand Teton National Park.

Georgian Residential Style of 18th-Century Colonial America

Hampton Luzak has a background in fashion and television production and has served as casting director on a variety of film sets, including the award-winning short Chaperone. Hampton Luzak has also focused her creative energy on the historic preservation and renovation efforts of numerous residences in Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut.

One historic residential architectural style prominent in New England is Georgian architecture. A period of American architecture that emerged in the early 1700s, the Georgian era featured homes that were similar to the previous generation of Colonial houses in chimney configuration, as well as cladding. However, Georgian homes were much larger than their Colonial predecessors.

Another distinct aspect of Georgian homes is their predictable design, with windows and doors set in orderly arrangements along the two-story front side of homes that extended two rooms deep. For example, second floor windows were typically arranged in odd numbers that extended across as three, five, or seven windows, depending on the dimensions of the home. The functionality of the design imparts a sense of solidity and orderliness that makes Georgian residences important to preservationists to this day.

Three Traits of Good Casting Directors

Hampton Luzak is a former entertainment industry professional with both in front of and behind the camera. In addition to roles as a producer and reporter, Hampton Luzak previously worked with Denise Fitzgerald Casting as a casting director in New York City. 

Many casting directors hold a two- or four-year degree in a field related to entertainment. However, industry insiders suggest that strong connections are at least as important as an educational background. Casting is about knowing the right actors and having a good relationship with talent agents and directors. According to industry leaders, good casting directors also have the following traits:

-Strong communication and negotiation skills. Casting professionals need to work with studios, directors, talent, and a wealth of other people in the industry. This often involves navigating conversations about money and contracts, where negotiating skills are especially useful. 

-Organizational skills and a sharp memory. A good casting director usually has multiple projects going on at the same time. He or she needs to be able to juggle these projects while remembering names, script details, and other important bits of industry information. 

-The ability to handle stress. Casting is hard work with long hours. Casting professionals do not always land their first choice for a role on the first attempt. The best casting professionals can roll with the punches and remain calm.