When I was nine years old, my mom borrowed the first VHS video camera I had ever seen from her University and brought it home for my brother and I to experiment. Within hours we assumed roles that would carry us through the rest of our lives. The nerdy older brother directing the collaboration and working behind the lens, while the eerily talented and good looking younger brother hammed it up for the camera.
We spent countless days filming myriad little movies (I have since learned to call them 'projects'). From Karatepiece Theatre (think Alistair Cooke meets Jackie Chan) to Larry is Loose (a precursor to Scary Movie) and Escape from Awfulwitz (almost got me expelled from junior high), Brian could always be counted on to bring some laughs and beauty to my hastily executed productions. We had no editing equipment in those days, so each take was do-or-die and our Crayola marker title sequences were the first bit shot. Somehow they all turned out to be sidesplitting.
Nothing makes me happier than to fast forward more than twenty years from those days filming in the yellow light of the basement and see my brother still cracking people up. Very few of us are fortunate enough, or as is often the case, determined enough, to have the opportunity to pursue as a career that which we truly do best, and that which we enjoy most. It has not been an easy path for Brian. Working shit jobs while acting for no pay and performing stand-up to frightfully challenging audiences, my brother has busted his ass in this quirky little business forever. Yet, this year, without a doubt, things have taken off for Brian.
As I have mentioned before, his comedic duo Pete and Brian has been selling out Pete and Brian's One Man Show on both coasts. Then came the writing gigs, new management deals, some big name ad projects. Plus, one huge announcement that I will let him tell you about himself. All told, 2006 has been breakthrough from Brian and I couldn't be more excited for him as 2007 is shaping up to be even better.
For now, just kick back and enjoy these holiday greetings from Pete and Brian as they regale you with the 12 STDs of Christmas.