Author: richtola

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Winner – 2019 Global Shorts Festival

Thanks to our amazing cast and crews, we won our first two film awards at the 2019 Global Shorts Festival: Winner, Honorable Mention – Zen Diaries: The Lockdown, and Winner, Special Mention – Skateboard Bandits.

ZEN DIARIES: THE LOCKDOWN – now on YouTube & Vimeo (20min Dramedy)

SKATEBOARD BANDITS – on YouTube & Vimeo (12min Drama)

We look forward to completing the trifecta with a very steamy love story, ALL MIXED UP…when doing the wrong thing, is the right thing to do. January 2010!

Keep living your dream everyone, and get your workout in! Peace – R

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Zen Diaries: The Lockdown

It’s 10 years after the premiere of my first film, Boulevard Zen, and here’s our protagonist, the former hot-shot Atlantic City, NJ attorney turned yoga master, Bobby D’Angelo, dealing with another shooter in his life. This time causing a lockdown in his LA studio. It’s where “self-doubt goes to die”, and it’s also where tempers start to flare among students and strangers as Bobby vows to “protect his family” while trying hard to inspire – and not insult – his guests with his tough love words of wisdom.

Zen Diaries: The Lockdown is a 20-minute dramedy starring Rich Tola, Kayla Moore, Jonny Haug, Romi Valenti, Anita Davenport, Jennifer Cheung and A.P. Moses. Similar to Skateboard Bandits, this film was completed from start-to-finish in less than 90 days with a total budget of $2,000.

Feel free to email us: info@twostrikehitter.com for the Vimeo link and private code. Zen Diaries: The Lockdown will officially premiere on November 1, 2019.

Coming next: All Mixed Up, a sexy R-rated love story about a 25 year-old socialite who’s trapped in an abusive relationship and soon to be married, who yearns for a way out plus one last affair with a man twice her age.

Have an awesome Autumn everyone, and get your workouts in! Peace – R

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“Skate like a bat outta hell”

Hey everyone, we just released Skateboard Bandits on YouTube and Vimeo.

It’s a 12 minute character-driven thriller about a band of skateboarders who conspire to take revenge into their own hands – the second time around – and risk life and limb to rob a bank. We filmed all 18 scenes in one day, throughout the streets of LA.

Looking forward to releasing my next short narrative, Zen Diaries: The Lockdown, coming this November.

Peace – R

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Skateboard Bandits – Coming Soon!

Hey everyone, I just completed my first scripted narrative short, Skateboard Bandits, soon to be released in September.

It’s a 12 minute character-driven thriller about a band of skateboarders who take revenge into their own hands – the second time around – and risk life and limb to rob a bank.

Super excited to finish another film project on-time and on-budget. It took 90 days and cost $1000 from start to finish. For my next production, I look forward to releasing a “Boulevard Zen” short film spin-off, exactly ten years since the 2009 premiere of my first film.

For more information please contact me at: info@twostrikehitter.com

Have an awesome day and always remember…get your workout in! Peace – R

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Tola Yoga at the InterContinental + Rooftop

No doubt you gotta always be looking up…at the bright side of life as well as to your dreams and aspirations. No matter what age, that energy drives you.

Not to mention you could be looking up from the 73rd floor of the InterContinental Hotel located in the Wilshire Grand Center, the 1,100 foot skyscraper and 11th tallest building in the United States, at 7th & Figueroa in DTLA. A beautiful building with an incredible view from our yoga class (pictures soon). Starting this Thursday, June 6th at 6a, you can catch me teaching the Rooftop Yoga class for Attitude Fitness. Come start your day with a great sunrise workout performed at some really inspiring heights!

I’m also teaching Tola Yoga at Attitude every Saturday at 10a, Tuesday at 6:15p and Thursday at 5:15p. Safe to say I love this club, by far the nicest in LA for sure. Find us on Class Pass or stop by for a test drive. Hey, ya neva know, you just might join.

Have an awesome week everyone, and hope to see you on the mat! Peace – R

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New beginnings matter…so begin at once!

Every day you wake up is another opportunity to pursue your dreams and begin something new. So follow your heart and make great choices everyone – always – and no doubt heed the words of our President Barack Obama, “Choose to listen not to your doubts and fears, but to your greatest hopes and highest aspirations.”

A special thanks to my photographer Dana Patrick for these amazing new pics. Have an awesome day, and whatever you do, remember to get your workout in!

Peace – R

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Reader Book Review – Simply Between Millions

SimplyBetweenMillionsPostcardCover copy

Thank you Andrea from PA, for the stunning review on Amazon (see below).

Per your request, one day I’ll make this into “a great inspirational movie” with the legendary Michael Douglas playing my father – a role perfect for him!

Peace – R

“Simply Between Millions is a quick and addictive page turner about a guy who seems very charismatic, very smart and very passionate with an impressive range of interests, talents and knowledge. The book is a great example of how it’s never too late to follow your heart, in spite of what others expect of you or think of you!

Rich Tola’s book is an entertaining autobiography that would make a great inspirational movie! I was inspired to google the authors’ videos while reading his book and, in addition to being amazed by his physical strength, I was amazed by his similarities to the great actor Michael Douglas…their voices, inflection and engaging charm are very similar! Perhaps Douglas could play Tola’s father in a movie version of the book!

I would love for the author to write another book that expands on his work
with teaching yoga to women and children in domestic violence shelters. He dedicates a few pages to this topic and it was so heartwarming that I really wanted to read more chapters about it.

Congratulations to the author for a compelling “first book” and I look forward to reading your next one!!! Ben Franklin and Jack LaLanne would be proud of you!” Andrea from PA

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Thanks for the memories…and free movies SAG!

It’s always a treat to witness great movie-making with Hollywood’s biggest stars, not to mention getting to nominate your favorite actors and ensemble casts for the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

It’s an even bigger treat to participate in live Q&A’s with these bold & beautiful demigods. For such insightful talks I’d like to thank my union for the complimentary screenings and receptions they’ve awarded me the past few months where I’ve met Margot Robbie, Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Keira Knightley, Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Tyler Perry, Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Hugh Jackman, Alfred Molina and Sebastian.  Well, perhaps I didn’t meet these masterful entertainers but for sure I’ve heard their thoughts and felt their passion for their craft. 

Kudos SAG-AFTRA…it was an honor to be a member of the Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominating Committee. I look forward to seeing my “outstanding” choices take home the gold!

Have an awesome holiday everyone, and get your workout in! Peace – R

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Welcome to Wherever You Are

Hope you’re awesome everyone, and in case you were wondering, this isn’t a tribute to the music of Bon Jovi or INXS.

On the contrary, it’s more like a welcome home post after spending the past five months traversing the U.S. in search of the Holy Grail, much like a modern-day Indiana Jones. Well, not exactly, but I’ve definitely been a modern day cowboy cruising the countryside since I left my beloved Los Angeles in June.

Why, you might ask? Because  I love to explore new lands while checking out the fitness and yoga scenes – not to mention the music and entertainment and comedy club scenes – of America’s largest and most popular cities.

And on this particular leg of the adventure I’ve traveled to Austin, Dallas, Denver, and most recently, the lovely beaches of Santa Barbara (picture).

For those of you who have been following my life’s colorful journey since I moved to Hollywood in 2007, I’ve now lived in 11 major cities over the past 11 years.

The good news is I’ve also walked over a thousand miles and met tons of cool locals that made my sojourn an especially enjoyable experience. No doubt traveling to other cities is something I definitely recommend to anyone who has the time and vigor to do it. Notice I didn’t say money, because if you fly solo like I do, you really don’t need that much to explore. Just a pair of comfortable walking shoes and a lightweight backpack. Oh, and don’t forget an open-minded attitude that comes with a big fat smile on your face…because that ALWAYS helps.

So pack your bags and enjoy your journey wherever it takes you this holiday season, and have an amazing Halloween!

Peace – R

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Greetings from Denver!

Another great American city in my sights. Literally.

Love my nomadic lifestyle this summer, experiencing the unique flavors of Austin, Dallas and now Denver in less than 100 days.

The Mile High City is quite a wonder. Beauty, sunshine, Red Rocks (below) and healthy people everywhere, no doubt making Denver an amazing place to live. Not to mention cool neighborhoods to explore like LoHi, Capital Hill, RiNo, Downtown, Baker, LoDo, West Colfax (where I live) and the Highlands. And don’t forget my favorite walking trail around Sloan’s Lake Park with an amazing view of the majestic Colorado Rockies (below). Simply awesome.

Special thanks to the Universe for allowing me the opportunity to traverse this great nation, and to all the friendly locals and business owners I’ve met along the way.

You rock!

So take it from me…one who has called home to more than 12 major U.S. cites, if you find yourself with three months to spare, definitely check-out the splendor of Denver. You won’t be disappointed.

Have an awesome day everyone, and get your workout in.

With Love & Light to those who gave their lives on 9/11.  RIP – R